From catching rare Pokémon to tracking down glowing Zygarde Cells, the “From A to Zygarde” Special Research brings trainers a challenge packed with mystery, strategy, and rewards that stretch across every corner of Pokémon Go.
Zygarde has a special feature unlike any other Legendary Pokémon: it’s forms change depending on how many cells you find. The first form, 10%, is the one you start with and it resembles a dog. The second form, 50%, is the one players may recognize from Pokémon X and Y, and it is more of a serpent. The third form, called its “Complete Forme” (with an e, yes), is more humanoid in shape.
How to change find Zygarde Cells and change Zygarde’s form
To find Zygarde Cells, use the Route feature in Pokémon Go; they appear as glowing green dots along the path. Tap them to collect Cells, which are stored in your Zygarde Cube. The more Cells you gather, the more complete your Zygarde becomes. Once you have enough Cells, you can use the Cube to change Zygarde’s form between 10%, 50%, and Complete Forme through the Pokémon’s details page.
By using the “nearby” tab to find local routes, you can follow along on whatever path another trainer submitted. By walking on these routes, you’ll be rewarded Zygarde Cells, which allow you to change your Zygarde’s form. However, the only way to get Zygarde (as of writing this, at least) is to complete the Special Research Tasks we outline below. You also need to get the Zygarde Cube, which holds the cells, first. (It’s also a reward from the Special Research.)
Pokémon Go ‘From A to Zygarde’ Special Research Tasks and rewards
The “From A to Zygarde” Special Research in Pokémon Go offers Trainers a multi-step set of tasks that introduce the Legendary Pokémon Zygarde and its different forms. Completing each stage rewards players with items such as Stardust, XP, encounters with Pokémon related to the story, and progress toward assembling Zygarde Cells. These cells can be collected through Routes and are used to change Zygarde’s Forme, making this research an engaging way to learn more about the Pokémon’s mechanics while earning useful rewards.
Step 1 of 6
- Walk 1 km (5 Pinap Berries)
- Catch 10 Pokémon (5 Potions)
- Use 5 berries to help catch Pokémon (5 Poké Balls)
Rewards: 500 Stardust
Step 2 of 6
- Make 5 great throws (10 Razz Berries)
- Power up Pokémon 5 times (10 Nanab Berries)
- Hatch an egg (10 Poké Balls)
Rewards: 1,000 Stardust
Step 3 of 6
- Claim reward (10 Great Balls)
- Claim reward (10 Super Potions)
- Claim rward (100 Stardust)
Reward: Zygarde encounter, 1 Zygarde Cube
The Zygarde Cube is a key item that allows you to store Zygarde Cells, which can only be found while walking routes. Using Zygarde Cells, you can change the form of your Zygarde.
Step 4 of 6
- Follow 3 routes (1 Incense)
- Catch 20 Pokémon while following routes (3 Revives)
- Find a Zygarde Cell (5 Ultra Balls)
Reward: 1,000 XP, 1,000 Stardust
Step 5 of 6
- Use an Incense while following a route (15 Great Balls)
- Earn 3 candies walking with your buddy (1,500 Stardust)
- Follow 5 routes (10 Ultra Balls)
Best Routes to find Zygarde Cells near me
Pokémon Go doesn’t track player locations, so specific “best Routes near you” can’t be pinpointed without your exact coordinates. Focus on areas with high player activity like downtowns, parks, or neighborhoods for more Routes created by others.
Finding Routes Effectively
Access Routes via the Nearby menu’s Routes tab; they’re player-submitted paths from 500m to 20km long. Prioritize unpublished or rarely completed Routes-first-time completions daily boost Zygarde Cell chances, often near ends at gyms or PokéStops. Be 1-2 miles away initially for them to appear in your list.
Cell-Hunting Strategies
Speed through on a bike or scooter to ends (stop 90-120m short to scan inner spawn circle for glowing orbs), looping if fewer than three Route-exclusive spawns appear. Cells aren’t guaranteed (max ~3/day per Route cycle), but unique Routes yield higher odds; skip repeats on the same path. Avoid glitches by not auto-completing prematurely.
Show nearby Routes with recent Zygarde cell spawns
Pokémon Go lacks a built-in feature or public database to display “nearby Routes with recent Zygarde cell spawns” in real time, as cell spawns are randomized per player and not tracked or shared via the app. No third-party tools or websites currently aggregate live, location-specific Route data for cells due to Niantic’s restrictions on real-time sharing.
Access Routes Manually
Open the Nearby menu (bottom left), tap the Routes tab, and filter for unpublished or low-completion Routes within 1-2 miles-these offer the best cell odds on first daily runs. High-density areas like cities or parks typically have dozens; create your own short loops (500m+) if few appear nearby.
Maximize Cell Chances
Approach Route ends slowly (stop 50-100m short), circling to trigger spawns-cells replace one of ~3 Route-exclusive Pokémon, appearing as glowing orbs if only 1-2 prior spawns occurred. Limit to 3 cells daily; reset by force-closing the app if glitched, but avoid repeats on the same Route that day.
