Pokemon GOhas not exactly had a lot of Special Research tasks for players to complete lately. While some fans were able to completePokemon GO’s Jump-Start Special Research questfor the 5th anniversary, those that already completed those steps in the past were left out. Now it’s possible forPokemon GOplayers to get their hands on a new set of Special Research through the Professor’s Research quest, though getting the quest is an endeavor in and of itself.
To unlock thePokemon GOProfessor’s Research Special Research tasks, players have to get their hands on the Professor’s Research card. The Professor’s Research trading card is available as part of thePokemon Trading Card Game. It’s a Trainer card with art of Professor Willow on the front that lets users discard their current hand and draw seven cards. This is currently the only way to unlock the Professor’s Research quest inPokemon GO.
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Here is how to get the Professor’s Research card inPokemon GOas well as how to complete all of its associated Special Research tasks. Completing these Special Research tasks will netPokemon GOplayers a variety of rewards, so it’s definitely worth the hassle.
Where to Get Pokemon GO Professor Willow Code
The hardest part of thePokemon GOProfessor’s Research quest is actually getting the quest in the first place. While it’s possible that the Professor’s Research card will one day be available through normal booster packs, at the time of this writing the only way to get the card is by purchasing aPokemon GO-themed product on the Pokemon Center website. For all of the eligible products, please clickhere.
After purchasing one of the eligible products,Pokemon GOplayers need to wait for their purchase to arrive in the mail. Along with their purchase will be the Professor’s Research card, which contains a code on the front. Redeeming the code will potentially be different depending on ifPokemon GOplayers are playing the game on an Android device or if they are playing on an iOS device.
AllPokemon GOplayers can redeem their Professor Willow code throughNiantic’s website. However, this method is required for those who are playingPokemon GOon iOS devices.Pokemon GOplayers on Android have a slightly easier way to redeem the code.
ForPokemon GOplayers on Android devices, redeeming the code is a simple matter of navigating to the shop. At the bottom ofPokemon GO’s Shop screenon Android is a field where players can enter a code. Enter thePokemon GOProfessor Willow code in the box and hit redeem. Afterwards,Pokemon GOplayers should have the Professor’s Research quest available for them to complete.
Professor’s Research Step 1 Tasks
Rewards:Klink encounter,Stardust (500), XP (500)
This is the most straight-forward step in thePokemon GOProfessor’s Research quest and all of it is self-explanatory.Getting Great Throws inPokemon GOis pretty easy, especially when trying to catch targets with large hit boxes, which shouldn’t be hard to come by.
Professor’s Research Step 2 Tasks
Rewards:Lapras encounter,Stardust (1000), XP (1000)
This step is where things get a little bit more complicated. While catching and evolving Pokemon inPokemon GOis straightforward, purifying Shadow Pokemon is a little more complicated. Topurify Shadow Pokemon inPokemon GO, players first have to acquire said Shadow Pokemon. To do this,Pokemon GOplayers need to defeat Team Rocket grunts in battle. Beating a Team Rocket grunt will give players the chance to catch a Shadow Pokemon, and then if they have enough of that Pokemon’s candy, they will be able to purify it.
Professor’s Research Step 3 Tasks
Rewards:Electabuzz encounter, Stardust (1000), XP (1000)
This step is going to require a lot of walking and interacting with anotherPokemon GOplayer, but it’s otherwise fairly simple.Hatching eggs inPokemon GOis a simple matter of walking with eggs in incubators, though players will need to meet up with anotherPOGOplayer to trade. Sending gifts to friends is easy enough; gifts are acquired through PokeStops can be easily sent out to anyone on one’sPokemon GOfriends list.
Professor’s Research Step 4 Tasks
Rewards:Rapidash encounter, Stardust (1000), XP (1000)
For the fourth step in thePokemon GOProfessor’s Research quest, players will once again need to cooperate with others. They can battle the same trainer five times in a row if they want, but regardless, they will need to participate in five battles. When that’s done, they’ll get threeRaid Passes, which will definitely come in handy as the next thing they’ll need to do is win five Raids.
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AnyPokemon GORaid will do for this step. However, the game only gives players one free Raid Pass per day, meaningPokemon GOfans may be stuck on this part of the quest for a little while if they don’t have enough coins to purchase more Raid Passes. Regardless, once they’ve managed to win fivePokemon GORaids, the next thing they can focus on is Mega Evolving three Pokemon, which will be one of the most difficult feats in the entire quest.
To get Mega Energy inPokemon GO, players will have to fight and defeat Mega Pokemon in Raids. Mega Pokemon Raids can be extremely challenging, so it’s best to take on this part of the quest with friends. Defeating Mega Pokemon inPokemon GORaids will get players Mega Energy, though they can sometimes acquire it through other means as well, like completing certain Special Research tasks. However, it’s quite possible thatPokemon GOplayers completing the Professor’s Research tasks have already done all the tasks that give them Mega Energy, so most players will need to do the Mega Raids.
Professor’s Research Step 5 Tasks
Rewards:Meltan encounter, Stardust (5000), XP (5000)
Step 5 of thePokemon GOProfessor’s Research quest is effectively the last real step that players have to complete, as Step 6 is a simple matter of collecting rewards. Step 5 is all aboutBuddy Pokemon inPokemon GOand should be markedly easier than the previous step. It’s all self-explanatory; feed the Buddy Pokemon food and walk with it a lot and eventually all three tasks will be complete.
Professor’s Research Step 6 Tasks
Rewards:Meltan Candy (30)
And with that,Pokemon GOplayers will have finished the Professor’s Research quest, earned exclusively through Professor Willow codes. As far asPokemon GOSpecial Researchgoes it’s mostly self-explanatory, but there will definitely be a few steps that give Trainers trouble. The rewards are definitely worth the struggle, though.
In the meantime,Pokemon GOplayers may be wondering how long they have to complete the Professor’s Research quest. TheProfessor Willowcodes will expire on Jul 01, 2025 at 12:00am UTC, so fans have a couple of years to get their hands on a code and redeem it for the quest. The quest itself doesn’t actually expire; oncePokemon GOplayers have redeemed their code and have the quest, they will have as much time as they need to complete all of the steps.
Pokemon GOis out now for iOS and Android mobile devices.
