Pokémon GO’s ‘Choose Your Path’ Timed Research: Dates, Paths, and Best Picks (May 2026)

What’s new: a week-long “Choose Your Path” Timed Research test in Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO has rolled out a free, branching Timed Research called Choose Your Path, live from Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. local time. The test appears during an “evergreen week” with no major event, letting Trainers tailor their bonuses and tasks around how they prefer to play. (leekduck.com )

How it works

• Open the Today tab to claim the Timed Research, then pick one of three paths—Explore, Catch, or Battle. Your choice is locked for the remainder of the week. (leekduck.com )
• Each path has two simple objectives and a set of completion rewards. Finish before the research expires at 8:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, May 12. (leekduck.com )
• This is part of a broader pacing experiment: the team is testing weekly, playstyle-focused research during quieter weeks. (pokemongohub.net )

The three paths, tasks, and bonuses

Choose the path that matches your plans this week. Each branch awards Balls for individual tasks and the same completion items—plus a unique bonus tied to that path.

• Explore

  • Tasks: Explore 5 km; Spin 50 PokéStops or Gyms
  • Completion rewards: 10 Great Balls, 10 Ultra Balls, 5 Rare Candy, 3 Pinap Berries
  • Ongoing bonus: 5× XP for spinning PokéStops
  • Source details: First reported in this format during the May 5–12 test window. (pokemongohub.net )

• Catch

  • Tasks: Make 15 Excellent throws; Make 50 curveball throws
  • Completion rewards: 10 Great Balls, 10 Ultra Balls, 5 Rare Candy, 3 Pinap Berries
  • Ongoing bonus: 1.5× XP for catches with Nice throws or better
  • Source details: Matches the current week’s test values. (pokemongohub.net )

• Battle

  • Tasks: Win 5 raids; Use 25 supereffective Charged Attacks
  • Completion rewards: 10 Great Balls, 10 Ultra Balls, 5 Rare Candy, 3 Pinap Berries
  • Ongoing bonus: +5,000 XP for each raid completed
  • Source details: Confirmed for the test week. (pokemongohub.net )

Note: Exact task counts and bonus values can be adjusted in future weeks if this format continues, but the Explore/Catch/Battle structure is expected to persist. (pokemongohub.net )

Dates and deadlines at a glance

• Start: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 10:00 a.m. local time
• End: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 8:00 p.m. local time
• Claim and complete all rewards before the deadline—Timed Research expires at event end. (leekduck.com )

Which path should you pick?

Your best choice hinges on how you plan to play between now and Tuesday, May 12.

• If you’ll be out exploring dense stop clusters

  • Pick Explore for the 5× PokéStop spin XP. Campus areas, downtown loops, and parks with many stops will maximize returns. (pokemongohub.net )

• If you’ll grind catches (and want flexible XP anywhere)

  • Pick Catch. You’ll get 1.5× XP for Nice-or-better throws on every catch, which stacks neatly with the natural volume of catches during routine play or spawn-dense sessions. (leekduck.com )

• If you’re planning a raid-heavy week

  • Pick Battle. The +5,000 XP per raid stacks with regular raid completion XP and shines if you plan to chain raids—especially with current week bosses and Mega rotations. (leekduck.com )

Event synergy to consider this week

• Lechonk Community Day on Saturday, May 9, can supercharge the Catch path thanks to the sheer number of encounters during event hours. (gamespot.com )
• From May 6–12, Nihilego headlines five-star raids while Mega Camerupt anchors Mega raids—use this if you’re eyeing the Battle path’s raid XP. (gamespot.com )
• Spring Marathon begins May 12; the Choose Your Path test bridges the gap leading into that event, which aligns with the “evergreen week” concept. (gamespot.com )

Fast completion tips

• Explore

  • Map a safe walking route that loops past high-density PokéStops. Drop Lures to keep you moving between spins; remember that the XP is tied to spinning, not just distance walked.

• Catch

  • Prioritize larger hitboxes to rack up Nice/Great/Excellent throws. Turn off AR for quicker throws and chain catches during spawn-boosted windows.

• Battle

  • Stack raids during local Raid Hour and coordinate with your community. Use effective counters to speed clears; each completion nets the bonus XP under the Battle path.

Limited rollout and known quirks

This is a live test and may not appear for every account. Reports indicate some Trainers don’t see the Timed Research even after restarting; availability can vary by account as the test rolls out. (pokemongohub.net )

Bottom line

Between May 5 and May 12, 2026, Pokémon GO’s Choose Your Path Timed Research gives you a simple, focused way to play for a week—walk and spin for Explore, throw well for Catch, or chain raids for Battle. Pick based on your schedule: Catch is the most universally useful, Explore excels in stop-dense areas, and Battle is ideal if you’re already raiding hard before Tuesday’s deadline. (leekduck.com )