Pokémon GO’s latest “Fuzzy Fighter” Special Research offers trainers a unique chance to snag a second Dynamax Kubfu-but at a price. For $8, players can dive into a series of challenging tasks packed with exclusive rewards, including rare encounters and valuable items. But is this paid ticket truly worth the investment, or should you stick with the free Kubfu available through other research? Let’s break down what you get and who should consider buying this special offer.
The answer is complicated, since there’s a lot we don’t know about Kubfu and the future of Dynamax/Gigantamax. You can get one Kubfu for free from the “Might and Mastery” research, though if you want a second one, you’ll need to buy this research.
Below, we explain our thoughts behind the value of the “Fuzzy Fighter” Special Research and we list out all the steps for the research.
Is the ’Fuzzy Fighter’ Special Research ticket worth it?
The “Fuzzy Fighter” Special Research ticket in Pokémon Go, priced at $8, is primarily worth it for players who want to obtain a second Dynamax Kubfu, as the free event only grants one Kubfu encounter. This ticket also provides additional rewards such as Incense, two Premium Battle Passes, a Star Piece, and various candies and items, which add value especially for dedicated players and frequent raiders. However, casual players who are satisfied with just one Kubfu or those mainly interested in shiny hunting might find less value in purchasing the ticket, since it does not increase shiny rates or offer exclusive shiny encounters. Overall, the ticket is a good investment if you aim to maximize event rewards and collect multiple Kubfu, but not essential for everyone.
The short answer is: If you really want a second Kubfu, then yes, it could be worth it, but there are a lot of unknown variables in regards to Kubfu’s future with Gigantamax.
Let’s break it down, using prices from the Pokémon Go webstore (as usual) to be as thrifty as possible.
The pass costs $8 and there’s no $8 coin bundle. Math-ing it out, $8 is roughly 1,100 coins, based on the $10 coin bundle. This pass gives the following rewards:
- 10 Pinap Berries
- 4 Golden Razz Berries
- 4 Silver Pinap Berries
- 20 Poké Balls
- 20 Great Balls
- 20 Ultra Balls
- 1 Incense
- 1 Star Piece
- 5 Hyper Potions
- 5 Revives
- 2 Premium Battle Passes
- 5 Rare Candies
Buying the pass from the webstore also gives you an additional three Rare Candies and three Max Revives. You can only buy a few things from the above list from the in-game shop, and those items total up to 440 PokéCoins. That said, of course, you can’t buy things like Ultra Balls, Rare Candy, and the special berries, so while they don’t have an exact PokéCoin value, so you’ll need to use your own discretion to value those items based on your own needs.
As part of the pass, you’ll also get encounters with Stufful, Teddiursa, Tyrogue, Cubchoo, Pancham, and of course, a second Dynamax Kubfu.
If you just want a second Kubfu for your collection, that’s a good enough reason to grab this pass. However, if you’re big into Max Battles, then it’s a little more complicated than that – and in fact might not be worth it after all.
The thing about this Kubfu that has me narrowing my eyes is that I don’t really know what the future holds for it yet. The Isle of Armor DLC for Pokémon Sword and Shield revolves its story around Kubfu. You get one, you train it into an Urshifu – and then you give it a special soup that allows it to Gigantamax.
If you like Max Battles a lot, you will prefer a Gigantamax Urshifu, not one that Dynamaxes. Dynamax Urshifu will very likely be heavily outclassed in stats by Gigantamax Machamp (which should be showing up soon, since it was shown in the season trailer) and you may not want to sink all that hard-to-get candy and Stardust into a critter that will be outclassed by another version of itself down the line.
If this second Dynamax Kubfu can be turned into a Gigantamax Urshifu down the line and it remains the only way to get a second Urshifu, then yes, the pass is very much worth it, but we don’t know if that’ll ever be a thing.
That said, we don’t know how Niantic is rolling out Gigantamax Urshifu. Will our Dynamax Kubfu drink the magic soup, just like in the mainline game? Will Gigantamax Urshifu be locked behind a raid day event? It’s really hard to predict. For all we know, we may not see Gigantamax Urshifu for a long time, as it’s not even in the game’s files yet.
’Fuzzy Fighter’ Special Research steps and rewards
The “Fuzzy Fighter” Special Research in Pokémon Go is a paid quest available for $7.99, offering players a chance to obtain a second Dynamax Kubfu, which can be evolved into either Urshifu: Single Strike Style or Rapid Strike Style. The research consists of five steps with various tasks such as catching Pokémon, collecting Max Particles, spinning PokéStops, and powering up specific types of Pokémon. Rewards include valuable items like Golden Razz Berries, Incense, Premium Battle Passes, Kubfu Candy, and a final encounter with Dynamax Kubfu. The research ticket is time-limited but can be completed at the player’s own pace, making it appealing for dedicated players who want an additional Kubfu and extra rewards, especially if they frequently participate in raids.
Below, we list the full steps and rewards for the “Fuzzy Fighter” Special Research.
’Fuzzy Fighter’ step 1 of 5
- Catch 30 Pokémon (2 Golden Razz Berries)
- Collect 500 Max Particles (Stufful encounter)
- Spin 10 PokéStops or gyms (20 Poké Balls)
Rewards: 1 Incense, 10 Pinap Berries, 1,000 Stardust
’Fuzzy Fighter’ step 2 of 5
- Explore 5 km (20 Great Balls)
- Spin 20 PokéStops or gyms (Teddiursa encounter)
- Power up fighting-type Pokémon 10 times (2 Silver Pinap Berries)
Rewards: 1 Premium Battle Pass, 5 Revives, 1,000 XP
’Fuzzy Fighter’ step 3 of 5
- Use 10 berries to help catch Pokémon (20 Ultra Balls)
- Win 3 raids (Tyrogue encounter)
- Power up water-type Pokémon 10 times (10 Kubfu Candy)
Rewards: 1 Star Piece, 5 Hyper Potions, 1,000 Stardust
’Fuzzy Fighter’ step 4 of 5
- Catch 15 different species of Pokémon (2 Golden Razz Berries)
- Defeat 5 Team Go Rocket members (Cubchoo encounter)
- Power up dark-type Pokémon 10 times (10 Kubfu Candy)
Rewards: 1 Premium Battle Pass, 5 Rare Candies, 1,000 XP
’Fuzzy Fighter’ step 5 of 5
- Earn 5 candies exploring with your buddy (2 Silver Pinap Berries)
- Make 2 excellent throws (Pancham encounter)
- Level up a Max Move (10 Kubfu Candy)
Is spending $8 on Fuzzy Fighter worth boosting my Kubfu collection
Spending $8 on the Pokémon GO “Fuzzy Fighter” Special Research can be worth it if your main goal is to add a second Kubfu to your collection, as this is the only way to obtain it beyond the free one from other research. The ticket includes a variety of useful items like Rare Candies, Ultra Balls, and Premium Battle Passes, which add value beyond just the Pokémon itself. However, the Kubfu you get is only Dynamax, not Gigantamax, and may be powercrept by upcoming Pokémon like Gigantamax Machamp, making it less competitive in Max Battles. The future of Gigantamax Urshifu in Pokémon GO remains uncertain, so if you are hoping this second Kubfu will evolve into a Gigantamax Urshifu, that is not guaranteed yet. In summary, if you want a second Kubfu for collection or casual play, the $8 investment is reasonable, but if you are focused on competitive Max Battles, the value is less clear due to potential power creep and unknown future mechanics.
Would a second Kubfu significantly improve my Max Battle strategies
A second Kubfu can enhance your Max Battle strategies by allowing you to evolve it into both Urshifu forms-Rapid Strike and Single Strike-each offering unique typings and movesets that fit different tactical roles. Having both types can provide versatility in battles, with Single Strike excelling in dark and ghost matchups and Rapid Strike serving as a secondary tank and healer. However, currently, the Kubfu you get from the paid “Fuzzy Fighter” research is only Dynamax, and the ability to evolve it into Gigantamax Urshifu is not yet confirmed in Pokémon GO, which limits its competitive edge compared to other top-tier Max Battle Pokémon like Gigantamax Machamp. If your focus is on maximizing battle options and you want both Urshifu forms, investing in a second Kubfu is beneficial, but if you are looking for immediate top-tier competitive advantage, the impact is more modest until Gigantamax evolution is implemented.
