Research Tasks List

DownWithTTP is in love with the task system and has completed around 1250 in the first 6 weeks of availability despite primarily playing in the suburbs. Find out how he has been able to cycle through quests while attempting to maximize the value of each.

We received tasks at the end of March, and it has been one of the best additions to the game so far. Quests give players the opportunity to gain items/encounters while working towards Research Breakthroughs… a Legendary encounter and other rewards too!

Tasks are wonderful if you can use them correctly. For a plus user, any way to get more red balls is welcomed with open arms. For item starved rural players, they offer another way to get potions, revives, balls, and berries. For those who don’t put money in the game, the encounters can almost function like a junior incubator. Most importantly, they offer a fun new dynamic to the game.

This list is of all known Research Tasks available after March 30th. Research Tasks are divided into three categories:

• Field Research - Single-objective goals such as spinning PokeStops and catching Pokemon that reward items and one "stamp" (1 per day)
• Special Research - Story based multi-objective goals such as catching and transferring Pokemon that have unknown rewards
• Research Breakthrough - Rewards based on collecting stamps that reward Stardust, items, and a Pokemon encounter. 

Task Mechanics

A trainer can hold up to 3 tasks at a time. Also, trainers can trash as task if they do not want to try to complete it.

Trainers receive tasks from spinning PokeStops (not gyms). Each Pokestop gives the same task to all trainers during the day. If the reward is an encounter, all trainers receive the same species (though IVs will differ). If you get a task on Monday from a stop and don’t clear it until Tuesday, you will not be able to get a task from that same PokeStop on Tuesday.

Once you receive a task, you will not receive another one from that PokeStop. However, if you delete a task, you can go back to that stop later in the day to get it again.

Tasks give a variety of rewards, often based on the challenge you had to complete. Rewards can be encounters, Stardust, or items such as balls, potions, revives, TMs, and Rare Candy. Generally, more difficult tasks will have higher rewards.

Encounters from tasks are level 15 Pokemon with IVs of at least 10 in all 3 stats. After clearing an encounter task, you will be taken to the encounter. The Pokemon will not be weather boosted regardless of the in-game weather. You can run from the encounter and come back to it in the future.

Once you clear an encounter task, you can immediately collect a new task. Interestingly enough, you can save a large number of encounters! Some trainers do this and choose to catch them during a Lucky Egg or Star Piece session.

Each day when you complete your first task, you receive a Research Stamp. When you have 7 stamps, you will receive a Research Breakthrough.

It appears that tasks and Research Breakthrough encounters will change monthly. There are also special tasks during Community Day, and it appears that tasks will be somehow integrated with Go Fest.

General Tips

• Special research tasks do not give a daily stamp - only field research does
• Minimum level for Special Research is level 5
• Pokemon encounters appear to be at level

• Many players have a “refill loop” or “grind loop” of stops and gyms in their PoGo lives, often one they hit multiple times each day.. If you have the option, add a second loop. Having multiple loops will greatly increase the number of tasks seen

• Try to keep one open task so you can always pick a new one up when you visit a Pokestop for the first time in a day.

• Find a network of players to report tasks, perhaps through your raid chat of choice. You won’t be able to check every stop, so if people call out TM, Rare Candy or Chansey quests it can really help.

• Some communities have focused on calling out Charmander encounter quests. This is a great way to farm high IV Pokemon before a community day.

• Some encounters have very large hit-boxes. Save these for when you are working on a 3 excellent or 3 great throw in a row quest.

• Try not to hold more than 1 long term quest. Remember there is an opportunity cost to holding 3 “Catch a Ditto for 3 Rare Candy” tasks. Obviously the payoff is awesome, but in the meantime you are missing out on so many other potential rewards from other tasks you cannot get.

• Don’t miss a day of Research Progress. If you don’t think you can play much tomorrow, leave one task unclaimed today. Tomorrow you can wake up, claim the task, and make progress towards your Research Breakthrough.

• Consider weather, biome, and active events when deciding whether to keep or delete a task. You likely aren’t going to quickly complete the “3 Pidgey or Murkrow” task on a sunny day during a rock event, but you should blow through “catch 5 Pokemon with Weather Boost” on a cloudy day during a fighting event.

• If you don’t throw excellents well, it’s not the end of the world to toss a task requiring an excellent throw. Holding on to tasks without substantial rewards for a long period of time is a big mistake.

• In general, take your playstyle into account when deciding to keep or delete a task. Do you battle gyms constantly? Then the Minium task isn’t bad as you will quickly turn it over. Did you already use your raid pass for the day? Then don’t hold on to that “Defeat a level 3 raid for some potions” type tasks. Free to play? Then the hatch 3 eggs” quest is probably an easy one to delete.

• Have a task that you know you cannot complete quickly at a stop near your house? Well trash that task while you grind. Then as you return home you can grab it later in the day. That way you can cycle through more tasks without it clogging your inventory.

• Remember that reward encounters and the Research Breakthrough reward have a 0% flee rate. Use pinaps liberally!

• Keep track of local nests. “Catch 3 Bugs” is much easier when you know there is a Caterpie nest a couple blocks away.