Sableye has arrived in Pokémon Pokopia as part of the Sableye's Gem Hunt event, and unlike most Pokémon in the game, you don't need to build a habitat first to encounter it. The Gem-Body Pokémon shows up right away when you log in, ready to trade. Here's exactly how to find it, what to do with it, and how to set up its permanent home once the event wraps.
How does Sableye appear in Pokémon Pokopia?
Sableye is the fourth event-exclusive Pokémon to arrive in Pokopia, following the Johto trio of Hoppip, Skiploom, and Jumpluff. The event structure is the same across all four: log in during the active event period and the game flags a Pokémon as the "talk of the town" immediately on the loading screen.
Head outside any Pokémon Center in the area you spawned into and Sableye will be loitering right there. No habitat required, no prerequisites to meet. The encounter is guaranteed as long as the Sableye's Gem Hunt event is live.
Sableye outside Pokémon Center
If Sableye isn't visible outside the Pokémon Center, check that the event is still active in your game. The Pokémon only appears during the event window.
What do you do after finding Sableye?
Once you interact with Sableye for the first time, the game assigns you a trading task. Sableye wants Red Crystal Fragments, and in exchange it hands out limited-time rewards. This is the same mechanic used during the Hoppip event, so the process should feel familiar if you played through that one.
Collect Red Crystal Fragments by exploring Pokopia, then return to Sableye to make trades. The Pokémon spends most of the event period inside the Pokémon Center waiting for exchanges, so don't expect to set its home straight away. Check back outside operating hours, or after the event ends, to get Sableye to follow you to the house you want to assign.
How to build the Treasure-Hunting Set Habitat
Once Sableye is ready to move in, you'll need the Treasure-Hunting Set Habitat built and placed. The good news: it only takes three items. The catch: all three are event-exclusive rewards tied directly to the Sableye's Gem Hunt.
What items do you need?
The three required items are:
- Adventure Kit
- Map and Compass
- Treasure
All three are obtained by exchanging Red Crystal Fragments with Sableye during the event. The full set costs 20 Red Crystal Fragments total. Place all three items together and the Treasure-Hunting Set Habitat is complete.
All three habitat items are only available as event rewards during the Sableye's Gem Hunt. If you miss the event, you'll need an alternative method to obtain them.
What if you miss the event?
Two options exist for players who miss the active window, according to the source material:
- Time skipping on your Nintendo Switch by setting the console date back to the event period. This may still unlock the event items.
- 3D Printer inside a reconstructed Pokémon Center. This lets you replicate any item using Pokémetal Ingots and a photo of the item. To get the photo, visit another player's island where the habitat is already built and snap a picture of each piece.
The 3D Printer method requires visiting someone else's island first if you don't already have photos of the habitat items. Coordinate with friends or community members who completed the event.
Sableye is a permanent addition to your world once settled in, making the event worth completing even if you're not a dedicated collector. For more Pokémon Pokopia walkthroughs and event guides, check out the latest guides on games.gg.