List of Special Research tasks

For the list of research campaigns that are only accessible for a specific period of time, see list of Timed 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

Main article: Legendary Pokémon

Main article: Mythical Pokémon

• Story Research
  • A Mythical Discovery - Mew, unlocks at Level 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
  • Finding Your Voice - Meloetta
• Time-restricted Research
  • 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 14^th, 2020 and February 28^th, 2021
  • All-in-One #151 - Shiny Mew, unlocked by completing the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto Special Research, purchased on February 20^th, 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

Main article: 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.

• 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
• Silent Schemes - Spring 2022

Community Day

Main article: 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
  • Mudkip Community Day Classic - Ticketed Special Research for Community Day Classic: Memories of Mudkip featuring Mudkip
  • Strong Stuff - Ticketed Special Research for April 2022 Community Day featuring Stufful
  • A Rocky Road - Ticketed Special Research for May 2022 Community Day featuring Alolan Geodude
  • Field Notes: Deino - Ticketed Special Research for June 2022 Community Day featuring Deino

Level-specific Research

Main article: Trainer experience

• 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

Main article: Halloween

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

GO Fest

Main article: Pokémon GO Fest

• GO Fest 2018 - Ticketed Special Research
• GO Fest 2019 - Ticketed Special Research
• 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
• 2022
  • 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's Arrival - Day 2 of GO Fest 2022
  • A Radiant World - Ticketed Special Research for Day 2 of GO Fest 2022

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

Main article: Pokémon GO 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
• Safari Zone Seville 2022 - Ticketed Special Research

Ticketed Research

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

Other Research

• Jump-Start Research - 3rd Anniversary, reintroduced in the 4th Anniversary and the 5th Anniversary if not completed before
• A Mega Discovery - Introduction to Mega Evolution, Mega Beedrill, August 27^th, 2020
• Season of Legends - March 1^st, 2021
• BIDOOF - Bidoof Day, July 1^st, 2021
• Voltorb from the Hisui Region?! - Power Plant, January 19^th, 2022
• Professor's Research - Available through a code found on the Professor Willow TCG Card
• A Melemele Adventure - Season of Alola, March 1^st, 2022
• An Akala Adventure - Season of Alola, March 22^nd, 2022
• April Fools' 2-Oh?-22 - April Fools' Day Event, April 1^st, 2022
• An Ula'ula Adventure - Season of Alola, April 12^th, 2022
• A Mega Moment - Update to Mega Evolution, April 29^th, 2022
• A Poni Adventure - Season of Alola, May 10^th, 2022
• Alola to Alola - Season of Alola, May 25^th, 2022