The Sweet Discoveries event runs from April 24 to April 29, 2025, and Timed Research is a major part of it. But deciding between the free and paid options isn’t always simple. Each comes with a set of rewards tied to limited-time tasks.
While both paths offer unique benefits, your choice should depend on how much you play, what you’re hoping to collect, and whether you want to boost your item pool or save resources. Here’s a breakdown to help you figure out which route makes more sense for you during the event.
Pokemon GO Sweet Discoveries Free Timed Research
You don’t need to spend anything to start. The free Timed Research gives you specific tasks that are connected to the event’s theme. Completing them gives you access to:
- One Mossy Lure Module, which improves apple spawn chances.
- A Tart Apple and a Sweet Apple, both necessary to evolve Applin into Flapple or Appletun.
- Guaranteed encounters with Pokémon featured in the event.
You get a blend of utility and function. You’re given the exact tools you need to interact with a debut evolution line. If you’re aiming to evolve Applin without relying on pure chance, these items matter.
Pokemon GO Sweet Discoveries Paid Timed Research
If you decide to buy the $1.99 event-exclusive ticket, you gain access to an additional set of research. The cost is low, but the returns are structured to support those who want more control over their catches and items.
From the paid path, you receive:
- Two Mossy Lure Modules, not one. This boosts your chances of finding more apples in different areas or sharing lures with friends.
- More encounters with Pokemon such as Applin, Delibird, and Skwovet. These aren’t guaranteed from the wild and can be time-consuming to track down.
- A second path of tasks, meaning more XP, Stardust, and possibly duplicate evolution items.
This helps if you’re short on in-game resources and don’t have time to grind outdoors. It also gives you backup in case you don’t get enough apples by tapping them in the wild.
Also Read: Pokemon GO Sweet Discoveries: How To Evolve Applin into Flapple or Appletun
Timing Plays a Bigger Role Than You Think
This is Timed Research. All progress gets erased when the event ends on April 29 at 8:00 p.m. local time. If you delay or forget to claim rewards, you don’t get compensation later. That means you need to plan your catches, focus on daily logins, and avoid leaving any tasks half-finished.
You can space out the tasks over five days, but skipping even one full day could cost you an item you won’t be able to find outside this event.
How the Free and Paid Timed Research Complement Each Other
The free and paid Timed Research options during Sweet Discoveries aren’t just standalone choices. They work well together for trainers who want to get the most out of the event.
The free track includes:
- 1 Mossy Lure Module
- 1 Tart Apple
- 1 Sweet Apple
- Encounters with event-themed Pokémon
The paid track adds on:
- 2 additional Mossy Lure Modules (total of 3 if combined)
- More encounters, including rarer spawns like Applin, Delibird, and Skwovet
By completing both:
- You increase your total number of apples, making it easier to evolve Applin into both Flapple and Appletun (each requiring 20 apples of different types and 200 Applin Candy).
- You get three Mossy Lures, which improve your chances of spawning apples in the wild, where rare encounters are possible.
- You gain more Pokémon encounters overall, boosting your odds of catching shinies or stocking up on Candy and Berries.
You can complete both the free and paid research at the same time. They don’t replace each other—they run in parallel. If you’re playing solo, the free track gives you a way in. If you’re coordinating with friends, the paid research offers more flexibility and sharing opportunities. You can even gift the premium research ticket to other Trainers with Great Friend status or higher.
What You Might Miss Without Either
Skipping the research entirely means losing access to guaranteed Tart and Sweet Apples. These aren’t part of your item bag and can’t be stored. They’re only available by chance through apple taps or by completing these research paths. Without them, evolving Applin could become far less consistent.
You also miss the Pokemon encounters tied directly to the research. These don’t appear in the wild with the same reliability, and relying on field tasks or eggs spreads your effort thinner.
How To Approach It Efficiently
Set one hour a day for Sweet Discoveries research tasks during the event. Keep your game open when walking short distances or commuting. Prioritize catching Delibird and Skwovet—they give extra berries, which support other catches. Activate your widget to hatch eggs faster. Try to finish all research before April 28, 2025. That gives you one buffer day in case you need to clean up missed tasks.
Happy Gaming!