diff --git a/mp_api/client/core/client.py b/mp_api/client/core/client.py
index 4cd98958..793d0902 100644
--- a/mp_api/client/core/client.py
+++ b/mp_api/client/core/client.py
@@ -18,12 +18,7 @@
 from importlib.metadata import PackageNotFoundError, version
 from json import JSONDecodeError
 from math import ceil
-from typing import (
-    TYPE_CHECKING,
-    ForwardRef,
-    Optional,
-    get_args,
-)
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, ForwardRef, Optional, get_args
 from urllib.parse import quote, urljoin
 
 import requests
@@ -64,6 +59,23 @@
 SETTINGS = MAPIClientSettings()  # type: ignore
 
 
+class _DictLikeAccess(BaseModel):
+    """Define a pydantic mix-in which permits dict-like access to model fields."""
+
+    def __getitem__(self, item: str) -> Any:
+        """Return `item` if a valid model field, otherwise raise an exception."""
+        if item in self.__class__.model_fields:
+            return getattr(self, item)
+        raise AttributeError(f"{self.__class__.__name__} has no model field `{item}`.")
+
+    def get(self, item: str, default: Any = None) -> Any:
+        """Return a model field `item`, or `default` if it doesn't exist."""
+        try:
+            return self.__getitem__(item)
+        except AttributeError:
+            return default
+
+
 class BaseRester:
     """Base client class with core stubs."""
 
@@ -427,13 +439,9 @@ def _query_resource(
         if use_document_model is None:
             use_document_model = self.use_document_model
 
-        if timeout is None:
-            timeout = self.timeout
+        timeout = self.timeout if timeout is None else timeout
 
-        if criteria:
-            criteria = {k: v for k, v in criteria.items() if v is not None}
-        else:
-            criteria = {}
+        criteria = {k: v for k, v in (criteria or {}).items() if v is not None}
 
         # Query s3 if no query is passed and all documents are asked for
         # TODO also skip fields set to same as their default
@@ -1080,6 +1088,7 @@ def _generate_returned_model(
             # TODO fields_not_requested is not the same as unset_fields
             # i.e. field could be requested but not available in the raw doc
             fields_not_requested=(list[str], unset_fields),
+            __base__=_DictLikeAccess,
             __doc__=".".join(
                 [
                     getattr(self.document_model, k, "")
diff --git a/mp_api/client/mprester.py b/mp_api/client/mprester.py
index 3fdc07f9..e6f65c96 100644
--- a/mp_api/client/mprester.py
+++ b/mp_api/client/mprester.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import itertools
 import os
 import warnings
+from collections import defaultdict
 from functools import cache, lru_cache
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
@@ -424,11 +425,7 @@ def get_task_ids_associated_with_material_id(
         if not tasks:
             return []
 
-        calculations = (
-            tasks[0].calc_types  # type: ignore
-            if self.use_document_model
-            else tasks[0]["calc_types"]  # type: ignore
-        )
+        calculations = tasks[0]["calc_types"]
 
         if calc_types:
             return [
@@ -436,8 +433,7 @@ def get_task_ids_associated_with_material_id(
                 for task, calc_type in calculations.items()
                 if calc_type in calc_types
             ]
-        else:
-            return list(calculations.keys())
+        return list(calculations.keys())
 
     def get_structure_by_material_id(
         self, material_id: str, final: bool = True, conventional_unit_cell: bool = False
@@ -539,11 +535,7 @@ def get_material_id_references(self, material_id: str) -> list[str]:
             List of BibTeX references ([str])
         """
         docs = self.materials.provenance.search(material_ids=material_id)
-
-        if not docs:
-            return []
-
-        return docs[0].references if self.use_document_model else docs[0]["references"]  # type: ignore
+        return docs[0]["references"] if docs else []
 
     def get_material_ids(
         self,
@@ -558,17 +550,16 @@ def get_material_ids(
         Returns:
             List of all materials ids ([MPID])
         """
+        inp_k = "formula"
         if isinstance(chemsys_formula, list) or (
             isinstance(chemsys_formula, str) and "-" in chemsys_formula
         ):
-            input_params = {"chemsys": chemsys_formula}
-        else:
-            input_params = {"formula": chemsys_formula}
+            inp_k = "chemsys"
 
         return sorted(
-            doc.material_id if self.use_document_model else doc["material_id"]  # type: ignore
+            doc["material_id"]
             for doc in self.materials.search(
-                **input_params,  # type: ignore
+                **{inp_k: chemsys_formula},
                 all_fields=False,
                 fields=["material_id"],
             )
@@ -601,10 +592,8 @@ def get_structures(
                 all_fields=False,
                 fields=["structure"],
             )
-            if not self.use_document_model:
-                return [doc["structure"] for doc in docs]  # type: ignore
 
-            return [doc.structure for doc in docs]  # type: ignore
+            return [doc["structure"] for doc in docs]
         else:
             structures = []
 
@@ -613,12 +602,7 @@ def get_structures(
                 all_fields=False,
                 fields=["initial_structures"],
             ):
-                initial_structures = (
-                    doc.initial_structures  # type: ignore
-                    if self.use_document_model
-                    else doc["initial_structures"]  # type: ignore
-                )
-                structures.extend(initial_structures)
+                structures.extend(doc["initial_structures"])
 
             return structures
 
@@ -723,7 +707,7 @@ def get_entries(
         if additional_criteria:
             input_params = {**input_params, **additional_criteria}
 
-        entries = []
+        entries: set[ComputedStructureEntry] = set()
 
         fields = (
             ["entries", "thermo_type"]
@@ -738,24 +722,17 @@ def get_entries(
         )
 
         for doc in docs:
-            entry_list = (
-                doc.entries.values()  # type: ignore
-                if self.use_document_model
-                else doc["entries"].values()  # type: ignore
-            )
+            entry_list = doc["entries"].values()
             for entry in entry_list:
-                entry_dict: dict = entry.as_dict() if self.monty_decode else entry  # type: ignore
+                entry_dict: dict = entry.as_dict() if hasattr(entry, "as_dict") else entry  # type: ignore
                 if not compatible_only:
                     entry_dict["correction"] = 0.0
                     entry_dict["energy_adjustments"] = []
 
                 if property_data:
-                    for property in property_data:
-                        entry_dict["data"][property] = (
-                            doc.model_dump()[property]  # type: ignore
-                            if self.use_document_model
-                            else doc[property]  # type: ignore
-                        )
+                    entry_dict["data"] = {
+                        property: doc[property] for property in property_data
+                    }
 
                 if conventional_unit_cell:
                     entry_struct = Structure.from_dict(entry_dict["structure"])
@@ -776,15 +753,10 @@ def get_entries(
                         if "n_atoms" in correction:
                             correction["n_atoms"] *= site_ratio
 
-                entry = (
-                    ComputedStructureEntry.from_dict(entry_dict)
-                    if self.monty_decode
-                    else entry_dict
-                )
+                # Need to store object to permit de-duplication
+                entries.add(ComputedStructureEntry.from_dict(entry_dict))
 
-                entries.append(entry)
-
-        return entries
+        return [e if self.monty_decode else e.as_dict() for e in entries]
 
     def get_pourbaix_entries(
         self,
@@ -1315,9 +1287,7 @@ def get_wulff_shape(self, material_id: str):
         if not doc:
             return None
 
-        surfaces: list = (
-            doc[0].surfaces if self.use_document_model else doc[0]["surfaces"]  # type: ignore
-        )
+        surfaces: list = doc[0]["surfaces"]
 
         lattice = (
             SpacegroupAnalyzer(structure).get_conventional_standard_structure().lattice
@@ -1387,17 +1357,8 @@ def get_charge_density_from_material_id(
         if len(results) == 0:
             return None
 
-        latest_doc = max(  # type: ignore
-            results,
-            key=lambda x: (
-                x.last_updated  # type: ignore
-                if self.use_document_model
-                else x["last_updated"]
-            ),  # type: ignore
-        )
-        task_id = (
-            latest_doc.task_id if self.use_document_model else latest_doc["task_id"]
-        )
+        latest_doc = max(results, key=lambda x: x["last_updated"])
+        task_id = latest_doc["task_id"]
         return self.get_charge_density_from_task_id(task_id, inc_task_doc)
 
     def get_download_info(self, material_ids, calc_types=None, file_patterns=None):
@@ -1419,20 +1380,17 @@ def get_download_info(self, material_ids, calc_types=None, file_patterns=None):
             else []
         )
 
-        meta = {}
+        meta = defaultdict(list)
         for doc in self.materials.search(  # type: ignore
             task_ids=material_ids,
             fields=["calc_types", "deprecated_tasks", "material_id"],
         ):
-            doc_dict: dict = doc.model_dump() if self.use_document_model else doc  # type: ignore
-            for task_id, calc_type in doc_dict["calc_types"].items():
+            for task_id, calc_type in doc["calc_types"].items():
                 if calc_types and calc_type not in calc_types:
                     continue
-                mp_id = doc_dict["material_id"]
-                if meta.get(mp_id) is None:
-                    meta[mp_id] = [{"task_id": task_id, "calc_type": calc_type}]
-                else:
-                    meta[mp_id].append({"task_id": task_id, "calc_type": calc_type})
+                mp_id = doc["material_id"]
+                meta[mp_id].append({"task_id": task_id, "calc_type": calc_type})
+
         if not meta:
             raise ValueError(f"No tasks found for material id {material_ids}.")
 
diff --git a/mp_api/client/routes/materials/electronic_structure.py b/mp_api/client/routes/materials/electronic_structure.py
index ccaaaad8..94298206 100644
--- a/mp_api/client/routes/materials/electronic_structure.py
+++ b/mp_api/client/routes/materials/electronic_structure.py
@@ -276,61 +276,47 @@ def get_bandstructure_from_material_id(
             if not bs_doc:
                 raise MPRestError("No electronic structure data found.")
 
-            bs_data = (
-                bs_doc[0].bandstructure  # type: ignore
-                if self.use_document_model
-                else bs_doc[0]["bandstructure"]  # type: ignore
-            )
-
-            if bs_data is None:
+            if (bs_data := bs_doc[0]["bandstructure"]) is None:
                 raise MPRestError(
                     f"No {path_type.value} band structure data found for {material_id}"
                 )
-            else:
-                bs_data: dict = (
-                    bs_data.model_dump() if self.use_document_model else bs_data  # type: ignore
-                )
 
-            if bs_data.get(path_type.value, None):
-                bs_task_id = bs_data[path_type.value]["task_id"]
-            else:
+            bs_data: dict = (
+                bs_data.model_dump() if self.use_document_model else bs_data  # type: ignore
+            )
+
+            if bs_data.get(path_type.value, None) is None:
                 raise MPRestError(
                     f"No {path_type.value} band structure data found for {material_id}"
                 )
-        else:
-            bs_doc = es_rester.search(material_ids=material_id, fields=["dos"])
+            bs_task_id = bs_data[path_type.value]["task_id"]
 
-            if not bs_doc:
+        else:
+            if not (
+                bs_doc := es_rester.search(material_ids=material_id, fields=["dos"])
+            ):
                 raise MPRestError("No electronic structure data found.")
 
-            bs_data = (
-                bs_doc[0].dos  # type: ignore
-                if self.use_document_model
-                else bs_doc[0]["dos"]  # type: ignore
-            )
-
-            if bs_data is None:
+            if (bs_data := bs_doc[0]["dos"]) is None:
                 raise MPRestError(
                     f"No uniform band structure data found for {material_id}"
                 )
-            else:
-                bs_data: dict = (
-                    bs_data.model_dump() if self.use_document_model else bs_data  # type: ignore
-                )
 
-            if bs_data.get("total", None):
-                bs_task_id = bs_data["total"]["1"]["task_id"]
-            else:
+            bs_data: dict = (
+                bs_data.model_dump() if self.use_document_model else bs_data  # type: ignore
+            )
+
+            if bs_data.get("total", None) is None:
                 raise MPRestError(
                     f"No uniform band structure data found for {material_id}"
                 )
+            bs_task_id = bs_data["total"]["1"]["task_id"]
 
         bs_obj = self.get_bandstructure_from_task_id(bs_task_id)
 
         if bs_obj:
             return bs_obj
-        else:
-            raise MPRestError("No band structure object found.")
+        raise MPRestError("No band structure object found.")
 
 
 class DosRester(BaseRester):
@@ -456,22 +442,16 @@ def get_dos_from_material_id(self, material_id: str):
             mute_progress_bars=self.mute_progress_bars,
         )
 
-        dos_doc = es_rester.search(material_ids=material_id, fields=["dos"])
-        if not dos_doc:
+        if not (dos_doc := es_rester.search(material_ids=material_id, fields=["dos"])):
             return None
 
-        dos_data: dict = (
-            dos_doc[0].model_dump() if self.use_document_model else dos_doc[0]  # type: ignore
-        )
-
-        if dos_data["dos"]:
-            dos_task_id = dos_data["dos"]["total"]["1"]["task_id"]
-        else:
+        if not (dos_data := dos_doc[0].get("dos")):
             raise MPRestError(f"No density of states data found for {material_id}")
 
-        dos_obj = self.get_dos_from_task_id(dos_task_id)
-
-        if dos_obj:
+        dos_task_id = (dos_data.model_dump() if self.use_document_model else dos_data)[
+            "total"
+        ]["1"]["task_id"]
+        if dos_obj := self.get_dos_from_task_id(dos_task_id):
             return dos_obj
-        else:
-            raise MPRestError("No density of states object found.")
+
+        raise MPRestError("No density of states object found.")
diff --git a/mp_api/client/routes/materials/materials.py b/mp_api/client/routes/materials/materials.py
index df24e93b..6b35fabd 100644
--- a/mp_api/client/routes/materials/materials.py
+++ b/mp_api/client/routes/materials/materials.py
@@ -126,10 +126,17 @@ def get_structure_by_material_id(
 
         response = self.search(material_ids=material_id, fields=[field])
 
-        if response:
-            response = (
-                response[0].model_dump() if self.use_document_model else response[0]  # type: ignore
-            )
+        if response and response[0]:
+            response = response[0]
+            # Ensure that return type is a Structure regardless of `monty_decode` or `model_dump` output
+            if isinstance(response[field], dict):
+                response[field] = Structure.from_dict(response[field])
+            elif isinstance(response[field], list) and any(
+                isinstance(struct, dict) for struct in response[field]
+            ):
+                response[field] = [
+                    Structure.from_dict(struct) for struct in response[field]
+                ]
 
         return response[field] if response else response  # type: ignore
 
@@ -305,7 +312,4 @@ def find_structure(
                 )
             return results  # type: ignore
 
-        if results:
-            return results[0]["material_id"]
-        else:
-            return []
+        return results[0]["material_id"] if (results and results[0]) else []
diff --git a/mp_api/client/routes/molecules/molecules.py b/mp_api/client/routes/molecules/molecules.py
index 922f136e..4493932e 100644
--- a/mp_api/client/routes/molecules/molecules.py
+++ b/mp_api/client/routes/molecules/molecules.py
@@ -34,13 +34,7 @@ def get_molecule_by_mpculeid(
         field = "molecule" if final else "initial_molecules"
 
         response = self.search(molecule_ids=[mpcule_id], fields=[field])  # type: ignore
-
-        if response:
-            response = (
-                response[0].model_dump() if self.use_document_model else response[0]  # type: ignore
-            )
-
-        return response[field] if response else response  # type: ignore
+        return response[0][field] if (response and response[0]) else response  # type: ignore
 
     def find_molecule(
         self,
@@ -96,10 +90,7 @@ def find_molecule(
                 )
             return results  # type: ignore
 
-        if results:
-            return results[0]["molecule_id"]
-        else:
-            return []
+        return results[0]["molecule_id"] if (results and results[0]) else []
 
     def search(
         self,
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index f202666c..afefc1e0 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ dependencies = [
   "typing-extensions>=3.7.4.1",
   "requests>=2.23.0",
   "monty>=2024.12.10",
-  "emmet-core>=0.85.1rc0,<0.86",
+  "emmet-core>=0.85.1rc0",
   "smart_open",
   "boto3",
   "orjson >= 3.10,<4",
diff --git a/requirements/requirements-ubuntu-latest_py3.11.txt b/requirements/requirements-ubuntu-latest_py3.11.txt
index 780c5ceb..c993b2f5 100644
--- a/requirements/requirements-ubuntu-latest_py3.11.txt
+++ b/requirements/requirements-ubuntu-latest_py3.11.txt
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ contourpy==1.3.3
     # via matplotlib
 cycler==0.12.1
     # via matplotlib
-emmet-core==0.85.1
+emmet-core==0.86.0rc1
     # via mp-api (pyproject.toml)
 fonttools==4.60.1
     # via matplotlib
diff --git a/requirements/requirements-ubuntu-latest_py3.12.txt b/requirements/requirements-ubuntu-latest_py3.12.txt
index 67ad81fc..1b70c23f 100644
--- a/requirements/requirements-ubuntu-latest_py3.12.txt
+++ b/requirements/requirements-ubuntu-latest_py3.12.txt
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ contourpy==1.3.3
     # via matplotlib
 cycler==0.12.1
     # via matplotlib
-emmet-core==0.85.1
+emmet-core==0.86.0rc1
     # via mp-api (pyproject.toml)
 fonttools==4.60.1
     # via matplotlib
diff --git a/tests/test_mprester.py b/tests/test_mprester.py
index 0cc9d271..dbb5e395 100644
--- a/tests/test_mprester.py
+++ b/tests/test_mprester.py
@@ -148,7 +148,13 @@ def test_get_entries(self, mpr):
             assert e.data.get("energy_above_hull", None) is not None
 
         # Conventional structure
-        entry = mpr.get_entry_by_material_id("mp-22526", conventional_unit_cell=True)[1]
+        entry = next(
+            e
+            for e in mpr.get_entry_by_material_id(
+                "mp-22526", conventional_unit_cell=True
+            )
+            if e.entry_id == "mp-22526-r2SCAN"
+        )
 
         s = entry.structure
         assert pytest.approx(s.lattice.a) == s.lattice.b
@@ -158,9 +164,14 @@ def test_get_entries(self, mpr):
         assert pytest.approx(s.lattice.gamma) == 120
 
         # Ensure energy per atom is same
-        prim = mpr.get_entry_by_material_id("mp-22526", conventional_unit_cell=False)[1]
-
-        s = prim.structure
+        entry = next(
+            e
+            for e in mpr.get_entry_by_material_id(
+                "mp-22526", conventional_unit_cell=False
+            )
+            if e.entry_id == "mp-22526-r2SCAN"
+        )
+        s = entry.structure
         assert pytest.approx(s.lattice.a) == s.lattice.b
         assert pytest.approx(s.lattice.a, abs=1e-3) == s.lattice.c
         assert pytest.approx(s.lattice.alpha, abs=1e-3) == s.lattice.beta