Pokémon Go: A Professor's Work is Never Done

Team GO Rocket was featured in another Special Research for February, 2020, with the Legendary beast, Raikou! Shadow Raikou isn't available anymore, but you can still complete this Special Research line to face off against Giovanni and his latest Legendary Shadow Pokémon.

As of July 7, 2020, Team GO Rocket hot air balloons now spawn on the map like Pokémon encounters. These hot air balloons operate in the same way as invaded PokéStops, allowing players to challenge Team GO Rocket Grunts, Executives, and even Giovanni himself, all without the need to travel to PokéStops.

What is Team GO Rocket anyway?

Based on the original antagonists of Pokémon, Team Rocket is an infamous criminal organization led by Giovanni. The group seeks to steal valuable Pokémon and force those Pokémon to further Giovanni's endeavors. In Pokémon Go, the group is much of the same, known as Team GO Rocket. Basically, they're the bad guys who've been missing from the game since day one. They're here now, and once a month, you can complete a Special Research line to take on their leader, Giovanni and potentially rescue a Legendary Shadow Pokémon from him.

Can I start right away?

Probably but, unlike some other Special Research, players must complete specific Special Researches to begin A Professor's Work is Never Finished. If you haven't completed A Troubling Situation, Looming in the Shadows, A Challenging Development, and The Take-Over Continues, you'll have to finish those first. Fortunately, A Troubling Situation is pretty quick, and we have a guide that will walk you through it fast. Looming in the Shadows, A Challenging Development, and The Take-Over Continues take longer, and are limited to one per month. However, we also have guides to walk you through each of them.

You must also be at least Level eight to begin this Special Research.

A Professor's Work is Never Done

Once you've completed the previous Team GO Rocket Special Research lines, you will find A Professor's Work is Never Done in your list of Special Research quests. This Special Research is split up into six steps of three tasks each.

1. Spin ten PokéStops for Sandslash Encounter.
2. Defeat three Team GO Rocket Grunts for 500 XP.
3. Catch one Shadow Pokémon for 500 XP.

Completion Rewards: 500 Stardust, ten Poké Balls, and ten Razz Berries.

1. Spin a PokéStop three days in a row for 750 XP.
2. Purify five Shadow Pokémon for 750 XP.
3. Win five raids for 750 XP.

Completion rewards: 1,000 Stardust, three Hyper Potions, and three Revives.

1. Use six super effective Charged Atacks in Gym Bttles for 1,000 XP.
2. Win three Great League Trainer Battles against another Trainer for 1,000 XP.
3. Defeat six Go Rocket Grunts for 1,000 XP.

Completion rewards: 1,500 Stardust, 15 Great Balls, and five Pinap Berries.

1. Defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Arlo for 1,250 XP.
2. Defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff for 1,250 XP.
3. Defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Sierra for 1,250 XP.

Completion rewards: 2,000 Stardust, one Super Rocket Radar, and three Golden Razz Berries.

1. Find the Team GO Rocket Boss for 2,500 Stardust.
2. Battle the Team GO Rocket Boss for 1,500 XP.
3. Defeat the Team GO Rocket Boss for three Silver Pinap Berries.

Completion rewards: 3,000 Stardust, one Charged TM, and one Fast TM.

1. Autocompleted for 2,000 XP.
2. Autocompleted for 2,000 XP.
3. Autocompleted for 2,000 XP.

Completion rewards: three Max Revives, 20 Ultra Balls, and three Rare Candies.