Whenever Niantic announces a new ticket or pass for Pokemon GO these days, many players immediately ask, "How much does it cost?" That's why fans were pleasantly surprised to discover that the new Pokemon GO Tour Pass is actually free – but what exactly does it offer?
What Is a Tour Pass in Pokemon GO?
The Tour Pass is a brand-new feature introduced with the global Pokemon GO Tour: Unova event. By completing various tasks, players can earn Tour Points, which are used to claim rewards, increase rank, and activate event bonuses throughout GO Tour Unova.
The standard Tour Pass is free, and all players will automatically receive one when Pokemon GO Tour: Unova begins on February 24 at 10:00 AM local time. There’s also a paid version called the Tour Pass Deluxe, which includes an immediate encounter with Victini, along with enhanced rewards and accelerated progression through Tour Pass levels. The Tour Pass Deluxe is priced at $14.99 USD or the equivalent in local currency.
How Do You Earn Tour Points & What Do They Do?
Players earn Tour Points through in-game activities, similar to the research tasks that have been part of Pokemon GO for years. These include catching Pokémon, completing raids, and hatching eggs. Additionally, daily Pass Tasks refresh throughout the event, offering more chances to earn points.
Collecting Tour Points allows players to claim rewards, unlock items, and climb the ranks in the Tour Pass tier system. As you rank up, you'll earn various rewards like Pokémon encounters, candy, and Poké Balls.
Ranking up also enhances the Catch XP bonus during Pokemon GO Tour: Unova. The progression is as follows:
1.5× Catch XP at Tier 2 2× Catch XP at Tier 3 3× Catch XP at Tier 4
As this is a GO Tour event, Niantic hasn't revealed all the rewards available through Tour Points and ranking up. They've encouraged players to "stay tuned for more details," suggesting that the free Tour Pass might include additional bonuses or surprises.
Currently, we know that the highest reward tier in the free Tour Pass leads to an encounter with Zorua featuring a special background. Meanwhile, the paid Tour Pass Deluxe offers a unique final reward – a new item called a Lucky Trinket.
What Is a Lucky Trinket?
Players who purchase the Tour Pass Deluxe will have the chance to earn a new item in Pokemon GO – the Lucky Trinket. This serves as the final reward in the deluxe progression path, so only those who dedicate significant playtime during the GO Tour Global event will be able to obtain it.
So, what exactly does the Lucky Trinket do? It's a single-use item that allows you to magically turn one of your friends into a Lucky Friend. This means you can trade with them to receive a Lucky Pokémon, without the need to reach Best Friends status. However, you must be at least Great Friends with the person to use the item.
Lucky Trinkets obtained during GO Tour: Unova will expire on March 9, 2025, giving players a limited window to use them.
Pokemon GO is available to play now.
