Is the Pokemon GO Tour Pass Deluxe worth buying?

For the first time in the game's history, Pokemon GO is set to release its first traditional Battle Pass-like microtransaction soon. To celebrate 2025's GO Tour event, Niantic is releasing the GO Tour Pass on February 24th. Much like other Battle Passes from other mobile and free-to-play titles, this pass has a free and paid version.

For $15, players can upgrade their free Tour Pass to the Deluxe version. Some users may want to know if this upgrade is worth buying, or if they should save the money. Here is everything about Pokemon GO's Tour Pass Deluxe upgrade.

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What does Pokemon GO's Tour Pass Deluxe offer?

The Tour Pass Deluxe gives players an encounter with Victini (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Like industry-standard Battle Passes that can be expected from any video game, the first tier of the Tour Pass Deluxe offers a special reward to incentivize players to buy the upgrade. Upon purchasing the Deluxe upgrade, players will be rewarded with an encounter with one of Unova's Mythical Pokemon, Victini.

Victini is a relatively mediocre creature in Pokemon GO in terms of its battle prowess, especially when considering that other monsters that are much better, like Reshiram, Zekrom, and the new fusions for Kyurem, will also be available during the event without the need for a $15 purchase.

Another major advantage of the Deluxe pass is access to fully evolved Unova starter Pokemon - Servine, Pignite, and Dewott - instead of just their base forms in the Basic pass. Additionally, the Deluxe pass provides 25 XL Candy for each starter, which is crucial for maxing out these Pokemon for battles.

For Legendary Pokemon collectors, the Deluxe pass grants 25 XL Candy each for Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem, making it much easier to power them up. It also includes more amount of Fusion Energy for Black and White Kyurem, which is essential for maximizing their battle potential.

You also get XL Candy for for many rare Pokemon in the Deluxe version, Lucky Trinket at rank 100, and encounters with other Pokemon like Basculin (Red and Blue Striped), Vullaby, Pawniard, Mienfoo, and many more.

Outside of this, the Deluxe upgrade for Pokemon GO's Tour Pass essentially doubles the player's rewards from ranking up, giving them access to both the free and Deluxe paths. Other perks include increased XP, Stardust, and item rewards, with additional boosts for players who reach higher ranks.

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Should trainers buy Pokemon GO's Tour Pass Deluxe?

Players should not bother with Pokemon GO's Deluxe Tour Pass (Image via Niantic)

The value of Pokemon GO's Tour Pass Deluxe ultimately depends on what a player prioritizes in the game. For $15, the main selling point of the upgrade is the guaranteed Victini encounter, but considering its limited battle utility compared to other event-available Legendaries like Reshiram, Zekrom, and the new Kyurem fusions, this isn't a particularly strong incentive.

However, the pass does provide access to evolved Unova starters with XL Candy for each, which can be valuable for players looking to power them up for PvP or PvE battles.

For Legendary Pokemon collectors, the additional XL Candy for Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem, along with extra Fusion Energy, makes the pass more appealing. GO's Tour Pass Deluxe also offers XL Candy for Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, Tornadus and Thundurus. These resources are crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of these Pokemon in raids and in GO Battle League.

Additionally, the pass offers increased XP, Stardust, and item rewards like the Lucky Trinket, as well as encounters with rarer Pokemon like Basculin, Vullaby, and Pawniard, making it a reasonable choice for those focused on long-term progression.

That said, players who primarily enjoy casual catching or are not heavily invested in PvP or PvE optimization might find the Deluxe pass unnecessary. The free version still provides solid rewards, and $15 may be better spent on raid passes or other in-game purchases that directly contribute to acquiring stronger Pokemon.

Ultimately, the Deluxe pass is worth it for dedicated players aiming to stock up on rare resources, but it may not be essential for everyone.

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For more information on the game, check out the articles below:

• Ditto disguises
• Sierra counters
• Cliff counters
• Arlo counters
• Giovanni counters
• Team GO Rocket Grunts