Complete guide to Pokemon GO’s Misunderstood Mischief

TL;DR

  • Misunderstood Mischief features 16 staggered steps released throughout the 90-day Season of Mischief event
  • Hoopa becomes catchable in Step 3, while Shadow Lugia rewards await in Step 15
  • The questline includes multiple ‘gift’ steps with immediate XP and Stardust rewards
  • Malamar offers limited PVP utility but can serve niche roles in Great League battles
  • Strategic planning for Team GO Rocket battles and resource conservation is essential for success

Pokemon GO’s 2021 Halloween celebration introduced an ambitious three-month experience called the Season of Mischief, anchored by the groundbreaking Misunderstood Mischief special research questline.

This extensive 90-day event delivered numerous player benefits through a uniquely structured research framework that departed from traditional simultaneous releases. The centerpiece Misunderstood Mischief quest adopted an innovative phased approach, with new segments becoming available at predetermined intervals rather than all at once.

Initially shrouded in mystery, the questline evolved into a comprehensive adventure offering valuable rewards including a formidable shadow Pokemon and the mythical Hoopa. Understanding this event’s mechanics provides crucial insights for maximizing your gameplay experience during extended seasonal content.

Misunderstood Mischief Quests and Rewards

Misunderstood Mischief revolutionized special research formatting in Pokemon GO. Unlike conventional research that enables rapid completion, this questline implemented sequential step releases that created sustained engagement opportunities. As of the September 1 launch, only the initial segment was accessible, with fifteen additional parts scheduled for future deployment.

Here’s the comprehensive breakdown of each quest stage with associated tasks and rewards:

Misunderstood Mischief Step 1

  • Execute 10 Nice Throws (Incense reward)
  • Activate an Incense (10 Poke Balls)
  • Capture three Snapshots of wild Psychic-type Pokémon (10 Nanab Berries)

Completion Benefits: Wild Gothita encounter, 1,000 Experience Points, 500 Stardust

Misunderstood Mischief Step 2

  • Claim Your Reward (720 Stardust)

Completion Benefits: 720 XP

Misunderstood Mischief Step 3

  • Perform five curveball throws (15 Poke Balls)
  • Capture 10 distinct Pokemon species (five Great Balls)
  • Accumulate 5,000 Stardust (three Max Revives)

Completion Benefits: Wild Hoopa encounter, 1,000 XP, 500 Stardust

Misunderstood Mischief Step 4

  • Claim Your Reward (720 Stardust)

Completion Benefits: 720 XP

Misunderstood Mischief Step 5

  • Power up Pokemon 10 times (15 Great Balls)
  • Capture 20 psychic-type Pokemon (wild Abra appears)
  • Evolve three psychic-type Pokemon (10 Revives)

Completion Benefits: Wild Wobbuffett encounter, 10 Hyper Potions, 10 Hoopa Candy

Misunderstood Mischief Step 6

  • Claim Your Reward (720 Stardust)

Completion Benefits: 720 XP

Misunderstood Mischief Step 7

  • Photograph your buddy Pokemon (wild Furfrou appears)
  • Capture a Furfrou (Fast TM)
  • Earn one affection heart with your buddy (Charged TM)

Completion Benefits: 15 Furfrou Candy, Unova Stone, wild Minccino encounter

Misunderstood Mischief Step 8

  • Claim Your Reward (720 Stardust)

Completion Benefits: 720 XP

Misunderstood Mischief Step 9

  • Land three nice curveball throws (15 Slowpoke Candy)
  • Transfer 30 Pokemon (wild Galarian Slowpoke appears)
  • Evolve one Slowpoke (1,990 XP)

Completion Benefits: Five Max Potions, 40 Mega Slowbro Energy, wild Shedinja encounter

Misunderstood Mischief Step 10

  • Claim Your Reward (720 Stardust)

Completion Benefits: 720 XP

Misunderstood Mischief Step 11

  • Obtain three candies through buddy walking (10 Yamask Candy)
  • Capture 30 ghost-type Pokemon (10 Phantump Candy)
  • Capture 30 dark-type Pokemon (10 Pumpkaboo Candy)

Completion Benefits: 15 Ultra Balls, 40 Mega Gengar Energy, costumed Pikachu encounter

Misunderstood Mischief Step 12

  • Claim Your Reward (720 Stardust)

Completion Benefits: 720 XP

Misunderstood Mischief Step 13

  • Add a new friend (wild Meditite appears)
  • Distribute 10 gifts to friends (wild Chinchou appears)
  • Utilize 20 berries for Pokemon capture (two Silver Pinap Berries)

Completion Benefits: Wild Blitzle encounter, Poffin, 10 Dedenne Candy

Misunderstood Mischief Step 14

  • Claim Your Reward (720 Stardust)

Completion Benefits: 720 XP

Misunderstood Mischief Step 15

  • Defeat five Team GO Rocket grunts (Rocket Radar)
  • Conquer three Team GO Rocket leaders (Super Rocket Radar)
  • Defeat Team GO Rocket boss Giovanni (Lucky Egg)

Completion Benefits: Two Silver Pinap Berries, 40 Mega Houndoom Energy, wild Absol encounter

Misunderstood Mischief Step 16

  • Claim Your Reward (2,000 XP)
  • Claim Your Reward (2,000 XP)
  • Claim Your Reward (2,000 XP)

Completion Benefits: 20 Hoopa Candy, Star Piece, wild Dusknoir encounter

How to Catch Hoopa in Pokemon GO

The mythical Pokemon Hoopa becomes available for capture upon completing the third step of the Misunderstood Mischief special research. Hoopa materializes as an encounter reward after successfully finishing the step’s challenges, providing trainers their first opportunity to add this dimensional manipulator to their collection.


Hoopa maintained consistent presence in Pokemon GO following Pokemon GO Fest, with this sixth-generation Pokemon creating circular dimensional portals that brought both new and returning rare Pokemon into the game environment. These rifts established narrative foundation for multiple recent content introductions, particularly the debut of Galarian regional variants including Wooloo and Skwovet. The persistent sky rings served as continuous reminders of Hoopa’s dimensional influence throughout the season.

As a concluding element to this thematic motif, Niantic integrated Hoopa as a catchable Pokemon within the quest narrative. However, this doesn’t represent Hoopa’s complete story arc.


Hoopa has exclusively appeared in Pokemon GO in its smaller Confined manifestation. Hoopa’s alternative Unbound configuration presents a dramatically more powerful entity that will feature in subsequent special research. Players seeking formidable rare Pokemon received immediate gratification through Step 15’s inclusion of the exceptionally powerful Shadow Lugia, making it a valuable roster addition for any serious trainer.

Is Malamar Viable in Pokemon GO?

Malamar generally occupies a middle-tier position within Pokemon GO’s competitive landscape. This inversion Pokemon possesses a strategically valuable psychic-dark dual typing that creates vulnerability to fairy attacks and double weakness to bug-type moves, while providing substantial resistance against psychic assaults. All other damage types register as neutral.

Despite its favorable type combination, Malamar delivers underwhelming offensive performance while operating with a constrained move pool. Its available quick moves include STAB-enhanced Psycho Cut or Peck, with charge attack options comprising Hyper Beam, Psybeam, Foul Play, and Superpower. The Pokemon’s maximum CP reaches only 2,359 at trainer level 40, significantly limiting its utility in higher-tier combat scenarios. Malamar demonstrates potential applicability in Great League PVP formats, but proves largely ineffective across other player-versus-player or player-versus-environment situations.

Seasoned trainers should prioritize strategic resource allocation throughout the Misunderstood Mischief questline. The inclusion of multiple ‘claim reward’ steps provides natural breakpoints for inventory management and strategic planning. When approaching the Team GO Rocket battles in Step 15, ensure you have optimal counters prepared for Giovanni’s lineup to minimize resource consumption.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

  • Don’t waste premium items on early steps that offer minimal rewards
  • Plan your buddy Pokemon selections around the snapshot and candy requirements
  • Coordinate gift exchanges with friends during social interaction steps
  • Save evolution items for psychic-type requirements in Step 5
  • Prepare specific counters for Rocket battles in advance of Step 15

For optimal time management, complete the straightforward ‘claim reward’ steps immediately while allocating dedicated sessions for more complex multi-task requirements.

Action Checklist

  • Complete Step 1-3 immediately to secure early Hoopa encounter
  • Monitor official channels for subsequent step release announcements
  • Prepare psychic-type Pokemon in advance for evolution requirements
  • Coordinate with friends for gift exchange and new friend steps
  • Assemble optimal counters for Team GO Rocket battles before Step 15

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