User:TehPerson/Special Research

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Special Research (Japanese: スペシャルリサーチ Special Research) are tasks assigned by Professor Willow in Pokémon GO. Unlike Field Research, Special Research tasks have separate, fixed objectives outlined by Professor Willow, and they cannot be obtained from spinning PokéStops.

Players receive rewards for each Special Research task they complete. As with Field Research rewards, the Pokémon that can be caught as a Special Research reward have a set minimum IV of 10 in each stat and an initial power up level of 15. Special Research is currently the only method of obtaining Mew (and its Shiny variant), Celebi (and its Shiny variant), Jirachi, Spiritomb, Victini, Galarian Yamask, Aria Forme Meloetta, Hoopa Confined, and Zarude. Those Pokémon are programmed to have a 100% catch rate.

Most Special Research tasks are available once the player reaches level 5. They can only be completed once, and tasks cannot be deleted. One set of Special Research tasks can be completed concurrently with tasks from another uncompleted set of Special Research.

Contents

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• (Return to top)
• Globally available Special Research
  • Mythical Special Research
  • Halloween Special Research
  • Team GO Rocket Special Research
• Ticketed events

Contents

Globally available Special Research

Mythical Special Research

These Special Researches introduce the player to unique Mythical Pokémon. These researches reward a single non-Shiny Mythical Pokémon that cannot be traded or sent back to Professor Willow. With the exception of Mew, those Mythical Pokémon are introduced first as exclusive rewards during the paying GO Fest annual event before being available to other players, free of charge, through a different Special Research that becomes available a few months later.

Special Research	Artwork	Date	Details
A Mythical Discovery		Since March 31, 2018	Completion allows Trainers to catch Mew.
A Ripple in Time		Since August 20, 2018	Completion allows Trainers to catch Celebi. Unlocked after completing part three of A Mythical Discovery.
Let's GO, Meltan		Since November 16, 2018	Completion allows Trainers to catch Meltan.
A Thousand-Year Slumber		Since August 20, 2019	Completion allows Trainers to catch Jirachi.
Investigate a Mysterious Energy		Since September 29, 2020	Completion allows Trainers to catch Victini.
Misunderstood Mischief		September 1, 2021 to December 1, 2021	Completion allows Trainers to catch Hoopa. Completion during the Season of Mischief unlocks Mischief Unbound for free.
Finding Your Voice		Since September 21, 2021	Completion allows Trainers to catch Meloetta.

Halloween Special Research

Special Research	Artwork	Date	Details
A Spooky Message		October 23, 2018	Completion allows Trainers to catch Spiritomb.
A Spooky Message 2019		October 17, 2019	Completion allows Trainers to catch Spiritomb.
A Spooky Message Unmasked		October 23, 2020	Completion allows Trainers to catch Spiritomb and Galarian Yamask.
What Lies Beneath the Mask		October 15, 2021	Completion allows Trainers to catch Galarian Yamask.

Team GO Rocket Special Research

Special Research	Artwork	Date	Details
A Troubling Situation		Since July 25, 2019	Unlocked at level 8. Completion is required to activate Giovanni Special Research.
Looming in the Shadows		November 9, 2019 to November 30, 2019	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation.
Looming in the Shadows		November 9, 2019 to November 30, 2019	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation.
A Challenging Development		December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation.
The Take-Over Continues		January 1, 2020 to January 31, 2020	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation.
A Professor's Work is Never Done		February 1, 2020 to February 29, 2020	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation.
The Shadow Threat Grows		March 1, 2020 to October 11, 2020	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation.
An Inter-egg-sting Development		October 12, 2020	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation.
The Higher They Fly...		February 28, 2021	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation.
A Seven-Colored Shadow		June 17, 2021 to September 1, 2021	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation.
Silent Schemes		April 3, 2022 to April 7, 2022	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation.
Field Notes: Team GO Rocket		July 9, 2022 to September 1, 2022	Requires completion of A Troubling Situation. Hosted by Rhi, instead of Professor Willow.

Ticketed events

Ticket

Ticketed Special Researches are available to players who purchased a ticket with real money in the in-game shop. Story events for those research occur on event days such as raid days with specific bosses or community days. The ticket disappears from the player's Bag once the event ends. Players who do not complete the Special Research during the event can still do so later as the research may be altered with alternate tasks less reliant on event encounters.