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GINX TV > Guides & Tutorial > Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO Team GO Rocket Takeover – All Special Research Tasks & Rewards

Professor Willow has a Special Research story, Shadowy Skirmishes, available to complete, so we've detailed all tasks and rewards for the Team GO Rocket Takeover.
By Ashleigh Klein | 
Page Updated February 5, 2023, 08:00 | First Published November 14, 2022, 12:12
Pokémon GO Team GO Rocket Takeover – All Special Research Tasks & Rewards

Team GO Rocket is on the verge of a complete takeover courtesy of their next standalone in-game event for Pokémon GO. During this takeover event, Trainers globally must eventually survive their attacks by defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts and their Leaders, Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra, to face Giovanni.

This can be achieved through the event-exclusive Special Research story available to all Trainers once the event begins. Here's everything about the Special Research story, including tasks and rewards for the Team GO Rocket Takeover event.

5th February 2023 Update: This guide is updated to reflect new information for the upcoming Team GO Rocket Takeover event, including Special Research tasks. The original guide continues below.

All Pokémon GO Team GO Rocket Takeover Special Research Tasks

pokemon go events guide team go rocket takeover special research grunts air balloon
Team GO Rocket are back to invade PokéStops in their upcoming Takeover event. (Picture: Niantic / The Pokémon Company)

Team GO Rocket have disastrous plans for Trainers when they take over Pokémon in their latest event this month. Beginning on 1st February 2023 at 12 am local time, various Team GO Rocket Grunts and their Leaders will invade Pokéstops with their Shadow Pokémon globally.

Professor Willow will an urgent Special Research story for you to complete and take down Team GO Rocket boss, Giovanni. You'll receive a Super Rocket Radar to assist you in locating him and rescuing the Shadow Registeel.

This Special Research story will be available for you to claim until the conclusion of the Season of Mythical Wishes on 1st March 2023 at 10 am local time. You must claim and complete various tasks to receive rewards, including Poké Balls, Revives, Potions, XP, and more.

pokemon go events guide team go rocket takeover special research
Trainers must complete the Special Research tasks to receive an encounter with Giovanni and save Shadow Registeel. (Picture: Niantic / The Pokémon Company)

Below, we’ve listed the Field Research tasks and the rewards for the Team GO Rocket Takeover event in Pokémon GO provided by notable Pokémon source Leek Duck:

All Team GO Rocket Takeover Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research Tasks & Rewards

Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research (1/5)

  • Defeat six Team GO Rocket Grunts: Helioptile Encounter
  • Earn two Candies when exploring with your Buddy Pokémon: Helioptile Encounter
  • Make three consecutive Nice Curveball Throws: Helioptile Encounter
    • Page Rewards: 2,000 XP, Revive x10, and Poké Balls x15

Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research (2/5)

  • Catch four Shadow Pokémon: Poké Balls x10
  • Defeat six Team GO Rocket Grunts: Hyper Potion x10
  • Purify two Shadow Pokémon: Pinap Berry x10
    • Page Rewards: 2,000 XP, Great Ball x15, and one Rocket Radar

Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research (3/5)

  • Defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Arlo: 1,500 XP
  • Defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff: 1,500 XP
  • Defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Sierra: 1,500 XP
    • Page Rewards: 2,500 XP, Stardust x1000, and one Super Rocket Radar

Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research (4/5)

  • Find the Team GO Rocket Boss: Max Potion x5
  • Battle the Team GO Rocket Boss: Ultra Ball x20
  • Defeat the Team GO Rocket Boss: Max Revive x5
    • Page Rewards: 3,000 XP, Lucky Egg x1, and Golden Razz Berry x2

Shadowy Skirmishes Special Research (5/5)

  • Claim Reward!: 2,500 XP
  • Claim Reward!: 2,500 XP
  • Claim Reward!: 2,500 XP
    • Page Rewards: 5,000 XP, Stardust x2,500, and Silver Pinap Berry x2

We know that completing the Special Research story will lead to an encounter with Team GO Rocket Boss Giovanni, for which we've provided the best counters to defeat him. But more specifically, for the encounter against him and his Shadow Registeel, being a Steel-type Pokémon, it's most vulnerable to attacks from Fighting, Fire, and Ground- types.

The best Fighting counter options include Machamp (Shadow Machamp, if possible) and Terrakion, while Entei (Shadow Entei, if possible), Groudon, and Reshiram are your best Fire counters. But if you have a Mega Fire-type Pokémon can be highly beneficial in this counter with Mega Blaziken as another great Fire counter option, according to another Pokémon source, PokémonGOHub.