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Zorua Community Day runs on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time. Evolving Zorua during the event, or within four hours afterward, gives you a Zoroark that knows the Fast Attack Sucker Punch. That move is the event’s main draw, but it does not make Zoroark a better raid attacker. The most detailed current analysis still ranks Snarl/Foul Play as Zoroark’s more practical Dark PvE moveset. Evolving Zorua can still be worthwhile for collection value, for a Pokémon you already like, or for a playable Dark attacker when you have few alternatives.

Event schedule and bonuses

The official Pokémon GO announcement, published under the title “October 2026 Community Day: Zorua,” gives local times and the following bonuses.

Bonus Stated effect Timing
Catch XP 3× XP from catches Event window, 2:00–5:00 p.m. local time
Catch Candy 2× Candy from catches Event window, 2:00–5:00 p.m. local time
Candy XL from catches 2× chance for Trainers level 31 and up to receive Candy XL Event window, 2:00–5:00 p.m. local time
Incense Incense activated during the event lasts three hours Activated during the event
Lure Modules Last one hour and may attract Zorua Lure Module bonus runs until 9:00 p.m. local time
Special Trades One additional Special Trade, for up to two that day Event day; exact window not stated
Trade cost 50% less Stardust required for trades Event day; exact window not stated

The announcement says some listed bonuses run from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. local time. Its summary does not single out every extended bonus, so check the in-game event display to confirm which ones apply in your location. Zorua is also more frequent in the wild during the event, and shiny and Special Background encounters may occur.

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How to get Sucker Punch Zoroark

The official wording is: “Evolve Zorua during the event or up to four hours afterwards to get a Zoroark that knows the Fast Attack Sucker Punch.” In practice, the process looks like this:

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  1. Catch Zorua during the event window to collect Candy and XP at the event rates, and keep an eye out for wild Zorua that may be shiny or carry a Special Background.
  2. Make sure you have enough Zorua Candy to evolve the Pokémon you plan to use.
  3. Select the Zorua you want to evolve and choose Evolve before the window closes. The window runs from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, plus four hours afterward. Counting from the 5:00 p.m. end, that means about 9:00 p.m. local time.
  4. Once evolved, check that your Zoroark knows Sucker Punch. Note that the official page classifies it as a Fast Attack, not a Charged Attack.

The optional Special Research ticket

An optional ticket unlocks exclusive Special Research for US$1.99 or the equivalent local pricing tier. The listed rewards are three Zorua encounters with Special Backgrounds, additional Zorua encounters, a Premium Battle Pass, and a Rare Candy XL. The official page states that the research has no in-game medal and no story. The ticket is not needed to take part in the event’s catch bonuses or to evolve Zorua.

Is Sucker Punch good for PvE?

Not in a way that improves Zoroark’s raid performance. The Pokémon GO Hub PvE analysis, published October 8, 2026, says Sucker Punch does not improve Zoroark’s raid role. Its simulated figures are below.

Zoroark moveset (Dark attacker) Simulated DPS Simulated TDO
Snarl/Foul Play 14.33 181.2
Sucker Punch/Foul Play 13.97 176.7

These are simulator outputs reported by Pokémon GO Hub, not official Niantic metrics. DPS is damage per second, and TDO is total damage dealt before the Pokémon faints.

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Why these numbers are not a universal ranking

Simulated damage depends on conditions that change from one raid to the next and from one game update to the next. Those include the raid boss, weather, team boosts, the Pokémon’s level, and other battle variables. The sources used for this guide do not establish one ranking that holds across every scenario. Treat the table as a comparison of two movesets under the simulation’s assumptions, not as a promise of how your Zoroark will perform in a particular raid.

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Durability is the practical limit

Zoroark has high Attack but low defensive stats. In raids it can faint before it gets full value from its Charged Attacks, which is a larger problem than the small DPS gap between the two movesets.

Where Zoroark ranks among Dark attackers

The Pokémon GO Hub Zoroark database page recommends Snarl/Foul Play and lists it at 14.33 DPS and 181.2 TDO. It ranks that set #37 and B tier as a Dark attacker. Those rankings come from that site’s own database and simulation output. The same PvE analysis names Mega Tyranitar, Shadow Tyranitar, Hydreigon, and Darkrai as better-established Dark options.

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Should you evolve Zorua for this event?

Evolve it if

  • You want the event-exclusive Sucker Punch Zoroark for your collection.
  • You are a newer Trainer who lacks stronger Dark attackers and wants a usable option.
  • Zoroark is a favorite Pokémon, and you want to build it for personal reasons.

Skip it, or deprioritize it, if

  • You want the strongest Dark raid attacker. The analysis favors Snarl/Foul Play, and stronger Dark options exist.
  • You already own a well-built Dark attacker that covers the raid bosses you face.

If you do raid with Zoroark, check its moveset before you go. The event evolution gives Sucker Punch, but the analysis’s preferred set is Snarl/Foul Play.

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Sources and dates

  • Pokémon GO / Niantic, “October 2026 Community Day: Zorua,” official event announcement, accessed October 9, 2026. Source for event times, bonuses, evolution window, and the Special Research ticket. The official post may be updated.
  • The Pokémon Company, “Zorua Can’t Hide During Pokémon GO’s October 2026 Community Day,” published October 7, 2026. Independent confirmation of the event details.
  • Pokémon GO Hub, “Zorua Community Day: Your Go-To PvE Guide,” published October 8, 2026. Source for the simulated DPS and TDO comparison and the PvE assessment. It is a specialist analysis, not official game guidance.
  • Pokémon GO Hub, Zoroark moveset database page, accessed October 9, 2026. Source for the #37 B-tier Dark attacker ranking. Rankings and simulated values belong to that database.

Move balance and rankings change with game updates, so check current figures before building a team around them.

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