The latest *Pokémon GO* news has players buzzing: Niantic's introduced a new Tour Pass, and the big question on everyone's mind is the price tag. The exciting news? The base *Pokémon GO* Tour Pass is entirely free! But what exactly does it offer?
What is the *Pokémon GO* Tour Pass?
Debuting with the *Pokémon GO* Tour: Unova global event, the Tour Pass is a new feature centered around earning Tour Points. These points unlock rewards, boost your rank, and enhance event bonuses throughout the Unova event. The free Tour Pass is automatically awarded to players upon the event's start (February 24th, 10 AM local time). However, a paid upgrade, the Tour Pass Deluxe ($14.99 USD or equivalent), offers an instant Victini encounter, upgraded rewards, and faster progression.
How Do You Earn Tour Points and What Do They Do?
Earning Tour Points mirrors familiar *Pokémon GO* gameplay. Catch Pokémon, participate in raids, hatch eggs, and complete daily Pass Tasks to accumulate points. These points unlock rewards, increase your Tour Pass rank, and grant access to increasingly valuable items and encounters, including Pokémon, Candy, and Poké Balls.
Higher ranks unlock significant Catch XP bonuses during *Pokémon GO* Tour: Unova:
- Tier 2: 1.5x Catch XP
- Tier 3: 2x Catch XP
- Tier 4: 3x Catch XP
While Niantic remains tight-lipped about all rewards, the free Tour Pass culminates in a Zorua encounter with a special background. The Deluxe Pass offers a different top-tier reward: the Lucky Trinket.
What is a Lucky Trinket?
Exclusive to the Tour Pass Deluxe, the Lucky Trinket is a one-time-use item transforming a friend (at least Great Friends level) into a Lucky Friend. This allows a Lucky Pokémon trade without requiring Best Friend status. Remember, these Lucky Trinkets expire on March 9th, 2025.
Pokémon GO is available now.
