Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Special Research: The Melody Pokémon tasks, rewards, paths, and more

Pokémon GO Fest is upon us, and the bonuses are forthcoming. As well as challenges, extra special Pokémon GO raid bosses, and bonus Pokémon GO field research tasks, many players are most excited for the Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Special Research.

Special Research always offers players a host of rewards exclusive to GO Fest attendees. Whether you’re in it for the PokéBalls, the Stardust, or the mythical Pokémon encounters, the Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Special Research has it all. Of course, this Special Research also has a new feature: the Special Research paths. Special Research paths were trailed on Bidoof Day, but didn’t offer particularly different options. This looks to be changing for GO Fest 2021, so make sure you know which path you want to take before committing. 

If you need to know how to access the Special Research, what rewards are on offer, or anything else to do with the GO Fest exclusive rewards track, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about the Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Special Research:

Read more: Remind yourself of the Pokémon GO Spotlight Hours for July

How to access Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Special Research: The Melody Pokémon

Accessing the Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Special Research is easy; you just need to buy a ticket to GO Fest 2021. Head to the shop in-game and pay £4.99 ($4.99) to get your hands on a ticket.

After that, the Special Research will automatically pop up on the first day of GO Fest 2021, July 17. Then, just start completing the tasks to progress. 

Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Special Research: The Melody Pokémon tasks and rewards

Here's how to complete each stage of The Melody Pokémon Special Research, and the rewards you get for doing so:

Stage 1 of 8

• Earn a heart with your Buddy: x1 Incense
• Use an Incense: 50 PokeBall
• Catch 10 Pokemon: 500 XP
• Rewards: 500 Stardust, 1 Super Incubator, and 50 PokéBalls

Now you get he first opportunity to pick a branching quest:

• Rock Star Pikachu
• Pop Star Pikachu

Pick your branch. Of course, the Pokémon you pick here will appear in the wild as well as in the Special Research, so choose carefully.

Stage 2 of 8 (Rock Star branch)

• Hatch an Egg: 25 Great Balls
• Catch 20 Pokémon: 500 Stardust
• Take a Snapshot: 500 XP
• Rewards: 10 Razz Berries, Rock Star Pikachu, and 10 Pinap Berries

Stage 2 of 8 (Pop Star branch)

• Hatch an Egg: 25 Great Balls
• Catch 20 Pokémon: 500 Stardust
• Take a Snapshot: 500 XP
• Rewards: 10 Razz Berries, Rock Star Pikachu, and 10 Pinap Berries

Now you will have to pick your second branch:

• Galarian Zigzagoon
• Galarian Ponyta

Stage 3 of 8 (Galarian Zigzagoon branch)

• Use 15 Berries to help catch Pokemon: PokéBall
• Make 3 Curveball Throws: 500 XP
• Make 3 Nice Throws in a row: 500 Stardust
• Rewards: 10 Razz Berry, Galarian Zigzagoon, and 1 Incense

Stage 3 of 8 (Galarian Ponyta branch)

• Use 15 Berries to help catch Pokemon: PokéBall
• Make 3 Curveball Throws: 500 XP
• Make 3 Nice Throws in a row: 500 Stardust
• Rewards: 10 Razz Berry, Galarian Ponyta, and 1 Incense

Now you have to pick your third and final branch:

• Flygon
• Gardevoir

Don't forget with these costumed Pokémon it's a little bit different than with Pikachu. The one you pick won't appear in the wild, the other one will. So if you're in need of Ralts candy for the eventual appearance of Mega Gardevoir and Mega Gallade, we'd recommend picking Flygon here.

Stage 4 of 8 (Flygon branch)

• Take a snapshot: 1 Incense
• Walk 1km: 500 XP
• Use an Incense: 20 Ultra Ball
• Rewards: 500 Stardust, Flygon, and 3 Rare Candy

Stage 4 of 8 (Gardevoir branch)

• Take a snapshot: 1 Incense
• Walk 1km: 500 XP
• Use an Incense: 20 Ultra Ball
• Rewards: 500 Stardust, Gardevoir, and 3 Rare Candy

Stage 5 of 8

• Power up Pokémon 3 times: 1 Star Piece
• Evolve 3 Pokémon: 3 Revive
• Defeat 2 Team GO Rocket Grunts: 3 Hyper Potion
• Rewards: 3 Max Potion, 20 Trapinch Candy (if you picked Flygon branch) or 20 Ralts Candy (if you picked Gardevoir branch), and 3 Max Revive

Step 6 of 8

• Send 3 Gifts to friends: 30 Great Ball
• Catch 15 different Pokémon species: 1,000 XP
• Earn a heart with your Buddy: 1,000 Stardust
• Rewards: 5 Golden Razz Berry, 1 Incense, and 5 Silver Pinap Berry

Step 7 of 8

• Use 10 Berries to help catch Pokémon: 1,000 XP
• Catch 10 Pokémon: 3,000 Stardust
• Earn 5,000 Stardust: 3,000 XP
• Rewards: 1 Lucky Egg, Meloetta, and 1 Star Piece

Step 8 of 8

Take a snapshot of Meloetta: x1 Lure Module

• Transfer 30 Pokemon: 20 Meloetta Candy
• Make a new Friend: 3 Rare Candy
• Rewards: x10 Meloetta Stickers, 1 Avatar Rock Star Pose (Rock Star Pikachu Branch Quest), or 1 Avatar Pop Star Pose (Pop Star Pikachu Branch Quest), and 1 Meloetta Avatar T-Shirt

Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Special Research paths

We know that GO Fest players will have to choose between costume Pikachus (either Pop Star or Rock Star), costumed Gardevoir or Flygon, and costumed Galarian Ponyta or Galarian Zigzagoon.

The Pop Star and Rock Star Pikachu questlines are identical barring which Pokémon you encounter. You will encounter the same Pikachu you choose in the wild.

Similarly, the Galarian Zigzagoon and Galarian Ponyta questlines are also identical barring the encounter rewards.

Flygon and Gardevoir work slightly differently, as you'll encounter the one you choose during The Melody Pokémon Special Research, but that will cause the other one to spawn in the wild.

Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Special Research mythical Pokémon

The mythical Pokémon available as a part of the Pokémon GO Fest 2021 Special Research is Meloetta. Players have to complete the full research to get their hands on the mythical Pokémon, but that shouldn’t be too difficult with the number of spawns and GO Fest Ultra Unlock bonuses that are on offer over the weekend.