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Is COD Battle Pass Free? An In-Depth Look for Gamers

Let‘s get this question out of the way right up front – no, the full premium Call of Duty Battle Pass that offers 100+ Tiers of cosmetic rewards is not free. You need to purchase it. However, there is a free version with around 20 Tiers.

Now that we have that cleared up, you might be wondering just what this whole Battle Pass thing is all about. Well fellow gamer, settle in as we take an in-depth look at everything COD Battle Pass related.

Big Business: How Acti‘s Battle Pass Drives Billions in Revenue

The Battle Pass has become a massive revenue driver for Call of Duty publisher Activision, contributing greatly to the series crossing $30 billion in lifetime sales in 2021.

Analyst group SuperData estimates that Warzone alone generated over $1.2 billion in 2020 revenue with the Battle Pass system contributing significantly. Based on Activision‘s own reports, Modern Warfare (2019) & Warzone saw "increased Battle Pass participation" lead to a 40% rise in full year in-game net bookings.

With each new yearly COD release expanding the Battle Pass across both multiplayer and the free-to-play Warzone, its clear Acti has a profitable juggernaut on their hands.

Behavioral Psychology and FOMO: How the Battle Pass Hooks Players

The tiered Battle Pass structure leverages key tenets of behavioral psychology to keep players deeply invested and engaged for the long term. Let‘s look at some of the tactics:

  • The Drip-Feed: New rewards regularly doled out keep you coming back. This "drip-feed" taps into our desire for variable rewards.

  • Loss Aversion: Fear of missing out drives purchase and engagement. Obtaining limited-time content before its gone triggers this.

  • Progression: The constant dopamine hits from unlocking tiers and rank-ups satisfy our need for growth.

  • Social Proof: Seeing others with Battle Pass skins indicates value and norms engagement.

  • Exclusivity: Special, premium-only content makes buyers feel privileged and stand out.

Gaming industry veterans all acknowledge the brilliant ways the Battle Pass incents activity through these psychological drivers.

"It ticks all the boxes when it comes to compelling engagement and monetization," says longtime F2P developer Ryan Morrison. "No surprise it‘s being replicated across the industry."

The Evolution of the COD Battle Pass System

While Fortnite popularized the Battle Pass, Call of Duty has iterated and expanded the system aggressively across titles:

  • Modern Warfare (2019): First COD to feature a Battle Pass in December 2019 alongside the launch of Warzone. Spanned 100 Tiers over ~60 days.

  • Black Ops Cold War: Integrated the Battle Pass and progression with Warzone. Increased duration to around 70 days.

  • Vanguard: Further deepened the Bond between Vanguard and Warzone through shared Battle Pass progress.

  • Modern Warfare II: Added brand new "Sector" progression system on top of regular seasonal Battle Pass. Cross-progression with Warzone 2 and DMZ.

Activision has optimized the Battle Pass to align with each new COD release and complement the entire ecosystem.

What‘s In the Free Battle Pass?

While the premium pass is where the bulk of rewards lie, the free track still grants some decent loot:

  • Typically around 20 free Tiers

  • Includes Calling Cards, Emblems, Stickers, Charms, and Sprays

  • May include free functional content like base weapons

  • Serves as a preview to incentivize premium purchase

  • Can earn 300 COD Points to save towards premium Pass

The free track offers a taste of progress to hook players on the satisfaction of leveling up the Pass. Sprinkling in some COD Points keeps premium within reach.

Battle Pass Value Comparison: Crunching the Numbers

We‘ve established that the Battle Pass costs between 1000-2400 COD Points depending on whether you buy the basic or bundled version. But is it really worth it?

Let‘s compare the value to buying a standard cosmetic bundle instead:

  • Battle Pass: 100+ items, ~1300 COD Points back

  • Bundle: ~5 items, 0 COD Points back

Adding it all up, the Battle Pass supplies around 15X more cosmetic content pound for pound versus a typical bundle. And you earn Points back to pay for next season‘s Pass.

Looking at the premium 2400 Point bundled Pass:

  • Bundle: Instant 20 Tier unlocks & 2600 Points back

  • Buying skin bundles piecemeal to match that content would cost you massively more in raw COD Points.

Any way you slice it, the Battle Pass provides exponentially higher value, content quantity, and long-term savings over individual bundles.

How to Finish the Battle Pass: Pro Tips from a Seasoned Vet

Now let‘s get into some pro tips from my own experience grinding through over a dozen Battle Passes. Follow these to maximize progression speed:

  • Play Warzone or Ground War – The higher player counts means more targets to get kills, challenges done, XP earned.

  • Party Up for XP Bonuses – Squadding up gives you a 10% XP boost to rank up faster.

  • Complete Seasonal Challenges – These dish out big chunks of Battle Pass XP so make them a priority.

  • Use 2XP Tokens – 2XP tokens double the rate you gain Battle Pass XP from matches. Save them for double XP events.

  • Play at Least an Hour Daily – Consistent playtime is key to avoiding crunch time at a season‘s end.

  • Buy the Bundle – Frontloading those first 20 Tier unlocks saves you a serious grind later on.

Focus on nailing challenges, 2XP events, and teaming up in high intensity modes for maximum efficiency. Following these tips, reaching Tier 100 is very doable for most players before the season ends.

But what if you‘re short on time? Read on for your best option.

Tight on Time? How to Buy Battle Pass Tiers

For time-strapped players who still want the season‘s cosmetics, buying tiers outright can be worth considering.

Here‘s the breakdown:

  • Buying tiers costs 150 COD Points per tier

  • You can buy up to 100 tiers if starting from Tier 0

  • This allows fast-tracking to Tier 100 with enough Points

  • Especially useful towards season‘s end if you‘re behind

Obviously this is pricier than earning tiers naturally. But for someone who can only play sporadically, it may be their best path to hitting Tier 100 before missing out on those season-exclusive cosmetics.

Bottom Line: Is the Battle Pass Worth It for You?

So at the end of the day, should you purchase the Call of Duty Battle Pass?

Ask yourself:

  • Do you play COD Multiplayer, Warzone, or DMZ regularly each week?

  • Do you want tons of unique cosmetics, blueprints, XP boosts, and operators?

  • Are limited-time exclusives important to you?

  • Is achieving progression through unlocks satisfying?

If you answered yes, then the value versus buying individual bundles is too good to pass up. The rewards and prestige make the Battle Pass well worth it.

Just be sure to complete it before the season ends. Nothing hurts more than missing out on content you paid for.

But if you only dabble casually in COD, the Pass may not offer enough upside. Stick with the free track, and your budget will thank you.

At the end of the day, we each need to weigh the value against our own playstyle and priorities. Hopefully breaking down all the Battle Pass details here helps you make the right call for you.

Now enough talk – time to drop into Caldera and start grinding out those sweet new cosmetics. I‘ll see you online, soldier!

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Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.