Pokémon Go Guide for Legendary Heroes: Choose a Path Quest Steps

Pokémon Go Legendary Heroes Timed Research Overview

“Legendary Heroes” is a Sword and Shield-themed Timed Research quest running until the start of Oct. 2024 in Pokémon Go. There is a choice to be made as part of this branching quest—the Sword Path or Shield Path—which impacts both the Collection Challenges and Incensed Pokémon you encounter during the event. Choose wisely!

This Timed Research is part of the “Max Out” season, which has seen the debut of various Galar Pokémon, Dynamax Pokémon, and Power Spots.

Legendary Heroes Timed Research Quest Steps

Available from Sept. 26, you have until Oct. 1, 2024, to start and complete the “Legendary Heroes” Timed Research. Thanks to LeekDuck for helping fill in the gaps with the following:

Step 1 of 2

• Catch 8 Pokémon (Skwovet encounter)

Rewards: 8 Poké Balls, 800 XP, 800 Stardust

Step 2 of 2

At this point, you will choose between the Sword Path and Shield Path.

Legendary Heroes: Sword Path

1. Use 8 Berries to help catch Pokémon (1 Incense)
2. Power up Pokémon 8 times (Koffing encounter)
3. Catch 8 Pokémon (8 Great Balls)

Rewards: Galarian Darumaka encounter, 800 XP, 800 Stardust

Step 2 of Sword Path

1. Explore 3 km (8 Razz Berry)
2. Use an Incense (Deino encounter)
3. Catch 8 Pokémon (8 Ultra Balls)

Rewards: Rufflet encounter, 800 XP, 800 Stardust

Legendary Heroes: Shield Path

1. Use 8 Berries to help catch Pokémon (1 Incense)
2. Power up Pokémon 8 times (Koffing encounter)
3. Catch 8 Pokémon (8 Great Balls)

Rewards: Galarian Ponyta encounter, 800 XP, 800 Stardust

Step 2 of Shield Path

1. Explore 3 km (8 Razz Berry)
2. Use an Incense (Larvitar encounter)
3. Catch 8 Pokémon (8 Ultra Balls)

Rewards: Vullaby encounter, 800 XP, 800 Stardust

Choose a Path Outcomes

Should you choose the Sword Path or Shield Path? Not only does this “choose a path” branching research result in different encounters and rewards as part of the quest, but the Sword Path and Shield Path choice also changes the Collection Challenges and Incense encounters you’ll receive. The ‘Catch’ Collection Challenge is based on Pokémon you’ll encounter when you use Incense, while the ‘Trade’ Collection Challenge requires Pokémon only found using Incense on the other path.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to choose a different path than a friend to help each other complete the Collection Challenge.

Note that, if you don’t do this—say if you and a friend have chosen the same path—the “Trade” Collection Challenge can still be completed if you already have these Pokémon in your collection. Only the “Catch” portion of the Collection Challenges are dependent on collecting those specific Pokémon as part of the event.

Otherwise, if you aren’t interested in completing the Collection Challenges, the choice simply comes down to the Pokémon you can encounter from Incense and the Timed Research rewards, which have the same difficulty and quest step length.

Legendary Heroes Collection Challenges

Collection Challenges will appear once you have completed the first step of the branching research, and what you receive is dependent on your Sword or Shield choice.

Sword Path Catch Challenge

• Galarian Darumaka
• Gothita
• Grookey
• Scorbunny
• Scraggy
• Seedot
• Sobble
• Swirlix

Rewards: 1,000 XP, Skwovet encounter

Sword Path Trade Challenge

• Croagunk
• Lotad
• Solrock
• Spritze

Rewards: 5,000 XP, Larvitar encounter

Shield Path Catch Challenge

• Croagunk
• Galarian Ponyta
• Grookey
• Lotad
• Scorbunny
• Sobble
• Solrock
• Spritze

Rewards: 1,000 XP, Skwovet encounter

Shield Path Trade Challenge

• Gothita
• Scraggy
• Seedot
• Swirlix

Rewards: 5,000 XP, Deino encounter

Legendary Heroes Incense Encounters

The following Incense encounters are dependent on your Sword Path or Shield Path choice in the Timed Research, with each having the chance to be shiny.

Sword Path Incense Encounters

• Deino
• Gothita
• Passimian
• Scraggy
• Seedot
• Swirlix

Shield Path Incense Encounters

• Croagunk
• Larvitar
• Lotad
• Oranguru
• Solrock
• Spritze