How to Catch Celebi in Pokemon Go’s Special Research

A new series of Special Research tasks have been added to Pokémon Go, this time offering Trainers the opportunity to catch the Mythical Pokémon Celebi, originally introduced in 2000’s Pokémon Gold and Silver. Celebi was revealed during Pokémon Go Fest 2018 and was made available to Trainers participating in the event. Now all Trainers everywhere will have a shot to get their own time traveling Celebi by completing all-new Special Research tasks.

Celebi is a Psychic / Grass type Pokémon and, as with all Mythical Pokémon, you’ll be able to catch only one. Celebi cannot be traded. And while Shiny Celebi’s model can be found in the game’s files, it’s unlikely that it is currently available.

If you haven’t already caught Mew, don’t worry. Mew’s Special Research is still available, and you can start completing the Celebi Special Research tasks once you reach stage 3 of the Mew tasks. This means you can work towards both earning Pokémon simultaneously!

As with the previous Special Research, in which Trainers could catch the Legendary Pokémon Mew, Professor Willow has a new set of tasks for Trainers to complete. Starting with “A Ripple in Time,” Trainers will have to complete seven stages of tasks, with the eighth stage presumed to give players the opportunity to catch Celebi.

This time, tasks are centered around Pokémon from the Johto region, which now have increased spawn rates in the wild. You’re going to need them, too, as one of the tasks requires you to obtain a Gold Johto Medal, earned after registering 70 unique Johto region Pokémon in your Pokedex.

Completing tasks will not only progress towards catching Celebi, but will also reward experience and items, including an all new berry: Silver Pinap Berry. This berry can be used on a wild Pokémon to make the it easier to catch (1.8x) and also increases the amount of candy rewarded for catching it (2x). You’ll also be able to receive a handful of evolution items as rewards, which you’ll need to complete a task in stage six.

Most of the required Special Research tasks range are easy, like the one requiring you to catch a Pokémon three days in a row. There are few more challenging tasks, two separate tasks in particular, across different stages, which require you to evolve Eevees into both Espeon and Umbreon. You can learn how to obtain those Pokémon with the help of this guide. Thankfully, in case you missed the recent Community Day, you’ll be granted Eevee encounters for completing the stages prior to those requiring this evolution.

Trainers over at r/TheSilphRoad are hard at work completing these tasks, progressing toward an encounter with the Mythical Pokémon. Here’s what you’ll have to do to catch Celebi in Pokémon Go:

Stage 1/8

• Power up Pokémon 5 times (1000 XP)
• Battle in a Gym 2 times (1000 XP)
• Battle in a raid (1000 XP)

Rewards: 10 Poke Ball, Fast TM, Super Incubator

Stage 2/8

• Make 3 new friends (1500 XP)
• Evolve an evolved grass-type Pokémon (1500 XP)
• Catch a Pokémon 3 days in a row (1500 XP)

Rewards: 1500 Stardust, Sun Stone (Gloom evolution item), Premium Raid Pass

Stage 3/8

• Reach level 25 (2000 XP)
• Use a Sun Stone to evolve Gloom or Sunkern (2000 XP)
• Hatch 9 eggs (2000 XP)

Rewards: Pokémon encounter: Eevee, King’s Rock (Slowpoke and Poliwhirl evolution item), Premium Raid Pass

Stage 4/8

• Walk 10 km with Eevee as your buddy to earn Candy (2500 XP)
• Evolve Eevee into Espeon during the day (2500 XP)
• Send 20 Gifts to friends (2500 XP)

Rewards: Pokémon encounter: Eevee, 2500 Stardust, Metal Coat (Onix and Scyther evolution item)

Stage 5/8

• Walk 10 km with Eevee as your buddy to earn Candy (3000 XP)
• Evolve Eevee into Umbreon at night (3000XP)
• Trade a Pokémon (3000 XP)

Rewards: Star Piece, 15 Pinap Berries, Upgrade (Porygon evolution item)

Stage 6/8

• Visit PokéStops 7 days in a row (3500 XP)
• Use 25 Pinap Berries while catching Pokémon (3500 XP)
• Use items to evolve Pokémon 2 times (3500 XP)

Rewards: 3500 Stardust, Dragon Scale (Seadra evolution item), 5 Silver Pinap Berries

Stage 7/8

• Catch 40 Grass or Psychic-type Pokémon (4000 XP)
• Make an Excellent Curve Throw (4000 XP)
• Earn a Gold Johto medal (4000 XP)

Rewards: 10 Silver Pinap Berry, Charge TM, Celebi encounter

Stage 8/8

• Catch Celebi

Rewards: 5500 Stardust, Super Incubator, 20 Celebi Candy

Trainers who have already obtained Celebi at Pokémon Go Fest 2018 will instead be rewarded with an additional 10 Celebi Candy, enabling them to power up their Celebi. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to catch a second Celebi through this Special Research. For most, time only moves forward.