Pokemon GO Spooky Message Unmasked Research & Rewards: How To Get Galarian Yamask?

UPDATE - The Pokemon GO Halloween 2020 event has now begun and runs until 03:00 GMT on November 4th 2020

Original Story Follows - The annual Pokemon Go Halloween event is back once again and whilst this no doubt brings all sorts of excellent spooky shenanigans, it also means new Pokemon to capture.

Last year the Spooky Message Special Research Tasks gave players an added activity to complete when they wasn't capturing some rare Ghost-type pokemon.

For 2020, we already know that Niantic intends to have more special research for us to partake in, and the rewards sound exciting for sure.

According to the Pokemon GO blog:

"Galarian Yamask will appear in Pokémon GO for the first time! Complete the new Halloween 2020 Special Research, A Spooky Message Unmasked, to help Professor Willow uncover the mysteries surrounding this Pokémon."

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However, that's not all: "Spiritomb can be encountered by completing certain Field Research tasks and by completing the new Halloween 2020 Special Research story, A Spooky Message Unmasked. If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny one!"

These tasks won't go live until much later today, at 6:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7) on Friday, October 23, 2020, to be more precise.

Players will then have until Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8) to make sure they complete all the special research.

Leaked datamined info has so far given us some clue as to the how much special research we'll undertake and the dialogue Professor Willow will be entertaining us with.

But be sure to stay tuned as we'll be dropping the official info in as soon as it's live later today.

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Pokemon GO Spooky Message Unmasked Special Research Tasks

Step One

• Catch 30 Ghost Type Pokemon: Pokemon encounter
• Transfer 4 Pokemon: x340 Stardust
• Catch 34 Pokemon: 340 XP

Total Rewards: Pokemon encounter, x3 Pinap Berry and x4 Razz Berry

Step Two

• Catch 10 Dark-type Pokemon: Encounter
• Make 8 Nice Throws: 10 Pokeballs
• Catch 108 Pokemon: 1080 XP

Total Rewards: Pokemon Encounter, 10 Potions, 8 Great Balls

Step Three

• Catch 40 Ghost-type Pokemon - An encounter with Litwick
• Make 9 Great Throws - 490 Stardust
• Catch 49 Pokemon - 490 Experience Points

Total Rewards: 4 Silver Pinap Berries, 9 Golden Razz Berries, Galarian Yamask Encounter

Step Four

• 3,400 XP
• 1,080 XP
• 4,900 XP

Total Rewards: 4 Yamask Candy, 9 Yamask Candy, 4,900 Stardust 

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Pokemon GO Spooky Message Unmasked Special Dialogue

As players will full well know, you don't start any special research in the game without first a chat with Professor Willow.

Well, it seems the dialogue has already leaked, giving a bit of a hint as to the tasks and rewards too. So if you want to see what the Professor has in store, read on. Otherwise, look away to avoid spoilers.

Step One Dialogue

BOO! Haha, hey there, %PLAYERNAME%!

Hope I didn’t scare you too much, I was just having a bit of fun during this spooky season.

Say, since you’re here, I was wondering if you could help me. I’ve heard some reports of an unusual Pokémon appearing in a nearby forest.

Ah—why aren’t I just going into the dark forest myself to find this Pokémon? Scared? No! Not at all!

Y-you see, I would, but I’m busy here with some...um...research! Yes!

Oh! I think I see Blanche over there near my lab and it looks like they need my help with evolving some Ghost-type Pokémon.

Could you go on ahead and let me know what you find, %PLAYERNAME%? Thanks and good luck!

Step Two Dialogue

Ah, Blanche, do you really think it's Galarian form will be able to evolve— oh, glad to see you again %PLAYERNAME%—AH!

What’s that sound?! Oh, it’s just a Yamask, looks like it’s looking at its mask and crying again.

This was what you found in the forest? Ah, I see. Sorry, Trainer but it looks like you’re going to have to venture back into the woods for me.

After cross-referencing eyewitness reports with some texts I found about Ghost-type Pokémon, turns out we are not looking for this particular Yamask, which was discovered in the Unova region—but another one entirely!

This other one hails from the Galar region and looks almost like stone, not a mask. Sources say the slab absorbs the Yamask's dark power. It appears Galarian Yamask might be a bit different than its Unovan counterpart.

Unfortunately, I can’t come along with you this time either...uh...looks like Spark needs my help with some Strange Eggs he’s trying to hatch! See ya later and good luck!

Step Three Dialogue

Yup, these Strange Eggs still seem to be hatching mostly Poison- and Dark-type Pokémon. This was an incredible use of time, I’m glad we got to confirm what we’ve already known—oh!

Welcome back, %PLAYERNAME%, how are—EGAD! A Spiritomb! What a tricky Ghost-type Pokémon.

I have worked with some Trainers to complete research on Spiritomb in previous years, you might’ve encountered and caught one before!

There seems to be a few more of them around than we've seen before, which is quite frightening given they’re quite mischievous and literally 108 spirits in one Pokémon, bound to a keystone to keep it in check.

One can say that it’s bound to be a real spooky season this year! Haha, sorry Spiritomb—too soon?

Anyway, sorry to do this to you again Trainer, but third times the charm, no? I’m sure this time will surely procure you an encounter with the illusive and elusive Galarian Yamask!

I gotta go help Candela prep for the an upcoming Trainer Battle, but you go on ahead! Good luck, %PLAYERNAME%!

Poison-, Ghost-, Bug-, Dark-, and Fairy-type Pokémon—looks like you’re all set for your spooky Trainer Battle, Candela!

Step Four Dialogue

Oh, hi there %PLAYERNAME%! And hello Galarian Yamask! What a curious Pokémon this is. It definitely gives off a totally different energy than it’s Unovan form.

I don’t know if you recall from earlier, but I was looking into evolving Pokémon with Blanche and it appears that Galarian Yamask is able to evolve into Runerigus!

All you need is to collect some Yamask Candy and get to evolving! It evolves into a totally different Pokémon than its Unovan form, so this will be a very exciting addition to your Pokédex, I’m certain of it!

Anyway, I’m so glad we got to go on this spooky adventure and discover a new Pokémon together!

Hope you had a ghoulish good time and hope you have an extra spoOoOoOoOoOoky day!

Stay tuned for more info later today.