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Pokemon GO's next Team GO Rocket Takeover will begin on Wednesday, February 1 at 12am local time, and it will add a brand new Special Research story to the game. That story is called Shadowy Skirmishes, and it features five steps-worth of tasks and rewards. This guide is here to provide details on those tasks and rewards, and it will help players decide if they should pursue the Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research in Pokemon GO.

To note, while the Team GO Rocket Takeover is set to conclude on Sunday, February 5, players have until the end of Pokemon GO's Season of Mythical Wishes to initiate the Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research. For the uninitiated, Mythical Wishes will end on Wednesday, March 1, giving fans approximately one month to start this new Special Research story.

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Pokemon GO: Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research Tasks and Rewards

Step 1

  • Defeat 6 Team GO Rocket Grunts (Helioptile Encounter)
  • Make 3 Nice Curveball Throws in a Row (Helioptile Encounter)
  • Earn 2 Candies Exploring With Your Buddy (Helioptile Encounter)

Step 1 Completion Rewards: 2,000 XP, 15x Poke Ball, 10x Revive

Step 2

  • Defeat 6 Team GO Rocket Grunts (10x Hyper Potion)
  • Catch 4 Shadow Pokemon (10x Poke Ball)
  • Purify 2 Shadow Pokemon (10x Pinap Berry)

Step 2 Completion Rewards: 2,000 XP, 15x Great Ball, 1x Rocket Radar

Step 3

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

Step 3 Completion Rewards: 2,500 XP, 1,000x Stardust, 1x Super Rocket Radar

Step 4

  • Find the Team GO Rocket Boss (5x Max Potion)
  • Battle the Team GO Rocket Boss (20x Ultra Ball)
  • Defeat the Team GO Rocket Boss (5x Max Revive)

Step 4 Completion Rewards: 3,000 XP, 1x Lucky Egg, 2x Golden Razz Berry

Step 5

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

Step 5 Completion Rewards: 5,000 XP, 2,500x Stardust, 2x Silver Pinap Berry

pokemon go shadowy skirmishes special research

Of all the rewards that can be earned through the Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research, the Super Rocket Radar is perhaps the most exciting. This item allows players to battle Giovanni, the Team GO Rocket Boss, and catch his Shadow Legendary Pokemon.

That said, Pokemon GO players may not want to use their Super Rocket Radars to battle Giovanni during this Team GO Rocket Takeover event, as his Shadow Legendary Pokemon, Shadow Registeel, is a bit underwhelming. Indeed, a standard Registeel is simply better than its Shadow variant, and fans should thus consider saving their Super Rocket Radars for when Giovanni has a better Legendary Pokemon in his roster.

For those players that need more information on exactly how saving Super Rocket Radars in PoGO works, here is the process that should be followed:

  1. Complete Step 3 of the Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research and claim the Super Rocket Radar.
  2. Select the Super Rocket Radar from within the Items menu and unequip it.
  3. Do not complete any more of the Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research and wait for the next Team GO Rocket Takeover event to occur.
  4. If Giovanni has a desirable Shadow Legendary Pokemon during that next event, equip the Super Rocket Radar and battle him.

Pokemon GO is available on Android and iOS devices.

MORE: Pokemon GO: Full Game Guide | Tips, Tricks, and Events