Niantic's annual Sustainability Week event is back in Pokémon GO, running from Monday, April 14 at 10:00 AM local time through Monday, April 20 at 8:00 PM local time. This year's edition is more content-packed than the last three combined, and if you have been waiting to add a Silicobra to your Pokédex, this is the event.
Here is the full rundown of what is live, what to prioritize, and what to save your Daily Incense for.
Silicobra Makes Its Pokémon GO Debut
The single biggest reveal of Sustainability Week 2026 is the debut of Silicobra, the Sand Snake Pokémon originally introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield. Silicobra is a Ground-type that evolves into the fan-favorite Sandaconda, and Niantic has confirmed the Shiny form will be available from the first hour of the event, though at the standard low-debut-rate odds.
Sustainability Week is also the debut for Galarian Corsola wearing sunglasses, a cosmetic variant that will almost certainly become a collector's item once the event ends. This is a global spawn, not a regional exclusive, which is a nice change of pace from the regional Corsola restrictions of previous events.
On top of the debuts, Shiny Toedscool is newly available for the first time. Toedscool has been in the game since its regular debut during Scarlet and Violet content drops, but Shiny odds were locked behind events until now.
Groudon Raid Hour on April 15
Tonight at 6:00 PM local time, a Groudon Raid Hour will run for exactly one hour, ending at 7:00 PM local. Every gym that supports five-star raids will have Groudon as the boss during that window, making this a prime opportunity for anyone who missed previous Groudon rotations.
If you are planning to go hard on this one, a few reminders from experienced raiders:
- Counters: Mega Swampert, Kyogre, Palkia, and Kingler with Hydro Cannon are the standout performers. A team of four solid water attackers will make short work of the fight.
- Shiny odds: Standard one-in-twenty Raid Hour odds apply. If you have been grinding Groudon for a Shiny, tonight is one of the better statistical opportunities you will get this year.
- Remote Raid Passes: Niantic has not increased the daily cap specifically for this Raid Hour, so expect to burn up to five remote passes across the hour if you are playing from home.
What Else to Focus On
Sustainability Week is a seven-day event, so you have time to complete the research and spawn the rarer encounters. A few priorities:
- Timed Research for Sandaconda: The best way to guarantee a Silicobra encounter is to complete the Sustainability Week Timed Research, which awards a guaranteed Silicobra and accelerated Silicobra candy that helps bring Sandaconda to an evolvable state before the event ends.
- Increased spawns of Trubbish, Koffing, Grimer, and Hoopa: These environment-themed spawns are all boosted for the week, and Shinies on Trubbish and Koffing are particularly grindable under the event bonuses.
- Field Research Tasks: Multiple tasks during the week reward Silicobra encounters, which is your backup plan if the Timed Research proves slow.
Beyond Sustainability Week
Looking ahead, Pokémon GO's Tinkatink Community Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, which already passed for most of you, but the week's calendar continues with Community Day Classic-style events and Spotlight Hours rotating through the back half of April.
And the big one on the horizon: May 2026 Community Day stars Lechonk, which Niantic confirmed over the weekend. Lechonk is one of the most requested Community Day candidates since Sparkles rolled through last year, so expect the Oinkologne community weekend to be one of the highest-engagement events of the quarter.
Event Strategy If You Only Have an Hour a Day
If you are a casual player and can only give this event an hour or two across the full week, here is the optimal path:
Log in tonight for the Groudon Raid Hour if you can. Beyond that, focus on completing the Timed Research, which will hand you Silicobra encounters without requiring you to chase spawns in the wild. On the weekend, spend your Daily Incense during peak daylight hours to maximize the event-boosted spawn rates. That strategy gets you the debut Pokédex entries, a fair shot at the Shinies, and any seasonal rewards without requiring you to live in the app.
Sustainability Week has historically been one of the more generous Pokémon GO events, and this year is no exception. Silicobra's debut, a Raid Hour for a Legendary, and a guaranteed Shiny debut in Toedscool is more than most April events deliver. Set a reminder for 6 PM local tonight, and do not miss it.