What Is the Pokemon GO Tour Pass? New Free Progression Feature, Explained

With every new *Pokémon GO* ticket or pass announcement from Niantic, a common question arises: "How much will this cost?" The recent introduction of the *Pokémon GO* Tour Pass surprised many, as it's entirely free—but what exactly does it offer?

What is a *Pokémon GO* Tour Pass?

Debuting with the *Pokémon GO* Tour: Unova global event, the Tour Pass introduces a new gameplay mechanic. By completing various in-game tasks, you earn Tour Points. These points unlock rewards, boost your rank, and enhance event bonuses during the Unova event. The Tour Pass itself is free, automatically granted to players when the *Pokémon GO* Tour: Unova event begins on February 24th at 10 AM local time.

A paid version, the Tour Pass Deluxe, is also available for $14.99 USD (or local equivalent). This provides an instant encounter with Victini, along with upgraded rewards and faster progression through the Tour Pass tiers.

Earning Tour Points and Their Benefits

Earning Tour Points mirrors familiar research tasks. Activities like catching Pokémon, participating in raids, and hatching eggs all contribute. Daily refreshing Pass Tasks offer additional point-earning opportunities during the GO Tour.

Accumulated Tour Points unlock rewards, increase your rank within the Tour Pass tier system, and unlock various rewards such as Pokémon encounters, Candy, Poké Balls, and more. Higher ranks also increase your Catch XP bonus during *Pokémon GO* Tour: Unova:

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

While Niantic hasn't revealed all rewards, the free Tour Pass culminates in a Zorua encounter with a special background. The paid Tour Pass Deluxe offers a different final reward: a 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 into a Lucky Friend. This allows a Lucky Pokémon trade without requiring Best Friend status (though Great Friends status is necessary to use the item). Note that Lucky Trinkets obtained during GO Tour: Unova expire on March 9, 2025.

*Pokémon GO* is available now.