Step into the Verdant Wonders event and embark on the exclusive “Rogue of the Jungle” Special Research in Pokémon GO, where for $7.99 you can unlock a thrilling five-step quest culminating in an encounter with Zarude, the elusive Rogue Monkey Pokémon. This pay-to-play adventure not only lets you catch Zarude for the first time since 2021 but also rewards you with rare items, encounters with unique Pokémon like flower-crowned Cottonee, and a host of challenges that test your skills across Grass and Dark-type Pokémon tasks. Available from March 21 to March 25, 2024, this limited-time event offers trainers a rare chance to deepen their collection and experience a captivating storyline in the jungle’s heart.
It can be tough to figure out if it’s worth forking over the money to get this pass, so we break it down and list out all the “Rogue of the Jungle” steps below.
Is the ’Rogue of the Jungle’ Zarude ticket worth it in Pokémon Go?
The “Rogue of the Jungle” Zarude ticket in Pokémon Go is primarily worth purchasing if you want to obtain Zarude, a Mythical Pokémon that is otherwise unavailable without the ticket. This special research ticket, priced at $7.99, grants access to a unique storyline culminating in an encounter with Zarude, as well as additional rewards like Premium Battle Passes, Rare Candies, and boosted Incense spawns of several rare Pokémon. However, the ticket has been criticized for its cost relative to the value of the included items, and the additional spawns are not exclusive to the ticket. Therefore, if you need Zarude or want to add it to your collection, the ticket is worth it; otherwise, the value may be limited for casual players.
Here’s a quick and dirty list of everything you get for completing the research:
- A Zarude encounter
- A Seedot encounter
- A Galarian Zigzagoon encounter
- A Cacnea encounter
- A Scraggy encounter
- An Absol encounter
- 10 Ultra Balls
- 10 Great Balls
- 20 Poké Balls
- 4 Golden Razz Berries
- 6 Silver Pinap Berries
- 10 Razz Berries
- 5 Hyper Potions
- 5 Revives
- 2 Fast TMs
- 2 Charge TMs
- 1 Incense
- 2 Premium Raid Passes
- 5 Rare Candy
- 10 Zarude Candy
- 3 Zarude Candy XL
- 3,000 Stardust
- 3,000 XP
You also get special, boosted Incense spawns in the “Verdant Wonders” event for Pansage, Pansear, Panpour, Zorua, Cutiefly, and Flabébé specifically.
All of that said, you will get your money’s worth in stuff back from the $7.99 pass if you finish it all. There’s no time limit or anything, so you can take your time, too.
I think this pass is specifically worth it if you still need a Zarude (or you want a second one). Zarude is a Mythical Pokémon, meaning it’s only usually available from special distribution events that go away after a certain period of time. That said, this means Zarude is particularly valuable on the trading market – even more so with the Pokémon Go seal on it, since that little emblem is unable to be generated by cheating sources (as of this writing, at least).
Pokémon Go ’Rogue of the Jungle’ Special Research and rewards
The Pokémon Go “Rogue of the Jungle” Special Research is a paid event available during the Verdant Wonders event from March 21 to March 25, 2024, for $7.99 or local equivalent. Upon purchasing the ticket, players gain access to a five-step Special Research quest that can be completed at any time after unlocking. The main reward is an encounter with Zarude, the Mythical Rogue Monkey Pokémon, which is otherwise unobtainable. Alongside Zarude, trainers receive various rewards including Premium Battle Passes, Silver Pinap Berries, Rare Candies, Incense, and encounters with Dark- and Grass-type Pokémon. The research tasks involve catching, evolving, and powering up specific Pokémon types, spinning PokéStops, making excellent throws, winning raids, and defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts.
Step 1 of 5
- Complete 5 Field Research tasks (2 Silver Pinap Berries)
- Catch 25 grass-type Pokémon (Seedot encounter)
- Evolve 3 grass-type Pokémon (20 Poké Balls)
Rewards: 1,000 Stardust, 10 Razz Berries, 2 Fast TMs
Step 2 of 5
- Explore 5 km (2 Golden Razz Berries)
- Catch 20 dark-type Pokémon (Galarian Zigzagoon encounter)
- Evolve 3 dark-type Pokémon (10 Great Balls)
Rewards: 1,000 XP, 5 Hyper Potions, 2 Charge TMs
Step 3 of 5
- Spin 25 PokéStops or gyms (2 Silver Pinap Berries)
- Power up 5 grass-type Pokémon (Cacnea encounter)
- Make an excellent throw (10 Ultra Balls)
Rewards: 1,000 Stardust, 5 Revives, 1 Incense
Step 4 of 5
- Use 5 supereffective charged attacks (2 Golden Razz Berries)
- Power up 5 dark-type Pokémon (Scraggy encounter)
- Use 10 berries to help catch Pokémon (5 Rare Candy)
Rewards: 1,000 XP, 2 Premium Raid Passes, 1,000 Stardust
Step 5 of 5
- Win 3 raids (2 Silver Pinap Berries)
- Catch 15 different species of Pokémon (Absol encounter)
- Defeat 5 Team Go Rocket grunts (10 Zarude Candy)
How does the ‘Rogue of the Jungle’ story unlock Zarude’s true power
The ‘Rogue of the Jungle’ story unlocks Zarude’s true power by immersing the player in a narrative that reveals Zarude’s deep connection to the Heart Tree and the jungle’s life-giving waters, which are infused with the healing energy of the mythical Celebi. Through this bond, Zarude gains the unique ability to “become one with the jungle,” using its vines not only for combat and mobility but also for powerful healing, reflecting its role as a guardian of the forest. The story suggests that Zarude’s strength and its Jungle Healing move stem from this mystical connection to the forest’s sacred energy, which is nurtured by the Heart Tree and the time-traveling Celebi’s influence, ultimately unlocking Zarude’s full potential as protector of the jungle.
How does Zarude’s connection to the Heart Tree enhance its jungle abilities
Zarude’s connection to the Heart Tree significantly enhances its jungle abilities by allowing it to absorb the healing energy that permeates the forest, which originates from the sacred Heart Tree infused with the power of the mythical Celebi. This connection enables Zarude to use its signature move, Jungle Healing, where it wraps its vines around trees to absorb their energy and then releases this combined power to heal itself and its allies. The vines on Zarude’s body not only serve as tools for movement and combat but also possess nutritive and healing properties, reflecting the deep symbiotic relationship Zarude has with the forest ecosystem. When the vines tear off, they become nutrients that enrich the soil, promoting plant growth and sustaining the jungle’s vitality. This bond with the Heart Tree and its healing waters is what allows Zarude to “become one with the jungle,” embodying its role as a guardian and healer of the forest.
