Research Tasks In Pokemon Legend: Arceus Explained

Gamers have quickly discovered that there's no shortage of things to do in "Pokémon Legends: Arceus". Be it catching rare shiny Pokémon or riding a select few around, "Arceus" has reinvented the "Pokémon" formula in some majorly exciting ways. But where "Pokémon Legends: Arceus" differs the most from its predecessors is the fact that being a Pokémon trainer is only part of the overall experience, rather than the singular focus. Instead, "Arceus" and its core gameplay are built around the player being a Pokémon researcher first and foremost.  

Much of the journey in "Pokémon Legends: Arceus" is focused on discovering greater information about the creatures themselves, as well as how they relate to the world around them. This information is greatly expanded upon through the game's Research Tasks, which provide plenty of opportunities for world-building. But how exactly does one go about accomplishing these Research Tasks, and what do they do?

Research Tasks in "Pokémon Legends: Arceus" can essentially be boiled down to a list of objectives tied to individual Pokémon species. These objectives can be accessed in the Pokédex and are used in-game to collect more data on each Pokémon you encounter in the wild. For instance, a Research Task could involve the player catching a certain number of a specific Pokémon, catching them at a certain time of day, or tracking the amount of times you've seen them perform a certain move.

Upon doing a certain number of these Research Tasks, a red checkmark will appear in the Pokédex to mark their completion. It should also be noted that these tasks can be completed either by viewing Pokémon in the wild or by observing Pokémon you've already captured. For instance, if you need to see a Pokémon do a specific move to complete a Task, you can simply order your own captured Pokémon to perform that move.

Upon completing several of the Research Tasks while on expeditions, players can claim their rewards upon returning to their Base Camp and consulting with Professor Laventon. There, Laventon will give you Research Points based on your performance, which can also be turned in at the Jubilife Village to receive a Rank Up star. Research Points and Rank Up stars are vital to the player's progression in-game, as each rank allows players to obtain stronger Pokémon and better items, such as Gigaton Balls and Jet Balls optimized for catching Alpha Pokémon.

While players aren't required to complete every Research Task in the game, Research Points are pivotal in unlocking more main story quests and areas. In other words, Research Tasks are an economical means to this end, as well as the surest way to ensure that your character continues to progress and learn the mysteries of the Hisui region.