The Pokemon GO Winter Timed Research tasks are here, with plenty to keep you busy as the year draws to a close. Niantic is offering the first round of Winter Timed Research tasks for free for all players in the Pokemon game, though if you want to tick every box, you’ll have to pay for it. Some of the tasks are only available as paid research and cost $1.99 and $4.99 in the in-game shop. Niantic is also running Winter Wishes and Frosty Festivities alongside the main event, two separate quests with even more rewards to earn.
There’s quite a bit to do in the free tasks and a chance to earn rewards, find rare spawns, and more, though, so if you’re keen on keeping your money in your wallet, you won’t be getting shortchanged.
The Winter Holiday research tasks – the set that’s available to everyone – is live from Dec. 18, 2023, through Dec. 25, 2023. Some of the event’s tasks will carry over through to the second round of tasks, so you’ll have a little bit longer to complete them.
These are your tasks and the encounters or items you get for completing each one.
- Catch 10 Pokémon: Cetoddle
- Catch 20 Pokémon: Sneasel
- Catch 30 Pokémon: Galarian Darumaka
- Catch 40 Pokémon: Spheal (Holiday Attire)
- Use 10 Berries to help catch Pokémon: Pikachu (Holiday Attire)
- Use 20 Berries to help catch Pokémon: Stantler (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 4 different species of Ice-type Pokémon: Eevee (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 6 different species of Ice-type Pokémon: Cryogonal
- Catch 8 different species of Ice-type Pokémon: Amaura
- Catch 10 different species of Ice-type Pokémon: Glaceon (Holiday Attire)
- Complete all tasks in this step: Psyduck (Holiday Attire), 2 Premium Battle Pass, 5,000 XP
Part 2 goes live on Dec. 25, 2023, and runs through Dec. 31, 2023, but you have to pay to access these tasks. It’s essentially a rerun of the first half.
- Catch 10 Pokémon: Cetoddle
- Catch 20 Pokémon: Sneasel
- Catch 30 Pokémon: Galarian Darumaka
- Catch 40 Pokémon: Spheal (Holiday Attire)
- Use 10 Berries to help catch Pokémon: Pikachu (Holiday Attire)
- Use 20 Berries to help catch Pokémon: Stantler (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 4 different species of Ice-type Pokémon: Eevee (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 6 different species of Ice-type Pokémon: Cryogonal
- Catch 8 different species of Ice-type Pokémon: Amaura
- Catch 10 different species of Ice-type Pokémon: Glaceon (Holiday Attire)
- Complete all tasks in this step: Psyduck (Holiday Attire), 2 Premium Battle Pass, 5,000 XP
The Winter Wishes event runs alongside the holiday event and lasts through Dec. 31, 2023. It’s fairly short, though you do need to make a choice about which Winter Wishes path you want to take. Each path has the same tasks and rewards. The choice just determines which bonus reward you get.
Winter Wishes Step 1
- Catch 5 Pokémon: Glacier Lure Module x1
- Power up Pokémon 5 times: Silver Pinap Berry x2
- Spin 3 PokéStops of Gyms: Pikachu (Holiday Attire)
- Complete all tasks in this step: 500 XP, 500 Stardust
Your Winter Wish path choice is next. Choose “Stardust” if you want bonus Stardust and “Pokemon” if you want double Catch XP.
Winter Wishes Step 2
- Catch 10 Pokémon: Spheal (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 25 Pokémon: Eevee (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 40 Icy-type Pokémon: Lapras
- Catch 8 different species of Ice-type Pokémon: Stantler (Holiday Attire)
- Send 25 Gifts to friends: Pikachu (Holiday Attire)
- [Only XP Path] Earn 25,000 XP: Cetoddle
- [Only Stardust Path] Earn 7,500 Stardust: Cetoddle
- Complete all tasks in this step: Galarian Mr. Mime, [Only XP Path] Lucky Egg x1, [Only Stardust Path] Star Piece x1
Frosty Festivities will set you back $4.99 in the in-game store, and it runs until Dec. 31, 2023.
Step 1 of 4
- Spin 10 PokéStops: Cubchoo (Holiday Attire)
- Make 20 Curveball Throws: Pikachu (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 25 Ice-type Pokémon: Spheal (Holiday Attire)
- Complete all tasks in this step: Galarian Mr. Mime, Hot Chocolate Pose (Avatar Cosmetic)
Step 2 of 4
- Use 20 Berries to help catch Pokémon: Stantler (Holiday Attire)
- Transfer 25 Pokémon: Delibird (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 30 Ice-type Pokémon: Eevee (Holiday Attire)
- Complete all tasks in this step: Lapras, Silver Pinap Berry x3
Step 3 of 4
- Send 10 Gifts to friends: Spheal (Holiday Attire)
- Make 30 Curveball Throws: Cubchoo (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 40 Ice-type Pokémon: Pikachu (Holiday Attire)
- Complete all tasks in this step: Glaceon (Holiday Attire), Incense x1
Step 4 of 4
- Explore 5 km: Delibird (Holiday Attire)
- Transfer 30 Pokémon: Stantler (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 50 Ice-type Pokémon: Eevee (Holiday Attire)
- Complete all tasks in this step: Psyduck (Holiday Attire), Incubator x1
It wouldn’t be a Pokemon GO event without field research, and this one’s no different. the Winter Holiday field research is live through Dec. 25, 2023, with some pretty good rewards.
- Catch 5 Ice-type Pokémon: Poké Ball x5, Ultra Ball x3, or Pinap Berry x5
- Catch 7 Ice-type Pokémon: Shellder, Snover, or Vanillite
- Catch 5 different species of Pokémon: Delibird (Holiday Attire) or Spheal (Holiday Attire)
- Catch 10 different species of Pokémon: Cubchoo (Holiday Attire) or Jynx
- Win a raid: Lapras or Glaceon (Holiday Attire)
- Open 5 Gifts: Pikachu (Holiday Attire) or Alolan Sandshrew
- Send 3 Gifts and add a sticker to each: Crabrawler, Abomasnow Mega Energy x25, or Glalie Mega Energy x25
If you’re after more to do in Niantic’s game this month, check out the December Pokemon GO Raid lineup.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF