Pokémon GO’s Season of Precious Paths’ Celestial Research Day event guide

To celebrate the winter solstice, Lunatone and Solrock will be featured in a Field Research-focused event. Paid Timed Research will also be available, allowing Trainers with more encounters with both Pokémon.

Now, check out what’s happening during the Celestial Research Day event with our guide below:

 

Pokémon GO’s Season of Precious Paths – Celestial Research Day

Begins: Saturday, December 20th, 2025 at 2 p.m. your local time.

Ends: Saturday, December 20th, 2025 at 5 p.m. your local time.

 

Pokémon featured – Lunatone and Solrock

 

 

Lunatone and Solrock will be easier to track down as they’ll be available as catch encounter rewards via special Field Research tasks obtained during the event and a paid Timed Research (which the later must be completed and redeemed before the event ends). Both Pokémon can be shiny in these encounters and will have the same shiny rate in Field and Timed Research encounters.

 

Event Bonuses

• Increased chance of encountering Shiny Lunatone and Shiny Solrock in event research tasks
  • The shiny rate is the same for encounters via Field Research tasks and the paid Timed Research tasks

 

This event overlaps with the Winter Holiday Part 1 event, so the following bonus (and more) will be active:

• Increased chance to hatch Shiny Pichu wearing a festive hat and Shiny Cubchoo wearing a holiday ribbon from 7 km Eggs

 

Plus, the following Season of Precious Paths bonuses will be in effect:

• One additional Special Trade per day
• Increased Stardust for the first catch of the day
• Increased friendship bonus damage dealt by Pokémon in Raids

 

From Thursday, December 18th, 2025 at 10 a.m. to Monday, December 29th, 2025 at 8 p.m. your local time, the GO Pass: Winter Holiday 2025 will be issued to all Trainers. Bonuses tied to three different tiers will be available in both the free version and the deluxe version.

• Free version:
  • Tier 1: 2× XP from sending Gifts
  • Tier 2: Additional items may be rewarded from opening Gifts
  • Tier 3: 50% more XP for winning Raid Battles
• GO Pass Deluxe:
  • Tier 1: 2× Stardust from opening Gifts
  • Tier 2: 1/2 Egg Hatch Distance when Eggs are placed in an Incubator during the event period
  • Tier 3: 2× XP from catching Pokémon

 

And if Trainers purchase the GO Pass Deluxe for the December GO Pass, then the following bonuses will also be active until January 2nd, 2026 at 9 a.m. your local time:

• Tier 1: 
  • Open up to 40 Gifts per day
  • Receive up to 125 Gifts per day from spinning PokéStop and Gym Photo Discs
  • Hold up to 10 additional Gifts in your Item Bag
• Tier 2:
  • 2× Daily Adventure Incense duration
• Tier 3:
  • Additional rewards for completing in-person Raids and Max Battles

 

Event Boxes

If any special event boxes or bundles are released during the event, they’ll be listed here once the event is live. Daily bundles are also available and can be viewed online via the Pokémon GO Web Store.

• Celestial Research Day Ultra Ticket Box (US$1.99, limit 1, Pokémon GO Web Store only): 1 Event Ticket (Paid Timed Research), 2 Rare Candies, and +24 Reward Points.

 

Field Research Tasks

There will be event-exclusive Field Research Tasks available and the rewards include the following Pokémon encounters: Lunatone* and Solrock*. These Field Research Tasks can be found when spinning PokéStops (and acquired if you have an open slot in your Field Research menu) when the event is active.

A complete list of tasks and rewards will be shared here once the event is live.

 

• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter
• Task: Use 3 Pinap Berries while catching Pokémon
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter
• Task: Make 3 Great Throws
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter
• Task: Make 5 Curveball Throws
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter
• Task: Make 3 Nice Curveball Throws
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter
• Task: Power up Pokémon 3 times
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter
• Task: Battle in a Gym
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter
• Task: Use a Super Effective Charged Attack
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter
• Task: Spin 2 PokéStops or Gyms
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter
• Task: Earn 3 hearts with your Buddy
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter
• Task: Send 3 Gifts and add a Sticker to each
  • Reward: Lunatone* OR Solrock* encounter

 

Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”

 

PokéStop Showcase

During the event, PokéStop Showcases might be active. The theme of these contests is to submit the biggest Pokémon being requested. This section will be updated if PokéStop Showcases are scheduled and active.

• Saturday, December 20th, 2025 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, December 21st, 2025 at 8 p.m. your local time: Lunatone and Solrock.

 

Paid Ticket – Lunatone Premium Timed Research and Solrock Premium Timed Research

During the Celestial Research Day event, Trainers can purchase a ticket to access two event-themed Timed Research quests. For US$1.99 OR US$2.00 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), you’ll get the Lunatone Premium Timed Research and Solrock Premium Timed Research which rewards Trainers with the following (if tasks are completed within the time limit): encounters with Lunatone* and Solrock*, as well as Stardust and XP.

According to the fine print, “[t]ickets are nonrefundable (subject to applicable law and the exceptions set forth in the Terms of Service).” Tickets can also be gifted to Trainers you’re friends with provided that you have a Friendship level of Great Friends or higher with them. This can be done via the in-game shop and by selecting the “Gift” button instead of the “Buy” button. Tickets purchased for friends are nonrefundable as well.

Please keep in mind that Timed Research quests have deadlines. Trainers must complete both of these Premium Timed Research quests and claim all rewards before Saturday, December 20th, 2025 at 5 p.m. your local time.

 

Lunatone Premium Timed Research

• Task: Complete a Field Research task
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 2 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 3 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 4 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 5 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 6 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 7 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 8 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 9 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 10 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 11 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 12 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 13 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 14 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Task: Complete 15 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Lunatone* encounter
• Completion Rewards: Lunatone* encounter, 1,000 Stardust, and 1,000 XP

 

Solrock Premium Timed Research

• Task: Complete a Field Research task
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 2 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 3 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 4 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 5 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 6 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 7 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 8 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 9 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 10 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 11 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 12 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 13 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 14 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Task: Complete 15 Field Research tasks
  • Reward: Solrock* encounter
• Completion Rewards: Solrock* encounter, 1,000 Stardust, and 1,000 XP

 

Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”

 

 

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