Niantic has quietly reintroduced its “Choose Your Path” Timed Research feature to Pokémon Go, this time wrapped inside the ongoing “Twilight Trails” season. The research returns starting Wednesday, September 23 at 10 a.m. in players’ local time, and runs until Monday, September 28 at 8 p.m. local time. Unlike the version players experienced last season, this iteration strips away the traditional Pokémon encounters and trims the overall task count, instead handing trainers a single choice that shapes their entire research experience. Players can claim the feature by opening the research menu, scrolling to the “events” tab, and selecting the reward from an automatically completed “Choose Your Own Path” Timed Research.
What makes this rollout notable is that the feature is still in a live-testing phase. Niantic has confirmed that not every player is receiving the same experience: some are being handed a daily research that refreshes each day, while others are locked into a harder, longer-running set that persists until the research expires on Monday. The divergence means the “right” path depends heavily on how a player likes to spend their time in the field.
A Choice That Shapes Your Play Style
Depending on whether a player receives the daily or weekly set, they will be presented with three or four distinct options, each carrying its own bonus. The Explore track rewards trainers with 5x XP for spinning PokéStops, making it a natural fit for those who prefer grinding in a single location. The Catch tracks offer either 2x Stardust or 2x candy for catching Pokémon, catering to players focused on expanding their collection. Meanwhile, the Battle track hands out extra Mysterious Components from Team Go Rocket grunts, appealing to those who enjoy hunting down shadow Pokémon.
According to the event blog post, the selection is intentionally flexible. “The ‘right’ option is based on how you play,” the guidance suggests. If you enjoy chasing shadow Pokémon, the Battle path is likely your best bet. If you plan to settle into your local spot to farm XP, the Explore option may suit you better. And because rare candy is handed out for completing all the steps, players are also encouraged to pick whichever research is easiest for them to finish.
Notably, players with the daily research can pick a new bonus each day, so you can just pick whatever suits what you plan on doing that day.
Niantic / Event Blog
For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, the Catch (Candy) track demands 50 Pokémon catches, 15 berry-assisted catches, 10 great throws, and 10 curveball throws. The Explore track, by contrast, is far more passive, requiring only four eggs hatched, two kilometers explored, 10 PokéStops or gyms spun, and one route followed. The Battle track sits somewhere in between, asking for 10 supereffective charged attacks, five grunt defeats, a Team Go Rocket Leader takedown, and 10 Pokémon power-ups.
Rewards That Differ, But Not Dramatically
While the tasks and bonuses vary by path, the overall reward packages remain remarkably consistent across the event-long sets. Every main track concludes with the same payout: 5 Rare Candy, 5,000 XP, and 5,000 Stardust. The daily research sets are scaled down slightly, offering 2 Rare Candy, 2,500 XP, and 2,500 Stardust instead. This consistency means players do not need to obsess over which path yields the most currency; the value is roughly equal, and the decision comes down to personal preference and play style.
The daily research adds a layer of flexibility that the weekly sets lack. Players receiving the daily set can swap their bonus each day, allowing them to adapt to whatever they plan on doing on any given day. This makes the feature particularly appealing to casual players who may not want to commit to a single track for the entire research window.
Looking Ahead
As the “Twilight Trails” season continues, this “Choose Your Path” research offers a fresh way for trainers to engage with the game’s core activities while earning meaningful rewards. The feature’s live-testing status suggests Niantic is still refining how the research is distributed, so players may continue to see some inconsistency in what they receive over the coming days.
For those who want to verify the details themselves, the community has already stepped up to confirm the research. Thanks to player Leek Duck for confirming the research that the outlet was unable to pick itself, the specifics of the feature are now well-documented. As the research window closes on Monday, September 28, players are encouraged to make the most of the remaining time to complete their chosen path and bank the Rare Candy, XP, and Stardust before the feature disappears.
No comments