Pokemon Go Sinnoh Throwback special research: How to complete it and get Cresselia

Pokemon Go Throwback Challenge
(Image credit: Niantic)

We're onto the fourth and final week of the Pokemon Go Throwback event, and this time, it's focused on Sinnoh. Sinnoh is where the fourth generation of Pokemon were revealed, so if you're missing any critters from the Diamond & Pearl era, this is the week you need to play. We've got all the details of the Pokemon Go Sinnoh Throwback challenges, along with all the bonuses and Pokemon that will be populating your houses since most of us are still stuck at home. Read on, Pokemon Go players, and earn that Cresselia at the end of the rewards!

Note that this is the fourth part of the entire Pokemon Go Throwback event, which features the first four generations of Pokemon. You can read more about it on the official blog post and in our news post.

Pokemon Go Sinnoh Throwback special research

Before we get onto covering all of the quest steps and rewards available during the Pokemon Go Sinnoh Throwback, there's a few other bonuses occuring during the week from Friday, May 22 at 1pm local time to Friday, May 29 at 1pm.

Sinnoh is where Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum took place, so these are the bonuses that will appear in-game:

  • Pokemon originally discovered in Sinnoh, like Cherubi and Glameow, will appear more frequently in the wild
  • Pokemon originally discovered in Sinnoh will be in raid battles
  • Cranidos, Shieldon, Glameow, Chingling, Bonsly, Happiny, Gible, Munchlax, Riolu, and Mantyke will all hatch from 7km eggs
  • Pikachu wearing Lucario hats will appear in the wild in honor of Lucario being voted Sinnoh Pokemon of the Year
  • Shiny Glameow has been added to the game
  • New field research tasks will have Sinnoh Pokemon as rewards
  • One hour Star Piece, Incense, and Lucky Egg duration will be enabled

Pokemon Go Sinnoh Throwback quest steps

See more

Stage 1

  • Catch 3 Grass-, Water-, or Fire-type Pokemon (10 Poke Balls)
  • Power up a Pokemon (Trash Burmy encounter))
  • Take a snapshot of a Rock-type Pokemon (500 Stardust)

Rewards: 1 Pinap Berry, 2 Razz Berries, Cranidos encounter encounter

Stage 2

  • Take a snapshot of a Grass-type Pokemon (5 Razz Berries)
  • Send a Gift to a friend (Combee encounter)
  • Catch a Grass-type Pokemon (500 Stardust)

Rewards: 1 Razz Berry, 2 Pinap Berries, Grotle encounter

Stage 3

  • Make 3 Nice Throws (1 Magnetic Lure Module)
  • Hatch an Egg (Bronzor encounter)
  • Catch a Fighting-type Pokemon (500 Stardust)

Rewards: 1 Pinap Berry, 2 Razz Berries, Monferno encounter

Stage 4

  • Earn a Candy walking with your buddy (10 Great Balls)
  • Catcha Ground-type Pokemon (Skorupi encounter)
  • Catch a Water-type Pokemon (500 Stardust)

Rewards: 1 Razz Berry, 2 Pinap Berries, Prinplup encounter

Stage 5

  • Battle another Trainer (1 Charged TM)
  • Use 3 Berries to help catch Pokemon (1 Sinnoh Stone)
  • Catch a Ghost-type Pokemon (500 Stardust)

Rewards: 1 Pinap Berry, 2 Razz Berries, Drifloon encounter

Stage 6

  • Take a snapshot of a Steel-type Pokemon (10 Ultra Balls)
  • Give your buddy 3 treats (Hippopotas encounter)
  • Catch a Steel-type Pokemon (500 Stardust)

Rewards: 1 Razz Berry, 2 Pinap Berries, Shieldon encounter

Stage 7

  • Evolve a Pokemon (Gible encounter)
  • Earn a Candy walking with your buddy (1 Glacial Lure Module)
  • Catch an Ice-type Pokemon (500 Stardust)

Rewards: 1 Pinap Berry, 2 Razz Berries,  Abomasnow encounter

Stage 8

  • Power up Pokemon 3 times (1 Star Piece)
  • Make 3 Great Throws (1 Fast TM)
  • Catch an Electric-type Pokemon (500 Stardust)

Reward: 1 Razz Berry, 2 Pinap Berries, Shinx encounter

Stage 9

  • Already complete (3,000 XP)
  • Already complete (3,000 XP)
  • Already complete (3,000 XP)

Rewards: 10 Rare Candies, Cresselia encounter

Ford James

Give me a game and I will write every "how to" I possibly can or die trying. When I'm not knee-deep in a game to write guides on, you'll find me hurtling round the track in F1, flinging balls on my phone in Pokemon Go, pretending to know what I'm doing in Football Manager, or clicking on heads in Valorant.