Pokémon Go has released its 'Fossil Fun' Timed Research event, a 'Choose Your Path' style quest available for a limited time. This event, which began on June 17th, 2026, and concludes on Sunday, June 21st at 8 PM local time, offers players a choice between three distinct paths: Explore, Catch, or Battle. Each path provides a unique bonus and a set of challenges that reward players with encounters and items.
The 'Fossil Fun' Timed Research consists of two steps, with the first rewarding 500 Stardust and five Poké Balls upon completion. The second step varies depending on the chosen path, with all paths ultimately offering three Golden Razz Berries and five Rare Candies as a reward. Players should be aware that their choice is permanent and cannot be changed once made.
The 'Explore' Path
Selecting the 'Explore' path grants players a bonus of x5 XP for spinning PokéStops. The challenges within this path include walking 3km, spinning 25 PokéStops or Gyms, hatching an egg, and following a route. These tasks will reward players with encounters of Shieldon and Cranidos.
The 'Catch' Path
This path focuses on improving catching techniques, offering a bonus of x1.5 XP for catching Pokémon with Nice Throws or better. The associated challenges require making 10 Nice Throws, 10 Curveball Throws, 3 Excellent Throws, and 10 Great Curveball Throws. Similar to the Explore path, these challenges yield encounters with Shieldon and Cranidos.
The 'Battle' Path
Players who choose the 'Battle' path will receive an additional 5,000 XP for successfully completing a raid. The challenges for this path include winning a raid, powering up a Pokémon five times, defeating four Team Go Rocket Grunts, and using 10 supereffective Charged Attacks. Completing these tasks will also result in encounters with Shieldon and Cranidos.
Recommended Path
The 'Catch' path is recommended as the most beneficial choice for the 'Fossil Fun' event, primarily due to its boost to the core gameplay loop of catching Pokémon, which is a significant source of XP. The x1.5 XP bonus for successful throws, especially when combined with a Lucky Egg, can lead to substantial XP gains. The 'Explore' path is a strong second option, particularly for players in new locations where spinning unfamiliar PokéStops can yield greatly increased XP.
The 'Battle' path is generally advised against for this event, as maximizing its bonus would likely require spending Premium Battle Passes without the allure of a new Pokémon in high-tier raids. Players are encouraged to save their passes and currency for future events. The 'Fossil Fun' Timed Research is a limited-time event, and players are urged to make their path choice carefully to take full advantage of the available bonuses.