The Pokémon GO Tour Pass: A Free and Paid Option Explained
With Niantic's frequent introduction of in-game tickets and passes, the cost is often the first question on players' minds. The new Pokémon GO Tour Pass, however, offers a surprising twist: a free option! But what exactly does it entail?
Understanding the Pokémon GO Tour Pass
Debuting with the Pokémon GO Tour: Unova global event, the Tour Pass introduces a points-based system. Players earn Tour Points by completing various in-game tasks, unlocking rewards, increasing their rank, and enhancing event bonuses throughout the Unova event.
The standard Tour Pass is free, automatically granted to players upon the event's commencement on February 24th at 10 AM local time. A premium version, the Tour Pass Deluxe, is also available for $14.99 USD (or local equivalent). This paid version offers an immediate encounter with Victini, alongside upgraded rewards and accelerated progression through the Tour Pass tiers.
Earning and Utilizing Tour Points
Accumulated Tour Points unlock rewards, ranging from items and Pokémon encounters to candy and Poké Balls. Tier progression unlocks further rewards and boosts the Catch XP bonus during Pokémon GO Tour: Unova. These bonuses scale with tier:
- 1.5x Catch XP at Tier 2
- 2x Catch XP at Tier 3
- 3x Catch XP at Tier 4
While Niantic remains tight-lipped on all rewards, the free Tour Pass culminates in a Zorua encounter with a unique background. The paid Tour Pass Deluxe offers a distinct final reward: the Lucky Trinket.
Decoding the Lucky Trinket
Pokémon GO is available now.