The short answer is – no, the Battlefield 2042 battle pass is not completely free. However, there are opportunities to unlock many of the rewards without paying. Let‘s take a closer look at how it all works.
When Battlefield 2042 launched in late 2021, many players were disappointed with the game‘s lack of content and progression system. The addition of seasonal battle passes aimed to improve the experience by providing recurring gameplay goals and cosmetic unlocks.
But this new system also came with a familiar monetization approach – a free path with limited rewards, and a premium pass offering the bulk of the "good" stuff.
As a multiplayer FPS fan, you‘re probably used to this format across games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and more. But it can understandably be frustrating not getting access to cooler cosmetics without shelling out extra cash.
So let‘s explore the options for getting your hands on the Battlefield 2042 battle pass content without needing to pay real money every season.
Breaking Down the Battle Pass Basics
Each Battlefield 2042 battle pass contains 100 reward tiers focused on cosmetic items like weapon charms, player cards, takedown animations, and soldier skins.
- The first 30 tiers are free for all players
- Tiers 31 – 100 require purchasing the premium pass
- There are around 300 levels of profiles progression that takes very long time to accomplish
- Cost is 1000 BF Coins, roughly $10 USD
- Progression carries over between seasons
To unlock tiers, you need to earn battle pass XP which comes from:
- Regular match and challenge XP converted to battle pass XP
- Completing seasonal missions that provide large battle pass XP rewards
- Activating battle pass XP boost tokens
So while you can access 30 tiers per season without paying, the majority of rewards remain locked behind the premium pass pay wall. But some clever saving and strategy can help overcome this limitation as a frugal Battlefielder.
Grind Through The Free Path… Slowly But Surely
The most straightforward way to dip into the battle pass goodies is to diligently work through unlocking the free tiers each season. This requires some old fashioned grinding, but 30 tiers still provides a decent haul:
- Season 1 – 16 cosmetic items
- Season 2 – 14 cosmetic items
- Season 3 – 12 cosmetic items
- Season 4 – 12 cosmetic items
Dedicated players can unlock all of these over time through regular multiplayer matches and ticking off challenges. It requires consistency though – casually jumping in for a few matches won‘t cut it.
Getting the most free path value means maintaining engagement across each 3-4 month long season. But spreading the grind over time makes it feel less painful, and you still get exciting new loot drops along the way.
Slowly Stockpile Your Battlefield Coins
Battlefield Coins are the premium currency used to purchase cosmetic items, season passes, and tier skips. But there are a few ways to earn coins for FREE:
- Level up your overall player profile – every other level earns 100 BFC
- Complete challenges and missions – some provide small BFC rewards
- End-of-season awards – scales based on your max season level
For example, reaching profile level 500 earns 5,000 BFC, and hitting level cap for a season brings in another 1,100 BFC. While it takes time and commitment, patient players can slowly accumulate enough coins to buy the 1,000 BFC premium pass.
I‘ve compiled some expected Battlefield Coin earnings below based on profile level milestones:
| Profile Level | Est. BFC Earned |
|---|---|
| 50 | 2,500 |
| 100 | 5,000 |
| 200 | 12,500 |
| 300 | 20,000 |
| 400 | 27,500 |
| 500 | 35,000 |
Pair this with conservatively earned challenge coins and maxing season caps, and you‘ll eventually have enough for free premium passes.
Be Ready to Pounce on Discounts and Giveaways
Another opportunity to grab battle pass access for free is to watch for discounts or limited-time giveaways.
During special events and content drops, the publishers may run sales on the premium pass or hand them out as part of promotions.
It‘s smart to follow Battlefield social media accounts and r/Battlefield2042 subreddit for any gift drops or discount announcements. Jumping on these can score you a pass without using your stockpiled coins.
Some examples include:
- Season 2 Battle Pass – 50% off sale during anniversary event
- Season 3 Battle Pass – chance to win from BF social media and partner giveaways
- Future seasons likely to have similar opportunities
Purchase Near the End of the Season
This method requires some patience, but waiting to buy the premium pass near the end of a season ensures you maximize its value.
For example, you grind through and unlock the free tiers to reach level 40 by the halfway point. Instead of purchasing the premium pass right away, you continue playing without it until the last few weeks of the season.
Once you decide to buy-in, your premium access unlocks instantly and you rapidly gain the 60 remaining paid tiers. This avoids needlessly spending weeks to progress through premium levels you‘ve already passed.
Timing it this way allows focusing your effort on one final season push. While not completely free, it saves time and still avoids paying the full $10 price.
Analyzing the Value of "Free" Battle Pass Options
Now that we‘ve explored avenues for reducing or eliminating the battle pass cost, you may be wondering – is it worth the effort?
Let‘s weigh the value to help decide:
Grinding free tiers – high effort and time required, but guarantees newest cosmetics each season. Gradual progression spread over months.
Stockpiling coins – very slow drip of coins, tests your patience. Enables occasional battle pass purchase.
Giveaways and discounts– totally free passes, but not reliable. Need good timing and luck.
End of season purchase – moderate effort via free path grind first. Saves you time unlocking premium.
Overall, utilizing a combination of these approaches provides the best return. You get cool new cosmetics each season and spend minimal real money.
Dedicating effort to maxing free tier progression, banking coins from level-ups, and watching for discounts/giveaways can ultimately fund the occasional premium pass splurge.
Other Ways to Earn Battlefield 2042 Cosmetics
Beyond the battle pass, there are other options to unlock free player customization items and show off your pride as a Battlefielder:
Weapon/Vehicle Mastery – level up individual gear for special skins and charms
Weekly Missions – complete for free player card backgrounds, emblems, and more
Limited Events – seasonal modes provide temporary cosmetics
Twitch Drops – link EA account and watch streams for drops
Player Card Frames – finish challenges to decorate your profile card
Skill Rewards – profile level-ups grant icons, animations, and xp boosts
Diligently pursuing these free unlock methods ensures your soldier and arsenal stay decked out with custom flair.
Tips for Maximizing Your Battle Pass Progress
To speed up battle pass tier progression, whether grinding the free path or using a premium pass, apply these tips:
Squad up – platooning earns extra squad XP bonuses
PTFO – playing objectives earns more XP than lone wolf kills
Use 2XP events – limited events double all battle pass XP gained
Do missions – these provide huge battle pass XP payouts
Pop XP tokens – tokens grant instant battle pass tier skips
Max season time – focus play around new season launches for quicker progress
Sticking to this approach ensures you optimize XP gains and tier unlocks across both free and premium paths.
Is Buying the Premium Pass Worth It?
At the end of the day, deciding if the premium battle pass is worth purchasing depends on your engagement with Battlefield 2042.
For hardcore players invested long-term, the huge cosmetics haul across 100 tiers delivers strong value. Especially if intending to stick with the game year-round.
However, more casual players may be satisfied with the free path items they slowly accrue through seasonal progression.
Before buying, try maxing out the 30 free tiers to see if those cosmetics sufficiently scratch your new loot itch. You can always upgrade to premium later on if craving more.
Either way, at ~$10 USD per 3-4 month season, the premium pass remains one of the most affordable avenues for acquiring copious new Battlefield cosmetics over time.
The Verdict on Free Battle Pass Unlocks
While the premium Battlefield 2042 battle pass requires real money purchases to access everything, players willing to put in the time and effort can still unlock many of the rewards for free.
Through a combination of patience in grinding free seasonal progression, accumulating earned Battlefield Coins, strategically timing purchases, and capitalizing on giveaways/discounts, frugal players can carefully complete premium pass tiers without breaking the bank.
It requires diligence – casually dabbling in a season won‘t cut it. But dedicating oneself to the grind ultimately pays off with exciting new cosmetics to show for it.
So while not completely free, Battlefield‘s dual battle pass paths offer opportunities to look awesome on the virtual battlefield, even if you‘re light on cash. Just be ready to truly master the art of the grind.
Now get out there, suit up, and start unlocking those tiers – I‘ll see you on the 2042 front lines!
