Pokemon GO's Winter Holiday event will begin on Thursday, December 15 at 10am local time, and it is at that time that players can start working on its exclusive Timed Research. Not everyone will have access to Pokemon GO's Winter Holiday Timed Research, though, as a ticket must be purchased in order to unlock it. That ticket costs $5, and this guide is here to help players determine if that is a justifiable expense by detailing the Timed Research's tasks and rewards.
Prior to getting into the specifics of the tasks and rewards, it is important to note that the Winter Holiday Timed Research must be completed by Saturday, December 31 at 8pm local time. Indeed, any tasks that are incomplete, or rewards that are left unclaimed, will become inaccessible after that time. Players are thus advised to review the tasks that are listed below carefully, and confirm that they have enough time in their schedules to complete them, before buying PoGO's Winter Holiday Timed Research Ticket.
Pokemon GO: Winter Holiday Timed Research Tasks and Rewards
Step 1
- Walk 2 KM (Snover Encounter)
- Catch 10 Pokemon (Spheal Encounter)
- Catch 10 Ice-type Pokemon (Seel Encounter)
Step 1 Completion Rewards: Sneasel Encounter, 1x Incense, 50x Abomasnow Mega Energy
Step 2
- Walk 2 KM (Swinub Encounter)
- Transfer 10 Pokemon (Delibird Encounter)
- Catch 10 Ice-type Pokemon (Cubchoo Encouter)
Step 2 Completion Rewards: Galarian Mr. Mime Encounter, 1x Incubator, 50x Abomasnow Mega Energy
Step 3
- Walk 2 KM (Vanillite Encounter)
- Send 7 Gifts to Friends (Stantler Encounter)
- Catch 15 Ice-type Pokemon (Castform (Snowy Form) Encounter)
Step 3 Completion Rewards: Galarian Darumaka Encounter, 1x Incubator, 50x Abomasnow Mega Energy
Step 4
- Hatch an Egg (Alolan Vulpix Encounter)
- Catch 8 Different Species of Ice-type Pokemon (Alolan Sandshrew Encounter)
- Catch 15 Ice-type Pokemon (Lapras Encounter)
Step 4 Completion Rewards: Galrian Mr. Mime Encounter, Gifting Avatar Pose
The vast majority of the Winter Holiday Timed Research tasks are very easy to complete, simply requiring players to walk around and catch some Ice-type Pokemon. Notably, several of Pokemon GO's Ice-type Pokemon will appear more frequently in the wild during the event, making the tasks that are focused on catching those Pokemon even easier to address.
That said, the task that instructs players to send seven Gifts to friends may give some fans trouble, as not every Pokemon GO player will be friends with others that also play the game. Fans that are in that situation are advised to visit the PokemonGOFriends Subreddit, which is a great place to exchange trainer codes.
With respect to the rewards that can be earned through completion of the Winter Holiday Timed Research, the Gifting Avatar Pose that is awarded at the end of Step 4 is perhaps the most exciting offering. And for those players that are not particularly interested in cosmetics, the abundance of Pokemon encounters that are awarded may be of greater interest. The Abomasnow Mega Energy is also notable, though the Timed Research does not grant quite enough of it to perform the evolution for the first time.
Pokemon GO is available on Android and iOS devices.