Pokemon GO players are frustrated with the Weekly Research Breakthrough rewards and miss their legendaries. Niantic uses Pokemon that are generally useless to players while following some seasonal themes like Starmie for the Season of Light. Players wish that Niantic would bring back Legendary Pokemon instead.
In the early years of Pokemon GO, Weekly Research Breakthrough used to give out Legendary Pokemon. It used to be a method that allowed players to acquire Legendary Pokemon who couldn't otherwise get them because they played solo or played in rural areas. They were never as strong as the legendaries found in 5-star raids at the time, but it was still an option for them. Niantic has offered legendaries less and less over the years and some newer players may have never even known that legendaries were once a reward. For many, the pursuit for Pokemon GO players to make sure that they get their daily sticker to redeem their weekly reward has lost its meaning.
Pokemon GO players are voicing their frustration on a Reddit post and reminiscing on the days when Weekly Research Breakthrough rewards meant something. For reference, the last few Research Breakthrough reward Pokemon have been the aforementioned Starmie, the pitifully weak Shedinja as part of October's Halloween festivities, Medicham, Galarian Stunfisk, Lickitung, and arguably no interesting Pokemon in all of 2022. Starmie also cannot be shiny because Niantic does not allow evolved wild or Research Breakthrough Pokemon to be shiny, further depreciating the incentive to pursue this Pokemon. The last time Weekly Research Breakthrough offered an interesting reward was arguably Galarian Ponyta in May 2021 and the last time legendaries were offered was in December 2020.
Niantic has prioritized Pokemon GO's Seasons and events which are occasionally fun to engage in once there's a signature shiny to hunt during that time. However, during those down weeks when there's nothing going on other than Raid Hours, there is not much incentive to keep engaging with the game and keep research streaks going. Seasoned players can occasionally go weeks, a month, or more without finishing a research task if they have a set of tasks that require more time to complete. At minimum, a dedicated player in one of these slow periods may check in to keep their catch streak or Pokestop spin streak going and then hop out.
Players suggest if the Weekly Research Breakthrough Pokemon are going to be something ordinary, offer an exclusive move like they do with Community Day Pokemon. Others would rather bring back legendaries, so players have something interesting to look forward to after a week. The stipulation of having them weaker than they would be if they were in raids is a fine counterweight to any potential over-saturation. There is such a deep pool of Legendary Pokemon now in the game. Niantic could even compromise and only do one every Season change. It would still give the players a reason to keep completing Weekly Research Breakthroughs more consistently.
Pokemon GO is now available for Android and iOS devices.
