Everyone has that one Pokemon they just can't seem to find. For a lot of us, it was Slakoth in its shiny form. When Niantic announced the Serene Retreat Pokemon Go event back in June 2024, the community reaction was mixed. Some players were stoked about the Relaxed-pose Slakoth wearing a visor, while others wondered if we really needed another event focused on "sleeping" Pokemon. Honestly? It turned out to be one of those low-stakes, high-reward weekends that actually made the game feel like a hobby again rather than a second job.
The event didn't try to be a Go Fest. It didn't have massive global stakes. It was just... chill.
What the Serene Retreat Pokemon Go Event Actually Delivered
If you were playing during that window from June 14 to June 18, 2024, you probably noticed the map looked a lot lazier than usual. The Serene Retreat Pokemon Go lineup was heavy on the spawns that don't exactly move fast. We're talking Psyduck, Slowpoke, Drowzee, Munchlax, and of course, the star of the show, Slakoth.
Niantic has a habit of "costume creep," where they shove a hat on everything to make it feel new. But the visor Slakoth was actually kind of cute. More importantly, it could evolve. Getting a Vigoroth or a Slaking with that tiny visor felt like a weirdly specific trophy. Because Slaking is such a monster in Gym defense—even if its moveset is basically "yawn and wait"—having a specialized version to sit atop a local gym for three days is a classic Pokemon Go flex.
The bonuses were the real MVP, though. We got double candy for catching Pokemon, which is always the "bread and butter" of these events. If you were sitting on a pile of Pinap Berries, this was the time to burn them.
The Shiny Odds and the Komala Debut
One thing people often get wrong about these mid-tier events is the shiny rate. Unless it’s a Community Day, Niantic usually keeps the rates at the standard 1-in-512 or the "permaboosted" 1-in-64 for specific species. During the Serene Retreat, many players felt like the shiny rates for Slakoth were slightly tweaked, but the data from groups like The Silph Road (even in its post-official-site era of community reporting) suggested it was mostly just high spawn density doing the heavy lifting.
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And then there was Komala.
If you were lucky, you snagged a shiny Komala. It’s a subtle shiny—the log changes color—but for collectors, it was the primary reason to keep the app open while walking through the park. The odds were tough. It wasn't handed to you on a silver platter. That's the nuance of these events; they provide the opportunity, but you still have to put in the kilometers.
Why the Focus on "Slow" Pokemon Matters for the Meta
It’s easy to dismiss a "serene" event as filler. But look at the roster again.
Vigoroth is a staple in the Great League. It’s a "safe swap" king because of its Counter fast move and Body Slam pressure. By flooding the streets with Slakoth, Niantic gave newer players a chance to farm the Candy and XL Candy needed to build a competitive Vigoroth. Most high-level PVP players will tell you that a 0/15/15 IV Vigoroth is a nightmare to face. If you ignored the Serene Retreat Pokemon Go event because you thought Slakoth was "useless," you basically missed a prime window to optimize your Battle League roster.
Then you have the Mega Evolutions.
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Slowbro and Sceptile (which was appearing in raids) are huge for the PVE side of things. Slowbro, specifically, is a weird one. It’s a Psychic/Water type that provides excellent coverage in certain Raid tiers. Getting the Mega Energy or a high-stat Slowpoke during this retreat was a smart move for anyone looking to round out their Mega Dex.
The Incense and Research Dynamics
During this event, the Incense was specifically pulling in different "sleepy" Pokemon. If you used your Daily Adventure Incense, you might have run into something more exotic, but the standard green incense was reliable for event spawns.
Field Research tasks were also pretty straightforward:
- Catch 5 Pokemon: Slakoth or Psyduck encounter.
- Spin 3 Pokestops: 5 Poke Balls.
- Feed your buddy 3 times: 5 Razz Berries.
It wasn't rocket science. It was designed to be played while you were actually relaxing, which is a rare feat for a game that usually demands you sprint between Raids during a three-hour window.
Managing Your Storage After a "Chill" Event
One mistake I see constantly is players hoarding every single event-costume Pokemon. Look, you don't need thirty Slakoth with visors. You really don't.
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The best way to handle the aftermath of the Serene Retreat Pokemon Go festivities is to ruthlessly cull. Keep your top three for trading—especially if you have friends who missed the event—and keep your highest PVP IVs. Everything else should be traded for that 2x Transfer Candy bonus if it's active, or just sent to Professor Willow.
If you have a shiny visor Slakoth, keep it as a Slakoth or go all the way to Slaking. Vigoroth is the middle child that often gets ignored, but in a visor, it looks surprisingly cool.
Maximizing Future Events Based on This Blueprint
Niantic has been leaning into these themed "mini-events" lately. They bridge the gaps between the massive seasonal launches. To make the most of things like the Serene Retreat Pokemon Go experience in the future, you need a specific kit:
- At least 200 Poke Balls: Don't rely on stops if you're in a rural area.
- A Mega Evolved Pokemon: Match the type! If you're hunting Slakoth, have a Mega Kangaskhan or Mega Pidgeot active to get that extra catch candy.
- The "Fast Catch" Trick: If you aren't using the skip-animation glitch yet, you're wasting time. Slide the berry tray, throw the ball, and exit. It doubles your catch rate per hour.
Moving Forward With Your Collection
The Serene Retreat Pokemon Go event is in the rearview mirror, but the assets it gave you are still relevant. If you're sitting on a pile of Slowpoke or Slakoth candy, now is the time to look at your "tags." Use the search string age0 to see what you caught recently and compare them to your older specimens.
Check your Vigoroth for Great League IVs. If you caught a shiny Komala, treasure it—that's one of the rarer ones in the current rotation because it doesn't spawn frequently outside of specific forest biomes.
The next step for any serious trainer is to prep for the upcoming season change. Clear out that storage. Use the candy you earned to power up your Gym defenders. Most importantly, keep an eye on your local Discord or Campfire groups. The visor Slakoth might be gone for now, but these assets always cycle back. When they do, you'll want to be the one with the Mega Energy already banked and the storage space ready to go.
Focus on your PVP IVs for Vigoroth first, then worry about the shiny visors. Efficiency is what separates a casual player from a Master League contender.