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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 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
- 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 27th, 2020
- Season of Legends - March 1st, 2021
- BIDOOF - Bidoof Day, July 1st, 2021
- Voltorb from the Hisui Region?! - Power Plant, January 19th, 2022
- Professor's Research - Available through a code found on the Professor Willow TCG Card
- A Melemele Adventure - Season of Alola, March 1st, 2022
- An Akala Adventure - Season of Alola, March 22nd, 2022
- April Fools' 2-Oh?-22 - April Fools' Day Event, April 1st, 2022
- An Ula'ula Adventure - Season of Alola, April 12th, 2022
- A Mega Moment - Update to Mega Evolution, April 29th, 2022
- A Poni Adventure - Season of Alola, May 10th, 2022
- Alola to Alola - Season of Alola, May 25th, 2022