Active Field Research tasks
Spin a stop and you might get one of these tasks. Each one rewards a mons (or items) when completed. The list rotates monthly — the publisher swaps in a new set on the first.
Completing one task per day fills a stamp. Seven stamps unlock the monthly Research Breakthrough encounter — typically a rare or shiny-eligible mon. Pickaxe through the easier tasks (Catch / Throws) to bank stamps fast.
Field Research tasks + rewards
Field Research is the daily-task layer of the game. Spin Pokéstops to get tasks, complete them to earn rewards. Stack seven tasks across seven days to claim a Research Breakthrough — usually a guaranteed legendary or rare encounter. This page tracks live tasks across all current rotations, refreshed hourly.
Task types worth chasing
The best tasks reward featured species. "Catch 5 Grass-type mons" for a Treecko encounter, "Win a Raid" for a mid-tier rare. Skip tasks rewarding berries/items unless you're low on essentials. Hold high-value tasks (rare species encounters) for the right moment — they don't expire unless you swap them.
Research Breakthrough strategy
Complete at least one task per day to maintain your 7-stamp streak. The Breakthrough box rotates monthly; if the current featured legendary is meta-relevant, hunt aggressively (multiple stamps per day if available). Use the event calendar to see when the next Breakthrough rotates so you can time your stamp-spending.
Special vs Timed Research
Field Research is the daily layer. Special Research is the quest-chain layer — Niantic publishes paid + free Special Research quests with multi-step storylines, often unlocking Mythical encounters. Timed Research is event-bound, expires after the event window. All three coexist; this page covers Field Research only.
FAQ
What are Field Research tasks in-game?
Pokéstops periodically drop Field Research tasks ("Catch 5 Grass-type mons", "Make 3 Great Throws"). Completing one earns a reward — usually a guaranteed encounter with a featured species, sometimes items. Spin Pokéstops daily to refresh task availability.
What is a Research Breakthrough?
Completing 7 Field Research tasks across separate days earns a Research Breakthrough box: a guaranteed encounter with a special legendary or rare mons. The featured species rotates monthly (current breakthrough mons shown on this page). Plan a daily 1-task minimum to hit the breakthrough every Sunday.
How often do Field Research rewards rotate?
Major rotations happen monthly aligned with seasons. Mini-rotations tied to events (Spotlight Hours, special weeks) layer additional tasks during their window. The live list here refreshes every hour so it always reflects the current rotation.
Are Field Research encounters guaranteed shiny?
No — Research encounters use a higher-than-wild shiny rate (~1-in-128 generally, sometimes 1-in-64 for event-featured species) but are not guaranteed shiny. The IV floor is still 1 / 1 / 1, not boosted, so the math favours shiny rate over IV quality.
What's the IV floor on Field Research rewards?
Standard 1 / 1 / 1 — same as wild encounters. Exception: legendary Research Breakthroughs have a 10 / 10 / 10 IV floor (same as raid catches). Premier Balls aren't used; you use regular catch balls + berries on Research encounters.