The Choose Your Path Timed Research is a new way to play Pokémon GO during non-event weeks. Trainers will receive Timed Research that gives you the freedom to explore Pokémon GO your way. You’ll be able to select one of three paths: Explore, Catch, or Battle.
The Timed Research you receive will be branching research. This will allow you to choose your own way to play the game for that week. Each week, you’ll get a different option for three branched research based on exploration, catching, or battling. Based on the branch you select, you’ll get a different bonus for gameplay as well as research to complete.
Additionally, you may have different research opportunities than other Trainers. Likewise, you may have a version where you can pick a different path each day during the Choose Your Path event period. The path you choose each day will grant its own associated Timed Research.
Please note that the specific activity and corresponding bonus of each branched research may change during each event period. However, the branches of exploration, catching, and battling will remain the same.
Choose Your Path Event Period
The following are the weeks the branching Timed Research will be available in Pokémon GO.
- Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time to Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
- Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time to Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
- Choose Your Path: Fossil Fun – Wednesday, June 17, at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, June 21, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
- Choose Your Path: Charged Embers – Tuesday, June 30, at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, July 3, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
- Choose Your Path: Fairy Trail – Tuesday, July 28, at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, August 3, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
- Choose Your Path: Venom and Vines – Tuesday, August 11, at 10:00 a.m. to Monday, August 17, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Choose Your Path Timed Research: Explore
The Explore Timed Research focuses on activities such as the following.
- Explore X km
- Spin X PokéStops or Gyms
- Follow X Route
- Hatch X Egg
Where X can be any number.
Upon completing the Explore Timed Research, you will have access to a bonus for the rest of the week, while the event lasts. The bonus depends on which Explore Timed Research you choose.
Explore Timed Research
The following are the tasks and rewards for the explore path of the current branching Timed Research
- Choose Your Path: Charged Embers from Tuesday, June 30, at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, July 3, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
- Task: Explore 3 km | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Spin 25 PokéStops or Gyms | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Hatch 2 Eggs | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Follow 2 Routes | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Explore 3 km | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Spin 25 PokéStops or Gyms | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Hatch 2 Eggs | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Follow 2 Routes | Reward: Electabuzz
- Reward for completing all these tasks: 3 Golden Razz Berry and 5 Rare Candy.
Please note that for the Charged Embers event period, Trainers will be able to receive event-themed Field Research tasks by spinning PokéStops. The following are the Field Research tasks and rewards.
- Explore 1 km: Rewards an encounter with either Magmar or Electabuzz.
- Defeat a Team GO Rocket Grunt: Rewards an encounter with either Magmar or Electabuzz.
- Make 5 Nice Throws: Rewards an encounter with either Magmar or Electabuzz.
Hundo Magmar is 1026 CP. Hundo Electabuzz is 1000 CP.
Daily Explore Timed Research
Some Trainers may be able to pick a different Explore path Timed Research each day of the Choose Your Path: Charged Embers event period. The Timed Research expires that day.
It is important to note that, after choosing a path, you will need to claim the free reward of Stardust and Poké Ball before you get the research tasks.
Explore (Hatch)
- Task: Explore 1 km | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Hatch an Egg | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Follow a Route | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Explore 1 km | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Hatch an Egg | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Follow a Route | Reward: Electabuzz
- Reward for completing all these tasks: 3 Golden Razz Berry and 5 Rare Candy.
Explore (PokéStops)
- Task: Explore 1 km | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Spin 5 PokéStops or Gyms | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Follow a Route | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Explore 1 km | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Hatch an Egg | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Follow a Route | Reward: Electabuzz
- Reward for completing all these tasks: 3 Golden Razz Berry and 5 Rare Candy.
Bonus for the rest of the event period, depending on which Explore Timed Research you choose
- Explore (PokéStops): 5× XP for spinning PokéStops
- Explore (Hatch): ½ Egg Hatch Distance
READ ALSO: July 2026 Pokémon GO Events
Choose Your Path Timed Research: Catch
The Catch Timed Research focuses on activities such as the following.
- Make Y Nice Throws
- Make Y Curveball Throws
- Make Y Great Curveball Throws
- Make Y Excellent Throws
Where Y can be any number.
Upon completing the Catch Timed Research, you will have access to a bonus for the rest of the week, while the event lasts. The bonus depends on which Catch Timed Research you choose.
Catch Timed Research
The following are the tasks and rewards for the catch path of the branching Timed Research
- Choose Your Path: Charged Embers from Tuesday, June 30, at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, July 3, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
- Task: Make 15 Nice Throws | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Make 15 Curveball Throws | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Make 3 Excellent Throws | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Make 15 Great Curveball Throws | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Make 15 Nice Throws | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Make 15 Curveball Throws | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Make 3 Excellent Throws | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Make 15 Great Curveball Throws | Reward: Electabuzz
- Reward for completing all these tasks: 3 Golden Razz Berry and 5 Rare Candy.
Please note that for the Charged Embers event period, Trainers will be able to receive event-themed Field Research tasks by spinning PokéStops. The following are the Field Research tasks and rewards.
- Explore 1 km: Rewards an encounter with either Magmar or Electabuzz.
- Defeat a Team GO Rocket Grunt: Rewards an encounter with either Magmar or Electabuzz.
- Make 5 Nice Throws: Rewards an encounter with either Magmar or Electabuzz.
Hundo Magmar is 1026 CP. Hundo Electabuzz is 1000 CP.
Daily Catch Timed Research
Some Trainers may be able to pick a different Catch path Timed Research each day of the Choose Your Path: Charged Embers event period. The Timed Research expires that day.
It is important to note that, after choosing a path, you will need to claim the free reward of Stardust and Poké Ball before you get the research tasks.
Catch (XP)
- Task: Make 20 Curveball Throws | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Make 3 Excellent Throws | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Make 20 Great Curveball Throws | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Make 20 Curveball Throws | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Make 3 Excellent Throws | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Make 20 Great Curveball Throws | Reward: Electabuzz
- Reward for completing all these tasks: 3 Golden Razz Berry and 5 Rare Candy.
Catch (Candy)
- Task: Make 20 Curveball Throws | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Make 3 Excellent Throws | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Make 20 Great Curveball Throws | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Make 20 Curveball Throws | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Make 3 Excellent Throws | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Make 20 Great Curveball Throws | Reward: Electabuzz
- Reward for completing all these tasks: 3 Golden Razz Berry and 5 Rare Candy.
Bonus for the rest of the event period, depending on which Catch Timed Research you choose.
- Catch (XP): 1.5× XP for catching Pokémon with Nice Throws or better
- Catch (Candy): Additional Candy for catching Pokémon with Nice Throws or better.
Choose Your Path Timed Research: Battle
The Battle Timed Research focuses on activities such as the following.
- Win Z Raid(s)
- Power up Pokémon Z times
- Defeat Z Team GO Rocket Grunts
- Use Z supereffective Charged Attacks
Where Z can be any number.
Upon completing the Battle Timed Research, you will have access to a bonus for the rest of the week, while the event lasts. The bonus depends on which Catch Timed Research you choose.
Battle Timed Research
The following are the tasks and rewards for the catch path of the branching Timed Research
- Choose Your Path: Charged Embers from Tuesday, June 30, at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, July 3, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
- Task: Win a Raid | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Win 2 Raids | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Defeat 8 Team GO Rocket Grunts | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Use 10 superffective Charged Attacks | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Win a Raid | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Win 2 Raids | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Defeat 8 Team GO Rocket Grunts | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Use 10 supereffective Charged Attacks| Reward: Electabuzz
- Reward for completing all these tasks: 3 Golden Razz Berry and 5 Rare Candy.
Please note that for the Charged Embers event period, Trainers will be able to receive event-themed Field Research tasks by spinning PokéStops. The following are the Field Research tasks and rewards.
- Explore 1 km: Rewards an encounter with either Magmar or Electabuzz.
- Defeat a Team GO Rocket Grunt: Rewards an encounter with either Magmar or Electabuzz.
- Make 5 Nice Throws: Rewards an encounter with either Magmar or Electabuzz.
Hundo Magmar is 1026 CP. Hundo Electabuzz is 1000 CP.
Daily Battle Timed Research
Some Trainers may be able to pick a different Battle path Timed Research each day of the Choose Your Path: Charged Embers event period. The Timed Research expires that day.
It is important to note that, after choosing a path, you will need to claim the free reward of Stardust and Poké Ball before you get the research tasks.
Battle (Raids)
- Task: Win a Raid | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Power up Pokémon 3 times | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Use 3 Supereffective Charged Attacks | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Win a Raid | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Power up Pokémon 3 times | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Use 3 Supereffective Charged Attacks | Reward: Electabuzz
- Reward for completing all these tasks: 3 Golden Razz Berry and 5 Rare Candy.
Battle (Team GO Rocket)
- Task: Power up Pokémon 3 times | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Defeat 1 Team GO Rocket Grunt | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Use 3 Supereffective Charged Attacks | Reward: Magmar
- Task: Power up Pokémon 3 times | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Defeat 1 Team GO Rocket Grunt | Reward: Electabuzz
- Task: Use 3 Supereffective Charged Attacks | Reward: Electabuzz
- Reward for completing all these tasks: 3 Golden Razz Berry and 5 Rare Candy.
Bonus for the rest of the event period, depending on which Battle Timed Research you choose.
- Battle (Raids): An additional 5,000 XP for completing raids
- Battle (Team GO Rocket): Additional Mysterios Component from GO Rocket Grunts.
The Choose Your Path Timed Research breathes fresh excitement into Pokémon GO during non-event weeks, offering a tailored gameplay experience that adapts to how you love to play. Whether you prefer tracking down rare spawns in the Explore path, perfecting your excellent throws in the Catch path, or taking down Team GO Rocket Grunts in the Battle path, the power to choose your rewards and bonuses is entirely in your hands.
Picking the right path each day or week will be key to maximizing your Candy, XP, and encounters. Look closely at your weekly plans, select the branching path that matches your playstyle, and get out there to enjoy Pokémon GO your way.
