Pokémon Go 'A Thunderous Discovery' Zeraora Special Research quest steps

Make sure to claim this research doing Pokémon Go Fest: Global 2026

As part of Pokémon Go's Go Fest: Global 2026 event, players can claim a Special Research Task set that rewards the mythical Zeraora, "A Thunderous Discovery."

This research will only be claimable during Pokémon Go Fest: Global 2026, so make sure to log in and start the quest at some point between July 11 at 10 a.m. until July 12 at 7 p.m. Once you start the research, you can take your time completing it, as it doesn't expire. (Though Go Fest-based research is always usually easier to complete during Go Fest events, so you may want to just try to knock it out during the weekend.)

Being Mythical, Zeraora has only been released a few times, even in mainline games. It's available via Pokémon Legends: Z-A's Mega Dimension DLC, but prior to this, it was only available through online event distributions for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Below we list the steps for the "A Thunderous Discovery" Zeraora Pokémon Go Fest: Global 2026 Special Research and the rewards for each step.

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Pokémon Go 'A Thunderous Discovery' Zeraora Special Research quest steps

You can see all the steps for the Zeraora Special Research below.

'A Thunderous Discovery' step 1 of 8

• Spin 8 PokéStops or gyms (1 Incense)
• Use an Incense (26 Poké Balls)
• Catch 7 Pokémon (1 Lucky Egg)

Rewards: 1 Star Piece, 6 Nanab Berries, 1 Lure Module

'A Thunderous Discovery' step 2 of 8

• Explore 1 km (26 Poké Balls)
• Use 10 berries to help catch Pokémon (Pawmi encounter)
• Catch 15 different species of Pokémon (2,026 Stardust)

Rewards: 1 Incense, Tynamo encounter, 2,026 Stardust

'A Thunderous Discovery' step 3 of 8

• Complete 3 Field Research Tasks (Pikachu [Instinct hat] encounter)
• Catch 3 electric-type Pokémon (Pikachu [Mystic hat] encounter)
• Power up electric-type Pokémon 10 times (Pikachu [Valor hat] encounter)

Rewards: 6 Go Fest Mewtwo stickers, 1 Incubator, 2,026 XP

'A Thunderous Discovery' step 4 of 8

• Explore 2 km (Electrode encounter)
• Make 8 great throws (Ninjask encounter)
• Make 5 great curveball throws (Aerodactyl encounter)

Rewards: 2,026 XP, 26 Ultra Balls, 2 Premium Raid Passes

'A Thunderous Discovery' step 5 of 8

• Battle in 3 raids (3 Max Revives)
• Win a raid (3 Max Potions)
• Catch 20 different species of Pokémon (3 Razz Berries)

Rewards: 2,025 XP, 2 Super Incubators, 2,026 Stardust

'A Thunderous Discovery' step 6 of 8

• Explore 2 km (Bulbasaur [Pikachu visor] encounter)
• Make 8 excellent throws (Charmander [Pikachu visor] encounter)
• Make 3 great throws in a row (Squirtle [Pikachu visor] encounter)

Rewards: Go Fest Zeraora sticker, Zeraora encounter, 26 Zeraora Candy

If you already have Zeraora from an in-person Go Fest, you'll get Zeraora Candy instead.

'A Thunderous Discovery' step 7 of 8

• Take a snapshot of Zeraora (1 Poffin)
• Earn a candy exploring with Zeraora as your buddy (3 Rare Candy)
• Earn 6 hearts with Zeraora as your buddy (3 Silver Pinap Berries)

Rewards: 6 Go Fest stickers, 1 Zeraora T-shirt, 2 Super Incubator

'A Thunderous Discovery' step 8 of 8

• Catch a Pokémon on 7 different days (2,026 XP)
• Hatch 2 eggs (2,026 Stardust)
• Send a gift to a friend (2,026 XP)

Rewards: 3 Rare Candy XL, Poké Ball Shades, 6 Zeraora Candy XL

Thanks to TrainersGo on X for confirming the later steps of the Zeraora research.