Pokémon Go ‘Legendary Heroes’ choose a path quest steps: Sword Path or Shield Path?

“Legendary Heroes” is a Sword and Shield-themed Timed Research quest running until the start of Oct. 2024 in Pokémon Go.

There is a choice to be made as part of this branching quest — the Sword Path or Shield Path — which impacts both the Collection Challenges and Incensed Pokémon you encounter during the event. Choose wisely!

This Timed Research is part of the “Max Out” season, which has seen the debut of various Galar Pokémon, Dynamax Pokémon, and Power Spots.

‘Legendary Heroes’ Timed Research quest steps

Available from Sept. 26, you have until Oct. 1, 2024, to start and complete the “Legendary Heroes” Timed Research. Thanks to LeekDuck with helping fill in the gaps with the following.

‘Legendary Heroes’ step 1 of 2

Catch 8 Pokémon (Skwovet encounter)

Rewards: 8 Poké Balls, 800 XP, 800 Stardust

Legendary Heroes’ step 2 of 2

At this point, you will choose between the Sword Path and Shield Path.

You can read our thoughts on which to pick in the next section — otherwise, the steps that follow for both choices are:

‘Legendary Heroes: Sword Path’ (step 1 of 2)

Use 8 Berries to help catch Pokemon (1 Incense)

Power up Pokemon 8 times (Koffing encounter)

Catch 8 Pokemon (8 Great Balls)

Rewards: Galarian Darumaka encounter, 800 XP, 800 Stardust

‘Legendary Heroes: Sword Path’ (step 2 of 2)

Explore 3 km (8 Razz Berry)

Use an Incense (Deino encounter)

Catch 8 Pokemon (8 Ultra Balls)

Rewards: Rufflet encounter, 800 XP, 800 Stardust

‘Legendary Heroes: Shield Path’ (step 1 of 2)

Use 8 Berries to help catch Pokemon (1 Incense)

Power up Pokemon 8 times (Koffing encounter)

Catch 8 Pokemon (8 Great Balls)

Rewards: Galarian Ponyta encounter, 800 XP, 800 Stardust

‘Legendary Heroes: Shield Path’ (step 2 of 2)

Explore 3 km (8 Razz Berry)

Use an Incense (Larvitar encounter)

Catch 8 Pokemon (8 Ultra Balls)

Rewards: Vullaby encounter, 800 XP, 800 Stardust

Choose a path outcomes: Should you choose the Sword Path or Shield Path?

Not only does this “choose a path” branching research result in different encounters and rewards as part of the quest, but the Sword Path and Shield Path choice also changes the Collection Challenges and Incense encounters you’ll receive.

The ‘Catch’ Collection Challenge is based on Pokémon you’ll encounter when you use Incense. However, the ‘Trade’ Collection Challenge requires Pokémon only found using Incense on the other path, meaning you need to trade with someone who will catch the Pokémon that you cannot. As such, it’s a good idea to choose a different path to a friend, so you can help one another complete the Collection Challenge.

Note that, if you don’t do this — say if you and a friend have chosen the same path — the ‘Trade’ Collection Challenge can still be completed if you already have these Pokémon in your collection. Only the ‘Catch’ portion of the Collection Challenges are dependant on collecting those specific Pokemon as part of the event, whereas the ‘Trade’ one will work for Pokémon whenever they were caught.

Otherwise, if you aren’t interested in completing the Collection Challenges, the choice simply comes down to the Pokémon you can encounter from Incense and the Timed Research rewards (the specifics of which you can read elsewhere on this page), as the level of difficulty and length of the quest steps remains the same for both the Sword Path and Shield Path.

Legendary Heroes Collection Challenges

Collection Challenges will appear once you have completed the first step of the branching research, and what you receive is dependant on your Sword or Shield choice.

Sword Path Catch Challenge

Galarian Darumaka

Gothita

Grookey

Scorbunny

Scraggy

Seedot

Sobble

Swirlix

Rewards: 1,000 XP, Skwovet encounter

Sword Path Trade Challenge

Croagunk

Lotad

Solosis

Spritzee

Rewards: 5,000 XP, Larvitar encounter

Shield Path Catch Challenge

Croagunk

Galarian Ponyta

Grookey

Lotad

Scorbunny

Sobble

Solosis

Spritzee

Rewards: 1,000 XP, Skwovet encounter

Shield Path Trade Challenge

Gothita

Scraggy

Seedot

Swirlix

Rewards: 5,000 XP, Deino encounter

Legendary Heroes Incense encounters

The following Incense encounters is dependant on your Sword Path or Shield Path choice in the Timed Research, and all have the chance to be shiny.

Sword Path Incense encounters

Deino

Gothita

Passimian

Scraggy

Seedot

Swirlix

Shield Path Incense encounters

Croagunk

Larvitar

Lotad

Oranguru

Solosis

Spritzee

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