With every new *Pokémon GO* ticket or pass announcement from Niantic, the burning question on many players' minds is always the price. The recent reveal of the *Pokémon GO* Tour Pass surprised many—it's free! But what exactly does this new feature offer?
What is a Tour Pass in *Pokémon GO*?
Introduced 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 standard Tour Pass is completely free, automatically granted to players when the *Pokémon GO* Tour: Unova event begins 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 deluxe version offers an instant Victini encounter, upgraded rewards, and faster progression through the Tour Pass tiers.
How Do You Earn Tour Points & What Do They Do?
Earning Tour Points mirrors familiar gameplay: catching Pokémon, completing raids, hatching eggs, and tackling daily Pass Tasks. These points unlock rewards, increase your rank within the Tour Pass tiers, and grant increased Catch XP bonuses. The Catch XP bonuses are as follows: 1.5x at Tier 2, 2x at Tier 3, and 3x at Tier 4. While Niantic has yet to fully detail all rewards, they’ve confirmed that the free Tour Pass’s highest tier yields a Zorua encounter with a special background. The paid Tour Pass Deluxe culminates in a unique item: the Lucky Trinket.
What is a Lucky Trinket?
Exclusive to the Tour Pass Deluxe, the Lucky Trinket is a one-time-use item allowing you to transform a friend (at least Great Friends level) into a Lucky Friend. This enables a Lucky Pokémon trade without requiring Best Friends status. Remember, Lucky Trinkets obtained during GO Tour: Unova expire on March 9, 2025.
*Pokémon GO* is available now.
