Pokémon GO Steel Scholar vs Dragon Defender is the choice for ticket holders in Pokémon GO Wild Area: Global Special Research on 14 November 2026. Both medal paths award identical extra bonuses, but Steel Scholar rewards Steel-type mighty catches while Dragon Defender rewards Dragon-type mighty catches. Choose the type of mighty Pokémon you actually want to hunt; neither medal has a higher payout on its own.
Both paths award the same bonuses once you’ve claimed the chosen medal: 1,000 extra Stardust for each mighty Pokémon caught of that type, plus one extra Candy XL for Trainers level 31 or higher. The catch must be a Steel-type mighty Pokémon for Steel Scholar or a Dragon-type mighty Pokémon for Dragon Defender.
Pokémon GO Steel Scholar vs Dragon Defender: all bonus differences
The difference is the type of mighty Pokémon that earns the bonus. Pokémon GO says the research branches have different rewards, but it has not published a complete task-by-task reward list in this announcement. Don’t choose a path based on unconfirmed exclusive encounters.
| Bonus | Steel Scholar | Dragon Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Research theme | Steel | Dragon |
| Medal catch type | Steel-type mighty Pokémon | Dragon-type mighty Pokémon |
| Stardust | +1,000 per matching mighty catch | +1,000 per matching mighty catch |
| Candy XL | +1 per matching mighty catch, level 31+ | +1 per matching mighty catch, level 31+ |
| When it begins | After claiming Steel Scholar medal | After claiming Dragon Defender medal |
| When it expires | 15 November, 6 PM local | 15 November, 6 PM local |
For Pokémon GO Steel Scholar vs Dragon Defender, here’s the maths: ten qualifying mighty catches after claiming your medal add up to 10,000 bonus Stardust. If you’re level 31 or above, those ten catches also give ten additional Candy XL. The same totals apply whichever type you choose.
Which Pokémon GO Steel Scholar vs Dragon Defender choice is better?
Choose Steel Scholar if you’re aiming to catch and keep mighty Steel Pokémon during the weekend. Choose Dragon Defender if Dragon mighty Pokémon will be your priority. It isn’t worth selecting a medal for a type you won’t actually hunt: these are catch-specific bonuses, not passive perks affecting every battle.
Wild Area Global alternates between Solid as Steel Hour and Daring as Dragons Hour. The Steel-themed habitat starts first, at 10 AM local time, followed by the Dragon-themed hour. That offers a sensible way to plan your time, but remember a themed hour includes regular wild encounters too. Only the mighty encounters trigger the new medal bonuses.
If you’re below level 31, the medal’s extra Candy XL isn’t available, but the extra Stardust still applies. Think about how many mighty catches of each type you expect to make, rather than which medal name sounds better.
When do the Pokémon GO Steel Scholar vs Dragon Defender bonuses unlock?
The branching Special Research is available to Global ticket holders from Saturday 14 November at 10 AM local time. You must choose the path, complete the appropriate requirements and claim the type-themed medal. The bonus begins at that claim, not at the moment you buy the ticket or first select a path.
Claim your medal before you start hunting mighty Pokémon. The bonus isn’t retroactive, so a matching mighty catch made before the claim won’t receive the extra Stardust or Candy XL.
The Pokémon GO Steel Scholar vs Dragon Defender bonuses end on Sunday 15 November at 6 PM local time, when Wild Area: Global finishes. They don’t carry over to later events.
Is Pokémon GO Steel Scholar vs Dragon Defender available without a ticket?
No. Pokémon GO specifically describes the branching medal Special Research as a Global ticket-holder benefit. You can play the core Wild Area Global event without the paid ticket, but free players aren’t promised this Steel Scholar or Dragon Defender path. The ticket also has other perks described in our Wild Area Global guide.
There’s a separate arrangement for Trainers attending the real-world Sendai or Mexico City Wild Area events. Ticket holders at those events have a chance to earn both Steel Scholar and Dragon Defender medals through their in-person Special Research, with associated bonuses lasting through the end of Global. That isn’t the same as a Global ticket holder freely changing branches after choosing.
Do Steel and Dragon medal bonuses work on raids and Max Battles?
These are mighty Pokémon catch bonuses, not general Steel- or Dragon-type bonuses. The publisher does not promise extra medal Stardust for catching an ordinary Pokémon of the right type, completing a Raid Battle or winning a Max Battle.
Mighty Pokémon are unusually strong wild encounters and tend to be harder to catch. GO Safari Balls improve your chances of catching them. See our Safari Balls guide for the free and ticketed ways to obtain the balls. If you’re saving them for mighty encounters, a matching medal makes those catches more rewarding.
Final Pokémon GO Steel Scholar vs Dragon Defender recommendation
For Pokémon GO Steel Scholar vs Dragon Defender, neither path offers a bigger per-catch bonus. Pick Steel Scholar if you’ll hunt Steel-type mighty Pokémon or Dragon Defender if you’ll hunt Dragons. Claim the medal early and use your GO Safari Balls on the qualifying encounters you want most.
If you earned both medals through the in-person Sendai or Mexico City event, check that you’ve claimed them before your Global weekend catches. For the full schedule, see our Pokémon GO Wild Area Global 2026 guide.
Related Guides
Official source: Pokémon GO’s Steel Scholar and Dragon Defender Research announcement.
