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Pokémon Go ‘Field Notes: Team Go Rocket’ Special Research, Battle Weekend event guide

Unlock Special Research for a Shadow Latios

Giovanni stands in a park with a Shadow Latios Image: Niantic
Julia Lee (she/her) is a guides producer, writing guides for games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Genshin Impact. She helped launch the Rift Herald in 2016.

Pokémon Go is having a “Battle Weekend” event from July 9-10, bringing Giovanni back with a Shadow Latios and activating a ton of bonuses. Our Battle Weekend event guide lists out the Giovanni Special Research, Timed Research, and other bonuses.

Bonuses include more frequent Team Go Rocket balloons, doubled Mystery Component rewards for beating them, and an additional free Raid Pass every day. You can also use a Charged TM to remove the move Frustration from Shadow Pokémon.

In addition to these bonuses, starter Pokémon from the first five regions (Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova) will learn their legacy Community Day moves when evolved or caught this weekend. Venusaur, Meganium, Sceptile, Torterra, and Serperior will learn Frenzy Plant. Charizard, Typhlosion, Blaziken, Infernape, and Emboar will learn Blast Burn. Blastoise, Feraligatr, Swampert, Empoleon, and Samurott will learn Hydro Cannon.

Below we list out the steps to the Special Research Tasks, which will not disappear after the event. The Timed Research, which we also list below, will only be around for the duration of the event.


Field Notes: Team Go Rocket Special Research Tasks and rewards

Step 1 of 6

  • Win a raid (Darumaka encounter)
  • Defeat 3 Team Go Rocket members (3 Hyper Potions)
  • Catch a Shadow Pokémon (Galarian Darumaka encounter)

Rewards: 1,000 XP, 15 Poké Balls, 3 Rare Candy

Step 2 of 6

  • Catch 5 Shadow Pokémon (10 Pinap Berries)
  • Make 3 nice curveball throws in a row (10 Razz Berries)
  • Defeat 5 Team Go Rocket grunts (10 Nanab Berries)

Rewards: 1,500 XP, 1,000 Stardust, 10 Great Balls

Step 3 of 6

  • Purify 5 Shadow Pokémon (1,000 XP)
  • Defeat 5 Team Go Rocket grunts (1,000 XP)
  • Earn 3 candies walking with your buddy (1,000 XP)

Rewards: 2,000 XP, 15 Great Balls, 1 Rocket Radar

Step 4 of 6

  • Defeat Team Go Rocket Leader Arlo (1,500 XP)
  • Defeat Team Go Rocket Leader Cliff (1,500 XP)
  • Defeat Team Go Rocket Leader Sierra (1,500 XP)

Rewards: 2,500 XP, 1,000 Stardust, 1 Super Rocket Radar

Step 5 of 6

  • Find the Team Go Rocket Boss (5 Max Potions)
  • Battle the Team Go Rocket Boss (20 Ultra Balls)
  • Defeat the Team Go Rocket Boss (5 Max Revives)

Rewards: 3,000 XP, 1 Lucky Egg, 2 Golden Razz Berries

You’ll be able to catch Shadow Latios after defeating Giovanni.

Step 6 of 6

  • Claim reward (2,500 XP)
  • Claim reward (2,500 XP)
  • Claim reward (2,500 XP)

Rewards: 1 Charged TM, 1 Fast TM, 2 Silver Pinap Berries


Battle Weekend Challenge Timed Research

Step 1 of 3

  • Power up Pokémon 15 times (Machop encounter)
  • Use a Charged TM (1 Fast TM)
  • Evolve 3 Pokémon (1 Charged TM)

Rewards: 1,000 Stardust, 2,500 Stardust, 1 Premium Battle Pass

After this step, the quest branches off depending on if you want to do more PvP battles or PvE battles. The rewards are the same, so just pick whichever you like better.

Raids, Grunts and Gyms! Step 2 of 3

  • Battle in a gym 5 times (5 Rare Candy)
  • Use supereffective charged attacks in 10 gym battles (Galarian Stunfisk encounter)
  • Battle in 2 raids (2,500 XP)
  • Win 2 raids (Swinub encounter)
  • Defeat 3 Team Go Rocket grunts (2,500 Stardust)
  • Defeat a Team Go Rocket Leader 3 times (Beldum encounter)

Rewards: Chansey encounter, 1 Lucky Egg, 1 Star Piece

Go Battle League! Step 2 of 3

  • Battle another trainer in the Great League 5 times (5 Rare Candy)
  • Win 1 Great League trainer battle against another trainer (Galarian Stunfisk encounter)
  • Battle in the Go Battle League 10 times (2,500 XP)
  • Win 2 Trainer Battles in the Go Battle League (Swinub encounter)
  • Battle in the Go Battle League 20 times (2,500 Stardust)
  • Achieve Rank 5 in the Go Battle League (Beldum encounter)

Rewards: Chansey encounter, 1 Lucky Egg, 1 Star Piece

Step 3 of 3

  • Claim reward (25 Poké Balls)
  • Claim reward (15 Great Balls)
  • Claim reward (10 Ultra Balls)

Rewards: Charizard (birthday hat) encounter