For the Season of Alola in Pokémon GO, Trainers will get to enjoy a Season-long Special Research! This questline will have Trainers completing various tasks, while also enjoying the debut of several Pokémon from Alola. Since the Season is all about this Hawaii-inspired region, the Special Research is themed after islands found in the Alola region!
Similar to the Season of Mischief’s Special Research, the Season of Alola’s will be released in multiple waves throughout March, April, and May. If Trainers are able to complete all four different Special Research Stories by Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 at 9:59 a.m. your local time, they’ll get a bonus Special Research line. Trainers who are unable to finish all four Special Research Stories in time can purchase the bonus Special Research line for $4.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency).
In order to get that bonus Special Research for free, follow our guide and plan how you can complete all these tasks in time!
A Melemele Adventure
Distribution begins: Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time.
Must complete (with all other Season of Alola Special Research) to get the bonus Special Research line before: Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 at 9:59 a.m. your local time.
| A Melemele Adventure | |
|---|---|
| Step 1/4 | Reward |
| Catch 10 Pokémon | Alolan Rattata Encounter |
| Send 3 Gifts and add a Sticker to each | 10 Poké Balls |
| Catch 5 Normal-type Pokémon | Yungoos Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 10 Pinap Berries, 500 XP, and 500 Stardust |
| Step 2/4 | Reward |
| Take a snapshot of a wild Pokémon | 5 Razz Berries |
| Use 7 Berries to help catch Pokémon | 10 Great Balls |
| Catch 10 Pokémon | Pikipek Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 1 Charged TM, 500 XP, and 500 Stardust |
| Step 3/4 | Reward |
| Catch 6 Normal-type Pokémon | Yungoos Encounter |
| Catch 3 different species of Normal-type Pokémon | Yungoos Encounter |
| Spin 5 PokéStops or Gyms | Alolan Raticate Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 1 Premium Battle Pass, 1,000 XP, and 1,000 Stardust |
| Step 4/4 | Reward |
| Send 5 Gifts to Friends | 10 Great Balls |
| Catch 15 Pokémon | 7 Pinap Berries |
| Win a Raid | Alolan Meowth Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 15 Ultra Balls, 8,000 XP, and 3,000 Stardust |
An Akala Adventure
Distribution begins: Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time.
Must complete (with all other Season of Alola Special Research) to get the bonus Special Research line before: Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 at 9:59 a.m. your local time.
| An Akala Adventure | |
|---|---|
| Step 1/4 | Reward |
| Catch 10 Pokémon | 10 Poké Balls |
| Complete 3 Field Research tasks | Pikachu Encounter |
| Catch 7 different species of Pokémon | 5 Pinap Berries |
| Completion Reward | Fomantis Encounter, 500 XP, and 500 Stardust |
| Step 2/4 | Reward |
| Use 4 Berries to help catch Pokémon | Parasect Encounter |
| Catch 2 Water-type Pokémon | Alomomola Encounter |
| Take 3 snapshots of Fire-type Pokémon | Alolan Marowak Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 1 Charged TM, 500 XP, and 500 Stardust |
| Step 3/4 | Reward |
| Power up Pokémon 5 times | 7 Razz Berries |
| Walk 2 km | 10 Poké Balls |
| Take 3 snapshots of wild Pokémon | 10 Nanab Berries |
| Completion Reward | 1 Premium Battle Pass, 1,000 XP, and 1,000 Stardust |
| Step 4/4 | Reward |
| Send 5 Gifts to Friends | 10 Great Balls |
| Catch 15 Pokémon | 7 Pinap Berries |
| Win a Raid | Alolan Diglett Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 15 Ultra Balls, 8,000 XP, and 3,000 Stardust |
An Ula’ula Adventure
Distribution begins: Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time.
Must complete (with all other Season of Alola Special Research) to get the bonus Special Research line before: Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 at 9:59 a.m. your local time.
| An Ula'ula Adventure | |
|---|---|
| Step 1/4 | Reward |
| Catch 10 Pokémon | 10 Poké Balls |
| Complete 3 Field Research tasks | 5 Pinap Berries |
| Earn 5 hearts with your Buddy | 8 Razz Berries |
| Completion Reward | Weepinbell Encounter, 500 XP, and 500 Stardust |
| Step 2/4 | Reward |
| Take 3 snapshots of Wild Pokémon | Oddish Encounter |
| Use 7 Berries to help catch Pokémon | Seedot Encounter |
| Catch 5 Pokémon with Weather Boost | Sunkern Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 1 Charged TM, 500 XP, and 500 Stardust |
| Step 3/4 | Reward |
| Walk 2 km | Alolan Geodude Encounter |
| Complete 5 Field Research tasks | 15 Poké Balls |
| Catch 5 different species of Pokémon | Alolan Sandshrew Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 1 Premium Battle Pass, 1,000 XP, and 1,000 Stardust |
| Step 4/4 | Reward |
| Send 5 Gifts to friends | 10 Great Balls |
| Catch 15 Pokémon | 7 Pinap Berries |
| Win a Raid | Alolan Vulpix Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 15 Ultra Balls, 8,000 XP, and 3,000 Stardust |
A Poni Adventure
Distribution begins: Tuesday, May 10th, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time.
Must complete (with all other Season of Alola Special Research) to get the bonus Special Research line before: Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 at 9:59 a.m. your local time.
| A Poni Adventure | |
|---|---|
| Step 1/4 | Reward |
| Catch 10 Pokémon | 10 Poké Balls |
| Power up Pokémon 5 times | 5 Razz Berries |
| Defeat 2 Team GO Rocket Grunts | 3 Hyper Potions |
| Completion Reward | Alolan Raticate Encounter, 500 XP, and 500 Stardust |
| Step 2/4 | Reward |
| Catch 3 Water-type Pokémon | Tentacruel Encounter |
| Take a snapshot of a Water-type Pokémon in your Pokémon storage | Wailmer Encounter |
| Use 5 Berries to help catch Pokémon | Wingull Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 1 Fast TM, 500 XP, and 500 Stardust |
| Step 3/4 | Reward |
| Walk 2 km | Miltank Encounter |
| Catch 15 Pokémon | 10 Great Balls |
| Spin 5 PokéStops or Gyms | Stufful Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 1 Premium Battle Pass, 1,000 XP, and 1,000 Stardust |
| Step 4/4 | Reward |
| Send 5 Gifts to friends | 10 Great Balls |
| Catch 15 Pokémon | 7 Pinap Berries |
| Win a Raid | Alolan Exeggutor Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 15 Ultra Balls, 8,000 XP, and 3,000 Stardust |
End of the Season Special Research – Alola to Alola
Distribution begins: Wednesday, May 25th, 2022 at 10 a.m. your local time. Can acquire for free if the previous four Special Research stories have been completed AND/OR purchase for US$4.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency) via the in-game shop.
Distribution ends: Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 at 9:59 a.m. your local time.
This particular part of the Special Research is currently unreleased, yet Niantic has announced it will have four branching paths. Tables detailing the steps, tasks, and rewards for all four branching paths (Melemele Island path, Akala Island path, Ula’ula Island path, and Poni Island path), will be made available once the Special Research is live in-game.
NOTE: As of Tuesday, May 24th, 2022 at 11 p.m. PT, the bonus Special Research Story ticket has been removed from the in-game shop due to issues. Niantic made this announcement via the Niantic Support Twitter account and will update Trainers when the ticket has been made available again.
Special Research: Alola to Alola
| Alola to Alola | |
|---|---|
| Step 1/4 | Reward |
| Catch 1 Pokémon | Rowlet Encounter |
| Catch 4 Pokémon | Litten Encounter |
| Catch 7 Pokémon | Popplio Encounter |
| Completion Reward | 1,000 XP, 500 Stardust, and 15 Poké Balls |
| Step 2/4 | Reward |
| Choose A Path: Melemele Island | Special Research is focused on Melemele Island. |
| Choose A Path: Akala Island | Special Research is focused on Akala Island. |
| Choose A Path: Ula'ula Island | Special Research is focused on Ula'ula Island. |
| Choose A Path: Poni Island | Special Research is focused on Poni Island. |
Special Research: Alola to Alola – Melemele Island path
| Alola to Alola - Melemele Island | |
|---|---|
| Step 3/4 | Reward |
| Catch 10 Pokémon | 5 Razz Berries |
| Make 3 Nice Throws | 15 Great Balls |
| Send 5 Gifts to Friends | 1 Poffin |
| Completion Reward | 1,500 XP, 1,500 Stardust, and 3 Silver Pinap Berries |
| Step 4/4 | Reward |
| Send 15 Gifts to Friends | 1 Poffin |
| Take 5 snapshots of Wild Pokémon | 15 Ultra Balls |
| Trade Pokémon 3 times | 1 Star Piece |
| Earn 10 hearts with your Buddy | 3 Golden Razz Berries |
| Make a new Friend | 1 Lure Module |
| Completion Reward | Alolan Raichu* Encounter, 4 Lucky Eggs, and 1 Pom-Pom Style Oricorio Hat |
Special Research: Alola to Alola – Akala Island path
| Alola to Alola - Akala Island | |
|---|---|
| Step 3/4 | Reward |
| Catch 10 Pokémon | 5 Razz Berries |
| Make 3 Nice Throws | 15 Great Balls |
| Walk 2 km | 1 Incense |
| Completion Reward | 1,500 XP, 1,500 Stardust, and 3 Silver Pinap Berries |
| Step 4/4 | Reward |
| Walk 7 km | 1 Incense |
| Spin 10 PokéStops or Gyms | 15 Ultra Balls |
| Complete 3 Field Research tasks | 1 Star Piece |
| Take 5 snapshots of Wild Pokémon | 3 Golden Razz Berries |
| Hatch 3 Eggs | 1 Super Incubator |
| Completion Reward | Alolan Marowak* Encounter, 2 Incubators, and 1 Pa'u Style Oricorio Hat |
Special Research: Alola to Alola – Ula’ula Island path
| Alola to Alola - Ula'ula Island | |
|---|---|
| Step 3/4 | Reward |
| Catch 10 Pokémon | 5 Razz Berries |
| Make 3 Nice Throws | 15 Great Balls |
| Catch 5 different species of Pokémon | 1 Lure Module |
| Completion Reward | 1,500 XP, 1,500 Stardust, and 3 Silver Pinap Berries |
| Step 4/4 | Reward |
| Catch 30 Pokémon | 1 Glacial Lure Module |
| Make 10 Curveball Throws | 15 Ultra Balls |
| Use 15 Berries to help catch Pokémon | 1 Star Piece |
| Make 5 Nice Curveball Throws in a row | 3 Golden Razz Berries |
| Catch 15 different species of Pokémon | 1 Magnetic Lure Module |
| Completion Reward | Alolan Vulpix* Encounter, 4 Incense, and 1 Baile Style Oricorio Hat |
Special Research: Alola to Alola – Poni Island path
| Alola to Alola - Poni Island | |
|---|---|
| Step 3/4 | Reward |
| Catch 10 Pokémon | 5 Razz Berries |
| Make 3 Nice Throws | 15 Great Balls |
| Defeat 2 Team GO Rocket Grunts | 1 Rocket Radar |
| Completion Reward | 1,500 XP, 1,500 Stardust, and 3 Silver Pinap Berries |
| Step 4/4 | Reward |
| Battle in the GO Battle League 10 times | 1 Rocket Radar |
| Defeat 4 Team GO Rocket Grunts | 15 Ultra Balls |
| Power up Pokémon 10 times | 1 Star Piece |
| Defeat a Team GO Rocket Leader | 3 Golden Razz Berries |
| Win 3 Trainer Battles in the GO Battle League | 1 Premium Battle Pass |
| Completion Reward | Alolan Exeggutor* Encounter, 4 Incense, and 1 Sensu Style Oricorio Hat |
Additional Notes:
- Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
- Trainers that get the bonus Special Research Story for free can buy the Special Research story as well, allowing them to complete another branching path and get additional rewards.
- Trainers will not get a duplicate Oricorio Hat if they repeat the same Special Research Story branch (i.e.: Complete the Melemele Island path twice, one free and one paid, will only result in one Pom-Pom Style Oricorio Hat.)
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Written by Jennifer Burch
Illustrator, designer, writer and big Nintendo geek, you can find Jennifer with an N3DS within reach 24/7. As the oldest of three, she has survived many Mario Party, Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart sessions intact in addition to getting her brothers hooked on some really weird games. (Cubivore anyone?)
