Field Research and Special Research literally game-changing features in Pokémon Go, offering rewards to players for skill-based activities. Plus, they unlock the mythical Pokémon Mew. Here’s what you need to know.
One criticism levelled at Pokémon Go is that it rewards players who live in cities. For rural players, it can be hard or impossible to organise enough people to battle raid bosses. This means they don’t get the chance to catch powerful and rare Pokémon, nor get the rewards for beating the raid boss.
The new Research system aims to change that by introducing challenges that players can accomplish alone, although there are plans to expand Research to encompass group play as well.
For now, there are two types of research: Field and Special. Let’s explore each in turn.
To get stared, tap the new binoculars icon near the bottom right corner. You’ll be taken to the Research screen which is divided into two tabs, one for each type.
Field Research needs to be gathered by spinning PokéStops. You can get one task per day from each PokéStop, and gyms don’t count. There’s no limit to how many you can complete, but you’ll have to go to other PokéStops to get those tasks.
Tasks can vary from battling in a gym to catching a Pokémon of a certain type, and reward you with some berries or a Pokémon encounter.
That’s pretty easy, but harder challenges yield better rewards. You might get some rare candy, otherwise only available to Trainers who successfully defeat a raid boss.
Similarly, win three raids, you’re guaranteed a Technical Machine. Another of the tasks is to land three Great throws in a row, a challenge even for experienced players.
The system means you can take on the challenges you want to get the rewards you want.
That’s right: you don’t have to complete challenges in order, nor do you have to do every single one you receive from a PokéStop (unlike the frustrating egg-hatching system). A little bin icon at the top-right of each challenge is there so you can discard those you don’t want.
You can have up to three Field Research tasks in the list, and progress through them at your own pace: there’s no need to win those three gym battles on the same day. Equally, there’s no limit to how many challenges you can complete each day.
Some quests have specific requirements, so you may have to reach a certain level in the game, or have a specific medal for that type of Pokémon.
At the top of the Field Research screen is your progress bar. So long as you complete one challenge on a particular day and tap on ‘Claim Reward’ you’ll receive a stamp. Get seven stamps and you’ll make a ‘Research Breakthrough’, which brings more rewards including Stardust, items (berries and more) and the appearance of a Pokémon which you have the chance to catch, and it could be a Legendary. Word has it that it’s Moltres.
Unlike the daily and weekly bonus streaks, you don’t have to collect one stamp per day. If you miss a day, your progress is not reset. The timer resets at midnight, so you can collect one stamp at 11.50pm and another at 00.01am.
There are currently 16 types of Research which include:
Reward for completing quests include:
On the other tab in the new section is Special Research. This is given by Professor Willow who, thus far, hasn’t really been present in Pokémon Go aside from his very basic guide for beginners.
Special Research is more involved than Field Research, and works more like an interactive story.
Like Field Research, tasks will vary in difficulty. One of the aims behind Research is to help new players get to grips with all the features of the game. So initial Special Research tasks include transferring five Pokémon to the Professor, spinning five PokéStops and catching 10 Pokémon.
These quests all reward you with 500XP, but are grouped and must be completed before you can progress to the part 2. When you’ve claimed all three rewards, scroll down and collect the bonus for completing that part, which includes a three-use incubator.
Currently there are eight parts, and you have to make it through all before you get a chance to catch Mew. Apparently, the catch rate for Mew is 100% (just like a shiny Lugia) so it won’t run away.
Here are some tips for completing research tasks:
