Niantic’s celebrating the new Forever Friends feature with free Timed Research running December 15-29, 2025. This four-stage questline rewards Trainers with a random regional Scatterbug encounter, plus thousands of XP and Stardust. But there’s a catch—you must claim all rewards by January 4, 2026, at 8 PM local time, or lose everything permanently.
Table of Contents
Pokémon GO Complete Task Breakdown
| Stage | Tasks | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | Make a new friend | 1,000 XP, 1,000 Stardust, 10 Poké Balls |
| 2/4 | Send 5 Gifts (with stickers), Open 5 Gifts, Catch Scatterbug | 10,000 XP, 2 Razz Berries, 25 Great Balls, 10 Ultra Balls |
| 3/4 | Earn 40,000 Stardust, Trade a Pokémon | 10,000 XP, 2 Silver Pinap Berries, 2 Rare Candy |
| 4/4 | Send a Gift on 5 different days | 664 XP, Random Regional Scatterbug |
Important: The Scatterbug reward ignores your location and grants a random regional pattern, making this research valuable for collectors chasing pattern variants.
Stage-by-Stage Strategy
Stage 1 asks you to add one new friend—easy enough using online Trainer Code communities. You’ll immediately earn your first batch of XP and Stardust.
Stage 2 requires social engagement: send five Gifts with stickers attached (find stickers from PokéStops or purchase them), open five received Gifts, then catch the Scatterbug that appears. This stage rewards substantial Poké Balls for continued catching.
Stage 3 demands grinding. Earning 40,000 Stardust takes dedicated playing—focus on catching everything with Star Pieces active for 50% bonus Stardust. The trade requirement needs coordinating with a local or remote friend.
Stage 4 tests patience more than skill. Sending Gifts on five separate days means you cannot rush completion—plan accordingly since research expires December 29 but rewards must be claimed by January 4.
Why This Research Matters
Beyond the random Scatterbug (which could be any of the game’s regional patterns), this research celebrates Pokémon GO’s biggest friendship update ever. The new Forever Friends system unlocks Remote Trading—trade Pokémon with friends worldwide once you earn 90 Friendship Points beyond Best Friends.
The friend list cap increases from 450 to 650 gradually, and Weekly Challenges now let you team up with distant friends for group objectives. These changes fundamentally shift how Trainers build collections across continents.
Maximizing Your Rewards
Stack this research with ongoing Community Days, Spotlight Hours, or events offering bonus Stardust. The 40,000 Stardust requirement becomes trivial during 2x or 3x Stardust events. Use Lucky Eggs when claiming milestone rewards to double XP gains.
For comprehensive Pokémon GO event strategies and friendship optimization guides, explore expert resources covering efficient progression methods.
Don’t Miss the Deadline
December 29 marks the final day to START tasks, but you have until January 4 to claim rewards. Missing either deadline means losing your chance at a free regional Scatterbug forever. Set calendar reminders for both dates to avoid disappointment.
FAQs
Q: Can I complete the “Send a Gift on 5 different days” task after December 29?
Yes, you can continue working on active tasks until January 4 at 8 PM local time, as long as you started the research before December 29.
Q: Does the Scatterbug from this research match my current region’s pattern?
No, the Scatterbug reward is completely random and independent of your location, potentially giving you access to patterns unavailable in your area.
