February is almost here and Pokemon GO trainers have already had nearly four full weeks to enjoy the January 2022 Research Breakthrough rewards that have been up for grabs since the new year. Next week brings a new month and that means a fresh rotation is arriving once again to change things up.
As always, the Research Breakthrough reward will change on the first of the upcoming month (along with the PoGO events calendar) to provide some fresh motivation for players to get out and collecting their daily stamp throughout the month. Although the days of guaranteed Legendary Research Breakthrough rewards are long gone, there is still some motivation for Pokemon GO players to continue collecting the daily stamps and cashing them in at the end of each week.
The primary motivation when February rolls around will likely entice the game’s shiny collectors. The upcoming Research Breakthrough reward will feature Espurr and, for the first time ever in Pokemon GO, there will be a chance to catch a shiny version. The odds really need to be in the player’s favor for that to work out, considering there will only be a maximum of four encounters earned over the course of the whole month. That said, it’s definitely going to be worth the gamble for players who are on the hunt for that elusive complete shiny dex.
February 2022 Research Breakthrough
Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. PST to Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8).
For the first time in Pokemon GO, you’ll be able to encounter a Shiny Espurr, if you’re lucky.
There are always going to be some players who preferred the old days of Legendary Research Breakthrough Rewards, but a new shiny is likely enough to still get lots of players engaged and active in the coming month. This month’s reward seems to be following in a recent trend, so it will be interesting to see if the new shiny debut becomes a part of the 2022 Research Breakthrough tradition from month to month. Espurr and its evolution, Meowstic, likely won't be rocking the meta game in any significant way, but most players will still wants at least a few for the dex entry (if they don't have it yet) and the Candy.
In the coming weeks, we should learn more about what other events will be arriving during the final days of the Season of Heritage. Be sure to check back in the near future for more Pokemon GO strategy guides, news, and updates. Until then, good luck out there, trainers!
Pokemon GO is available on Android and iOS.