Choose your destiny in Pokémon Go’s latest Special Research, “An Accomplished Trainer,” where your path splits between the electrifying power of Electric-type Pokémon or the cunning strength of Poison-types. This pivotal choice not only shapes your quest steps-“Amp It Up” or “Keep It Lowkey”-but also determines unique rewards and bonuses that extend beyond the event, making every decision a strategic step toward becoming a true expert Trainer.
As well as the resulting quest steps changing to either “Amp it Up” or “Keep it Lowkey”, unlike most branching research, the choice will also impact bonuses after the event ends – making the decision all the more important.
’An Accomplished Trainer’ Special Research quest steps
The “An Accomplished Trainer” Special Research quest in Pokémon Go, available during the Go Wild Area: Global 2024 event for ticket holders, involves completing a series of challenges that culminate in choosing between two paths: Electric (Amp It Up) or Poison (Keep It Lowkey). The initial step includes spinning PokéStops or gyms, using incense, and catching Pokémon, rewarding players with XP, Star Pieces, and a Dynamax Excadrill encounter. After this, the chosen path influences the subsequent quest steps, focusing on either Electric- or Poison-type Pokémon, and affects the rewards and bonuses received, such as encounters with different forms of Toxtricity, special Pikachu costumes, and unique medals. This choice is permanent and also impacts bonuses after the event ends, making it a significant decision for trainers aiming to become experts in their selected type.
This quest can be collected on Nov. 23 to Nov. 24 between the Go Wild Area start and end times for ticket holders.
Once you have it in your Special Research tab, it will not expire – meaning you can take your time in completing the following steps. That said, completing it before Monday, Nov. 25 will unlock a series of bonuses until Friday, Nov. 29 – so it’s in your best interest to complete it while Go Wild Area: Global is active.
’An Accomplished Trainer’ step 1 of 6
- Spin 10 PokéStops or gyms (2 Incense)
- Use an incense (20 Poké Balls)
- Catch 10 Pokémon (1 Lucky Egg)
Rewards: 1 Star Piece, Dynamax Excadrill encounter, 1,000 XP
At this point, you will choose a path between which type – electric or poison – you want to adventure with. The name of the research will change depending on which you pick, but otherwise the steps are largely the same, with the difference being what type of Pokémon you focus on catching and powering up. The rewards are also mostly the same until the final step.
You can read our thoughts on which to pick in the next section, otherwise, the steps that follow are:
’Amp it Up/Keep it Lowkey’ step 2 of 6
- Catch 10 electric-/poison-type Pokémon (3 Razz Berries)
- Explore 1 km (1,000 Stardust)
- Take snapshots of 3 different wild electric-/poison-type Pokémon (10 Great Balls)
Rewards: 1 Star Piece, 1 Poffin, 1 Lucky Egg
’Amp it Up/Keep it Lowkey’ step 3 of 6
- Catch 4 electric-/poison-type Pokémon with nice throws (3 Pinap Berries)
- Earn a candy exploring with an electric-/poison-type as your buddy (10 Ultra Balls)
- Earn 3 hearts with an electric-/poison-type buddy (1 Fast TM)
Rewards: 1,000, 3 Rare Candy, 3 Nanab Berries
’Amp it Up/Keep it Lowkey’ step 4 of 6
- Catch 10 different species of electric-/poison-type Pokémon (1,000 XP)
- Power up electric-/poison-type Pokémon 6 times (1 Lure Module)
- Evolve 3 electric-/poison-type Pokémon (1 Charged TM)
Rewards: 2 Premium Battle Passes, Golem encounter, 25 Geodude Candy
’Amp it Up/Keep it Lowkey’ step 5 of 6
- Power up ground-type Pokémon 3 times (3 Hyper Potions)
- Use 2 supereffective charged attacks (2 Max Revives)
- Battle in 2 raids (1,000 Stardust)
Rewards: 2 Super Incubators, 1,000 XP, 3 Toxel Candy
’Amp it Up/Keep it Lowkey’ step 6 of 6
- Hatch 2 eggs (1,000 XP)
- Spin 20 PokéStops or gyms (Pikachu Pop Star/Rock Star encounter)
- Complete 5 Field Research Tasks (2 Lure Modules)
Rewards: Dynamax Toxtricity (Amped/Lowkey Form) encounter, Electric Expert/Poison Pro Medal, Go Wild Area 2024 pose
Choose a path outcomes: Which out of electric or poison should you adventure with?
Choosing between the Electric or Poison path in Pokémon Go’s “An Accomplished Trainer” Special Research shapes your adventure and rewards significantly. The Electric path, “Amp It Up,” offers encounters with Electric-type Pokémon like the Amped Form Toxtricity and a Pop Star Pikachu, along with the Electric Expert medal upon completion. It also grants post-event bonuses such as timed research focused on Electric-types, 2× damage for Electric attacks in raids and gyms, and increased Team GO Rocket balloon appearances. Conversely, the Poison path, “Keep It Lowkey,” centers on Poison-type Pokémon, including the Low Key Toxtricity and a Rock Star Pikachu, rewarding you with a Poison Pro medal and similar post-event bonuses but tailored to Poison-types. The choice affects the quest steps, rewards, and bonuses after the event, making it a strategic decision based on your preferred Pokémon type, desired medals, and potential raid advantages, especially since Poison-type attacks will be more effective against certain raid bosses appearing shortly after the event.
Your choice between electric or poison will impact three things – the reward encounters during the Special Research, the medal for completing the quest, and the bonuses you’ll receive in the days following Go Wild Area: Global.
For the Special Research, you’ll get mostly the same rewards, except for the last step:
- If you pick the electric-type track, you’ll get Pop Star Pikachu and a Dynamax Toxtricity in its Amped Up Form.
- If you pick the poison-type track, you’ll get Rock Star Pikachu and a Dynamax Toxtricity in its Low Key Form.
The Toxtricity are the same stat-wise and only have different appearances, so if you’re basing your choice on that, you can pick whichever you like better visually.
The costumed Pikachu, however, does add something somewhat unique to the choices, though. Pop Star Pikachu can have the fairy-type charged attack Draining Kiss and Rock Star Pikachu can have the steel-type charged attack Meteor Mash.
These moves are unique to these costumed Pikachu, though since you likely won’t be using these in battles, it’s not too much of a deal breaker. These are the same Pikachu from the Go Fest Meloetta research in 2021, so if you completed that, you likely have one of these but not the other one. You will get one of each of these if you complete both of the ticketed Collection Challenges as well. That being said, you can also base your research path choice based on which Pikachu you need or which one you want another chance at to find shiny.
For the medal, you’ll get an “Electric Expert” Medal for “Amp it Up” and a “Poison Pro” Medal for “Keep It Lowkey.” These medals have no use and are purely cosmetic.
And finally, there are bonuses following the event, which is arguably is what your choice has the biggest impact upon. Between Monday, Nov. 25 and Friday, Nov. 29 – provided you have completed the research by then – you’ll receive the following:
- Daily Timed Research focused on electric- or poison-types
- 2x damage for electric- or poison-type attacks (in raids, gyms, and Max Battles)
- More Team Go Rocket balloons making an appearance
With the double damage in mind, there’s an argument that going for poison is the way to go, as from Wednesday, Nov. 27 with the Max Out Finale event, the raid schedule will feature Zacian and Mega Altaria, both of which have a poison weakness – meaning if you’re after those in particular, choosing this over electric could be useful.
How will choosing Electric or Poison affect my Pokémon encounters
Choosing the Electric or Poison path in Pokémon Go’s “An Accomplished Trainer” Special Research affects your Pokémon encounters in several ways.
If you choose the Electric path (“Amp It Up”), you will encounter Pop Star Pikachu and Dynamax Toxtricity in its Amped Up (Electric) form. Conversely, the Poison path (“Keep It Lowkey”) rewards you with Star Pikachu and Dynamax Toxtricity in its Low Key (Poison) form. Both Toxtricity forms have identical stats, so the choice is mainly aesthetic.
After completing the research, your choice also determines the type of Timed Research and bonuses you receive from November 25 to 29. The Electric path grants Timed Research focused on Electric-type Pokémon, double damage for Electric-type attacks in raids, gyms, and Max Battles, and increased Team GO Rocket balloon spawns. The Poison path offers similar bonuses but for Poison-type Pokémon and attacks, which can be strategically advantageous against certain raid bosses like Zacian and Mega Altaria that are vulnerable to Poison-type moves.
In summary, your choice influences the special Pikachu and Toxtricity forms you encounter during the quest, the medal you earn, and the type-specific bonuses and Timed Research you receive after the event, with Poison potentially offering a slight edge in raid damage depending on the current meta.
How does choosing Electric or Poison change the Pokémon I encounter during events
Choosing the Electric or Poison path in Pokémon Go’s “An Accomplished Trainer” Special Research changes the Pokémon you encounter during the event primarily in the final reward encounters and the themed Pokémon spawns tied to each path.
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Electric Path (“Amp It Up”): You will encounter Pop Star Pikachu, which can learn the fairy-type charged attack Draining Kiss, and Dynamax Toxtricity in its Amped Up (Electric) form. Completing this path awards you the Electric Expert medal. After the event, you receive Timed Research focused on Electric-type Pokémon, double damage for Electric-type attacks in raids and battles, and more Team GO Rocket balloons.
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Poison Path (“Keep It Lowkey”): You will encounter Rock Star Pikachu, which can learn the steel-type charged attack Meteor Mash, and Dynamax Toxtricity in its Low Key (Poison) form. This path grants the Poison Pro medal. Post-event bonuses include Timed Research centered on Poison-type Pokémon, double damage for Poison-type attacks, and increased Team GO Rocket balloon appearances.
Both Toxtricity forms are statistically identical, so the choice is mostly aesthetic. The Pikachu variants offer unique charged moves exclusive to their costumes. The choice also influences the type of daily Timed Research and the type-specific bonuses you get for several days after the event, with Poison-type attacks potentially offering an advantage against certain raid bosses like Zacian and Mega Altaria due to their Poison weakness.
