Looking to level up your Pokémon TCG Pocket experience? For just $10 a month, the Premium Pass promises daily extra booster packs, exclusive missions, and rare promo cards-but is it really worth the investment for casual players and collectors alike? Dive into the perks, costs, and whether the free trial can help you decide if this subscription is your next best catch.
Is the Premium Pass worth buying in Pokémon TCG Pocket?
The Premium Pass in Pokémon TCG Pocket is generally considered worth buying for players who are actively engaged in the game and want to accelerate their card collection. Priced at $9.99 per month, it grants an extra daily booster pack on top of the two free packs all players receive, along with access to exclusive premium missions that reward valuable items like Premium Tickets and Hourglasses. These tickets can be exchanged for unique promo cards and cosmetic accessories in the Premium Shop, enhancing both gameplay and personalization. Additionally, a 14-day free trial allows players to test the benefits before committing. For those serious about expanding their collection and enjoying exclusive content, the Premium Pass provides a significant advantage and good value.
Yes, the pass is worth it if you want packs and you plan on investing money into the game, while playing daily. Here’s our math to explain:
The pass is $9.99 per month and it lasts 30 days.
For $9.99 you can get 57 Poké Gold at its usual rate or 72 Poké Gold as part of the “release celebration” sale. One Poké Gold reduces the pack timer by two hours (so six Poké Gold grants you a complete pack cycle, reducing the timer by 12 hours). This means that for $9.99, you can get nine or 12 packs, depending on which gold bundle you buy.
The Premium Pass nets you the following:
- Monthly premium missions that reward 11 Pack Hourglasses, eight Wonder Hourglasses, and 29 Premium Tickets, if you complete all the required missions
- One extra pack per 24 hours (as indicated by a Delibird timer that will show up on your home screen)
- Access to the Premium Shop, where you can buy special Promo cards and deck accessories in exchange for Premium Tickets
That being said, the pass can net you at least 30 packs for $9.99, so long as you login every day to claim that extra pack, this is worth it way more than just paying gold for $9.99.
The premium missions are also pretty easy to complete from just playing the game – it’s loaded with tasks that involve just opening packs or finding specific types of cards. So if you are just opening your daily packs, you’ll likely complete these missions, netting you all the rewards, and thus additional cosmetics.
When should I redeem the Premium Pass free trial?
You should redeem the Pokémon TCG Pocket Premium Pass free trial when you can fully take advantage of its benefits, ideally during the week leading up to the monthly premium missions reset (often the 1st of the month). This timing allows you to complete missions spanning two months, maximizing rewards such as extra booster packs, Premium Tickets, and exclusive items. Additionally, check the Premium Shop for promo cards and accessories that interest you before starting the trial, so you can make the most of the rewards during the 14-day free period. Remember to set a reminder to cancel the subscription at least 24 hours before the trial ends to avoid being charged $9.99 for the next month if you do not wish to continue.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you’re trying to stay free-to-play and want to strategically claim your free two-week Premium Pass trial: the missions reset time and the collectables in the Premium shop. Unfortunately, since the game just launched, we don’t have concrete experience with how these mission timers and shop rotations work, so we’re going to work with the in-game timers we’re seeing right now.
Assuming that the missions didn’t reset on Nov. 1 because the game launched on Oct. 30 (and thus would only give you around two days to complete) and assuming that they will reset on Dec. 1, the best time to redeem the free trial would any time during the week before Dec. 1. This would allow you to claim two months worth of missions, thus double the rewards, allowing you to get 22 Pack Hourglasses, 16 Wonder Hourglasses, and 58 Premium Tickets. (The missions do complete even when you don’t own the Premium Pass – you just need the pass to claim the rewards.)
The next thing to keep in mind is what’s in the Premium Pass shop. As of this writing, there’s a Pikachu promo card and Mewtwo-themed accessories. The Pikachu card has no timer on it, though the Mewtwo accessories have a timer set for Jan. 1, 2025, which is when it’s assumed that these accessories will rotate out and get replaced with a different cosmetic theme. If you hate Mewtwo, you may want to hold on to your Premium Pass free trial until these change.
That all being said, again, this is working off some assumptions. Feel free to hold on to your free trial if you hate Mewtwo or want to try to maximize it in late November, but we also can’t promise that the pass will work that way, yet. (We’ll update this guide down the line when we can confirm more information, though.)
Is the $10 cost of the Premium Pass justified by its rewards
The $10 monthly cost of the Pokémon TCG Pocket Premium Pass is widely considered not justified by its rewards. For this price, players mainly receive one extra 5-card booster pack every 24 hours and some additional mission rewards, such as Pack Hourglasses and Wonder Hourglasses, which many argue are too few and easily obtainable through regular gameplay. While the Premium Pass does offer exclusive promo cards and cosmetic items, the overall quantity and quality of rewards have left many players disappointed and feeling buyer’s remorse. Compared to other games’ battle passes, which often provide more substantial cosmetic or currency rewards, Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Premium Pass is seen as lacking in value for its price point.
Are the exclusive promo cards worth the $10 investment
The exclusive promo cards offered through the Pokémon TCG Pocket Premium Pass generally are not considered worth the $10 monthly investment. While promo cards in the broader Pokémon TCG market can hold significant value-especially limited-run, rare, or highly graded promos from special sets-there is little evidence that the Premium Pass promos themselves reach such levels of desirability or investment potential. High-value promos tend to come from physical special edition boxes, tins, or limited print runs, often with iconic artwork and low population PSA 10 grades, which drive their price up over time. The Premium Pass promos, however, are typically digital and more common, lacking the scarcity and collector appeal that make physical promos valuable. Therefore, unless the Premium Pass promos evolve into rare collectibles, their current exclusive cards do not justify the $10 cost on their own.
