With every new *Pokémon GO* ticket or pass announcement from Niantic, the burning question on many players' minds is always: "How much will this cost?" The recent unveiling of the *Pokémon GO* Tour Pass surprised many, as it's completely free! But what exactly *is* it?
What Is a *Pokémon GO* Tour Pass?
The Tour Pass is a brand-new feature debuting with the *Pokémon GO* Tour: Unova global event. It's a system of completing tasks to earn Tour Points. These points unlock rewards, boost your rank, and enhance event bonuses during the Unova Tour.
The basic Tour Pass is free for all players, automatically granted at the start of the *Pokémon GO* Tour: Unova event on February 24th at 10 AM local time. However, a paid version, the Tour Pass Deluxe, is also available for $14.99 USD (or local equivalent). This offers an immediate Victini encounter, along with upgraded rewards and faster progression through the Tour Pass tiers.
Earning Tour Points and Their Benefits
Tour Points are earned by participating in familiar in-game activities: catching Pokémon, completing raids, and hatching eggs. Daily refreshed Pass Tasks provide additional point-earning opportunities throughout the GO Tour.
Accumulated Tour Points unlock rewards, increasing your rank within the Tour Pass tiers. Higher ranks unlock various rewards, including Pokémon encounters, Candy, Poké Balls, and more. Ranking up also increases your Catch XP bonus during *Pokémon GO* Tour: Unova:
- Tier 2: 1.5x Catch XP
- Tier 3: 2x Catch XP
- Tier 4: 3x Catch XP
Niantic has yet to reveal all rewards for the free Tour Pass, promising more details to come. Currently, the highest tier in the free pass guarantees a Zorua encounter with a special background. The paid Tour Pass Deluxe offers a different top-tier reward: the Lucky Trinket.
What Is a Lucky Trinket?
The Lucky Trinket is a one-time-use item exclusive to Tour Pass Deluxe participants. It allows you to transform a friend into a Lucky Friend, enabling a Lucky Pokémon trade without requiring Best Friend status (Great Friends status is required to use the item). Note that Lucky Trinkets obtained during GO Tour: Unova expire on March 9, 2025.
Pokémon GO is available now.
