Grookey Community Day 2026 Guide: Shiny, Evolution & How to Get
by Jerry Cook Updated on 2025-12-30 20:26:44 / Update for Pokemon iOS
Grookey in Pokémon Go was first spotted in 2024. Now, in 2026, Niantic has dedicated a special Grookey Community Day event to this “chimp” Pokémon. As such, many trainers are looking up the possibility of a shiny Grookey in Pokémon Go with this event.
Don’t worry, in this article, we tell you all you need to know. Let’s get started!
Part 1. Is Grookey in Pokémon Go? Shiny & How to Get.
Yes! Grookey in Pokémon Go is indeed part of the game. During the upcoming Grookey Community Day, it takes the spotlight, where trainers can catch this chimp Pokémon out in the wild during the event hours.
Grookey Community Day Date & Time
Grookey Community Day will take place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time
This three-hour window will be your best chance to catch lots of Grookey in Pokémon Go, as well as achieve Grookey’s final evolution: Rillaboom.
Event Bonuses
Grookey Community Day events come with the following perks:
- Increased Grookey spawns in the wild.
- 3× Stardust when catching Pokémon.
- 2× Candy for catches.
- 2× chance for Candy XL for trainers Level 31+.
- 3-hour Incense boosts (except Adventure Incense).
- 1-hour Lure Modules that attract Grookey and last until 9 p.m.
- Up to 3 Special Trades for the day with 50% less Stardust cost.
Is Grookey Shiny in Pokémon Go?
Yes! shiny Grookey in Pokémon Go is available for the first time during this Community Day event. Trainers will have a good chance (1 in 20) to catch it in the wild and add to their collection.
Where Can I Find Shiny Grookey in Pokémon Go?
Wild Spawns
During the event hours, Grookey in Pokémon Go will spawn everywhere more often. That means shiny Grookey can appear naturally on the map while you’re exploring.
Community Day Special Research
For US$1.99, you can buy a Grookey Community Day Special Research ticket. Completing these tasks will reward you with guaranteed Grookey encounters, including 3 with special backgrounds.
Field Research
There will also be Community Day-themed Field Research tasks. These will involve catching Grookey and give rewards like Stardust, Great/Ultra Balls, and bonus Grookey encounters.
Part 2. What Does Grookey Evolve into? Full Evolution Line & 100% IV.
Now that you know how to catch Grookey in Pokémon Go, it’s time to look at what this chimp Pokémon evolves into.
In short, the Grookey evolution line starts with the playful Grass-type Grookey and ends with the mighty Gigantamax Rillaboom in Pokémon Go.
How to Evolve Grookey in Pokémon Go?
To evolve Grookey, you first need to accumulate enough Grookey Candy in Pokémon Go. Then:
- Evolve Grookey into Thwackey by spending 25 Candy.
- Evolve Thwackey into Rillaboom by spending 100 Candy.
Note that if you’re after Gigantamax Rillaboom in Pokémon Go, you’ll need to encounter it in dedicated Max Raid Battles.
During the Grookey Community Day event, evolving a regular Grookey into Rillaboom won’t make it a Gigantamax Rillaboom.
How to Identify a 100% IV Grookey?
A Grookey in Pokémon Go with 100% IV means its Attack, Defense, and Stamina values are all perfect. You can check a 100% IV Grookey by following three ways:
- In-Game Appraisal : Check the "Appraise" feature; a 100% IV Grookey will show a Red Badge with the Attack, Defense, and HP bars all maxed out at 15/15/15.
- Search String Shortcut : Enter “four star” into the search bar to filter for perfect IVs, or use four star & Grookey to find them specifically.
- CP (Combat Power) Benchmarks : Identify potential hundos by their CP values at specific levels, such as 465 CP for Level 15 or 620 CP for Level 20.
A 100% IV Grookey will have the maximum stars and best stat numbers, making it ideal to evolve into a strong Rillaboom.
Is It Worth Evolving into Rillaboom?
To see if Rillaboom is right for your playstyle, you need to check its stats. Here is a breakdown of its power and attributes.
Rillaboom's Stats & Max CP
Rillaboom’s max CP is at 3758 at Level 50 with the following base stats:
- Attack: 239
- Defense: 168
- Stamina: 225
The above stats make Rillaboom in Pokémon Go strong for raids and trainer battles. Its balanced stats give it decent endurance and punch as a Grass attacker.
Rillaboom's Best Moveset in PvP & PvE
In PvP
- Rillaboom’s Best Moveset: Razor Leaf (Fast) + Grass Knot (Charged)
- This combination gets good damage output and helps in many battle situations.
In PvE
- Rillaboom’s Best Moveset: Razor Leaf (Fast) + Grass Knot (Charged)
- This combo also works well against Gym defenders and Raid bosses that are weak to Grass attacks, like Water and Ground.
Rillaboom's Battle Performance in PvP & PvE
In PvP
Rillaboom in Pokémon Go PvP is a decent choice in certain matchups only (niche pick). Without the bonus move Frenzy Plant, it easily gets outclassed by other meta Pokémons.
In PvE
In PvE, Rillaboom’s performance is strong, especially against Water, Rock, or Ground types, thanks to its solid Grass-type moves. It’s a solid choice for raids needing a reliable Grass attacker, especially when boosted by sunny weather or team support.
Part 3. Grookey Vs Scorbunny Vs Sobble, Which Is Better?
Choosing between Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble can be tricky for Pokémon GO players, especially since each starter offers different strengths in stats, typing, and future evolution potential. Below is a detailed comparison to help you decide which one fits your playstyle best.
Comparison of Stats, Max CP & Type
Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble share the same base stats in Pokémon GO,At the starter stage, there is no statistical advantage in terms of Attack, Defense, or Stamina:
- Attack: 122
- Defense: 91
- Stamina: 137
The real differences between them come from their types, move sets, and evolutions, which influence battle performance and usability in raids, gyms, and PvP.
Grookey
Grookey is a Grass-type Pokémon that focuses on balanced performance. Its final evolution, Rillaboom with a max CP of 3758, are known for decent bulk and consistent damage output, making Grookey a reliable option for trainers who prefer stability over speed.
Grass typing makes it strong against Water, Ground, and Rock types, but weak to Fire, Flying, Bug, Ice, and Poison.
Scorbunny
Scorbunny evolves into Cinderace, a Fire-type Pokémon focused on speed and offensive. Its 3412 max CP is slightly lower than Rillaboom’s, but it feels quicker in battles.
Fire types shine against Grass, Bug, Ice, and Steel Pokémon. This makes Scorbunny a strong offensive pick for fast fights.
Sobble
Sobble becomes Inteleon, a Water-type Pokémon with good versatility and solid performance. It has a max CP of 3351, which is very similar to Cinderace’s and is excellent against Fire, Rock, and Ground Pokémon.
Water types are very flexible in Pokémon Go, which makes Sobble a safe and reliable choice.
You Might Be Interested In:
Which to Pick in Pokémon Go?
If you’re still unsure which starter to choose, here’s a quick breakdown based on playstyle and preferences.
- For General Use and Solid Performance： Grookey is a great all-around pick if you want consistency and dependable matchups without focusing too much on speed or burst damage.
- For Speed and Fire Damage： If you like fast battles and fire strength, Scorbunny and its evolutions are fun and strong against many Pokémon weak to Fire moves.
- For Water-Type Enthusiasts： For trainers who enjoy water-based battles, Sobble is the choice. its final form, Inteleon, offers unique moves and Water-type advantages against Fire and Ground types.
Bonus Tip: How to Get Grookey in Pokémon Go without Moving?
As unpredictable as life can be, there’s no telling when you find yourself in the middle of work commitments when it's Grookey Community Day tomorrow! This can potentially make you miss out on catching a shiny Grookey in Pokémon Go. Do we want that? No! That’s why we recommend you use PoGoskill.
PoGoskill is a cutting-edge Pokémon Go spoofer app. It’s advanced algorithms seamlessly spoof your coordinates to any location in the world with just a finger tap. Unlike other spoofers, where you are limited in your movements, PoGoskill gives complete freedom in moving about your virtual coordinates with its 360-degree on-screen joystick.
Key features include
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Cooldown Timer : Limits how often you teleport based on the distance spoofed, thus keeping your account safe.
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Auto Catch Pokémon : Catches Pokémons for you with great accuracy, without you needing to swipe or even look at the screen.
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Multi-Spot Mode : Allows you to customize a route by selecting multiple points on the map to simulate real-life movement at a natural speed.
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How to Use PoGoskill
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Step 1Click on the Download button above and install PoGoskill.
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Step 2Connect your device and choose “Game Mode”.
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Step 3Look for high-trainer activity areas on the PoGo map, then hit "Start to Modify", move around to encounter Grookey in Pokémon Go in the wild or through Special/Field Research tasks.
FAQs about Grookey in Pokémon Go.
What Is a Rare Ability in Grookey?
Grookey in Pokémon Go has no abilities. Abilities like Grassy Surge exist in other mainstream games, but not in Pokémon Go.
What Is Grookey Weak Against?
Grookey is a pure Grass-type Pokémon, making it vulnerable to Fire, Flying, Bug, Ice, and Poison-type attacks. Trainers should avoid using Grookey against these types, as it will take increased damage in battles and raids.
What Attacks Does Grookey Have?
In Pokémon GO, Grookey mainly uses Grass-type fast and charged moves that focus on consistent damage output. It can also learn the Normal-type move Scratch, which provides basic coverage but is generally less effective in competitive battles.
Is Grookey Rare?
Outside of events, Grookey is uncommon. During the upcoming Grookey Community Day, it will spawn everywhere and be very easy to find.
How Strong Is Grookey?
Grookey itself has average stats and limited battle performance in Pokémon GO. Its real value lies in evolving into Rillaboom, which offers much stronger attack power, better move options, and greater usefulness in raids and PvP battles.
Final Thoughts
To wrap it all up, Grookey in Pokémon Go offers great value for both new and experienced trainers. With the Community Day upcoming, Grookey shiny chances are well over boosted and also features a strong final evolution: Rillaboom, which knows the charged attack, Frenzy Plant.
If you ever find yourself unable to participate in the event for any reason, don’t panic. Just use PoGoskill Location Changer to play Pokémon Go regardless of your location!
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