January’s first big Pokémon GO community event puts a grass-type drummer at the center of the map. Grookey — the Galar-region monkey starter — headlines Community Day on Sunday, Jan. 18, and it’s stacked with the usual catch-and-evolve rewards plus a couple of moves that matter more than they sound.
When it happens (and the quick headline facts)
The event runs 2:00–5:00 p.m. local time on Jan. 18, 2026, with some bonuses that stretch later into the evening. You can evolve Thwackey into Rillaboom during the three-hour window or up to four hours afterward and still get the event-exclusive Charged Attack. The official announcement has the full rundown at the Pokémon Company site: Pokémon.com announcement.
Expect Grookey to appear in the wild in much higher numbers, with boosted shiny rates for the event.
The moves that make this worth leaving the couch
Evolving Thwackey during the event (or within four hours after) will net a Rillaboom that knows Frenzy Plant — the classic Community Day-exclusive Charged Attack that gives Grass types serious bite in raids and gyms. Rillaboom will also be able to learn Drum Beating (a new Grass charged move that’s usable afterward via Charged TM), giving you options depending on whether you want raw power or a move with utility.
In short: if you want usable Rillabooms for raids or Gym defense, plan to evolve several solid Thwackey during or right after the event.
Bonuses and practical tips for squeezing the most out of three hours
- Increased Grookey spawns and boosted shiny odds (roughly 1-in-25 per encounter during Community Day).
- 3× Catch Stardust — this makes the event one of the better short-term stardust grinds of the month.
- 2× Catch Candy and increased chance to get Candy XL from catches — excellent for moving toward those 100 Candy evolutions.
- Extended Incense and Lure durations (check in-game wording; Incense typically lasts three hours for the event, and standard Lures run for one hour).
- Trades require 50% less Stardust, and one extra Special Trade is allowed for the day.
Practical approach: start the event with an Incense + Star Piece if you can, and use Silver Pinap Berries selectively on high-IV Grookey you want to evolve. Save space in your item bag and Pokémon storage so you can keep catching without hitting caps.
Special Research, Field Research and what to buy (if you care)
As with most Community Days, there’s a paid Special Research ticket (around US$1.99) with three stages that hand out Grookey encounters, stardust, Rare Candy, and an XL Rare Candy reward at the end. Field Research tasks will also rotate through Grookey-related catches and encounters — handy if you want targeted shinies.
Complete the Field Research and Special Research if you plan to farm Frenzy Plant Rillabooms; the ticket usually pays for itself if you play actively during the window.
Local play and weather-friendly strategy
Dense downtown loops, parks with clustered PokéStops, and seeded lure locations are all classic Community Day turf — you’ll get the most mileage in places where stops are close enough to keep spinning while you walk. If it’s cold where you are, target a short, concentrated route with many stops rather than long walks between gyms.
If you’re multitasking gaming with other Pokémon plans, note Niantic’s broader January lineup includes other raid rotations and buddy-focused events around the same dates; you may want to coordinate timings so you don’t miss key raid hours.
Gear and small comforts that actually help
A portable battery pack (your phone chews charge fast when GPS and AR are on), weather-appropriate layers, and a pair of earbuds make the difference between a slog and a smooth session. If you want something small and comfortable to bring along, consider a pair of Apple AirPods for podcasts or music while you wander.
Bring Ultra or Great Balls if you’re chasing shinies (they break free less often), and have a plan for evolving high-IV Thwackey during the event or in the four-hour grace window after.
Why Frenzy Plant and Drum Beating matter
Frenzy Plant is the reason many players treat Community Days as raid-prep days: it’s a powerful Charged Attack that turns Rillaboom into a reliable grass-type option for certain raid bosses and gym matchups. Drum Beating adds flexibility — a charged move with lower power but useful secondary effects — and the ability to add it via a Charged TM later means you don’t have to pick one definitive moveset on the spot.
A small aside for collectors and cross-format players
If you follow Pokémon beyond GO — maybe you collect cards or keep one eye on console releases — this month has activity across formats. For physical collectors hunting deals and sets, there are ongoing offers and guides worth scanning through if you’re shopping for TCG bargains; check current card deals in our TCG deals coverage. And for those tracking bigger Pokémon releases on consoles, there’s news and DLC chatter like the recent Pokémon Legends: Z‑A Mega Dimension update that’s keeping the franchise busy.
If you play actively, Jan. 18 is a compact, high-value window: shinies, stardust, Candy XL chances, and an exclusive charged attack for your Rillabooms. Plan your route, charge your battery pack, and don’t forget to breathe and enjoy a walk — the real win is the tiny community moments you’ll find at a busy PokéStop loop.