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An image of Turtonator and Mega Sableye in a volcanic area surrounded by blue crystals.
Image via Niantic

All Dark Flames Timed Research tasks and rewards in Pokémon Go

Don't touch the shell and avoid shiny gems.

Flames typically burn bright, but Pokémon Go is bringing darkness to its next event that focuses entirely on Dark and Fire-type Pokémon. The Dark Flames event will run from June 29 to July 2, giving players a very limited window to take advantage of some new encounters. 

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Throughout the event, players will see a number of Dark and Fire types spawning more frequently, including rare encounters like Litten. Turtonator will be making its Pokémon Go debut too.

Mega Sableye makes its debut here as well and will be available until Aug. 4 in Mega Raids. Deino, Alolan Marowak, and Heatran are some of the other rare encounters in the event’s impressive raid lineup—with Shiny Heatran now available for the first time.

With Dark Flames, Niantic is also running another set of branched Timed Research. This means players will need to pick to follow the Dark or Fire-type path, which changes what tasks and rewards are available based on your decision—and it all looks suspiciously similar to the previous event’s Starry Skies research

All Dark Flames event-exclusive and Timed Research tasks and rewards in Pokémon Go

Dark Flames page one

  • Explore 2km
    • 10 Poké Balls
  • Catch two Fire or Dark-type Pokémon
    • 10 Great Balls
  • Catch 10 different species of Pokémon
    • 10 Ultra Balls 

Total reward: Three Rare Candies, five Razz Berries, and 1,000 Stardust

Branched Choice: Dark-type or Fire-type Pokémon

Unlike the Starry Skies research from the Solstice Horizons event, Dark Flames does not feature paid research. That means any player can collect and complete this Timed Research during the event. 

A closeup of Turtonator near Team Valor leader Candela from a Pokemon Go preview image.
Turtonator is also up for grabs as one of the research rewards. Screengrab via Niantic

Once you complete the initial page of research, you will be asked to choose between a path of Dark or Fire-type Pokémon. The main thing this changes based on your decision is which type of Pokémon you will be encountering and tasked with dealing with while completing the research. 

Related: Should you pick the Dark or Fire-type path for Dark Flames Timed Research in Pokémon Go?

Outside of some bonus encounters and locking you into a type-specific Collection Challenge, your choice won’t change the rewards you receive at the end of each page. You will get a nice bonus of attracting more Dark or Fire-type Pokémon using Incense during the event depending on your decision though.

Dark Flames: Dark-type Pokémon page two

  • Catch 20 Dark-type Pokémon
    • 10 Poké Balls
  • Power up 10 Dark-type Pokémon
    • 10 Pinap Berries
  • Take 25 Snapshots of wild Dark-type Pokémon
    • Carvanha encounter

Total Reward: 2,500 XP, 15 Poké Balls, and 1,500 Stardust

Dark Flames: Dark-type Pokémon page three

  • Purify one Dark-type Shadow Pokémon
    • 10 Great Balls
  • Power up 10 Dark-type Pokémon
    • Sneasel encounter
  • Evolve three Dark-type Pokémon
    • Scraggy encounter

Total Reward: 5,000 XP, one Premium Battle Pass, and 2,000 Stardust

Dark Flames: Dark-type Pokémon page four

  • Catch 20 Dark-type Shadow Pokémon
    • Three Silver Pinap Berries
  • Power up 10 Dark-type Pokémon
    • 10 Ultra Balls
  • Battle in three raids
    • Houndoom encounter

Total Reward: 7,500 XP, 50 Litten Candy, and 2,500 Stardust

Dark Flames: Fire-type Pokémon page two

  • Catch 20 Fire-type Pokémon
    • 10 Poké Balls
  • Power up 10 Fire-type Pokémon
    • 10 Pinap Berries
  • Take 25 Snapshots of wild Fire-type Pokémon
    • Slugma encounter

Total Reward: 2,500 XP, 15 Poké Balls, and 1,500 Stardust

Dark Flames: Fire-type Pokémon page three

  • Purify one Fire-type Shadow Pokémon
    • 10 Great Balls
  • Power up 10 Fire-type Pokémon
    • Alolan Marowak encounter
  • Evolve three Fire-type Pokémon
    • Darumaka encounter

Total Reward: 5,000 XP, one Premium Battle Pass, and 2,000 Stardust

Dark Flames: Fire-type Pokémon page four

  • Catch 20 Fire-type Shadow Pokémon
    • Three Silver Pinap Berries
  • Power up 10 Fire-type Pokémon
    • 10 Ultra Balls
  • Battle in three raids
    • Houndoom encounter

Total Reward: 7,500 XP, 50 Litten Candy, and 2,500 Stardust

Dark Flames Field Research

  • Catch five Dark-type Pokémon
    • Alolan Meowth encounter
    • Alolan Grimer encounter
  • Catch five Fire-type Pokémon
    • Magmar encounter
    • Litwick encounter
  • Win a raid in under 60 seconds
    • Alolan Marowak encounter
    • Sneasel encounter
  • Win three raids
    • Turtonator encounter

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Cale Michael
Lead Staff Writer for Dota 2, the FGC, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and more who has been writing for Dot Esports since 2018. Graduated with a degree in Journalism from Oklahoma Christian University and also previously covered the NBA. You can usually find him writing, reading, or watching an FGC tournament.