Pokémon Go Dark Flames quest steps, best Choose Path choice and Collection Challenges

'Dark Flames' quest steps in Pokémon Go

Dark Flames is a timed research quest which will be available in Pokémon Go until Sunday 2nd July at 8pm (local time). If you don’t complete the quest by this date, then you won’t be able to earn all of its rewards.

Dark Flames is also a branching quest - asking you to choose between the Dark-type Pokémon Path and Fire-type Pokémon Path after completing the first quest step. Your choice will determine a number of challenges and rewards you’ll encounter during the quest, along with the Collection Challenge and Incense-based bonus you’ll unlock.

Below you’ll find the Dark Flames quest steps and rewards you encounter before making your path choice and, afterwards, you’ll find sections covering the quest steps for each of the paths.

Be wary - there are spoilers below!

Thank you to Amiibofan101 from reddit for the help with this information.

'Dark Flames' Step 1 of 4

• Explore 2km - 10 Poké Balls
• Catch 2 Fire or Dark-type Pokémon - 10 Great Balls
• Catch 10 different species of Pokémon - 10 Ultra Balls

Rewards: 1000 Stardust, 5 Razz Berries and 3 Rare Candies

Dark-type Pokémon Path quest steps in Pokémon Go

Below you’ll find the challenges and rewards for the Dark-type Pokémon Path of the Dark Flames timed research quest in Pokémon Go.

Remember - by choosing this path you’ll also unlock the Dark Collection Challenge and Incense will be more likely to attract Dark-type Pokémon.

'Dark Flames: Dark-type' Step 2 of 4

• Catch 20 Dark-type Pokémon - 10 Poké Balls
• Power up 10 Dark-type Pokémon - 10 Pinap Berries
• Take 25 snapshots of wild Dark-type Pokémon - Carvanha encounter

Rewards: 2500 XP, 1500 Stardust and 15 Poké Balls

'Dark Flames: Dark-type' Step 3 of 4

• Purify 1 Dark-type Shadow Pokémon - 10 Great Balls
• Power up 10 Dark-type Pokémon - Sneasel encounter
• Evolve 3 Dark-type Pokémon - Scraggy encounter

Rewards: 5000 XP, 2000 Stardust and one Premium Raid Pass

'Dark Flames: Dark-type' Step 4 of 4

• Catch 20 Dark-type Pokémon - 3 Silver Pinap Berries
• Power up 10 Dark-type Pokémon - 10 Ultra Balls
• Battle in 3 raids - Houndoom encounter

Rewards: 7500 XP, 2500 Stardust and 50 Litten Candy

Fire-type Pokémon Path quest steps in Pokémon Go

Here you’ll find the challenges and rewards for the Fire-type Pokémon Path of the Dark Flames timed research quest in Pokémon Go.

Don’t forget - by choosing this path you’ll also unlock the Fire Collection Challenge and Incense will be more likely to attract Fire-type Pokémon.

'Dark Flames: Fire-type Pokémon' Step 2 of 4

• Catch 20 Fire-type Pokémon - 10 Poké Balls
• Power up 10 Fire-type Pokémon - 10 Pinap Berries
• Take 25 snapshots of wild Fire-type Pokémon - Slugma encounter

Rewards: 2500 XP, 1500 Stardust and 15 Poké Balls

'Dark Flames: Fire-type Pokémon' Step 3 of 4

• Purify 1 Fire-type Shadow Pokémon - 10 Great Balls
• Power up 10 Fire-type Pokémon - Alolan Marowak encounter
• Evolve 3 Fire-type Pokémon - Darumaka encounter

Rewards: 5000 XP, 2000 Stardust and one Premium Raid Pass

'Dark Flames: Fire-type Pokémon' Step 4 of 4

• Catch 20 Fire-type Pokémon - 3 Silver Pinap Berries
• Power up 10 Fire-type Pokémon - 10 Ultra Balls
• Battle in 3 raids - Houndoom encounter

Rewards: 7500 XP, 2500 Stardust and 50 Litten Candy

Dark Flames best Choose Path in Pokémon Go

The only difference between the challenges you'll face in the Dark Flames timed research quest in Pokémon Go is whether they're focused around Dark or Fire-type Pokémon.

For this reason, you can make your decision based on whether you have more Dark or Fire-type based counters, since you may have to defeat a Team Rocket Grunt to complete the quest (unless you have a Shadow Pokémon stored away for purifying). Though, you could also make your decision based upon the 'Evolve 3 Pokémon' - if you have three Fire-type Pokémon ready to evolve, for example, you'll be able to complete that challenge quickly rather than having to gather any candy.

Outside of the contents of the quest itself, you can make your Path choice based upon the bonus and Collection Challenge it will unlock. The Dark-type Pokémon Path will unlock the Dark Collection Challenge and cause more Dark-type Pokémon to appear when using Incense, while the Fire-type Pokémon Path does the same, but, unsurprisingly, with Fire-type Pokémon. So, if there's a Pokémon from one of these types you're looking for or if you just prefer one type over the other, then that will help you decide.

Personally I've chosen the Fire-type Pokémon Path, because I'm close to getting the platinum Fire-type Catch Medal (Kindler) and the extra Fire-type spawns will help me complete that goal.

No matter which Path you pick, however, remember that this is a timed research quest, so, if you want to earn all of the rewards, you must complete it before 8pm (local time) on Sunday 2nd July.

The Wild Area 2024: Global event is this weekend! Throughout it you can catch Pokémon during the habitat hours, use Safari Balls, catch Mighty Pokémon, battle Gigantamax Toxtricity, obtain both Toxtricity Forms and catch a Studded Jacket Snorlax. If you've purchased an event ticket, you can also complete the An Accomplished Trainer quest. You can now catch Dynamax Pokémon through Max Battles. First, however, you need to visit Power Spots to collect Max Particles and complete the To the Max! quest. Don't forget to try out Routes, Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon, fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases.

Dark Collection Challenge Pokémon list in Pokémon Go

The Dark Collection Challenge is part of the Dark Flames event and will be available in Pokémon Go until Sunday 2nd July at 8pm (local time). Successfully completing this Collection Challenge before this date will add it to your Elite Collectors Medal and unlock a selection of rewards.

To access this specific Collection Collection you need to choose the Dark-type Pokémon Path when working through the Dark Flames timed research quest.

Here are the Pokémon in the Dark Collection Challenge, along with how to find them:

• Poochyena - In the wild
• Carvanha - In the wild
• Houndour - In the wild
• Stunky - In the wild
• Litwick - In the wild and event-exclusive field research task (Catch 5 Fire-type Pokémon)
• Mightyena - Evolve Poochyena using 50 Poochyena Candy
• Sharpedo - Evolve Carvanha using 50 Carvanha Candy
• Incineroar - Evolve Litten using 25 Litten Candy and then evolve Torracat using 100 Litten Candy

Completing this challenge will reward you with 5,000 XP and 100 Houndoom Mega Energy.

Fire Collection Challenge Pokémon list in Pokémon Go

The Fire Collection Challenge is part of the Dark Flames event in Pokémon Go and, once unlocked, will be available until Sunday 2nd July at 8pm (local time). To access this Collection Challenge, you need to choose the Fire-type Pokémon Path when working through the Dark Flames timed research quest.

Finishing this challenge before its deadline will add it to your Elite Collectors Medal and unlock a selection of rewards.

Below you’ll find the Pokémon in the Fire Collection Challenge, along with how to find them:

• Litten - In the wild and seasonal field research task (Power up Pokémon 7 times)
• Vulpix - In the wild
• Houndour - In the wild and seasonal field research task (Earn 3 Hearts with your buddy)
• Numel - In the wild
• Galarian Zigzagoon - In the wild
• Ninetales - Evolve Vulpix using 50 Vulpix Candy
• Camerupt - Evolve Numel using 50 Numel Candy
• Incineroar - Evolve Litten using 25 Litten Candy and then evolve Torracat using 100 Litten Candy

Completing this challenge will reward you with 5,000 XP and 100 Houndoom Mega Energy.

Dark Flames field research tasks in Pokémon Go

You can collect a selection of event-exclusive field research tasks by spinning PokéStops throughout the Dark Flames event in Pokémon Go.

While you can save these tasks in your field research collection and complete them after the event ends, we recommend completing some of them during the Dark Flames event. This is because these encounters will help you complete whichever Collection Challenge you unlock while progressing through the Dark Flames timed research quest.

Here are the Dark Flames field research tasks in Pokémon Go:

• Catch 5 Dark-type Pokémon reward - Alolan Meowth or Alolan Grimer encounter
• Catch 5 Fire-type Pokémon reward - Magmar or Litwick encounter
• Win 3 raids reward - Turtonator encounter
• Win a raid in under 60 seconds reward - Alolan Marowak or Sneasel encounter

Thank you to SilphScience from reddit for the help with this information.

Everything else you need to know about the Dark Flames event in Pokémon Go

A collection of bonuses are running throughout the Dark Flames event in Pokémon Go until it ends on Sunday 2nd July at 8pm (local time). The first three are focused on raids, with trainers earning an additional 25 percent XP, three additional candies and, if you're Level 31 or above, one additional Candy XL for successfully completing raids.

Team Rocket Grunts using Fire and Dark-type based teams will also be appearing more frequently at both PokéStops and balloons throughout the event.

The final bonus is based upon which path you choose when progressing through the Dark Flames timed research event. If you choose Fire-type Pokémon Path, then Incense is more likely to attract Fire-type Pokémon, while, if you choose Dark-type Pokémon Path, Incense is more likely to attract Dark-type Pokémon instead.

Outside of these bonuses, the Dark Flames event sees the release of Turtonator in Pokémon Go. If you want to add this Gen 7 Pokémon to your Pokédex, then visit our how to get Turtonator in Pokémon Go page.

Turtonator isn’t, however, the only Pokémon debut occurring throughout this event as Mega Sableye has now arrived! Mega Sableye will be appearing in Mega Raids until Thursday 6th July and you need to battle it, so you can collect Mega Energy to conduct Sableye’s Mega Evolution.

Outside of these new debuts, the following Pokémon will be appearing more frequently throughout the event:

• Vulpix
• Houndour
• Houndoom
• Poochyena
• Galarian Zigzagoon
• Sableye
• Carvanha
• Numel
• Stunky
• Litwick
• Litten

Finally, the following Pokémon will be appearing in raids throughout the Dark Flames event:

Hope you enjoy the Dark Flames event in Pokémon Go!