Pokémon Go: The Shadowy Threat Grows

March and April, 2020 brought another Team GO Rocket Special Research and this time Giovanni captured the Legendary beast, Entei! By completing the Special Research: The Shadowy Threat Grows, you can defeat Giovanni, rescue a Shadow Legendary Pokémon, and move on to the newest and final Special Research of the year, An Inter-egg-sting Development! Even more exciting, for a limited time only, Giovanni has captured Shadow Mewtwo, the most powerful Pokémon in all of Pokémon Go!

For one week, beginning October 12, 2020, Team GO Rocket Aerial Attacks are boosted, showing up every three hours, instead of every six. Make the most of this Trainers and you can knock out your Special Research fast!

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. Once a month, you can complete a Special Research to take on their leader, Giovanni and potentially rescue a Legendary Shadow Pokémon from him. While these Special Research lines don't expire, you can only complete one a month, even if you haven't completed past months.

Can I start right away?

Probably but, unlike some other Special Research, players must complete specific Special Research lines to begin The Shadowy Threat Grows. If you haven't completed the previous Team GO Rocket Special Research lines, 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, The Take-Over Continues, and A Professor's Work is Never Done take longer - one month each, to be exact.

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

The Shadowy Threat Grows

Once you've completed the previous Team GO Rocket Special Research lines, you will find The Shadowy Threat Grows 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 Golem 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 Attacks 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.