Pokémon Go Wild Area 2026 features Special Research with a simple choice - Steel or Dragon?
Starting on Saturday, 14th November at 10am for paid ticket holders, this Choose a Path Special Research gives you the option between the two types, with different challenges, encounters and a unique medal for each outcome.
This guide provides a list of known differences, and which factors to consider with your Steel or Dragon choice in Pokémon Go.
Steel or Dragon Choose a Path differences
Here's what the in-game blurb says for each Choose a Path choice:
Choose this path to become an accomplished Steel-type / Dragon-type Trainer. Tasks will be focused on catching, powering up, and evolving Steel-type / Dragon-type Pokémon. Completing this research awards the Steel Scholar / Dragon Defender medal!
As such, your choice really only impacts one thing: the encounters you receive in the Special Research that follows.
Though certain steps in the 'Path to Mastery' Special Research changes according to your choice of type - making you Evolve 3 Steel-type or Evolve 3 Dragon-type, for example - realistically it's all about the Pokémon you can catch along the way.
Matthew Reynolds
The above guide outlines every quest step, otherwise the differences in encounters are as follows:
- Steel encounters: Dynamax Machop, Beldum, Mighty Metagross
- Dragon encounters: Dynamax Ralts, Deino, Mighty Hydreigon
Steel or Dragon Choose a Path: Which is better for you?
In terms of which is better, with Steel-types and Dragon-types both having powerful Pokémon in their roster, it's largely down to what you prefer rather than what is best.
First, consider which you don't have in your Pokédex. If you have them all, then think about what Candy you want to receive for each Pokémon caught, and also which Pokémon you'd like to get good versions of; Pokémon caught in Research has a 10/10/10 stat floor (and for the Mighty encounter, 13/13/13) after all.
Finally, an additional but small consideration is which Medal would you like in your collection. You'll receive Steel Scholar or Dragon Defender when the six steps are done, but you can only get either one. This is all down to personal preference, and as someone who prefers Steel-types, this may well swing it for me!
A Go Wild Area Global 2026 event ticket was provided by Scopely Explore.
If you're looking for more from the event, here's our Pokémon Go Wild Area 2026 guide with a habitat schedule, list of bonuses, and tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the weekend:
Matthew Reynolds
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