You can now get a shiny Keldeo in Pokémon Go, if you bought the "Pony Tales" Masterwork Research ticket for $7.99.

As usual with Masterwork Research, this research was only purchaseable for a limited time (and it's not available anymore), though once you bought and started the research, you'd have it unlocked permanently — which is a good thing, because it'll take a while to complete this research.

Below we list out the known steps for the "Pony Tales" Masterwork Research and talk a bit about whether the ticket is worth buying.

Update (Jan. 20): We've updated this guide with step five.

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Is the shiny Keldeo 'Pony Tales' Masterwork Research worth buying?

We don't have a full list of the rewards as of writing this (and we won't by the deadline to purchase the ticket), but the rewards for these types of tickets do usually make up the coin value of the ticket cost, making it "worth it" in that sense. However, the main thing to consider here is if you want a shiny Keldeo.

Keldeo is a mythical Pokémon, and it has only had a few event distributions since its reveal. You should have access to a regular, non-shiny Keldeo as part of the "Tales of Transformation" seasonal Special Research, but if you specifically want a shiny one, this is one of the only ways to get one.

The only other legitimate method to get a shiny Keldeo is by completing the Pokédex for Pokémon Sword and Shield in Pokémon Home. To do this, you need to catch every Pokémon in Sword/Shield and then register those Pokémon in Pokémon Home. (You functionally need to have a living Pokédex in the aforementioned games, and then transfer everything to Home.)

If you don't think you ever want to do the above challenge, and you really want a shiny pony, well... this is your other option.

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Shiny Keldeo 'Pony Tales' Masterwork Research quest steps

You can see the steps below for the research.

'Pony Tales' step 1 of 7

• Catch 151 Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region (647 XP)
• Catch 100 Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region (647 XP)
• Catch 135 Pokémon originally discovered in the Hoenn region (647 XP)
• Catch 107 Pokémon originally discovered in the Sinnoh region (647 XP)
• Catch 156 Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region (647 XP)
• Catch a Pokémon on 10 different days (647 XP)

Rewards: 25 Cobalion Candy, 25 Terrakion Candy, and 25 Virizion Candy

'Pony Tales' step 2 of 7

• Catch 100 water-type Pokémon (25 Snivy Candy)
• Catch 100 fighting-type Pokémon (25 Tepig Candy)
• Catch a Pokémon on 15 different days (25 Oshawott Candy)

Rewards: 10 Snivy Candy XL, 10 Tepig Candy XL, 10 Oshawott Candy XL

'Pony Tales' step 3 of 7

• Use 200 supereffective charged attacks (Hitmonchan encounter)
• Battle in 10 raids with your buddy (Hitmonlee encounter)
• Catch a Pokémon on 21 different days (Hitmontop encounter)

Rewards: 1 Incense, 30 Ultra Balls, 1 Rare Candy XL

'Pony Tales' step 4 of 7

• Give 500 berries to Pokémon at your team's gym (1 Premium Battle Pass)
• Power up 3 Pokémon to their max CP (Throh encounter)
• Catch a Pokémon on 21 different days (Sawk encounter)

Rewards: 1 Lure Module, 30 Ultra Balls, 1 Rare Candy XL

'Pony Tales' step 5 of 7

• Make 300 excellent throws (1 Unova Stone)
• Earn 200 hearts with your buddy (1 Unova Stone)
• Catch a Pokémon 5 days in a row (1 Unova Stone)

Rewards: 1 Max Mushroom, 30 Ultra Balls, 1 Rare Candy XL

'Pony Tales' step 6 of 7

• Complete 100 Field Research Tasks (3 Rare Candy)
• Earn the platinum Unova metal (3 Rare Candy)

Rewards: Shiny Keldeo T-Shirt, Keldeo encounter

'Pony Tales' step 7 of 7

• Claim reward (10 Keldeo Candy)
• Claim reward (10 Keldeo Candy)
• Claim reward (10 Keldeo Candy)

Rewards: 6,470 XP, 6,470 Stardust