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

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 can not be unlocked while a previous one is in progress, making it possible to miss newer ones.


 * Looming in the Shadows - November 2019
 * A Challenging Development - December 2019
 * The Take-Over Continues - January 2020
 * A Professor’s Work is Never Done - February 2020
 * The Shadowy Threat Grows - March and April 2020
 * Time to Train - Unreleased, intended for May 2020
 * An Inter-egg-sting Development - late 2020
 * The Higher They Fly... - March 2021
 * A Seven-Colored Shadow - Summer 2021

Community Day

 * Celebrate 2019 - December 2019 Community Day, a bonus for the end of year
 * 2020
 * Investigating Illusions - Ticketed Special Research for April 2020 Community Day featuring Abra
 * Seeing Double - Ticketed Special Research for May 2020 Community Day featuring Seedot
 * A Hairy Situation - Unreleased Special Research for June 2020 Community Day featuring Weedle
 * The Great Gastly - Ticketed Special Research for July 2020 Community Day featuring Gastly
 * Making a Splash - Ticketed Special Research for August 2020 Community Day featuring Magikarp
 * Decoding Porygon - Ticketed Special Research for September 2020 Community Day featuring Porygon
 * A Tale of Tails - Ticketed Special Research for October 2020 Community Day featuring Charmander
 * Electric for Electabuzz - Ticketed Special Research for November 2020 Community Day - Electabuzz
 * No Match for Magmar - Ticketed Special Research for November 2020 Community Day - Magmar
 * December Community Day - Ticketed Special Research for December 2020 Community Day
 * 2021
 * Straight to the Top, Machop! - Ticketed Special Research for January 2021 Community Day featuring Machop
 * Stop and Smell the Roselia - Ticketed Special Research for February 2021 Community Day featuring Roselia
 * The Bravest Bird - Ticketed Special Research for March 2021 Community Day featuring Fletchling
 * Snivy in the Sunshine - Ticketed Special Research for April 2021 Community Day featuring Snivy
 * Cotton-Winged Bird - Ticketed Special Research for May 2021 Community Day featuring Swablu
 * Just a Nibble - Ticketed Special Research for June 2021 Community Day featuring Gible
 * Roasted Berries - Ticketed Special Research for July 2021 Community Day featuring Tepig
 * What You Choose to Be - Ticketed Special Research for August 2021 Community Day featuring Eevee
 * From Scalchops to Seamitars - Ticketed Special Research for September 2021 Community Day featuring Oshawott
 * Nothin' Dull About Duskull - Ticketed Special Research for October 2021 Community Day featuring Duskull
 * Flash, Spark, and Gleam - Ticketed Special Research for November 2021 Community Day featuring Shinx
 * December Community Day 2021 - Ticketed Special Research for December 2021 Community Day
 * 2022
 * The Spheal Deal - Ticketed Special Research for January 2022 Community Day featuring Spheal
 * Bulbasaur Community Day: Classic - Ticketed Special Research for Community Day Classic: Back To Bulbasaur featuring Bulbasaur
 * A Hop, Skip, and Jump Away - Ticketed Special Research for February 2022 Community Day featuring Hoppip
 * Gritty and Glacial - Ticketed Special Research for March 2022 Community Day featuring Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew

Level-specific Research

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

Halloween

 * A Spooky Message - Halloween 2018 and 2019
 * A Spooky Message Unmasked - Halloween 2020
 * What Lies beneath the Mask? - Halloween 2021

GO Fest

 * GO Fest 2018 - Ticketed Special Research
 * GO Fest 2019 - Ticketed Special Research, three versions for each location of GO Fest
 * 2020
 * GO Fest 2020: Welcome! - Ticketed Special Research for Day 1 of GO Fest 2020
 * GO Fest 2020: Rocket Straight to Victory - Ticketed Special Research for Day 2 of GO Fest 2020
 * 2021
 * The Melody Pokémon - Ticketed Special Research for Day 1 of GO Fest 2021
 * Strange Rings - Day 2 of GO Fest 2021

GO Tour

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

Safari Zone

 * Safari Zone Yokosuka - Ticketed Special Research
 * Safari Zone St. Louis 2020 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Safari Zone Liverpool 2020 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Safari Zone Philadelphia 2020 - Ticketed Special Research

Other Research

 * Jump-Start Research - 3rd Anniversary, reintroduced in the 4th Anniversary and the 5th Anniversary if not completed before
 * Throwback Challenge Celebration 2020 - Ticketed Special Research
 * A Mega Discovery - Mega Beedrill, introduction to Mega Evolution
 * Tap... Tap... Tappity-Tap... - Ticketed Special Research for Galarian Mr. Mime Event
 * Season of Legends
 * BIDOOF - Bidoof Day
 * Voltorb from the Hisui Region?! - Power Plant
 * City Spotlight 2020 - Ticketed Special Research
 * Professor's Research - available through a code found on the Professor Willow TCG Card
 * A Melemele Adventure - March, 2022
 * An Akala Adventure - March, 2022
 * Ula'ula Island Special Research - April, 2022
 * Poni Island Special Research - May, 2022
 * End-of-Season Special Research - May, 2022