TL;DR
- April’s Research Breakthrough features Alolan Exeggutor – complete 7 daily tasks to earn encounters
- Weather-boosted catch tasks provide Poliwag, Vulpix, and substantial Stardust rewards
- Throwing skill challenges offer rare Pokemon like Spinda and Larvitar for advanced players
- Limited egg-hatching tasks accommodate players during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions
- Strategic task prioritization maximizes rare candy and Pokemon encounter opportunities
Pokemon Go’s April 2020 Field Research update brings refreshed challenges and rewards for trainers worldwide. This comprehensive breakdown covers all available tasks, their corresponding rewards, and strategic approaches to maximize your gameplay efficiency during this unique period.
Niantic has thoughtfully adjusted this month’s task pool to accommodate players affected by global lockdown measures. Notably, egg-hatching requirements have been significantly reduced, making most tasks completable from home or during limited outdoor activities. The developer’s sensitivity to current circumstances demonstrates their commitment to player accessibility.
Field Research operates differently from Special Research questlines. While Special Research follows narrative storylines, Field Research tasks are randomly assigned when spinning PokeStop Photo Discs. Each completed challenge provides immediate rewards ranging from basic items to exclusive Pokemon encounters.
Each day, your first completed Field Research task grants a stamp toward the monthly Research Breakthrough. Accumulating seven stamps unlocks the special reward encounter – this April featuring the tropical Alolan Exeggutor. This rare variant offers both collection value and competitive utility in certain battle scenarios.
Pokemon Go News & Announcements
The complete April Field Research pool, meticulously documented by The Silph Road research community, provides trainers with essential planning information. Understanding the full task spectrum enables strategic PokeStop selection and task management.
Beyond the standard monthly tasks, Niantic introduced limited-time Field Research tied to the April Fools’ event (April 1-7). These special quests featured encounters with Sudowoodo, Croagunk, and the debut of Generation 5’s Stunfisk. Additional April events include a spring celebration introducing flower crown Buneary and other seasonal content.
| Field Research Task | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Catch 5 Pokemon with Weather boost | Poliwag or Vulpix encounter; 200 Stardust, 3 Razz Berries, 1 Pinap Berry, or 5 Poke Balls |
| Catch 10 Pokemon with Weather boost | 500 Stardust, 6 Razz Berries, 2 Pinap Berries, or 5 Great Balls |
| Catch 3 different species of Grass-type Pokemon | 1 Rare Candy |
| Catch 3 Grass-, Fire-, or Ground-type Pokemon | Cacnea encounter |
| Catch 3 Rock-type Pokemon | Magcargo encounter |
| Catch 10 Pokemon | Magikarp encounter; 200 Stardust, 3 Razz Berries, 1 Pinap Berry, or 5 Poke Balls |
| Catch 10 Normal-type Pokemon | 500 Stardust, 6 Razz Berries, 2 Pinap Berries, or 5 Great Balls |
| Use 5 Berries to help catch Pokemon | 500 Stardust, 6 Razz Berries, 2 Pinap Berries, or 5 Great Balls |
| Catch a Dragon-type Pokemon | Dratini encounter; 1,500 Stardust, 3 Rare Candies, 2 Gold Razz Berries, or 10 Ultra Balls |
| Catch a Ditto | 1,500 Stardust, 3 Rare Candies, 2 Gold Razz Berries, or 10 Ultra Balls |
| Field Research Tasks | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Battle another trainer | Burmy encounter |
| Win 1 Great League Trainer Battle against another Trainer | Lotad encounter |
| Win 5 Raids | Aerodactyl encounter |
| Win a level 3 or higher Raid | Kabuto or Omanyte encounter |
Pro Tip: Weather-boosted catch tasks are ideal for rainy or sunny days when corresponding Pokemon spawns increase naturally. Plan your PokeStop visits around forecasted weather patterns to complete these efficiently.
Dragon-type catching remains one of the most challenging but rewarding tasks. Focus on areas near water biomes or during windy weather for improved spawn rates. The Dratini encounter provides excellent candy for Dragonite evolution.
Common mistake: Players often waste time on Ditto tasks without knowing current disguise Pokemon. As of April 2020, Ditto commonly appears as Hoothoot, Sentret, or Paras.
| Field Research Task | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Make 3 Great throws | Gastly, Anorith, or Lileep encounter; 200 Stardust, 3 Razz Berries, 1 Pinap Berry, or 5 Poke Balls |
| Make 5 Nice throws | Voltorb encounter; 200 Stardust, 3 Razz Berries, 1 Pinap Berry, or 5 Poke Balls |
| Make 3 Nice throws in a row | 500 Stardust, 2 Pinap Berries, 5 Great Balls, or 2 Ultra Balls |
| Make 3 Great throws in a row | Onix encounter; 1,000 Stardust, 1 Rare Candy, 9 Razz Berries, 3 Pinap Berries, 10 Poke Balls, or 5 Ultra Balls |
| Make 3 Great curveball throws | 1,000 Stardust, 1 Rare Candy, 9 Razz Berries, 3 Pinap Berries, 10 Poke Balls, or 5 Ultra Balls |
| Make 3 Great curveball throws in a row | 1,500 Stardust, 3 Rare Candies, 2 Gold Razz Berries, or 10 Ultra Balls |
| Make 5 Great curveball throws in a row | Spinda encounter |
| Make an Excellent throw | 500 Stardust, 2 Pinap Berries, 5 Great Balls, or 2 Ultra Balls |
| Make 3 Excellent throws in a row | Larvitar encounter |
| Make 5 curveball throws in a row | 500 Stardust, 6 Razz Berries, 2 Pinap Berries, or 5 Great Balls |
| Make 2 Nice curveball throws in a row | 200 Stardust, 3 Razz Berries, 1 Pinap Berry, or 5 Poke Balls |
Advanced Strategy: For consecutive throw challenges, target larger Pokemon like Sudowoodo, Snorlax, or Tauros. Their bigger catch circles make maintaining streaks significantly easier.
The Spinda task (5 Great curveball throws consecutively) represents one of the month’s most valuable opportunities. Spinda’s pattern variations make each encounter collectible, and this remains the only consistent way to obtain them.
Time estimates: Most players complete basic throwing tasks in 5-10 minutes, while consecutive excellent throws may require 15-30 minutes depending on spawn availability.
| Field Research Task | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Hatch an Egg | Bayleef encounter |
| Field Research Task | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Transfer 3 Pokemon | Parasect encounter |
| Trade a Pokemon | Pineco encounter |
| Evolve a Pokemon | Eevee or Alolan Diglett encounter |
| Power up Pokemon 5 times | Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle encounter |
| Send 3 Gifts to friends | Magmar encounter |
| Take 1 Snapshot of Grass-type Pokemon | Shroomish encounter |
| Spin 10 PokeStops or Gyms | 200 Stardust, 3 Razz Berries, 1 Pinap Berry, 5 Silver Pinap Berries, or 5 Poke Balls |
Optimization Tip: The evolution task offers either Eevee or Alolan Diglett. Since Eevee has multiple evolution paths and Alolan Diglett is regionally exclusive, this represents excellent value for inventory management.
The single egg-hatching task (Bayleef encounter) reflects Niantic’s accommodation of reduced mobility. This limited requirement allows players to participate fully without excessive outdoor activity.
Common mistake: Players often waste evolution items on this task. Remember that any evolution counts – use Pidgey or Weedle candies for cost-effective completion.
| Field Research Task | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Earn 5 Hearts with your Buddy | Bellossom encounter |
| Field Research Task | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Give your Buddy a treat | Sudowoodo encounter |
| Earn 3 Candies walking with your Buddy | Stunfisk encounter |
| Catch 3 Voltorb | 5 Poke Balls |
| Catch 3 Ditto | Croagunk encounter |
Buddy System Mechanics: Earning hearts with your Buddy involves multiple interactions: feeding, battling, and snapshot features. The Bellossom encounter provides evolution completion for Oddish lines.
Stunfisk’s debut through the ‘Earn 3 Candies walking with your Buddy’ task makes this particularly valuable for completionists.
The April Fools’ event tasks (April 1-7) featured unique encounters not available through standard research. Sudowoodo, Croagunk, and Stunfisk represent limited-time acquisition opportunities.
Strategic Prioritization: Focus on tasks offering Rare Candy first, followed by Pokemon needed for your Pokedex or battle teams. Avoid low-value rewards when better alternatives are available.
Action Checklist
- Complete one Field Research task daily to earn Research Breakthrough stamps toward Alolan Exeggutor
- Prioritize Rare Candy tasks (Catch 3 different Grass species, throwing challenges)
- Save evolution tasks for common Pokemon to minimize resource expenditure
- Target weather-boosted catches during corresponding weather conditions
- Complete buddy tasks through daily interactions: feeding, battling, and snapshots
- Focus on throwing skill tasks using large Pokemon for easier consecutive completions
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