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, they keep that Special Research forever until they complete it. Visit the following articles for information about tasks and rewards.

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
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Grass and Gratitude - Shaymin
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png From A to Zygarde - 10% Forme Zygarde
 * 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
 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Rhi icon.png Starry Skies - Cosmog, part of Solstice Horizons. Second copy available for US $5.00

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
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png From the Shadows - March, 2023 to June , 2023
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Shadowy Disturbance - June, 2023 to September , 2023
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Showdown in the Shadows - October, 2023 to December , 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
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Abundant Noise - Ticketed Special Research for February 2023 Community Day featuring Noibat
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Rhi icon.png Field Notes: Slow and Slower - Ticketed Special Research for March 2023 Community Day featuring Slowpoke and Galarian Slowpoke
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Spreading Cheer - Ticketed Special Research for April 2023 Community Day featuring Togetic
 * Professor_Willow icon.png Swinub Community Day Classic - Ticketed Special Research for April 2023 Community Day Classic featuring Swinub
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Fur and Flames - Ticketed Special Research for May 2023 Community Day featuring Fennekin
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Keeping Sharp - Ticketed Special Research for June 2023 Community Day featuring Axew
 * Professor_Willow icon.png Squirtle Community Day Classic - Ticketed Special Research for July 2023 Community Day Classic featuring Squirtle
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Slippery Swirls - Ticketed Special Research for July 2023 Community Day featuring Poliwag
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Bubbly Disposition - Ticketed Special Research for August 2023 Community Day featuring Froakie
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Community Day Classic: Charmander - Ticketed Special Research for September 2023 Community Day Classic featuring Charmander
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Plugging Along - Ticketed Special Research for September 2023 Community Day featuring Grubbin
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Muscle Memories - Ticketed Special Research for October 2023 Community Day featuring Timburr
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Muddy Buddy - Ticketed Special Research for November 2023 Community Day featuring Wooper and Paldean Wooper
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Community Day Classic: Mareep - Ticketed Special Research for November 2023 Community Day Classic featuring Mareep

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

 * 2018
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2018 - Ticketed Special Research
 * 2019
 * 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 - Pokémon 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
 * 2023
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2023: Osaka Park Adventure - Ticketed Special Research for Pokémon GO Fest 2023: Osaka
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Candela icon.png Spark icon.png Blanche icon.png GO Fest 2023: Osaka City Sights - Ticketed Special Research for Pokémon GO Fest 2023: Osaka
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2023: London Park Adventure - Ticketed Special Research for Pokémon GO Fest 2023: London
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Candela icon.png Spark icon.png Blanche icon.png GO Fest 2023: London City Sights - Ticketed Special Research for Pokémon GO Fest 2023: London
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2023: New York City Park Adventure - Ticketed Special Research for Pokémon GO Fest 2023: New York City
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Candela icon.png Spark icon.png Blanche icon.png GO Fest 2023: New York City Sights - Ticketed Special Research for Pokémon GO Fest 2023: New York City
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2023: Fascinating Facets - Ticketed Special Research for Day 1 of Pokémon GO Fest 2023: Global
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2023: Sky-High - Day 2 of Pokémon GO Fest 2023: Global
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png GO Fest 2023: Super Sky-High - Ticketed Special Research for Day 2 of Pokémon GO Fest 2023: Global

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
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Hoenn
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Primal Rumblings - Free Special Research, rewards Ticket that lets Trainers chose between Ruby and Sapphire version
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Masterwork Research: Wish Granted - Ticketed Special Research, Shiny Jirachi
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Team GO Rocket_icon.png Pokémon GO Tour: Hoenn - An Uneasy Alliance - Ticketed Special Research for Las Vegas
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Rhi icon.png Pokémon GO Tour: Hoenn - Chasing Legends - Free Special Research for Global

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
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png City Safari: Seoul 2023 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Seoul City Safari: The Journey Continues - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png City Safari: Barcelona 2023 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Barcelona City Safari: The Journey Continues - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png City Safari: Mexico City 2023 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Mexico City Safari: The Journey Continues - 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
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Special Research: Master Ball - Ticketed Special Research for Party Up!, only available to accounts that did not complete Timed Investigation: Master Ball before the start of the event

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

Season of Legends

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Season of Legends - March, 2021
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png BIDOOF - Bidoof Day, July, 2021

Season of Heritage

 * 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

Season of Alola

 * 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

Season of GO

 * Rhi icon.png An Intriguing Incense Part 1 - July, 2022
 * Rhi icon.png An Intriguing Incense Part 2 - July, 2022

Season of Light

 * Professor_Willow_Season 8 icon.png Season of Light Partner Research - Season of Light, September, 2022
 * Rhi_icon.png Ultra Beast Arrival - Ultra Beast Arrival, November, 2022

Season 10: Rising Heroes

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Let's GO! - Let's GO!, March, 2023
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Pidgey Pandemonium - April Fowl's Day: Pidgey Pandemonium, April, 2023
 * Blanche_icon.png A Mystic Hero - A Mystic Hero, April -, 2023
 * Spark_icon.png An Instinctive Hero - An Instinctive Hero, May -, 2023
 * Candela_icon.png A Valorous Hero - A Valorous Hero, May -, 2023

Hidden Gems

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Catching Some Z's - received by pairing a Pokémon GO Plus + with Pokémon GO

Adventures Abound

 * Professor_Willow_icon.png A Paldean Adventure - Adventures Abound, September - December, 2023
 * Professor_Willow_icon.png Welcome Party - October, 2023

Timeless Travels

 * Mateo_icon.png Professor_Willow_icon.png A Route to New Friendships - Along the Routes, December, 2023