Key insights
- The Galar region is finally getting attention in Pokemon GO with new timed research tasks.
- The Legendary Heroes event features sword and shield paths, each with different rewards for players.
- Single players are upset about the trading challenges in timed research, but completing them is optional.
Pokémon GO finally gives the Galar region some much-needed attention. Although some Galarian forms were added back in 2019 to celebrate the start of the eighth generation, prominent creatures from that generation were skipped in favor of ninth generation Alola, Hisui, and even Paldea, long before Scorbunny, Sobble, and Grookey even had a chance to debut in the AR adventure game. After a long wait, Galar gets his comeuppance in the final season, and that gives fans some interesting timed research to complete.
Currently in Pokémon GOAn event called “Legendary Heroes” is available now until October 1st at 8:00 p.m. local time. As the title suggests, this is a group of tasks aimed at celebrating the fact that the Warrior Pokémon Zacian can now be fought in raids, with Zamazenta joining the Galar Expedition event on October 4th becomes. To find these legendary dogs, players can complete Timed Explore and follow two paths to earn different rewards: the Sword Path and the Shield Path.
How Pokemon GO's Legendary Heroes' Sword Path and Shield Path work
Since Zamazenta and Zacian are available in raids despite the Timed Research title, neither dog is available as a reward for completing the research tasks. Instead, choosing the Sword Path or Shield Path changes what Pokémon players receive from their encounters through Incense and the research itself. This means players can easily choose the Sword or Shield path depending on what they need for their Pokedex.
Players will still receive the usual Stardust, XP, and items as they progress through Timed Research, but no Galar Pokémon will be offered as rewards for one path over the other. As part of the Legendary Heroes event, Galarian Ponyta, Galarian Darumaka, Grookey, Koffing, Scorbunny, Skwovet, and Sobble will be found more frequently in the wild for those who missed it at the start of the Max Out season. Find out what creatures players can expect from their Incense and Timed Research tasks below.
Swordway
- Seedot
- Lean
- Gothita
- Deino
- Swirlix
- Passimian
- Rufflet – Reward for the final task of timed research.
Shield path
- Larvitar
- Lotad
- Croagunk
- Solosis
- Spritzee
- Oranguru
- Vullaby – Reward for the final task of timed research.
The choice of path also affects the bonus that players receive in the Capture Challenge and the Trade Challenge. The Capture Challenge will use Pokémon from the corresponding list above, such as a Swordsman getting Gothita, Seedot, and Scraggy as required catches, while the Trade Challenge will ask for creatures from the Shield list. This was likely decided so that fans could interact with other players who chose a different path than them.
However, the trade challenge has angered many solo players Pokémon GO Players who don't have anyone nearby can complete this challenge with them. Many of these fans are demanding that Niantic stop offering time-limited trading challenges so that rewards aren't missed out because people don't have friends they like Pokémon to play.
Should players complete the Legendary Heroes timed research?
Ultimately, it's up to the player whether or not to complete the research, but there's no major reason unless those specific creatures are needed for their Pokedex, they want to get credit toward their Elite Collector's Medal, or they want to level up faster why they should go out of their way to complete the timed research. Timed Research is pretty simple and only consists of two parts, but there are other methods to farm the necessary resources Pokémon GO.
Although the concept of branching out of Timed Research in Pokémon GO is quite interesting, the rewards might be a waste of players' time if they expected unique encounters from their efforts. In any case, players have until October 1st to complete the seven tasks the entire journey requires, which can easily be completed within a day if they decide to jump in at the last minute.
