The world of Pokémon Go is ever-evolving, and on May 12, 2026, players will encounter a fresh twist with the ‘Choose Your Path’ Timed Research quest. This new feature allows trainers to make a choice that reflects their personal playstyle—whether they prefer exploring, catching, or battling. For one week only, from Tuesday at 10 a.m. until the following Monday at 8 p.m. local time, players can dive into this unique experience.
Each path comes with its own challenges and rewards. The Explore path encourages players to get out and spin PokéStops, offering a whopping five times XP for each stop spun. Meanwhile, the Catch path is all about precision—requiring 15 excellent throws and 50 curveball throws to earn one and a half times XP for catching Pokémon. Finally, the Battle path invites trainers to win five raids and use 25 supereffective charged attacks, rewarding them with an additional 5,000 XP.
Players are buzzing with excitement over these options. “If you love raiding, pick battle. If you like going on walks, pick explore. If you catch every Pokémon you see, then pick catch,” one enthusiastic trainer shared. But there’s a catch—once you’ve made your choice, you can’t change it. The stakes are high as players weigh their options carefully.
As the Lechonk Community Day approaches on May 9, many see this timed research as an opportunity to maximize their XP gains while shiny hunting—a popular activity among trainers. The timing strengthens the case further since shiny hunting naturally produces a high volume of throws that will all count toward the bonus.
Key challenges by path:
- The Explore path requires players to explore 5 km and spin 50 PokéStops.
- The Catch path involves making 15 excellent throws and 50 curveball throws.
- The Battle path demands winning five raids and using 25 supereffective charged attacks.
Additionally, all paths offer the same completion rewards: three Pinap Berries and five Rare Candies. This uniformity might help balance the decision-making process but also adds pressure on trainers to excel in their chosen area.
Pokémon Go is treating this as a test—an experiment to gauge player engagement with different styles of gameplay. Observers are curious about how this will influence community dynamics and whether it could lead to more personalized experiences in future updates.
As players gear up for this new quest starting May 12, they’re not just preparing for another round of gameplay; they’re stepping into an era where choices define their journey in Pokémon Go.