“What Lies Beneath the Mask” was introduced to Pokémon GO as a Special Research challenge. This challenge offers Trainers to engage in quests and battle for rewards. Professor Willow will provide exposition to different events and in these tasks. These remain in the game until they are completed, unlike Timed research battles, which expire after three days of being available for completion.
“What Lies Beneath the Mask” was initiated as part of the Pokémon GO Halloween Mischief event. Through this challenge, Trainers encounter creepy Psychic, Dark, and Ghost-type Pokémon. Players attempt to snag various Pokémon dressed up as ghosts or other such creatures. And it offers the opportunity to catch Yamask and its evolution Galarain Slowpoke into Galarian Slowking.
This Special Research is split into four different stages then we’ll explore in this article!
What is Ghost-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
One crucial characteristic to note about the Ghost-type Pokémon is that it doesn’t have many moves. They also often have a low level of hit points. In battles, the Ghost-type Pokémon is helpful as it carries two immunities.
These are the Normal immunity and the Fighting immunity. Both are typical move types. Ghost-type Pokémon that are Generation VI or higher, develop an immunity to battle moves that inhibit their ability to escape. These include moves such as Shadow Tag and the Block.
Pokémon of this type typically dwell in darker and slightly spookier places. You may discover one in a funeral home or cemetery. Or you could find one hiding in an abandoned house. It’s possible you may even come across one in a cave. These areas tend to be what Ghosts are drawn to more than anything else.
It should come as no surprise then how mischievous they can get with humans just to see their faces or reactions. One theory suggests they do this simply to gain strength from fear. At worst, some Ghosts may display murderous behavior, like Jellicent preying on the ship’s crews. In contrast, others drain the energy and essence of life from people lost in darkness.
What Lies Beneath The Mask: Stage 1
The first step of this journey will be catching 40 Ghost-type Pokémon (400 Stardust) and transferring 9 Pokémon (Duskull encounter). Then you’ll make 49 nice throws with PokeBalls. Once complete you’ll have accumulated 4,000 XP and 9 Nanab Berries.
“Remember that the end goal is to overcome your fear, not just gain a mask. It’s time for you to get ready and find yourself with determination.” – Professor Willow
What Lies Beneath The Mask: Stage 2
Next up, we’ll have plenty more challenges as we go on our quest, such as:
- Catching 40 ghost-type Pokémon (Halloween hat Pikachu encounter)
- Using 49 berries when encountering Pokémon for them not run away from us or faint against us
- Catching nine different types of ghosts (by making nine curveball throws) which are Alolan Marowak encounters
- Throwing perfect throws every single try
- Claiming rewards each time at 4,000 XPs worth of points and 9 Razz Berries gained by completing those tasks
What Lies Beneath The Mask: Stage 3
- Catch 40 ghost-type Pokémon (400 Stardust)
- Catch nine different species of ghost-type Pokémon (Alolan Marowak encounter)
- Make 49 great throws (49 Poké Balls)
Reward: Galarian Yamask encounter, 4,000 XP, 9 Pinap Berries
Don’t forget how important it is that you face your fear at some point, too, so bring courage along while heading down the final steps towards victory: Claiming reward after reward while gaining another 13 Yamask Candy pieces worth 900 Stardust points.
What Lies Beneath The Mask: Stage 4
- Claim reward (49 XP)
- Claim reward (49 XP)
- Claim reward (49 XP)
Reward: 13 Yamask Candy, 4,900 Stardust
With the final stage of the Special Research, you can reward X3 XP (49) and 4900 Stardust. 13 Yamask Candy will be on your pack. Then you have already done this Special Research Halloween event.
In particular, this task ties to Yamask-a spirit who passed into the afterlife but still possessed a mask before its introduction back in Pokémon Black & White and its Galarian counterpart Runerigus introduced alongside Pokémon Sword land Shield. Players can find and catch Runerigus only if they have 50 Yamask candy for evolution into Galarian Yamask; then, ten raids are done. At the same time, that second one is set as their buddy. What Lies Beneath The Mask is very much centered around the Ghost-type Pokémon.
Conclusion
This new Special Research story is not an easy one to complete. You will need to catch 120 Ghost-type Pokémon before this part of the game is over, and that’s just the beginning! Fortunately, it’s not Timed Research which means fans can continue working on this task past Halloween Mischief without worrying about time constraints.