Niantic is weird sometimes.
You’re walking through a park, staring at your phone, hoping that the next 10km egg isn’t another Amaura, and suddenly a new Special Research pops up. It’s called Pokémon GO Finding Your Voice. If you played during GO Fest 2021, you remember this as the Meloetta debut. But for everyone else? It’s a permanent fixture in the "Special" tab that some people ignore for months because they’re stuck on the "Snapshot of a Loudred" task.
Honestly, it’s one of the most underrated quest lines in the game. It isn't just about getting a mythical Pokémon for your Pokédex. It's about the literal mechanics of sound, rhythm, and how Niantic tries—and occasionally fails—to make the game feel like more than just a glorified spreadsheet.
What’s the Deal with Meloetta?
Meloetta is the star here. It’s a Mythical Pokémon from the Unova region. In the main series games, it has two forms: Aria and Pirouette. In Pokémon GO, we’re mostly focused on the Aria form, which is Normal/Psychic.
Is it meta-relevant? Kinda.
In the Master League, it has some niche play because of its massive stat product, but it isn't going to dethrone Palkia (Origin Forme) or Dialga anytime soon. The move set—Quick Attack and Psyshock—is snappy. It generates energy fast. But let’s be real: most people want it because it’s a Mythical you don’t have to pay $15 for in a ticketed event. Finding your voice in this context is literally about helping Professor Willow track down the source of a mysterious melody. It’s lore-heavy, which is a nice break from the "Catch 100 Pokémon" grind.
The Infamous "Take a Snapshot" Wall
I see people complaining about this on Reddit every single day.
Step 2 of Pokémon GO Finding Your Voice requires you to take a snapshot of a Loudred. Then later, you need a snapshot of Meloetta. The problem? Players catch a Whismur, evolve it, and then... they can't find another one to finish the task if they transferred it too early. Or, the AR+ glitches out and doesn't register the photo.
Pro tip: You don’t need AR+ enabled for these tasks. Turn it off in the settings. It’s way faster. Just tap the camera icon, snap the photo, and leave. If you’re stuck because you don't have a Loudred, you’ve gotta find a Whismur. They’re common in "Normal" type weather (partly cloudy), but they also rotate in and out of the seasonal spawn pools. Don’t delete your Loudred until the yellow checkmark appears on that task. Seriously.
Breaking down the rewards
You get more than just the encounter. We're talking:
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- 2,000 XP (which is fine, I guess)
- Rare Candies (the real gold)
- Stardust (never enough of this)
- Meloetta Stickers (strictly for the vibes)
Why This Research Feels Different
Most Pokémon GO quests are "Go here, do this." Finding Your Voice feels a bit more thematic. It was originally designed to celebrate the musical theme of GO Fest. It asks you to evolve Pokémon, use items, and interact with the buddy system.
It’s a slow burn.
Unlike the "Let’s GO, Meltan" quest which feels like a chore because of the Aerodactyl requirement, Finding Your Voice is achievable for a casual player in about a week. It forces you to engage with the "buddy" mechanic. You have to earn hearts. You have to walk. It’s Niantic’s way of saying, "Hey, look at this feature we built that you usually ignore."
The Battle Viability of the Voice
If you’re a PvP sweat, you’re looking at Meloetta and wondering if it’s worth the Rare Candy XL.
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The short answer: probably not for the average player.
The long answer: in the Aria form, its Typing (Normal/Psychic) is actually a bit of a liability in a meta filled with Dark-types and Steel-types. However, if we ever get the Pirouette form (Normal/Fighting), things change. That form has a massive Attack stat. For now, Finding Your Voice is about the collection. It's a trophy. A very musical, floating trophy.
Misconceptions About the Quest
A lot of people think this quest is time-limited. It isn't. If you have it in your "Special" tab, it stays there forever until you finish it.
Another big one? People think you can get a Shiny Meloetta from this. You can't. Niantic hasn't released the shiny version yet. They’re likely saving that for a paid ticket in 2027 or something. If you see someone with a shiny one, they’re either a wizard or, more likely, looking at a visual bug.
Getting it Done Fast
If you want to breeze through Pokémon GO Finding Your Voice, you need to hoard your resources.
- Save your Whismur candies. You’ll need to evolve one.
- Keep a stock of Berries. You have to use quite a few to pass the "Catch" stages.
- Buddy up. Pick a Pokémon that earns candy every 1km (like Magikarp or Pidgey) to fly through the "Earn a candy with your buddy" tasks.
It’s all about efficiency.
Professor Willow’s dialogue in this quest is actually some of the better writing in the game. He talks about the power of song and how Pokémon communicate. It’s a bit cheesy, sure, but in a game that’s mostly about clicking on circles, a little bit of flavor text goes a long way.
Actionable Steps for Players
Stop sitting on this research. It’s taking up space in your menu and the rewards are actually helpful for leveling up.
- Check your inventory for a Sun Stone. You’ll need it for a specific evolution task in the later stages of the research. If you don't have one, start spinning PokéStops daily to get your 7-day streak bonus.
- Sync your Adventure Sync. A lot of the tasks require walking. If you’re not tracking steps while the app is closed, you’re making it ten times harder on yourself.
- Focus on Great Throws. One of the stages requires consecutive Nice or Great throws. Use a Nanab Berry if you’re struggling. It stops the Pokémon from jumping around, making the "Finding Your Voice" grind much less frustrating.
- Don't ignore the stickers. Okay, maybe ignore the stickers. They don't do anything. But the XP adds up if you pop a Lucky Egg right before finishing a stage.
Finding your voice in Pokémon GO isn't just a quest name—it's a reminder that the game has these weird, small stories tucked away behind the Raids and the Gym battles. Finish the quest, get your Mythical, and move on to the next grind.