'Explore, Catch, Battle' is a Choose a Path questline in Pokémon Go.
Debuting on Tuesday, 5th May at 10am local time, it is part of an 'evergreen weeks' initiative to give players more to do during non-event weeks.
After choosing one of the three playstyles, you then get an XP bonus related to that path. Otherwise, know that the items rewarded for each one are the same - so it's mainly about what bonus you want to take advantage of.
Below are the three 'Explore, Catch, Battle' Choose a Path choices available in Pokémon Go, their respective Timed Research, and the rewards on offer throughout.
'Explore, Catch, Battle' Choose a Path differences in Pokémon Go
The differences between each path are as follows. Thanks to tegdim and pgomav on reddit for helping flesh out the below:
Explore
Bonus: 5x XP for spinning PokéStops
Timed Research:
- Explore 5 km (reward: 10 Great Balls)
- Spin 50 PokéStops or Gyms (reward: 10 Ultra Balls)
End reward: 3 Pinap Berry, 5 Rare Candy
Catch
Bonus: 1.5x XP for catching Pokémon with Nice Throws or better
Timed Research:
- Make 15 Excellent Throws (reward: 10 Great Balls)
- Make 50 Curveball Throws (reward: 10 Ultra Balls)
End reward: 3 Pinap Berry, 5 Rare Candy
Battle
Bonus: An additional 5,000 XP for completing raids
Timed Research:
- Win 5 Raids (reward: 10 Great Balls)
- Use 25 Super Effective Charged Attacks (reward: 10 Ultra Balls)
End reward: 3 Pinap Berry, 5 Rare Candy
Should you choose the Explore, Catch, or Battle path?
There are two factors at play with your decision, since the item rewards from the Timed Research (10 Great Balls, 10 Ultra Balls, 3 Pinap Berry and 5 Rare Candy) are the same.
One is the XP bonus you want to receive for the week ahead, and the other is how likely you are to complete the Timed Research steps.
The bonuses are as follows:
- Explore: 5x XP for spinning PokéStops
- Catch: 1.5x XP for catching Pokémon with Nice Throws or better
- Battle: An additional 5,000 XP for completing raids
As for the Timed Research, each choice has its challenges, but all are achievable: the 'Catch' step is within reach for most players, though the Excellent Throws require a degree of skill; 'Explore' requires you to be active during the week and have access to enough PokéStops to make it worthwhile; and 'Battle' only suits those with access to gyms or are willing to remote raid, but chances are if you are attracted to the XP bonus it gives you, this won't be an issue anyway.
Remember, these bonuses will apply as soon as you make the choice until 10am the following Tuesday. As such, it's worth taking into account the week's events into your choice if possible.
So ultimately, it's a case of opting for the play style that suits you best. Personally, as a Go Plus-heavy player, 'Explore' makes the most sense for me, and I'm quite looking forward to sitting in a coffee shop or two during the week to tick off the 50 spins and get the healthy XP boost at the same time.
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