List of Special Research tasks

This is a list of all Special Research campaigns in Pokémon GO. Once a Trainer unlocks any of the Special Research campaigns in this list, they keep that Special Research forever until they complete it.

Legendary and Mythical Pokémon

 * Story Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Mythical Discovery - Mew, unlocks at Level 15
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Ripple in Time - Celebi, unlocks upon completing Part 6 of A Mythical Discovery
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Let's GO, Meltan - Meltan, unlocks after getting the Gold Medal for the Kanto Pokédex
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Thousand-Year Slumber - Jirachi, unlocks upon completing Part 6 of A Ripple in Time
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Investigate a Mysterious Energy - Victini, unlocks upon completing Part 5 of A Thousand-Year Slumber
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Finding Your Voice - Meloetta
 * Time-restricted Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Colossal Discovery - Regigigas, Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Drive to Investigate - Genesect, Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Throwback Challenge Champion 2020 - Genesect, part of Throwback Challenge Champion 2020
 * Jessie_and_James_icon.png Distracted by Something Shiny - Shiny Celebi, unlocked by playing any time between December 14th, 2020 and February 28th, 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png All-in-One #151 - Shiny Mew, unlocked by completing the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto Special Research, purchased on February 20th, 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Search for Zarude! - Zarude, part of the Secrets of the Jungle Event 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Misunderstood Mischief - Hoopa Confined, part of the Season of Mischief
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Mischief Unbound - Hoopa Unbound, complete Misunderstood Mischief
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Rhi icon.png A Cosmic Companion - Cosmog, part of the Season of Light
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Something Extraordinary - Keldeo, Ticketed Special Research

Team GO Rocket
At level 8, Trainers unlock A Troubling Situation, which introduces Team GO Rocket and Shadow Pokémon. Once A Troubling Situation is complete, Trainers gain access to the currently-active Team GO Rocket Leaders research line. Additional Team GO Rocket Special Research cannot be unlocked while a previous one is in progress, making it possible to miss newer ones.


 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Looming in the Shadows - November 2019
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Challenging Development - December 2019
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png The Take-Over Continues - January 2020
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Professor’s Work is Never Done - February 2020
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png The Shadowy Threat Grows - March and April 2020
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Time to Train - Unreleased, intended for May 2020
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png An Inter-egg-sting Development - late 2020
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png The Higher They Fly... - March 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Seven-Colored Shadow - Summer 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Silent Schemes - Spring 2022
 * Rhi icon.png Field Notes: Team GO Rocket - Summer 2022
 * Professor_Willow_Season_8_icon.png Rhi icon.png Ultra Beast Protection Efforts - November, 2022 to December , 2022
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Shadowy Skirmishes - February, 2023 to March , 2023

Community Day

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Celebrate 2019 - December 2019 Community Day, a bonus for the end of year
 * 2020
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Investigating Illusions - Ticketed Special Research for April 2020 Community Day featuring Abra
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Seeing Double - Ticketed Special Research for May 2020 Community Day featuring Seedot
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Hairy Situation - Unreleased Special Research for June 2020 Community Day featuring Weedle
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png The Great Gastly - Ticketed Special Research for July 2020 Community Day featuring Gastly
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Making a Splash - Ticketed Special Research for August 2020 Community Day featuring Magikarp
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Decoding Porygon - Ticketed Special Research for September 2020 Community Day featuring Porygon
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Tale of Tails - Ticketed Special Research for October 2020 Community Day featuring Charmander
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Electric for Electabuzz - Ticketed Special Research for November 2020 Community Day - Electabuzz
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png No Match for Magmar - Ticketed Special Research for November 2020 Community Day - Magmar
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png December Community Day - Ticketed Special Research for December 2020 Community Day
 * 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Straight to the Top, Machop! - Ticketed Special Research for January 2021 Community Day featuring Machop
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Stop and Smell the Roselia - Ticketed Special Research for February 2021 Community Day featuring Roselia
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png The Bravest Bird - Ticketed Special Research for March 2021 Community Day featuring Fletchling
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Snivy in the Sunshine - Ticketed Special Research for April 2021 Community Day featuring Snivy
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Cotton-Winged Bird - Ticketed Special Research for May 2021 Community Day featuring Swablu
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Just a Nibble - Ticketed Special Research for June 2021 Community Day featuring Gible
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Roasted Berries - Ticketed Special Research for July 2021 Community Day featuring Tepig
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png What You Choose to Be - Ticketed Special Research for August 2021 Community Day featuring Eevee
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png From Scalchops to Seamitars - Ticketed Special Research for September 2021 Community Day featuring Oshawott
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Nothin' Dull About Duskull - Ticketed Special Research for October 2021 Community Day featuring Duskull
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Flash, Spark, and Gleam - Ticketed Special Research for November 2021 Community Day featuring Shinx
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png December Community Day 2021 - Ticketed Special Research for December 2021 Community Day
 * 2022
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png The Spheal Deal - Ticketed Special Research for January 2022 Community Day featuring Spheal
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Bulbasaur Community Day Classic - Ticketed Special Research for Community Day Classic: Back to Bulbasaur featuring Bulbasaur
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Hop, Skip, and Jump Away - Ticketed Special Research for February 2022 Community Day featuring Hoppip
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Gritty and Glacial - Ticketed Special Research for March 2022 Community Day featuring Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Mudkip Community Day Classic - Ticketed Special Research for Community Day Classic: Memories of Mudkip featuring Mudkip
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Strong Stuff - Ticketed Special Research for April 2022 Community Day featuring Stufful
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Rocky Road - Ticketed Special Research for May 2022 Community Day featuring Alolan Geodude
 * Rhi icon.png Field Notes: Deino - Ticketed Special Research for June 2022 Community Day featuring Deino
 * Rhi icon.png Field Notes: Starly - Ticketed Special Research for July 2022 Community Day featuring Starly
 * Rhi icon.png Field Notes: Galarian Zigzagoon - Ticketed Special Research for August 2022 Community Day featuring Galarian Zigzagoon
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Rock 'n' Roll - Ticketed Special Research for September 2022 Community Day featuring Roggenrola
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Rhi icon.png Field Notes: Trick of the Light - Ticketed Special Research for October 2022 Community Day featuring Litwick
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Dratini Community Day Classic - Ticketed Special Research for Community Day Classic: Dreaming of Dratini featuring Dratini
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Sweet Snacks - Ticketed Special Research for November 2022 Community Day featuring Teddiursa
 * Professor_Willow icon.png Rhi icon.png December Community Day 2022 - Ticketed Special Research for December 2022 Community Day
 * 2023
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Quality Quills - Ticketed Special Research for January 2023 Community Day featuring Chespin
 * Professor_Willow icon.png Larvitar Community Day Classic - Ticketed Special Research for Community Day Classic: Lounging with Larvitar featuring Larvitar

Level-specific Researches

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Level 43 Challenge - Research for Trainers reaching level 43
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Level 45 Challenge - Research for Trainers reaching level 45
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Level 48 Challenge - Research for Trainers reaching level 48
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Level 50 Challenge - Research for Trainers reaching level 50

Halloween

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Spooky Message - Halloween 2018 and 2019
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Spooky Message Unmasked - Halloween 2020
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png What Lies beneath the Mask? - Halloween 2021
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Rhi icon.png Mysterious Masks - Halloween 2022

GO Fest

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2018 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2019 Chicago/Dortmund/Yokohama - Ticketed Special Research
 * 2020
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2020: Welcome! - Ticketed Special Research for Day 1 of GO Fest 2020
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2020: Rocket Straight to Victory - Ticketed Special Research for Day 2 of GO Fest 2020
 * 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png The Melody Pokémon - Ticketed Special Research for Day 1 of GO Fest 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Strange Rings - Day 2 of GO Fest 2021
 * 2022
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Pokémon GO Fest 2022 - Ticketed Special Research for Day 1 of GO Fest 2022, with Catch, Explore and Battle version, and Relaxed, Standard and Master difficulty
 * Rhi icon.png Rhi's Arrival - Day 2 of GO Fest 2022
 * Rhi icon.png A Radiant World - Ticketed Special Research for Day 2 of GO Fest 2022
 * Rhi icon.png Pokémon GO Fest: Berlin - Ticketed Special Research for Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Berlin
 * Rhi icon.png Pokémon GO Fest: Seattle - Ticketed Special Research for Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Seattle
 * Rhi icon.png Pokémon GO Fest: Sapporo - Ticketed Special Research for Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Sapporo
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Rhi icon.png Willow's Return - GO Fest 2022 Finale
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Rhi icon.png A Radiant Reunion - Ticketed Special Research for GO Fest 2022 Finale after completing Willow’s Return

GO Tour

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Kanto
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto - Ticketed Special Research, Shiny Ditto
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png All-in-One #151 - Ticketed Special Research, Shiny Mew
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Johto
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Pokémon GO Tour: Johto - Ticketed Special Research, Shiny Gyarados, Celebi that knows Magical Leaf
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Masterwork Research: Apex - Ticketed Special Research, Apex Shadow Lugia and Apex Shadow Ho-Oh
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Tour: Live - Step into Kanto - Ticketed Special Research, Shiny Mewtwo

Safari Zone

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Safari Zone Yokosuka - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Safari Zone St. Louis 2020 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Safari Zone Liverpool 2020 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Safari Zone Philadelphia 2020 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Safari Zone Seville 2022 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Safari Zone Goyang 2022 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Safari Zone New Taipei City 2022 - Ticketed Special Research

Ticketed Researches

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Throwback Challenge Celebration 2020 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Tap... Tap... Tappity-Tap... - Ticketed Special Research for Galarian Mr. Mime Event
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png City Spotlight 2020 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Pokémon Air Adventures 2022 - Ticketed Special Research

Other Researches

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Jump-Start Research - 3rd Anniversary, reintroduced in the 4th Anniversary and the 5th Anniversary if not completed before
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Mega Discovery - Introduction to Mega Evolution, Mega Beedrill, August, 2020
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Season of Legends - March, 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png BIDOOF - Bidoof Day, July, 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Voltorb from the Hisui Region?! - Power Plant, January, 2022
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Professor's Research - Available through a code found on the Professor Willow TCG Card
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Melemele Adventure - Season of Alola, March, 2022
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png An Akala Adventure - Season of Alola, March, 2022
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png April Fools' 2-Oh?-22  - April Fools' Day Event, April, 2022
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png An Ula'ula Adventure - Season of Alola, April, 2022
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Mega Moment - Update to Mega Evolution, April, 2022
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Poni Adventure - Season of Alola, May, 2022
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Alola to Alola - Season of Alola, May, 2022
 * Rhi icon.png A Mysterious Incense Part 1 - July, 2022
 * Rhi icon.png A Mysterious Incense Part 2 - July, 2022
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Season of Light Partner Research - Season of Light, September, 2022