Pokémon GO Tour Pass: New Free Progression Feature Detailed

The Pokémon GO Tour Pass: A Deep Dive into the Free and Paid Options

With every new ticket or pass announced in Pokémon GO, a common question arises: "How much will it cost?" The recent introduction of the Pokémon GO Tour Pass surprised many with its free option, but what exactly does it offer?

Understanding the Pokémon GO Tour Pass

Debuting with the Pokémon GO Tour: Unova global event, the Tour Pass introduces a system of completing tasks to earn Tour Points. These points unlock rewards, boost your rank, and enhance event bonuses throughout the Unova event.

The standard Tour Pass is free and automatically granted to players upon the event's commencement on February 24th at 10 AM local time. However, a premium version, the Tour Pass Deluxe, is available for $14.99 USD (or local equivalent). This paid version grants an immediate encounter with Victini, alongside upgraded rewards and accelerated progression through the Tour Pass tiers.

Earning and Utilizing Tour Points

Tour Points are earned by participating in familiar in-game activities, such as catching Pokémon, completing raids, and hatching eggs. Daily Pass Tasks also contribute to your point total.

Accumulated Tour Points unlock various rewards, including Pokémon encounters, Candy, Poké Balls, and more. Higher ranks unlock progressively better rewards and increase your Catch XP bonus during the Pokémon GO Tour: Unova event. These bonuses scale as follows:

• 1.5x Catch XP at Tier 2
• 2x Catch XP at Tier 3
• 3x Catch XP at Tier 4

While Niantic has yet to reveal all rewards, the free Tour Pass culminates in a Zorua encounter with a unique background. The Tour Pass Deluxe offers a different top-tier reward: the Lucky Trinket.

Decoding the Lucky Trinket

Exclusive to the Tour Pass Deluxe, the Lucky Trinket is a single-use item that transforms one of your friends into a Lucky Friend. This allows for a Lucky Pokémon trade without requiring Best Friend status (though Great Friend status is necessary to utilize the item). Note that Lucky Trinkets obtained during the Pokémon GO Tour: Unova expire on March 9, 2025.

Pokémon GO is available now.