Special Research Tasks (& Rewards)

The Special Research for the Pokémon Go Johto Tour is broken up into nine steps. It will reward trainers with Shiny Gyarados and a Celebi encounter.

While the Pokémon Go Johto Tour is over, the Special Research left behind can still be completed. The Johto Tour was a massive celebration of all things from the Johto region. Not only was it possible for trainers to capture every Johto Pokémon through Collection Challenges, but every Pokémon could appear in its Shiny form. From now on, every Pokémon that debuted in Shiny has its Shiny form available for capture permanently. Since this was such a major event, Professor Willow has a new set of Special Research Tasks to clear out.

These somewhat act as Pokémon Go's version of a story mode, as it adds expositional content that better explains the world of Pokémon. Each Special Research ranges in different lengths, but they can all be completed at the player's own pace. These are much better than Timed Research tasks since there's no urgency to complete them and trainers can clear these missions at their own speed.

The Pokémon Go Johto Tour is broken up into nine different stages and it's only available for trainers who picked up a Johto Tour ticket while it was available. Completing it will also reward access to the Masterworks Research, a new set of missions that unlock Apex Lugia and Apex Ho-Oh. Clearing each step also provides its own set of smaller rewards.

Pokémon Go Johto Tour Special Research in Pokémon Go

Here's how trainers can complete each step in Pokémon Go.

Step 1/9

• Send a gift to a friend: 1 Incense.
• Use an Incense: 50 Poké Balls.
• Catch 20 Pokémon: 3 Nanab Berries.
• Rewards: Ho-Oh Wings, 50 Poké Balls, 1 Lucky Egg.

Step 2/9: Players will need to choose between Totodile, Cynadquil, or Chikorita.

Step 3/9

• Claim reward: Starter Pokémon of choice encounter.
• Catch 15 different species of Pokémon: 25 candy for starter Pokémon of choice.
• Evolve Starter Pokémon: 1 Poffin.
• Rewards: 1 Lugia Glasses Avatar Item, Dunsparce Encounter, 25 Ledyba Candy for Gold, and 25 Spinarak Candy for Silver.

Step 4/9

• Defeat 3 Team Go Rocket Members: 5 Revives.
• Purify 3 Shadow Pokémon: 500 Stardust.
• Earn 3000 Stardust: 1 Super Potion.
• Rewards: 3 Rocket Radars, 1 Qwilfish encounter, 25 Mantine candy if the player chose Gold, 25 Phanpy Candy if the player chose Silver.

Step 5/9

• Complete 3 Field Research Tasks: 50 Poké Balls.
• Make 5 Great Throws: 2 Metal Coats.
• Catch 20 Pokémon: 50 Candy for the starter Pokémon the player chose.
• Rewards: 3 Rocket Radars, 1 Shiny Gyarados encounter, and 50 candy for the starter Pokémon.

Step 6/9

• Evolve your Johto Starter: 50 Great Balls.
• Power up Pokémon 5 times: 100 Stardust.
• Earn a candy walking with your buddy: 2 Sun Stones.
• Rewards: 1 Egg Incubator, 1 Standtler encounter, 25 Ledyba Candy for Gold, and 25 Spinarak Candy for Silver.

Step 7/9

• Send a gift with a sticker: 25 Ultra Balls.
• Hatch 2 Eggs: 1 Upgrade.
• Complete 5 Field Research Tasks: 2 Kings Rock.
• Rewards: 1 Lure Module, Hitmontop encounter, 25 Mantine Candy for Gold, 25 Phanpy Candy for Silver.

Step 8/9

• Earn 3 hearts with your buddy: 1 Star Piece.
• Make 3 Nice Throws in a row: 1000 XP.
• Transfer 20 Pokémon: 3 Rare Candy
• Rewards: 1 Ho-Oh T-Shirt if Gold, 1 Lugia T-Shirt if Silver, Celebi encounter, 1000 Stardust.

Step 9/9

• Claim Reward: 1,000 XP.
• Claim Reward: 1,500 Stardust.
• Claim Reward: 1,000 XP.
• Rewards: 1 Lure Module, 25 Celebi Candy, and 4,500 Stardust.

The free XP, Lure Modules, and cosmetics items are all worth the effort. With both the Kanto and Johto Tour finished, it's likely the next major event for 2023 will be a Hoenn Tour. Of course, there's the Pokémon Go fest that's scheduled to happen later this year. With this being the 25th anniversary of the Pokémon series, all facets of the franchise are firing from all angles. While new trainers can't participate in this special research, there will be other events with their own set of premium features.

More: Pokémon GO: Johto Debuts New Shiny Pokémon

Pokémon Go is available now on iOS and Android.