Research Tasks List

Special Research Lines come in two main flavors: Unlimited and Limited. Unlimited lines unlock at specific points in the game, and  are available to complete at the player's leisure. Limited lines have specific requirements to unlock such as playing during a specific time period, and may or may not have a time-limit. 

Research Tasks are divided into four categories:

• Field Research - Single-objective goals such as spinning PokeStops and catching Pokemon that reward items and one "stamp" (1 per day). These are the tasks outlined above.
• Special Research - Story based multi-objective goals such as catching and transferring Pokemon that have unknown rewards
• Paid Research - Similar to Special Research, but a ticket must be purchased in order to actually enjoy these Research lines. These are frequently tied to events or seasons.
• 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, 4 including an AR task. Also, trainers can trash a task if they do not want to try to complete it.

Trainers receive tasks from spinning PokeStops, and 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 as 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.

Various events frequently have their own unique set of tasks with event-themed rewards. Community Days in particular bend the Research rule a bit, as the research assigned to each Stop for the day changes to Community Day-themed research for the duration of the event, and revert back to normal after the event. Note that completing research from a given stop at any point during a given day will cause it to remain claimed for the rest of said day regardless of event-themed task changes. 

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.

Research Breakthrough rewards change each season.

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.