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| Titles | Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon ポケットモンスター サン · ムーン |
| Platform | Nintendo 3DS – Game Card and Nintendo eShop download |
| Developer | Game Freak |
| Publisher | The Pokémon Company (Japan) / Nintendo (elsewhere) |
| Director | Shigeru Ohmori |
| Producers | Junichi Masuda, Shin Uwai, Takato Utsunomiya, Hitoshi Yamagami |
| Composers | Minako Adachi, Go Ichinose, Junichi Masuda, Hitomi Sato, Tomoaki Oga, Hideaki Kuroda and Jun Fukuda |
| Players | 1–4 (local wireless; online play closed in April 2024) |
| Generation | Generation VII – the first Alola games |
| New Pokémon | 81 (National Pokédex #722–802; 802 in all), with an Alola Pokédex of 302 |
| Alolan forms | 18 regional forms of existing species |
| Z-Moves | 29 Z-Crystals: 18 for the types, 11 for particular species |
| Languages | Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese |
| Predecessor | Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire (previous generation: X & Y) |
| Successor | Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon |
| Released | 18 November 2016 in Japan, North America, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong; 23 November 2016 in Europe |
| Rating | CERO A · ESRB E (Everyone) · PEGI 7 · PG (Australia) |
| Bundles | A Japanese Dual Pack containing both versions |
| Sales | 16.34 million combined (31 March 2026) – Nintendo’s biggest European launch at the time |
Overview
Pokémon Sun and Moon versions are the main pair of games kicking off Generation VII on the Nintendo 3DS. They were initially announced on the 20th anniversary of Pokémon Red & Green, in a Pokémon Direct broadcast on the 26th of February, 2016. The games were developed by Game Freak and had been released worldwide by November 23rd, 2016, when Europe got them five days after everyone else. In terms of what’s new in Sun & Moon, here’s what they have to offer: Chinese language added, meaning the games are playable in a total of nine languages. Trainer customisation makes a return, as well as 81 new Pokémon and a whole lot of Alolan forms of existing Pokémon.
Gyms have been replaced by the island challenge’s trials, which must be completed before Trainers can take on the kahunas of each island in grand trials. There are also some small graphical improvements. Finally, and perhaps most importantly for the older generation of Pokémon players, these games are able to receive Pokémon from the Virtual Console releases of Pokémon Red, Blue, Green (in Japan) and Yellow via Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter. As usual, each game is represented by a Legendary Pokémon – for Pokémon Sun that’s Solgaleo and for Pokémon Moon it’s Lunala. These ’mons can be seen on the box art for their respective games.
Welcome to the World of Pokémon!
- Are you ready to become a Pokémon Trainer? Trade and battle with friends all over the world!
- Train your Pokémon for battle! Discover Pokémon and fill your Pokédex. Care for your Pokémon and help them grow.
- Adventure awaits in the Alola region!
— Official description
Quick Answers
The questions people ask about Sun and Moon, answered first and explained further down the page.
What is the difference between Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon?
Moon runs its clock 12 hours apart from the 3DS, so daytime in Sun is night-time in Moon. Each version has 15 exclusives, such as Alolan Vulpix, Buzzwole, Kartana and Solgaleo in Sun, or Alolan Sandshrew, Pheromosa, Celesteela and Lunala in Moon. Pick the mascot you prefer, or the daylight that suits when you play. More →
What replaced Gyms in Sun and Moon?
The island challenge. Instead of Gyms, Trainers clear captains’ trials on Alola’s four islands, which usually end against an oversized Totem Pokémon, and then face each island’s kahuna in a grand trial. Every success earns a Z-Crystal and a stamp, and the journey ends at Alola’s brand-new Pokémon League on Mount Lanakila. More →
What are Z-Moves and how do you get the Z-Ring?
Z-Moves are one-off super attacks: a Pokémon holding a matching Z-Crystal can turn one of its moves into a Z-Move once per battle. After Tapu Koko rescues the player on the Mahalo Trail it leaves behind a Sparkling Stone, which Kahuna Hala crafts into a Z-Ring. Z-Crystals then come from trials and grand trials. More →
What are Alolan forms?
Alolan forms are regional variants of 18 Kanto Pokémon that adapted to Alola’s environment, gaining new types, looks and Abilities. Examples include Ice-type Alolan Vulpix, Grass/Dragon Alolan Exeggutor and Dark-type Alolan Meowth. A Pokémon that evolves in Alola takes the local form, so a Pikachu brought over from X and Y becomes an Alolan Raichu. More →
How do you catch Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma and the tapus?
Nebby evolves into Solgaleo (Sun) or Lunala (Moon) at the altar on Poni and is caught at Lv. 55 during the story; a second Cosmog waits at the Lake of the Sunne or Moone after the credits. Necrozma sleeps in Ten Carat Hill after you become Champion, and each tapu can be battled at its island’s ruins post-game. More →
What are Ultra Beasts and how do you catch them?
Ultra Beasts are powerful creatures from another world that arrive through Ultra Wormholes. After becoming Champion you join Looker and Anabel’s Ultra Beast task force and hunt Nihilego, Buzzwole or Pheromosa, Xurkitree, Kartana or Celesteela, and Guzzlord. Beast Balls, invented by Faba, give a five-fold catch bonus on them; other balls, bar the Master Ball, barely work. More →
How do you get Magearna, Ash-Greninja and Marshadow?
Magearna comes from an event QR code that can be scanned once you are Champion; it ran from 7 December 2016 in Europe. Ash-Greninja was earned in the free special demo and carried into the full game. Marshadow was a time-limited online gift between September 2017 and February 2018. The demo and Marshadow can no longer be obtained. More →
How do you transfer Pokémon from Virtual Console Red, Blue and Yellow?
Use Poké Transporter to send Pokémon from the 3DS Virtual Console releases of Red, Blue and Yellow (and later Gold, Silver and Crystal) into Pokémon Bank, then withdraw them into Sun or Moon. Original Game Boy cartridges cannot connect. Pokémon Bank closes on 25 February 2027 at 7pm Pacific, the early hours of 26 February in the UK. More →
Do Sun and Moon’s online features still work?
Mostly not. Nintendo ended online services for 3DS software on 8 April 2024, which shut the GTS, Wonder Trade, Battle Spot, online Festival Plaza play and Global Missions. Local wireless trades and battles still work between nearby consoles. Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter stayed online afterwards but close on 25 February 2027 (26 February in the UK). More →
Is Pokémon Sun and Moon on Nintendo Switch, and what are Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon?
No. As of October 2026, Sun and Moon remain Nintendo 3DS games with no Switch release. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (3DS, 17 November 2017) are enhanced retellings with an expanded story centred on Necrozma, new Ultra Beasts, an Alola Pokédex of 403 and extras such as Mantine Surf and the Alola Photo Club. More →
Plot / Story
Alola, Trainer! The story begins with the player taking a video call from Professor Kukui, a while before the player even moves from Kanto. The Professor helps create a Trainer Passport for the player before they move to Alola. Whilst all this is going on, a young girl is seen running away from workers in a strange place; as they close in on her, the mysterious Pokémon hiding in her bag uses its powers to teleport itself and the girl away just in time.
Some time later, the player, their mother and their pet Meowth finally move from Kanto to Alola’s Melemele Island. On arrival they meet up with Professor Kukui, who gives them a pretty warm welcome to Alola and tells them they can actually get a free starter Pokémon from the island kahuna, yeah?
So the Trainer heads off to collect their free Pokémon from the kahuna’s home in Iki Town, but on arrival finds the town square completely empty. It’s at this point that Kukui tells the Trainer to go and see if the townspeople are gathered at the ruins that honour the island’s guardian deity, a Pokémon named Tapu Koko, which watches over the island and its people. On the way to the ruins the Trainer encounters Lillie and her Pokémon, Nebby, who are being attacked by a flock of Spearow… Knowing how bad it is to be attacked by Spearow, the Trainer, despite having no Pokémon of their own, jumps in to protect Nebby from their attacks.
Things go from bad to worse when Nebby tries to use one of its attacks to save itself and the Trainer from the Spearow… taking down the rickety old bridge that had so tenuously held their weight in the process. The Trainer and Nebby are plummeting to what looks like a terrible demise when Tapu Koko, the island’s guardian deity, swoops in and saves them both, leaving the Trainer with the additional gift of a mysterious stone.
Shortly afterwards the Trainer arrives back in Iki Town and meets Kahuna Hala, who acknowledges the fact that Tapu Koko valued this Trainer enough not only to swoop down and save them but also to leave them with the gift of the mysterious stone. This leads Hala to believe that there is something special about this Trainer and that they must be here for something important. Hala then lets the Trainer choose from three different starter Pokémon, as promised.
Having received their starter Pokémon moments before, the Trainer is then challenged to a battle by the kahuna’s grandson, Hau, and a battle ensues, resulting in victory for the Trainer and the defeat of Hau. The Trainer enjoys the festival briefly until being challenged again by Hau, who fancies another go but is again defeated. The Trainer then heads down to Professor Kukui’s lab and is given a Rotom Pokédex, which is effectively a Rotom-powered extension of the normal Pokédex: cutting-edge, rare and valuable!
On the instruction of Professor Kukui, both the Trainer and Hau head to the island’s Pokémon Trainers’ School so that they can prepare for the island challenge. It’s here that the Trainer must defeat the school’s top four students and then finally the teacher. After the defeat of Teacher Emily, the Trainer is introduced to Ilima, who is the captain of one of the trials. To say much more would be a bit of a spoiler, so we’ll call it there!
The whole journey in brief, from Kanto to the Champion’s throne
An opening scene shows a girl fleeing Aether staff with a strange Pokémon that teleports her to safety. After a video call with Professor Kukui, the region’s expert on moves, the 11-year-old player moves from Kanto to Melemele Island with their mother and Meowth. Kukui takes them to Iki Town to receive a partner from Kahuna Hala. On the Mahalo Trail they meet Lillie, Kukui’s shy assistant, whose secret Pokémon Nebby is being mobbed by Spearow. The old bridge gives way, and Tapu Koko, Melemele’s guardian, saves the pair and leaves a Sparkling Stone that Hala turns into a Z-Ring.
Hala offers Rowlet, Litten or Popplio, and his cheerful grandson Hau picks the starter weak to the player’s and battles them twice. With a Rotom Pokédex from Kukui, the player begins the island challenge across Melemele, Akala, Ula’ula and Poni. Team Skull, a gang of drop-outs led by Guzma and his admin Plumeria, keeps interfering, while their hired muscle Gladion battles with a mysterious Type: Null. The Aether Foundation, a conservation group led by the radiant Lusamine, welcomes the player to its man-made Aether Paradise, where a Nihilego bursts from a wormhole.
On Ula’ula the player storms Po Town and beats Guzma in the Shady House, but Plumeria’s Grunts then seize Lillie and Nebby. After Nanu’s grand trial, the player, Hau and Gladion raid Aether Paradise. Lillie is revealed as Gladion’s sister and Lusamine as their mother, who has secretly been steering Team Skull and using Nebby to rip open Ultra Wormholes. Lusamine and Guzma vanish into Ultra Space. Lillie, in her new ‘Z-Powered’ outfit, travels to Poni, where Hapu becomes kahuna. At the Altar of the Sunne (Sun) or Moone (Moon) the two flutes awaken Nebby, now a Cosmoem, which evolves into Solgaleo or Lunala and carries them to Ultra Space.
There Lusamine fuses with a Nihilego; once she is beaten, Nebby frees her, but she is left gravely weakened. The player then climbs Mount Lanakila, beating Hau and Gladion on the way, defeats Alola’s first Elite Four in any order and faces Kukui, the League’s founder, to become Alola’s first Champion. After a battle with Tapu Koko, Lillie leaves for Kanto to find help for her mother. The post-game brings title defences, Looker and Anabel’s Ultra Beast hunts, Necrozma in Ten Carat Hill, the other tapus at their ruins and the Battle Tree, led by Red and Blue.
Twenty things Sun & Moon did first
- First core games without Gyms or Gym Leaders: the island challenge’s trials and grand trials take their place.
- Z-Moves debut: once-per-battle power moves unlocked by a Z-Ring and a Z-Crystal.
- Regional forms debut, with 18 Alolan forms of familiar Pokémon.
- Ultra Beasts debut: seven creatures from another world, plus the Beast Ball made to catch them.
- Poké Ride replaces HMs, the Bicycle and the Dowsing Machine, so there are no bikes, no HMs and no Running Shoes.
- The Rotom Pokédex: a Pokédex inhabited by a talking Rotom that shows the map and points the way.
- Pokémon Refresh succeeds Pokémon-Amie and adds after-battle grooming that cures status conditions.
- Festival Plaza gathers trading, battling and online features into one hub with its own Festival Coins.
- Poké Pelago gives boxed Pokémon five islets on which to forage, train and grow Berries.
- Battle Royal: a new four-way, every-Trainer-for-themselves battle format.
- SOS Battles: wild Pokémon can call for help, and long chains improve Shiny, Hidden Ability and IV odds.
- Hyper Training lets Lv. 100 Pokémon have stats treated as perfect in exchange for Bottle Caps.
- The QR Scanner registers Pokémon from codes and unlocks the Island Scan for Pokémon from outside Alola.
- The Battle Tree is the new post-game battle facility, led by Battle Legends Red and Blue.
- The League is brand new with no Champion, so the player becomes its first and then faces title defences.
- First core games with official Chinese text, in Simplified and Traditional characters, for nine languages in all.
- The first core pair whose versions run 12 hours apart: Moon offsets the day-night cycle from the 3DS clock.
- Trainer customisation returns, and the player’s Trainer is now always shown behind their Pokémon in battle.
- For the first time, other Trainers send out Pokémon in speciality Poké Balls rather than standard ones.
- There is no National Pokédex: the games track the Alola Pokédex instead.
Hau, Gladion and the villains’ battles
Hau always takes the starter that is weak to yours (Popplio against Rowlet, Rowlet against Litten, Litten against Popplio). The Team Skull and Aether Foundation battles are listed in the order you meet them.
- Hau 1 – Iki Town: Popplio, Rowlet or Litten Lv. 5. Hau always takes the starter weak to the player’s: Popplio against Rowlet, Rowlet against Litten, Litten against Popplio.
- Hau 2 – Iki Town festival: Pichu Lv. 6, starter Lv. 7.
- Hau 3 – Route 3: Pikachu Lv. 13, starter Lv. 14.
- Hau 4 – Paniola Town: Pikachu Lv. 16, Brionne, Dartrix or Torracat Lv. 17 holding Normalium Z.
- Gladion 1 – Route 5: Zubat Lv. 17, Type: Null Lv. 18.
- Battle Royal – Battle Royal Dome, against Hau (Brionne, Dartrix or Torracat Lv. 19), Gladion (Type: Null Lv. 19) and the Masked Royal; the match ends as soon as anyone is eliminated.
- Partner – Hau joins the player in a Multi Battle against two Team Skull Grunts in Diglett’s Tunnel: Pikachu Lv. 23, Eevee Lv. 23, starter Lv. 24.
- Boss – Plumeria 1, Akala Outskirts: Golbat Lv. 25, Salandit Lv. 26.
- Hau 5 – Malie City: Alolan Raichu Lv. 28, Flareon, Vaporeon or Leafeon Lv. 28 (whichever beats the player’s starter), second-stage starter Lv. 29 with its type’s Z-Crystal.
- Boss – Guzma 1, Malie Garden: Golisopod Lv. 31, Ariados Lv. 30.
- Boss – Plumeria 2, Route 15: Golbat Lv. 34, Salazzle Lv. 35.
- Boss – Guzma 2, Shady House in Po Town: Golisopod Lv. 37, Ariados Lv. 36.
- Gladion 2 – Aether House: Golbat Lv. 37, Sneasel Lv. 37, Type: Null Lv. 38 (the story continues win or lose).
- Partners – at Aether Paradise Hau fights alongside the player in three Multi Battles against Aether staff, and Gladion partners them with Golbat Lv. 38 and Type: Null Lv. 39.
- Boss – Faba, Aether Paradise: Hypno Lv. 39 alone, then Slowbro Lv. 39, Bruxish Lv. 39 and Hypno Lv. 40 in a Multi Battle with an Aether Employee against the player and Hau.
- Boss – Guzma 3, Aether Paradise: Golisopod Lv. 41, Ariados Lv. 40, Masquerain Lv. 40, Pinsir Lv. 40.
- Boss – Lusamine 1, Aether Paradise (the story continues even if lost): Clefable, Lilligant, Mismagius, Milotic and Bewear, all Lv. 41.
- Boss – Lusamine 2, Ultra Deep Sea in Ultra Space, fused with Nihilego: the same five at Lv. 50, each with a one-stage stat-boosting aura.
- Hau 6 – Mount Lanakila: Alolan Raichu, his Eeveelution and Komala Lv. 53, fully evolved starter Lv. 54 with its Z-Crystal.
- Gladion 3 – Mount Lanakila: Crobat Lv. 52, Weavile Lv. 52, Lucario Lv. 52 holding Steelium Z, Silvally Lv. 53 holding the Memory that beats the player’s starter (Fire against Rowlet, Water against Litten, Grass against Popplio).
- Post-game – Guzma 4, Hau’oli City beachfront: Golisopod, Ariados, Masquerain, Pinsir and Scizor, all Lv. 63.
- Post-game – Hau’s first title defence, Pokémon League: Alolan Raichu, Flareon, Vaporeon or Leafeon, Komala, Crabominable, and Primarina, Decidueye or Incineroar holding its Z-Crystal, all Lv. 63.
- Post-game – Gladion’s title defence: Crobat, Weavile, Porygon-Z, Lucario (Steelium Z) and Silvally, all Lv. 63.
Lusamine and Ultra Space
The Aether Foundation presents itself as a charity that rescues and cares for Pokémon from Aether Paradise, a solar-powered floating island near Akala. Its president, Lusamine, seems serene and generous, while branch chief Faba and the kindly Wicke run the day-to-day work. Behind the conservation area lie secret laboratories, one holding the files on Type: Null and another devoted to Cosmog and Ultra Beasts. Lusamine has become obsessed with Ultra Beasts, a fixation her son believes began when her husband Mohn vanished while studying Ultra Wormholes. She neglected her children, kept Pokémon frozen in a trophy room and quietly controlled Team Skull. With the captured Nebby she tears open wormholes across Alola and disappears into Ultra Space with Guzma. There she merges with a Nihilego to battle the player. Nebby separates them, but the toxins leave her too weak to recover in Alola, so Lillie takes her to Kanto to seek Bill’s help.
Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma and the tapus
Alola’s legends centre on two beasts from another world. Lillie’s Cosmog, Nebby, is a frail cloud of gas once called the child of the stars. At the Altar of the Sunne in Sun, or the Altar of the Moone in Moon, the music of the Sun Flute and Moon Flute and a beam of light from the altar draw Nebby, by then a Cosmoem, into its final form: Solgaleo or Lunala, which can carry Trainers into Ultra Space. Necrozma, a light-fed Pokémon that resembles an Ultra Beast and is thought to have arrived in ancient times, sleeps beneath Ten Carat Hill and appears only after the credits; its story is told in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Over the islands watch the four tapus, guardians who once led the island kings’ armies and now choose each kahuna, granting Sparkling Stones.
In the anime and movies
The anime reached Alola the day before the games did in Japan, with a gentler, school-based take on the island challenge – and, three seasons later, Ash’s first ever League title.
In the anime
Anime seasons which tie in with Sun & Moon (in terms of locations, characters such as captains and kahunas, and Pokémon):
Season 20: Sun & Moon2016–2017Ash arrives on Melemele, joins the Pokémon School under Professor Kukui and befriends Lillie, Mallow, Lana, Kiawe and Sophocles, most of them captains in the games. Tapu Koko hands him a Z-Ring, and he clears a trial against Totem Gumshoos and Hala’s grand trial, mirroring the games’ first island.
Season 21: Ultra Adventures2017–2018The second season follows the games’ central story. Nebby evolves into Solgaleo, Lusamine is taken and fused with Nihilego before Ash and friends rescue her, and the class becomes the Ultra Guardians, tasked with returning Ultra Beasts home. Ash also earns a grand trial victory against Nanu, and Necrozma appears late in the season.
Season 22: Ultra Legends2018–2019The final season brings Kukui’s Alola League to life as the Manalo Conference, where Ash beats Gladion in the final to become Alola’s first Champion and then faces the Masked Royal in an exhibition match. Episodes featuring Guzzlord, Pheromosa and Kartana carry on the Ultra Beast thread before the series ends.In the movies
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!2017Set in its own timeline rather than Alola, it retells Ash’s start with Pikachu and introduced Marshadow, which was then distributed to Sun and Moon players.
Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us2018A standalone story with no Alola setting; its featured Mythical, Zeraora, does not appear in Sun and Moon.The Alola episodes
Where the games’ trials and story reach the screen:
- SM001Alola to New Adventure! – Ash arrives in Alola and Tapu Koko gives him a Z-Ring.
- SM009
To Top a Totem! – Ash’s first trial, against a Totem Gumshoos. - SM010
Trial and Tribulation! – Ash takes on Hala’s grand trial. - SM052Revealing the Stuff of Legend! – Nebby evolves into Solgaleo.
- SM05410,000,000 Reasons to Fight! – The battle to free Lusamine from Nihilego reaches its climax.
- SM077
Guiding an Awakening! – Ash wins his grand trial against Nanu. - SM138Final Rivals! – Ash faces Gladion in the final of the Manalo Conference.
- SM139Enter the Champion! – Ash is crowned the first Champion of the Alola League.
New features
Sun and Moon bring a whole raft of new features. Here are the highlights:
Pokémon Refresh
Pokémon Refresh is one of the new features brought in by Pokémon Sun and Moon versions. Essentially it’s an enhanced evolution of Pokémon-Amie from X & Y, and it allows the following actions:
Play with or stroke your Pokémon to raise their enjoyment level. Some Pokémon don’t like to be stroked in certain places, and others have bits that will hurt your hand, i.e. Torracat’s bell burns you.
Feed your Pokémon Poké Beans to raise their fullness level and their affection towards you, which can result in improved performance in battle. The more affection a Pokémon has towards you, the harder it’ll try in battle to earn your praise.
You can visit the Care section of Pokémon Refresh after a battle to remove status conditions, dirt, sand and water, or use the comb to straighten up their fur.
Rotom Pokédex
Professor Kukui will provide the player with a Pokédex far superior to the traditional models. This new model of Pokédex is enhanced even further by the Rotom he lends you to inhabit the Dex and accompany you on your journey, reminding you where you’re supposed to be going next and providing you with an interactive map on the bottom screen of your 3DS. The interface between this Pokédex and Rotom allows Rotom to speak human languages.
Battle Royal
A new style of battling where four Trainers take part in a free-for-all battle. Each Trainer takes three Pokémon with them, and any Trainer can attack any other Trainer in the fight. The battle ends when one Trainer has had all of their Pokémon defeated. The winner is decided by how many knockouts each Trainer scored plus how many Pokémon they have left, with remaining HP used only to break a tie.
QR Scanner
The QR Scanner feature allows players to scan QR codes for Pokémon they’ve not yet encountered in order to add them to their Pokédex. This feature was also used for obtaining event Pokémon like Magearna.
Z-Moves
Newly introduced for Sun and Moon, these special moves draw on and combine the inner strength of both the Pokémon and the Trainer. Z-Moves require that the Trainer has a Z-Ring and that their Pokémon holds an appropriate Z-Crystal. These moves are much more powerful than standard moves if used correctly, but only one can be used per battle.
There is a Z-Move for each of the 18 different types of Pokémon, and some which can only be used by certain species of Pokémon.
Poké Pelago
The Poké Pelago is a group of small, uninhabited islands in the Alola region. Mohn has always wanted to develop the islands, but he wants your help to do it. Basically, these islands are for the Pokémon in your storage boxes to enjoy, with activities like treasure hunting, playing with other Pokémon and generally kicking back. As you develop the islands you increase the number of Pokémon who can enjoy them.
The Poké Pelago also attracts wild Pokémon, who will come to eat their fill of your Poké Beans. Participating in activities and playing on the Poké Pelago can even help to raise the stats and level of your Pokémon.
Poké Ride
You can now signal certain Pokémon using a pager to summon them for a ride. You have to reach certain milestones within the game to unlock each ride, so expect a little jogging to begin with. The seven ride Pokémon include Tauros, which is able to smash through rocks, Charizard, which can fly you where you want to go in a flash, and Stoutland, whose special ability is to sniff out hidden items, along with Lapras, Sharpedo, Mudsdale and Machamp.
Hyper Training
A new feature introduced for Level 100 Pokémon after you become Champion is Hyper Training: with the help of an NPC called Mr. Hyper and some Bottle Caps, you can have a Pokémon’s IVs treated as perfect.
In depth: everything Sun & Moon add
The headline additions, one by one, with the fine print.
Team Skull and the Aether Foundation
It is said that Team Skull was formed of disillusioned young Trainers who weren’t good enough to beat the island trials, so they turned to lives of Poké-crime. Their main objective is to cause mischief, steal Pokémon and cause inconvenience to those who look like they may succeed at the same challenges they themselves once failed at.
This quote from a Team Skull Grunt on Route 12 gives a little insight into the origins of the group:
“Team Skull was born outta this old group that once formed around one of the old Kahunas. But that whole thing fell apart after they got smacked down by the wrath of the tapu”
Unlike many of the villainous teams we’ve seen in past games, Team Skull don’t seem to have any higher purpose than generally causing mischief. They’re literally just thugs with Pokémon and thick skulls. The Team Skull hierarchy consists of Guzma, who is the main leader, and Plumeria, the administrator. Gladion is also a notable associate of Team Skull; however, as pointed out by a couple of their grunts, he isn’t actually a member – he just does jobs for them sometimes.
The Team Skull headquarters (aka the place they are squatting in) is located at the Shady House in Po Town. The house was once home to someone rather wealthy who has since disappeared. Who could it be? What will they do if they come back and find their home has become a criminal gang’s headquarters?
Behind them both stands the Aether Foundation, the Pokémon conservation charity run from Aether Paradise – and its president, Lusamine, who has been quietly bankrolling Team Skull all along.
Guzma, boss of Team Skull
The boss of Team Skull is a Bug-type specialist built around Golisopod, whose Emergency Exit Ability pulls it out of trouble in every fight. Guzma trained under Hala alongside Kukui, lost to him again and again, never became a captain and eventually left home after his own island challenge. Lusamine, the one adult who praised his strength, secretly pulls his strings, and he follows her through a wormhole. Afterwards he disbands the gang, changes his look and challenges the player once more on Hau’oli City’s beachfront.
Lusamine and the Aether Foundation
President of the Aether Foundation, Lusamine radiates warmth while hiding an obsession with Ultra Beasts, which her son links to the disappearance of her husband, Mohn, during his research into Ultra Wormholes. She neglected Lillie and Gladion, kept Pokémon frozen as trophies, secretly directed Team Skull and used Nebby to tear open portals across Alola. In Ultra Space she willingly merges with a Nihilego to battle the player with Clefable, Lilligant, Mismagius, Milotic and Bewear. Nebby splits them apart, but the toxins leave her gravely weakened, and Lillie takes her to Kanto for treatment. Faba, the Aether Foundation’s branch chief, says he designed the mask that restrains Type: Null and developed the Beast Ball. He lies to stall the rescuers, battles the player with Psychic types, and after the story is demoted and hands over a Dubious Disc. Wicke is the gentle staff member who guides the player’s tour of Aether Paradise. She quietly helped Lillie escape with Nebby and later explains the Ultra Beasts in Secret Lab B, handing out Beast Balls.
Plumeria and Gladion
Team Skull’s only admin and a Poison-type specialist, known to the Grunts as Big Sis: strict with her underlings but fiercely protective of them. She battles the player on the Akala Outskirts and on Route 15, and her Grunts carry off Lillie. Once the gang breaks up, Nanu and Molayne persuade her to appear as a title challenger at the League, where her Salazzle holds Poisonium Z, and in Sun she also turns up at the Battle Tree.
Lusamine’s son and Lillie’s older brother, Gladion left Aether Paradise with a Type: Null created in the Foundation’s labs and now hires himself out to Team Skull as an enforcer, though the Grunts insist he is no true member. Prickly and private, he battles the player repeatedly, helps storm Aether Paradise and evolves his partner into Silvally. After the story he runs the Foundation in his mother’s absence and gives the player a Type: Null of their own, with every Memory.
The Alola region
Pokémon Sun & Moon take place in the all-new Alola region, which is made up of four natural islands – Melemele Island, Akala Island, Ula’ula Island and Poni Island – plus smaller islets such as Exeggutor Island. The artificial floating structure you can see on the map near Akala Island is called Aether Paradise. The team behind Sun & Moon based a lot of this on Hawaii, where they actually sent a team out to ‘research’ Hawaii for the games (it’s a hard life).
Where the journey takes you
Sixteen places that define Alola, each with an overhead view or a screenshot.
Iki Town and the Ruins of Conflict
Iki Town is Kahuna Hala’s village on Melemele Island, home to Hau and the setting for a festival honouring the guardian Tapu Koko. It is here that the player receives a first partner, battles Hau twice and later takes Hala’s grand trial. North of the village, the Mahalo Trail leads to the rickety Plank Bridge where Tapu Koko rescues the player and Nebby, and beyond it stand the Ruins of Conflict, Tapu Koko’s shrine, which symbolise the stage of life where strength is tested. After the Champion battle the player returns with Lillie to thank the guardian and finally battle it.
Pokémon of note: Rowlet, Litten or Popplio (Lv. 5 gift from Hala), Tapu Koko (Lv. 60, Ruins of Conflict, after the Champion battle), Crabrawler (Hala’s Z-Move user). Items: Fightinium Z (grand trial reward), Ride Pager with Tauros Charge, Tapunium Z (after the Tapu Koko battle), Zygarde Cell (Ruins of Conflict entrance).
Hau’oli City
Melemele Island’s bustling city, on whose outskirts the player’s new home stands. The Trainers’ School, where newcomers prepare for the island challenge, sits here, as does the Shopping District, where captain Ilima lives; he first tests the player in the city with a Smeargle whose move hits their starter hard. After the credits the city gains extra purpose: a reformed but restless Guzma challenges the player on the beachfront, Mr. Hyper in the Shopping Mall offers Hyper Training, and Magearna’s QR code event is collected here.
Pokémon of note: Yungoos and Smeargle (Ilima’s first team), Magearna (QR Scanner event), Klink (Island Scan, Thursdays), Litwick (Island Scan, Hau’oli Cemetery, Saturdays). Items: Hyper Training with Bottle Caps (Mr. Hyper, after becoming Champion), Dawn Stone.
Verdant Cavern
A cave on Melemele Island where plants grow thickly and shafts of light pour in from above, making it the setting for the first trial of the island challenge. Captain Ilima asks the player to search its dens for the Pokémon causing trouble: Yungoos and a Gumshoos in Sun, or Alolan Rattata and an Alolan Raticate in Moon. Team Skull Grunts barge in to spoil the trial. At the back waits the Totem Pokémon, which calls a smaller ally on its first turn. After the trial, dirt clouds hide ambushing Pokémon, and in the post-game Moon players hunt Pheromosa here.
Pokémon of note: Yungoos and Gumshoos (Sun), Alolan Rattata and Alolan Raticate (Moon), Alolan Diglett, Zubat, Pheromosa (Moon, post-game Ultra Beast mission, Lv. 60). Items: Normalium Z and 10 Great Balls (trial rewards), TM31 Brick Break, TM46 Thief (needs Tauros Charge), Zygarde Cell.
Brooklet Hill
Billed as the best fishing spot in Alola, Brooklet Hill is a string of lakes and grassland west of Route 5 on Akala Island. Captain Lana lends the player her Lapras so they can paddle across the water, then asks them to find out what is churning the pool at the top of the hill. The answer is a Wishiwashi that gathers its school into one huge form, fights under rain and drops back to its tiny Solo Form when badly hurt. Rare Feebas lurk in the lakes for patient anglers.
Pokémon of note: Wishiwashi, Dewpider, Psyduck, Feebas (rare, by fishing), Alomomola (after the trial). Items: Waterium Z, Fishing Rod and 10 Dive Balls (trial rewards), Lapras Paddle, TM55 Scald, Rare Candy.
Wela Volcano Park
A volcanic park west of Route 7 on Akala Island, its brown grass home to Fire types and its summit, the Totem’s Den, the site of Kiawe’s trial. The trial is a dance performance by Alolan Marowak: after each routine the dancers freeze and the player must spot the one that changed, battling whichever Marowak they pick. In the final dance the Totem Salazzle slips into the line-up. Clearing the trial earns Charizard Glide, which also opens the way to Poké Pelago, and the park later hides a Nihilego during the Ultra Beast hunt.
Pokémon of note: Salandit, Cubone, Magby, Kangaskhan (rare), Nihilego (post-game Ultra Beast mission, Lv. 55). Items: Firium Z and 10 Quick Balls (trial rewards), Charizard Glide, TM39 Rock Tomb, Charcoal.
Lush Jungle
A dense rainforest north of Route 5 on Akala Island, famous as a source of ingredients. Captain Mallow’s trial is a foraging mission: with a Forage Bag, the player hunts for a Mago Berry, a Tiny Mushroom, a Revival Herb and a Miracle Seed, fending off ambushing Pokémon, then helps Mallow, Lana and Kiawe cook the Mallow Special. Its aroma tempts Totem Lurantis out of hiding. No wild Pokémon appear until the trial is done, after which the jungle teems with them, and Kukui turns up with a TM.
Pokémon of note: Fomantis, Bounsweet, Comfey, Passimian (Sun) / Oranguru (Moon), Xurkitree (post-game Ultra Beast mission, Lv. 65). Items: Grassium Z and 10 Nest Balls (trial rewards), TM67 Smart Strike, TM86 Grass Knot, Zygarde Cell (needs Machamp Shove).
Konikoni City and the Ruins of Life
Konikoni City is Kahuna Olivia’s home on Akala Island, where she runs a jewellery and accessory shop that also sells Fossils for revival at the Fossil Restoration Center. Mallow’s family restaurant is here too. Nearby stand the Ruins of Life, Tapu Lele’s shrine, which represent the birth of life. When the player calls at Olivia’s shop she is away at the ruins on the guardian’s business, and Lillie, who has wandered there with Professor Burnet, watches as Olivia stages her grand trial among the stones.
Pokémon of note: Tapu Lele (Ruins of Life, post-game), Poliwhirl (in-game trade for a Zubat), Cranidos and Tirtouga (Sun) / Shieldon and Archen (Moon) from Fossils. Items: Rockium Z (grand trial reward), Fossils (sold in Olivia’s shop), Waterium Z (held by the traded Poliwhirl).
Aether Paradise
A huge man-made floating island near Akala, clad in solar panels, that serves as the Aether Foundation’s headquarters. Visitors are shown the conservation area and the docks, where ferries link it to the islands, but the basement hides Secret Lab A, with the files on Type: Null, and Secret Lab B, devoted to Cosmog and Ultra Beasts. Lusamine’s mansion, with its chilling trophy room of frozen Pokémon, stands behind the main building. A Nihilego attacks during the player’s first visit, and the island is later raided to rescue Lillie.
Pokémon of note: Nihilego (story encounter that cannot be caught), Type: Null (post-game gift from Gladion, Lv. 40), Lusamine’s Clefable, Milotic and Bewear. Items: Master Ball, TM29 Psychic, Dubious Disc, 10 Beast Balls.
Hokulani Observatory (Mount Hokulani)
An astronomical research centre on the summit of Mount Hokulani on Ula’ula Island, headed by Molayne and helped by Pokémon such as Charjabug and Togedemaru as it studies distant planets and galaxies. Sophocles’s trial here is a sound quiz: the player must identify noises such as the Pokémon Center jingle, the Rotom Pokédex’s chime and a Charjabug’s cry to open a security door, battling a trial Pokémon after each answer. Kukui uses the mountain to reveal his plan for an Alolan League, and a meteorite in the observatory lets Deoxys change Forme.
Pokémon of note: Charjabug, Vikavolt, Axew (Island Scan, Mount Hokulani, Saturdays), Deoxys (changes Forme at the meteorite). Items: Electrium Z, Steelium Z and the Professor’s Mask, Comet Shard.
Thrifty Megamart (Abandoned Site)
A supermarket built near Tapu Village on ground sacred to Tapu Bulu, which wrecked the building in a fury; Ghost types have since taken over the ruin. Acerola’s trial asks the player to use the Rotom Pokédex’s camera to photograph the spirits making mischief in the aisles, then follow a strange figure into the back room and snap it too. The figure is Totem Mimikyu, whose Disguise soaks up the first hit and whose aura raises every stat, while Haunter and Gengar answer its calls.
Pokémon of note: Mimikyu, Haunter, Klefki, Golbat. Items: Ghostium Z (trial reward), 10 Dusk Balls.
Malie City
Ula’ula Island’s main city and a ferry stop for Aether Paradise. Its library, once owned by Acerola’s late father, is where Lillie digs into Alola’s legends with Acerola’s help; Malie Garden is the scene of the player’s first battle with Guzma; and Hau challenges the player to a three-on-three match in the city. Once the Po Town showdown is over, the laid-back officer Nanu reveals that he is the island’s kahuna and holds his grand trial here, after which the rescue party sets sail for Aether Paradise.
Pokémon of note: Alolan Persian (Nanu’s Z-Move user), Golisopod (Guzma’s partner, Malie Garden), Happiny (in-game trade for a Pancham). Items: Darkinium Z (grand trial reward), Happiny trade ‘Happini’.
Po Town and the Shady House
A town on Ula’ula Island hemmed in by towering walls and taken over by Team Skull. Every building except the Shady House, a crumbling mansion at the far end, is abandoned and locked, and Grunts guard the main road. The player fights through to Guzma in the Shady House to win back a stolen Yungoos. Even the Pokémon Center is run by a Grunt, who heals Pokémon for ₱10, and after the story a Grunt there sells the Skull Tank top.
Pokémon of note: Golisopod and Ariados (Guzma), Wimpod, Salandit and Grimer (Team Skull Grunts), Alolan Raticate and Golbat (a Grunt double battle). Items: Rare Candy, Smoke Ball, Ice Stone (Shady House), Skull Tank (₱10,000, after becoming Champion).
Vast Poni Canyon
The hardest path on Poni Island, a canyon of ledges, caves and bridges running from the Ancient Poni Path to the Altar of the Sunne or Moone. Hapu holds her grand trial here, and Mina, the island’s only captain, appears in the canyon with no trial of her own. Further in lies the oldest trial in Alola, which has no captain at all: Jangmo-o and Hakamo-o leap down on trial-goers, and Totem Kommo-o guards the Dragonium Z. The canyon’s magnetic field lets Magneton, Nosepass and Charjabug evolve.
Pokémon of note: Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o, Lycanroc, Carbink, Alolan Dugtrio, Dratini (by fishing). Items: Groundium Z, Fairium Z, Dragonium Z (trial reward), TM02 Dragon Claw.
Altar of the Sunne / Altar of the Moone
At the far end of Vast Poni Canyon stands the Altar of the Sunne in Sun, or the Altar of the Moone in Moon. A long stairway descends to a central platform marked with the sun or moon, watched over by a giant round door. When the door opens the altar fires a beam of light at the symbol, and Nebby, by now a Cosmoem, evolves into Solgaleo or Lunala, which the player is asked to catch. After the credits, the Legendary can open a wormhole here to a mirror-image site where a second Cosmog is found.
Pokémon of note: Solgaleo (Sun, Lv. 55), Lunala (Moon, Lv. 55), Cosmog (post-game gift at the Lake of the Sunne or Moone, Lv. 5). Items: 10 Poké Balls from Lillie if the player runs out (repeatable), Sun Flute and Moon Flute (story items).
Mount Lanakila and the Pokémon League
Alola’s great snow-capped peak rises from Ula’ula Island, and Professor Kukui, with Molayne, has built the region’s first Pokémon League on its summit. On the climb the player beats Hau and then Gladion. Inside, the four Elite Four chambers can be tackled in any order before the Champion’s throne, where Kukui steps forward as the final challenger. Afterwards the seat belongs to the player, and sitting on it again triggers a title defence against Hau or a challenger drawn at random.
Pokémon of note: Crabominable (Hala), Lycanroc, Midnight Form (Olivia), Palossand (Acerola), Toucannon (Kahili), Silvally (Gladion, Lv. 53). Items: Island Challenge Completion stamp (on becoming Champion), Prize money from title defences, such as ₱15,600 from Kukui.
Battle Tree
West of the Poni Gauntlet, the Battle Tree opens to the player after they become Champion and serves as Alola’s post-game test. Pokémon are levelled to 50, Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are barred, and players choose Single, Double or Multi battles. A Normal course runs to 20 battles; clearing it unlocks a Super course whose streak ends at the first defeat. Red guards Single battles and Blue guards Doubles, the pair join forces for Multis, and famous Trainers such as Cynthia and Wally can turn up as opponents.
Pokémon of note: Pikachu (Red, Lv. 70 in the first meeting), Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise (Red), Tyranitar and Gyarados (Blue). Items: Charizardite X and Y, Venusaurite and Blastoisinite, Battle Tree Great Ribbon and Master Ribbon, BP to spend on items.
Alola in pictures
The islands and their scenery, from the official artwork:
Can I catch them all?
Pokémon Sun and Moon introduce 81 new Pokémon, bringing the National Pokédex to 802, but the games themselves track the Alola Pokédex: it holds 302 Pokémon, and 300 of them are needed to complete it (Magearna and Marshadow are not required).
Version exclusives
Version exclusives: each version has 14 of its own version-exclusive Pokémon (including two Ultra Beasts) plus one Legendary exclusive.
Exclusive to Sun
Alolan Vulpix#037
Alolan Ninetales#038
Cranidos#408
Rampardos#409
Cottonee#546
Whimsicott#547
Tirtouga#564
Carracosta#565
Rufflet#627
Braviary#628
Passimian#766
Turtonator#776
Solgaleo#791
Buzzwole#794
Kartana#798
Sun follows the 3DS clock. Its first Totem is Gumshoos, and Olivia’s shop sells the Skull and Cover Fossils.
Exclusive to Moon
Alolan Sandshrew#027
Alolan Sandslash#028
Shieldon#410
Bastiodon#411
Petilil#548
Lilligant#549
Archen#566
Archeops#567
Vullaby#629
Mandibuzz#630
Oranguru#765
Drampa#780
Lunala#792
Pheromosa#795
Celesteela#797
Moon runs 12 hours out of step with the 3DS clock. Its first Totem is Alolan Raticate, and Olivia’s shop sells the Armor and Plume Fossils.
Ultra Beasts
After becoming Champion, the player receives an Enigmatic Card from a stranger and is led to a motel on Akala’s Route 8, where Looker and Anabel enlist them in the International Police’s Ultra Beast task force. Missions run from motels on the islands, and a restaurant on Poni. The quarry, in order: a single Nihilego (Lv. 55) at Wela Volcano Park or Diglett’s Tunnel; Buzzwole in Sun, or Pheromosa (Lv. 60) in Moon, on Melemele, where Pheromosa haunts Verdant Cavern; Xurkitree (Lv. 65) in Lush Jungle or on Memorial Hill; Kartana in Sun or Celesteela in Moon on Ula’ula; and finally Guzzlord. Faba’s Beast Balls give a five-fold bonus on Ultra Beasts but are nearly useless on anything else. A defeated or fled Ultra Beast simply reappears, so none can be missed for good.
SOS Battles instead of swarms
Once the player has cleared Ilima’s trial, a wild Pokémon may call for help at the end of a turn, especially when its HP is low or an Adrenaline Orb has been used. Defeating callers in a long chain improves the odds: by 30 or more calls the newcomer has four guaranteed perfect IVs, a 15% Hidden Ability chance and extra Shiny rolls, and EV gains double once a call succeeds. Sun and Moon have no mass outbreaks, so SOS chaining is the main way to hunt rare wild variants.
Fossils
Olivia’s shop in Konikoni City sells Fossils, which the Fossil Restoration Center revives as Lv. 15 Pokémon. Sun stocks the Skull Fossil (Cranidos) and Cover Fossil (Tirtouga), while Moon has the Armor Fossil (Shieldon) and Plume Fossil (Archen). Aerodactyl is a separate case: a Lv. 40 gift from an Ace Trainer in Seafolk Village.
What Sun & Moon add
- Alolan forms – Eighteen regional variants of Kanto Pokémon, found only in Alola.
- Ash-Greninja – A Battle Bond Greninja with Ash as its Original Trainer, carried over from the special demo; its Ash-Greninja form is unique to Generation VII.
- Zygarde – Collecting 95 Zygarde Cells and 5 Cores with the Zygarde Cube, given by Dexio in Sun or Sina in Moon at Heahea City, assembles Zygarde and teaches it Core Enforcer, Thousand Arrows, Thousand Waves, Extreme Speed and Dragon Dance.
- Type: Null and Silvally – Gladion gives the player a Lv. 40 Type: Null with all 17 Silvally Memories after the story.
- A second Cosmog – A post-game Cosmog lets players raise a second Solgaleo or Lunala; with Zygarde, it makes these the first core games to allow more than one of the same Legendary.
- Island Scan Pokémon – Pokémon otherwise absent from Alola, including Cyndaquil, Totodile, Chikorita, Deino, Honedge, Serperior, Samurott and Emboar.
- Kanto Mega Stones – Red hands over Venusaurite, Charizardite X and Y and Blastoisinite at the Battle Tree.
- Porygon and Aerodactyl – Gifts at the Aether House (Porygon, Lv. 30, after the Hall of Fame) and Seafolk Village (Aerodactyl, Lv. 40).
Starter Pokémon
As usual, the starter Pokémon you can choose from comprise Fire, Grass and Water types. In this instance, from left to right we’ve got Litten the Fire type, Rowlet the Grass type and Popplio the Water type.
- Rowlet: Hau picks Popplio against it. Decidueye becomes Grass/Ghost with the signature move Spirit Shackle, and Kukui counters it with Incineroar holding Firium Z.
- Litten: Hau picks Rowlet against it. Incineroar becomes Fire/Dark with the signature move Darkest Lariat, and Kukui counters it with Primarina holding Waterium Z.
- Popplio: Hau picks Litten against it. Primarina becomes Water/Fairy with the signature move Sparkling Aria, and Kukui counters it with Decidueye holding Grassium Z.
These new starters were all officially (leaks aside) unveiled on the 10th of May, 2016.
Legendary, Mythical and event Pokémon
CosmogLake of the Sunne/Moone
CosmoemEvolve Cosmog- SolgaleoAltar of the Sunne (Sun)
- LunalaAltar of the Moone (Moon)
NecrozmaTen Carat Hill
Tapu KokoRuins of Conflict
Tapu LeleRuins of Life
Tapu BuluRuins of Abundance
Tapu FiniRuins of Hope
Type: NullAether Paradise
SilvallyEvolve Type: Null
NihilegoUltra Beast- BuzzwoleUltra Beast (Sun)
- PheromosaUltra Beast (Moon)
XurkitreeUltra Beast- CelesteelaUltra Beast (Moon)
- KartanaUltra Beast (Sun)
GuzzlordUltra Beast
ZygardeCells and Cores
MagearnaQR event
MarshadowEvent only
Cosmog – Lv. 5, Lake of the Sunne (Sun) / Lake of the Moone (Moon). Lillie’s Nebby is the story Cosmog. A second, Shiny-locked Cosmog is a post-game gift, reached through the wormhole at the altar with Solgaleo (Sun) or Lunala (Moon) in the party. It evolves at Lv. 43.
Cosmoem – Evolve Cosmog. Evolves from Cosmog at Lv. 43, then into Solgaleo (Sun) or Lunala (Moon) at Lv. 53.
Solgaleo – Lv. 55, Altar of the Sunne (Sun). Nebby evolves during the story and Lillie asks the player to catch it; if it is defeated or fled from, it reappears at once.
Lunala – Lv. 55, Altar of the Moone (Moon). Moon’s counterpart to the Solgaleo encounter, caught during the story at Lillie’s request.
Necrozma – Ten Carat Hill (both versions). A single post-game encounter after becoming Champion. Its Dusk Mane and Dawn Wings forms exist only in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Tapu Koko – Lv. 60, Ruins of Conflict, Melemele Island. Battled with Lillie looking on after the first Champion victory; it can be caught then or on a later visit, is Shiny-locked and leaves a Tapunium Z.
Tapu Lele – Lv. 60, Ruins of Life, Akala Island. Post-game encounter at its shrine.
Tapu Bulu – Lv. 60, Ruins of Abundance, Ula’ula Island. Post-game encounter at its shrine.
Tapu Fini – Lv. 60, Ruins of Hope, Poni Island. Post-game encounter at its shrine.
Type: Null – Lv. 40, Aether Paradise. Gift from Gladion after the Hall of Fame, together with all 17 Memories.
Silvally – Evolve Type: Null. Evolves from Type: Null; the Memory it holds sets its type.
Nihilego – Lv. 55, Wela Volcano Park or Diglett’s Tunnel (both versions). First post-game Ultra Beast mission; only one can be caught across the two locations.
Buzzwole – Melemele Island (Sun). Second Ultra Beast mission, Sun only.
Pheromosa – Lv. 60, Verdant Cavern, Melemele Island (Moon). Second Ultra Beast mission, Moon only; four appear and never Shiny.
Xurkitree – Lv. 65, Lush Jungle or Memorial Hill, Akala Island (both versions). Third Ultra Beast mission; two can be caught, one in each location.
Celesteela – Ula’ula Island (Moon). Ultra Beast mission, Moon only.
Kartana – Ula’ula Island (Sun). Ultra Beast mission, Sun only.
Guzzlord – Poni Island (both versions). Final Ultra Beast mission.
Zygarde – Cells and Cores across Alola. Collect the 95 Cells and 5 Cores; the Zygarde Cube from Dexio (Sun) or Sina (Moon) switches its 10% and 50% Formes and teaches its signature moves.
Magearna – Lv. 50, Hau’oli City (QR code event). Scan the event QR code after becoming Champion. Available from 18 November 2016 in Japan, 5 December 2016 in the Americas and 7 December 2016 in Europe and Australia; Shiny-locked.
Marshadow – Lv. 50, Event distribution. Online gift from 30 September 2017 to 23 February 2018 in Europe and Australia and from 9 October 2017 to 23 February 2018 in the Americas, with earlier events in Japan.
What one cartridge cannot give you
Two Mythical Pokémon were only ever available through events, so no cartridge can find them on its own:
- Magearna#801
- Marshadow#802
At most 279 of the 302 Alola Pokédex entries in normal play. Take away the other version’s 15 exclusives, the two unchosen starter lines (six Pokémon), and Magearna and Marshadow, which only ever came through events. The real figure is lower still, because a handful of Pokémon evolve only by trading. Completing the Alola Pokédex needs 300 entries, so it cannot be done on one cartridge.
Gift Pokémon and in-game trades
Pokémon you are simply handed:
- Rowlet, Litten or Popplio (Lv. 5) – Iki Town. Chosen from Kahuna Hala at the start of the adventure.
- Eevee (Egg) – Paniola Ranch. Given by a Pokémon Breeder at the ranch’s nursery.
- Cranidos or Tirtouga (Sun) / Shieldon or Archen (Moon), Lv. 15 – Fossil Restoration Center. Revived from a Fossil bought at Olivia’s shop in Konikoni City.
- Porygon (Lv. 30) – Aether House. From an Aether Foundation Employee after entering the Hall of Fame.
- Aerodactyl (Lv. 40) – Seafolk Village. From an Ace Trainer.
- Type: Null (Lv. 40) – Aether Paradise. From Gladion after entering the Hall of Fame, with all 17 Memories.
- Cosmog (Lv. 5) – Lake of the Sunne (Sun) / Lake of the Moone (Moon). After the Hall of Fame, with Solgaleo or Lunala in the party; Shiny-locked.
- Solgaleo or Lunala (Nebby) – Altar of the Sunne / Moone. Caught during the story when Nebby evolves, at Lillie’s request.
Tradable Pokémon: seven in-game trades, several of them carrying a Z-Crystal.
| You give | You get | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Spearow | Machop ‘Macho’, Lv. 9, holding an X Attack | Route 2 |
| Lillipup | Bounsweet ‘Bouncee’, Lv. 16, holding Bright Powder | Route 5 |
| Zubat | Poliwhirl ‘Whirly’, Lv. 22, holding Waterium Z | Konikoni City |
| Pancham | Happiny ‘Happini’, Lv. 27 | Malie City |
| Haunter | Alolan Graveler ‘Veler’, Lv. 32, holding Rockium Z (Graveler evolves into Alolan Golem when traded) | Tapu Village |
| Granbull | Steenee ‘Stena’, Lv. 43, holding Grassium Z | Seafolk Village |
| Bewear | Talonflame ‘Talo’, Lv. 59, holding Firium Z | Poni Gauntlet |
Connectivity
These titles can be played in multiplayer using the Nintendo 3DS’s local wireless feature for local play and, until April 2024, a Nintendo Network ID for online play; the games also support infrared communication.
Sun and Moon gather almost all of their link features into Festival Plaza. Local wireless trades and battles between nearby consoles still work. Online play over the Nintendo Network, including the GTS, Wonder Trade, Battle Spot, online battles and trades, and the Global Missions that set worldwide targets for all players, ended when Nintendo shut down 3DS online services on 8 April 2024. The QR Scanner registers Pokémon from printed or on-screen codes and once unlocked event Pokémon such as Magearna. Pokémon Bank, updated for Sun and Moon on 24 January 2017, links them to older games: Poké Transporter moves Pokémon from Black, White, their sequels and the 3DS Virtual Console releases of Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver and Crystal, and Bank also holds Pokémon from X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which cannot trade with Sun and Moon directly. Bank is the bridge to Pokémon HOME but closes on 25 February 2027 (26 February in the UK). Sun and Moon can still trade and battle with Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, minus anything new to those games.
Characters
A rival who would rather have fun, a girl with a secret in her bag, a professor who tests moves on himself, and the island elders who run the challenge.
The player
The player is an 11-year-old who has just moved from Kanto to the outskirts of Hau’oli City with their mother and the family’s Meowth. The games never name them; the boy is most often called Elio, and the girl Selene, in later material. A video call with Professor Kukui sets up their Trainer Passport, choosing from four preset looks with options for skin tone, hair and eye colour. Singled out when Tapu Koko saves them on the Mahalo Trail, they complete the island challenge, rescue Lillie and Nebby, and become the very first Champion of Alola’s new Pokémon League.
Hau
Hala’s grandson, a cheerful 11-year-old from Iki Town who adores malasadas and battles for the fun of it. He takes the starter weak to the player’s and sets off on the island challenge alongside them, evolving his Pikachu into Alolan Raichu and his Eevee into whichever Eeveelution beats the player’s partner. Shaken by how little he could do at Aether Paradise, he pauses to train with Hala, then returns stronger on Mount Lanakila. He is always the first challenger to the player’s new title.
Lillie
Professor Kukui’s quiet assistant, who hides the rare Cosmog she calls Nebby in her bag and never battles. She fled Aether Paradise with Nebby after realising the Foundation was experimenting on it, an escape secretly aided by Wicke, and was taken in by Kukui. She is Lusamine’s daughter and Gladion’s younger sister. After her mother seizes Nebby, she changes into her ‘Z-Powered form’, travels to Poni for the flutes and stands up to Lusamine in Ultra Space. At the end she lets Nebby stay with the player, gives them her old Poké Doll and leaves for Kanto to find help for her mother.
Professor Kukui
Alola’s Pokémon Professor specialises in moves and will happily take a hit to study one. As a young man he travelled to Kanto, beat its Gym Leaders and reached Champion Lance, and there he befriended the player’s mother. Married to Professor Burnet, he chose not to become a captain because he had a bigger goal: a Pokémon League for Alola, which he founds on Mount Lanakila with his childhood friend Molayne. He is also the Masked Royal of the Battle Royal Dome, and when the League opens he steps in as its final challenger.
The island challenge
Island trials, kahunas and Totem Pokémon essentially replace traditional Gyms and Gym Leaders in Alola. There are subtle differences, such as little puzzles or tasks to complete as part of the island trials before you take on the Totem Pokémon. A Totem Pokémon is larger than a standard Pokémon of its kind and is surrounded by a powerful aura which increases its defensive or offensive capabilities; Totem Pokémon are not averse to calling for help either, and will regularly call other nearby Pokémon to aid them in battle.
Once the trials on an island are done, you will then face that island’s kahuna in the grand trial. Once beaten, you will be rewarded with a new Z-Crystal and be able to progress through the story and on to your next challenges.
The aim of these trials is to travel across all four islands of Alola and complete the island challenge to become the champion of the island challenge.
The trial route – every trial and grand trial in Sun and Moon’s story order, with the Totem’s or kahuna’s ace, a team level to aim for and the Z-Crystal you earn:
- Normalium ZIlima · Verdant CavernNormal · ace Totem Gumshoos / Alolan Raticate Lv. 12Aim for Lv. 12–15 · Normalium Z
- Fightinium ZHala · Iki TownFighting · ace Crabrawler Lv. 15Aim for Lv. 15–18 · Fightinium Z
- Waterium ZLana · Brooklet HillWater · ace Totem Wishiwashi Lv. 20Aim for Lv. 20–23 · Waterium Z
- Firium ZKiawe · Wela Volcano ParkFire · ace Totem Salazzle Lv. 22Aim for Lv. 22–25 · Firium Z
- Grassium ZMallow · Lush JungleGrass · ace Totem Lurantis Lv. 24Aim for Lv. 24–27 · Grassium Z
- Rockium ZOlivia · Ruins of LifeRock · ace Lycanroc Lv. 27Aim for Lv. 27–30 · Rockium Z
- Electrium ZSophocles · Hokulani ObservatoryElectric · ace Totem Vikavolt Lv. 29Aim for Lv. 29–32 · Electrium Z
- Ghostium ZAcerola · Thrifty Megamart (Abandoned Site)Ghost · ace Totem Mimikyu Lv. 33Aim for Lv. 33–36 · Ghostium Z
- Darkinium ZNanu · Malie CityDark · ace Alolan Persian Lv. 39Aim for Lv. 39–42 · Darkinium Z
- Groundium ZHapu · Vast Poni CanyonGround · ace Mudsdale Lv. 48Aim for Lv. 47–50 · Groundium Z
- Fairium ZMina · Vast Poni CanyonFairy · ace no trial in Sun & MoonAim for any level · Fairium Z
- Dragonium ZNo captain · Vast Poni CanyonDragon · ace Totem Kommo-o Lv. 45Aim for Lv. 45–48 · Dragonium Z
The captains and kahunas
Verdant Cavern trial: Ilima
Ilima is the polished, courteous captain of Melemele’s Normal-type trial and a celebrated graduate of the Trainers’ School, where pupils look up to him as a hero. He lives in Hau’oli City’s Shopping District and once studied in Kalos. Calm and dignified away from battle, he becomes intensely focused once one begins. Ilima is the first captain the player meets: he tests them in Hau’oli City with a Smeargle that copies a move suited to beating their starter, then guides them through Verdant Cavern. Later he invites them to a second match at the Trainers’ School with a Z-Move of his own.
Team: First battle, Hau’oli City: Yungoos Lv. 9, Smeargle Lv. 10 (Smeargle’s move is super effective against the player’s starter). Trial: two Yungoos and a Gumshoos at Lv. 11 (Sun) or two Alolan Rattata and an Alolan Raticate at Lv. 11 (Moon), then Totem Gumshoos (Sun) or Totem Alolan Raticate (Moon) Lv. 12, holding a Pecha Berry with a +1 Defence aura, calling a Lv. 10 Yungoos or Alolan Rattata.
Search the cavern’s dens for the Pokémon behind the disturbances and beat them, along with a Team Skull Grunt who barges in, before the Totem Pokémon emerges from the back. Reward: Normalium Z and 10 Great Balls; TM31 Brick Break and TM46 Thief lie inside the cavern.
Melemele grand trial: Hala
The jovial kahuna of Melemele Island and grandfather of Hau. Hala presents the player’s first partner in Iki Town after Tapu Koko’s rescue and turns the Sparkling Stone the guardian left behind into the player’s Z-Ring. As kahuna he tends Tapu Koko’s ruins and chooses the island’s captains. His grand trial closes the Melemele leg of the challenge, after which he hands over the Ride Pager. Years ago he trained both Kukui and Guzma, and he later accepts Kukui’s invitation to sit on the Elite Four.
“Shall we begin? The final trial here on Melemele Island will be a Pokémon battle against me, the kahuna! It is known as the grand trial!” – Hala
Team: Grand trial: Mankey Lv. 14, Makuhita Lv. 14, Crabrawler Lv. 15 holding Fightinium Z (All-Out Pummeling).
A straight three-on-three battle in Iki Town; Hala unleashes his Z-Move at the first chance. Winning clears Melemele, so traded Pokémon up to Lv. 35 obey. Reward: Fightinium Z; the Ride Pager with Tauros Charge.
Brooklet Hill trial: Lana
Lana oversees Akala Island’s first trial at Brooklet Hill, the best fishing ground in the region. Before the trial she lends the player her Lapras so they can paddle across the lakes, opening up water travel for good. Her challenge is a mystery: something is churning the pool at the top of the hill, and the player must deal with Dewpider and a lone Wishiwashi before the real culprit appears. It is a Wishiwashi that gathers into its enormous School Form under the rain. Her reward includes the Fishing Rod, and she later helps Mallow cook.
Team: No battle against Lana herself. Totem Wishiwashi (School Form) Lv. 20, Schooling, holding a Sitrus Berry with a +1 Defence aura, fighting in rain; allies Wishiwashi Lv. 18 and Alomomola Lv. 18.
Investigate the splashing water at the top of the hill, beating a Dewpider and a Solo Form Wishiwashi first; Lana lends the Lapras Paddle along the way. Reward: Waterium Z, the Fishing Rod and 10 Dive Balls; TM55 Scald lies on the hill.
Wela Volcano Park trial: Kiawe
Kiawe is Akala Island’s Fire-type captain, and his trial waits at the summit of Wela Volcano Park. It turns a performance into a test of observation: Alolan Marowak dance, freeze, and the player must point out the dancer that changed its routine, battling whichever Marowak they choose. In the final dance the Totem Salazzle slips into the line-up. Its Corrosion Ability lets it poison any target, and its supply of Salandit allies never runs out, so the fight becomes a test of stamina. Kiawe’s prize is Charizard Glide, which also makes Poké Pelago reachable.
Team: No battle against Kiawe himself. Trial battles against two Alolan Marowak, then Totem Salazzle Lv. 22, Corrosion, holding a Petaya Berry with a +1 Sp. Def aura, which keeps calling Lv. 20 Salandit.
Watch three pairs of dances by Alolan Marowak and pick the one that differs each time; the Totem joins the final routine. Reward: Firium Z and 10 Quick Balls; Charizard Glide; TM39 Rock Tomb lies in the park.
Lush Jungle trial: Mallow
Mallow is the Grass-type captain whose family runs a restaurant in Konikoni City, and her trial is a cooking challenge. Armed with a Forage Bag, the player combs Lush Jungle for four ingredients while fending off the wild Pokémon guarding them, then Lana and Kiawe pitch in to cook her signature dish, the Mallow Special. Its aroma draws out Totem Lurantis, whose Power Herb lets it fire Solar Blade without charging and whose Speed aura lets it strike first. Mallow also gives the player Stoutland Search at Paniola Ranch.
Team: No battle against Mallow herself. Totem Lurantis Lv. 24, Leaf Guard, holding a Power Herb with a +2 Speed aura and Solar Blade; allies Trumbeak Lv. 22 and Castform Lv. 22.
Find a Mago Berry, Tiny Mushroom, Revival Herb and Miracle Seed with the Forage Bag, then help cook the Mallow Special to lure the Totem. Reward: Grassium Z and 10 Nest Balls; TM67 Smart Strike from Kukui afterwards; TM86 Grass Knot lies in the jungle.
Akala grand trial: Olivia
Olivia is Akala Island’s kahuna, a Rock-type expert who owns a jewellery and accessory shop in Konikoni City. When the player calls at the shop she has gone to the Ruins of Life on Tapu Lele’s business, according to a note left with her Probopass. At the ruins she meets Lillie, who has come with Professor Burnet, and questions why someone who is not a Trainer would visit. Satisfied that Lillie came for Nebby’s sake, she stages her grand trial there. Her Midnight Form Lycanroc carries the Rockium Z, and Kukui later invites her to the Elite Four.
“Now you face the grand trial of the kahuna—me! Get ready for your hardest Pokémon battle yet on Akala!” – Olivia
Team: Grand trial: Nosepass Lv. 26, Boldore Lv. 26, Lycanroc (Midnight Form) Lv. 27 holding Rockium Z (Continental Crush).
Fought at Tapu Lele’s shrine with Lillie and Professor Burnet watching. Winning clears Akala, so traded Pokémon up to Lv. 50 obey. Reward: Rockium Z.
Hokulani Observatory trial: Sophocles
Sophocles runs Ula’ula Island’s Electric-type trial inside Hokulani Observatory, on the summit of Mount Hokulani. His test is a quiz for the ears: the player must identify sounds such as the Pokémon Center jingle, the Rotom Pokédex’s chime and a Charjabug’s cry, and every wrong answer gives Sophocles himself an electric shock. A trial Pokémon attacks after each question until Totem Vikavolt appears with an aura boosting every stat. After the trial, Molayne, who heads the observatory, bursts in with a Steelium Z. Sophocles returns after the story as one of the League’s title challengers.
Team: No battle against Sophocles during the trial. Totem Vikavolt Lv. 29, Levitate, holding an Occa Berry with a +1 aura to all five stats; allies two Charjabug Lv. 28.
Answer sound-based quiz questions to open the observatory’s security door, battling a trial Pokémon after each answer, with the Totem Vikavolt waiting last. Reward: Electrium Z; Steelium Z and the Professor’s Mask from Molayne afterwards.
Thrifty Megamart trial: Acerola
Acerola is an orphan who lives at the Aether House on Ula’ula and the last surviving member of an old Alolan royal family; her late father once owned the Malie Library. She first meets the player there, helping Lillie find a book on Alola’s legends, and points them towards Mount Hokulani. Her trial takes place in the wrecked Thrifty Megamart, where the player hunts ghosts with a camera before coming face to face with Totem Mimikyu. She keeps a friendly eye on Nanu, and although she is not a kahuna she takes the Elite Four seat he refuses.
“Here we are! Climb up these steps and my trial begins!” – Acerola
Team: No battle against Acerola during the trial. Totem Mimikyu Lv. 33, Disguise, holding a Lum Berry with a +1 aura to all five stats; allies Haunter Lv. 27 and Gengar Lv. 27.
Photograph the Ghost types haunting the abandoned shop with the Rotom Pokédex, follow the Totem into the back room and photograph it, then battle it. Reward: Ghostium Z and 10 Dusk Balls.
Ula’ula grand trial: Nanu
Nanu is Ula’ula Island’s kahuna, chosen by Tapu Bulu, though he would much rather be left alone. He first appears as the policeman who helps the player get into Po Town, and only once Team Skull’s headquarters has been dealt with does he admit to being kahuna. Behind the weary manner lies a former elite agent of the International Police and Looker’s one-time superior. His grand trial in Malie City is fought with Dark types, and afterwards he sends the player off to rescue Lillie at Aether Paradise. He declines a seat on the Elite Four.
Team: Grand trial: Sableye Lv. 38, Krokorok Lv. 38, Alolan Persian Lv. 39 holding Darkinium Z (Black Hole Eclipse).
Held after the Po Town showdown and before the raid on Aether Paradise. Winning clears Ula’ula, so traded Pokémon up to Lv. 65 obey. Reward: Darkinium Z.
Poni grand trial: Hapu
Hapu is the newest kahuna in Alola. Poni Island has gone without one since her grandfather’s death, but when she travels to the Ruins of Hope with the player and Lillie, Tapu Fini chooses her and gives her a Sparkling Stone. Plain-spoken and hard-working, she earlier lends the player Mudsdale Gallop on Ula’ula. Her grand trial in Vast Poni Canyon is the first challenge on Poni and pits the player against her Ground types, led by her trusty Mudsdale with the Groundium Z. After the story she is one of the League’s title challengers.
Team: Grand trial: Alolan Dugtrio Lv. 47, Gastrodon Lv. 47, Flygon Lv. 47, Mudsdale Lv. 48 holding Groundium Z (Tectonic Rage).
Poni’s first grand trial in years, held soon after Tapu Fini names Hapu kahuna and before the canyon’s own trial. Reward: Groundium Z.
Poni Island (no trial): Mina
Mina is Poni Island’s only captain and a wandering painter who often leaves home for long stretches to work. When the player finds her surveying Vast Poni Canyon she admits she has been too absorbed in her art to prepare a trial, hands over the Fairium Z anyway and muses about what her trial might one day be. She knows Ilima, and one of her paintings hangs in Mallow’s family restaurant. After the story she battles the player twice with Fairy types, and beating her at the Poni Gauntlet earns a Bottle Cap.
Team: No trial battle. Post-game: Klefki, Granbull, Shiinotic, Wigglytuff and Ribombee, all Lv. 61, on Route 8 during an Ultra Beast mission and at the Poni Gauntlet, where Ribombee holds Fairium Z.
In Sun and Moon Mina has no trial and simply gives away the Fairium Z; her full trial at Seafolk Village arrived only in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Reward: Fairium Z, given on a bridge in the canyon.
Vast Poni Canyon trial: the Totem
Alola’s natural trial has no captain at all. A stone tablet at the entrance explains it to trial-goers, and it is said to be the very first trial ever held in the islands. As the player crosses the canyon, wild Jangmo-o and Hakamo-o leap down from the rocks to test them. At the pedestal, reaching for the Dragonium Z brings Totem Kommo-o crashing in, armed with Clanging Scales and an aura that raises every stat, with a Hakamo-o and then a Scizor answering its calls. Clearing it opens the way to the altar.
Team: Trial Pokémon Jangmo-o Lv. 40 and Hakamo-o Lv. 40, then Totem Kommo-o Lv. 45, Soundproof, holding a Mental Herb with a +1 aura to all five stats; allies Hakamo-o Lv. 32 and Scizor Lv. 32.
Charizard Glide cannot be used to leave mid-trial, and the Dragonium Z cannot be taken until Totem Kommo-o has attacked; after a defeat only the Totem battle must be repeated. Reward: Dragonium Z; TM02 Dragon Claw lies in the canyon.
Totems and kahunas
Three of the Totem Pokémon and three kahunas striking their Z-Move poses:
The Elite Four & Champion Kukui
By the time you’ve beaten all of the trials and grand trials the Alola region has to offer, Professor Kukui will have finished founding the first ever Alolan Pokémon League. The League is based on Mount Lanakila, which is the highest point in the Alolan islands; the reason for this position is to pay homage to the Legendary Pokémon of Alola, as it’s the closest accessible point to the sun and moon.
The Elite Four of Alola are a little more equal than the Elite Four of some other regions, in the sense that there isn’t a forced order you have to face them in. The challenger can choose who they fight in what order.
On defeating the Elite Four, the player will approach the Champion’s throne and briefly take a seat before being promptly disturbed by Professor Kukui, who will congratulate them for beating the Elite Four but break the news to them that there’s one more battle before they can truly be called Champion.
Hala, Olivia, Acerola and Kahili, then Professor Kukui
Hala, Elite Four
Hala is a master of Fighting-type Pokémon and the kahuna of Melemele Island. He was invited to become a member of Alola’s Elite Four by Professor Kukui, who acknowledges his formidable strength. His team consists of a Hariyama Lv. 54, Primeape Lv. 54, Bewear Lv. 54, Poliwrath Lv. 54 and a Crabominable Lv. 55. His Crabominable holds a Fightinium Z.
“Your old kahuna is now also a member of the Elite Four. Well, this time I’m holding nothing back!” – Hala
Team: Hariyama Lv. 54, Primeape Lv. 54, Bewear Lv. 54, Poliwrath Lv. 54, Crabominable Lv. 55 holding Fightinium Z (All-Out Pummeling).
Rematch: Rematch: the same five, all Lv. 63, with Crabominable still holding Fightinium Z.
Prize ₱11,000 (₱12,600 in rematches). He uses his Z-Move at the first opportunity. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Molayne takes his seat.
Olivia, Elite Four
Olivia is the kahuna of Akala Island and a well-respected and powerful user of Rock-type Pokémon. This is why Professor Kukui invited her to join the Elite Four. Her team includes a Relicanth Lv. 54, Carbink Lv. 54, Alolan Golem Lv. 54, Probopass Lv. 54 and Lycanroc (Midnight Form) Lv. 55. Her Lycanroc holds a Rockium Z.
“No introduction needed here. Time to battle me, Olivia!” – Olivia
Team: Relicanth Lv. 54, Carbink Lv. 54, Alolan Golem Lv. 54, Probopass Lv. 54, Lycanroc (Midnight Form) Lv. 55 holding Rockium Z (Continental Crush).
Rematch: Rematch: the same five, all Lv. 63.
Prize ₱11,000 (₱12,600 in rematches). Rock types struggle against Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground and Steel, but her coverage moves punish careless picks. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon give her a fossil-heavy team.
Acerola, Elite Four
Although not a kahuna herself, Acerola not only completed the island challenge but also took on the role of captain. Her rare and powerful ability to command the Ghost type is the reason Professor Kukui invited her to the Elite Four. Her team consists of a Sableye Lv. 54, Drifblim Lv. 54, Dhelmise Lv. 54, Froslass Lv. 54 and a Palossand Lv. 55. This time it’s the Palossand holding the Ghostium Z.
“Nanu said maybe he can’t refuse a tapu choosing him to serve as kahuna… But he’d be darned if he had to serve as one of the Elite Four just because some guy asked him! So I guess I’ll just have to battle hard enough to make up for his not being here!” – Acerola
Team: Sableye Lv. 54, Drifblim Lv. 54, Dhelmise Lv. 54, Froslass Lv. 54, Palossand Lv. 55 holding Ghostium Z (Never-Ending Nightmare).
Rematch: Rematch: the same five, all Lv. 63.
Prize ₱11,000 (₱12,600 in rematches). Her chamber greeting is “Hiya! Acerola here, bringing an old royal touch to the Pokémon League!”
Kahili, Elite Four
Famed as much for her prowess on the golf course as her skills in Pokémon battles, Kahili completed the trials of Alola a few years ago and has since travelled the world training her Pokémon and golfing. She was very excited at the invite from Kukui to represent Alola as part of its Elite Four. Kahili is a master of Flying-type Pokémon. Her team includes a Skarmory Lv. 54, Crobat Lv. 54, Oricorio (Baile Style) Lv. 54, Mandibuzz Lv. 54 and Toucannon Lv. 55. Her Toucannon holds the Flyinium Z.
“My name is Kahili. A few years ago, I was a champion of the island challenge, too. Just like you. I’ve been traveling the world to improve my skill as both a Trainer and as a golfer. When I heard that they’d made a Pokémon League in my own home region, I came flying back to serve Alola. Have a look at my fantastic Flying-type team!” – Kahili
Team: Skarmory Lv. 54, Crobat Lv. 54, Oricorio (Baile Style) Lv. 54, Mandibuzz Lv. 54, Toucannon Lv. 55 holding Flyinium Z (Supersonic Skystrike).
Rematch: Rematch: the same five, all Lv. 63.
Prize ₱11,000 (₱12,600 in rematches). After the story she can be met at the Hano Grand Resort, where she gives the player TM92 Trick Room.
Professor Kukui, the final challenge
We knew Professor Kukui was into testing Pokémon moves even on himself, we had our suspicions he may have been a renowned masked Trainer who was dominant in the Battle Royal arena, and we’d had hints dropped that he had faced down Kanto’s Gym Leaders and Elite Four in the past – but it also turns out that Professor Kukui is the final challenge of the Alolan Pokémon League (in the absence of an existing Champion). Is he the Champion? Is he the fifth member of the Elite Four? Doesn’t that make it the Elite Five? Is he just filling in because there’s no Champion yet? Who knows, but he’s in the way and will challenge the player with his formidable team. His team consists of a Lycanroc (Midday Form) Lv. 57, Alolan Ninetales Lv. 56, Braviary Lv. 56, Magnezone Lv. 56, Snorlax Lv. 56 and the fully evolved form of whichever starter was strongest against your own (at Lv. 58; it’s this last one which holds its type’s Z-Crystal).
Team: Lycanroc (Midday Form) Lv. 57, Alolan Ninetales Lv. 56, Braviary Lv. 56, Magnezone Lv. 56, Snorlax Lv. 56, plus a Lv. 58 starter that beats the player’s: Incineroar holding Firium Z against Rowlet, Primarina holding Waterium Z against Litten, Decidueye holding Grassium Z against Popplio.
Rematch: Title defence: the same six, all Lv. 65.
The player becomes Alola’s first Champion. Title defences follow: Hau is always first, then challengers are drawn at random from Gladion, Hapu, Kukui, Molayne, Plumeria, Sophocles, Ryuki and Tristan, with Faba appearing on the first day of each month.
Glitches, exploits and oddities
Sun and Moon’s worst online bug was patched within two months, but a few oddities survive – and most of what was online is now gone.
Rocky Helmet victory glitch
In version 1.0, a battle in which both sides were down to their last Pokémon could award the win to the wrong player. If a Pokémon knocked out a foe holding a Rocky Helmet and then fainted from the helmet’s recoil damage, the game declared the Rocky Helmet holder’s side the winner, even though the attacker should have taken the victory under the normal rules. Because it changed results rather than just visuals, the fault mattered most in link and online battles. Version 1.1, released on 10 January 2017, corrected the ruling.
Z-Memento and Z-Parting Shot disconnects
Using Memento or Parting Shot as a Z-Move in Battle Spot matches on version 1.0 forced a disconnection, so both moves were temporarily banned from online play while a fix was prepared; version 1.1 listed the problem among its repairs. A related text error misled players for longer: the description of Z-Memento claimed it would restore the HP of the Pokémon coming in to replace the user, but it does nothing of the kind. It simply makes the user faint and harshly lowers the target’s Attack and Special Attack, exactly like the ordinary move.
Missed moves on evolution
Version 1.0 could stop a newly evolved Pokémon learning a move it was due at that level if the same move also appeared on its level 1 list. The best-known example is Kadabra, which should learn Confusion on evolving from Abra at Lv. 16 but skipped it; Butterfree could miss Confusion in the same way. Because the moves were simply never offered, players often did not notice until they checked their movesets. Version 1.1 fixed the behaviour, and the same patch corrected a Kommo-o and a Shuckle that had been given moves they could not legitimately know.
Sky Drop oddities
Sky Drop caused two separate faults. If a Pokémon used Sky Drop on a target protected by Spiky Shield and the spikes knocked the attacker out, it failed to faint properly: its model stayed on the field into the next turn while its status condition cleared, a fault addressed in version 1.2. Separately, with battle animations switched off, a Sky Drop user that fainted or switched out after dealing damage, for example from Life Orb recoil, a Rocky Helmet or Rough Skin, could leave its target invisible until that Pokémon fainted or left the field. The second fault cannot happen in link battles.
Alolan Exeggutor’s escaping head
Receiving an Alolan Exeggutor in a trade produces a comic graphical slip: as its Poké Ball opens, the head on top of its enormously long neck briefly pops up in the bottom-left corner of the screen before the animation settles. It is purely cosmetic and harmless. A related quirk affects every evolution in Sun and Moon, flashing the evolved model in the top-left corner for a split second before the evolution message appears, and very tall models can end up partly off-screen during the sequence. Neither fault affects the Pokémon itself.
Genuine Pokémon flagged as hacked
Shortly after Pokémon Bank’s Sun and Moon update in January 2017, the online legality checks briefly rejected perfectly legitimate Pokémon, blocking them from the GTS, Wonder Trade or Battle Spot. Victims included Island Scan Pokémon with their Hidden Abilities, Pokémon caught in Safari or Dream Balls being entered into Battle Spot, and Pokémon transferred from the Virtual Console Red, Blue and Yellow whose evolutionary families span several generations. The false positives only lasted a short period before the checks were corrected, but they caused alarm among players who had just moved their collections forward.
Faults fixed in version 1.2
Version 1.2, released on 17 May 2017, tidied up several lingering faults. Scatterbug could be unable to learn Egg Moves depending on the Vivillon pattern it corresponded to, the Poké Pelago could misbehave at the end of a month, and the game could crash when an evolution item used on a Pokémon was the last item left in the Bag. The update also addressed the Spiky Shield and Sky Drop interaction. Version 1.2 remains the final update for Sun and Moon, so any copy that has installed it is fully patched for battles and trades with other players.
What no longer works
Since Nintendo ended online services for 3DS software on 8 April 2024, the GTS, Wonder Trade, Battle Spot, online battles and trades through Festival Plaza, Global Missions, Battle Videos and internet Mystery Gifts no longer function. Game Sync had already stopped when the Pokémon Global Link closed. The 3DS eShop stopped selling software on 27 March 2023, so the special demo, Pokémon Bank and the Virtual Console Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver and Crystal can no longer be bought. Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter stayed online but close on 25 February 2027 (26 February in the UK), after which Pokémon in Sun and Moon can no longer move on to Pokémon HOME.
Videos & media
Check out these Pokémon Sun and Moon videos, including the Moon opening, a commercial and a trailer.
The official opening video for Pokémon Moon version.
A fan-made TV commercial by John Wikstrom – a must-watch… it’s better than the official ones.
An official USA TV commercial.
An official trailer, celebrating 20 years.
Trivia & facts
- No bicycles! There are no bicycles in Sun & Moon, for the first time in the main RPG games.
- The first Pokémon titles to include Chinese as a language.
- They show the first ever instance of NPCs using Poké Balls other than the basic ones.
- The first games in the main RPG series NOT to feature Gyms and Gym Leaders.
- There is no Ice-type Pokémon master here (presumably because the tropical conditions would stifle Ice types quite badly).
- Sophocles wears a T-shirt which depicts classic Pokémon trading with a Game Boy and a link cable.
- Ash-Greninja was added to the Pokémon Sun & Moon demo version to try and attract fans of the animated series to buy the games (as it is pretty popular amongst the anime audience). The Greninja could be transferred to the main game from the demo.
The Special Demo Version, home of Ash-Greninja. - It is said that Z-Moves were intended to allow Trainers to use a wider variety of Pokémon, rather than just relying on a few super-strong ones all the way through the game, as the use of these moves can make any Pokémon stronger and more viable for battle.
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Alola Form Exeggutor. It could be that Exeggcute and Exeggutor originate from the Alola region: not only is one of the islands named after Exeggutor, but the Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald Pokédex states that Exeggutor originates from a tropical setting, and this is the first one we’ve seen in the games. In the Exeggutor Pokédex entry in Crystal it also mentions that in the right environment it can grow more heads – the Alolan form of Exeggutor is a good example of this.
Further trivia
- Sun and Moon fixed Professor Oak’s first name in the games as Samuel, the name used in the anime’s fourth film.
- They launched with 11 catchable Legendary Pokémon, the most of any generation’s debut games.
- Thanks to Zygarde and the post-game Cosmog, they were the first core games to let players own more than one of the same Legendary Pokémon.
- The Japanese, Korean and Chinese logos each contain a Z-Crystal.
- Alolan Exeggutor was the first regional form designed for the games and the first to be revealed.
- Magearna and Marshadow are listed in the 302-strong Alola Pokédex but are not needed to complete it, so the target is 300.
- A Global Mission challenging players to catch 100 million Pokémon fell well short, finishing at about 16.4 million.
- Kahili is the only Elite Four member with no part in the story before the League; afterwards she can be found at the Hano Grand Resort, which her father owns, handing out TM92 Trick Room.
Legacy
What came after
- Pokémon Sun and Moon Special Demo Version – 18 October 2016. Free eShop demo with a trial at Ten Carat Hill against Totem Hakamo-o; downloaded more than 3.5 million times in nine days. Its Battle Bond Greninja could be sent to the full game from launch day.
- Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon launch – 18 November 2016. Released in Japan, North America, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong; Europe followed on 23 November 2016.
- Magearna QR code event (Europe) – 7 December 2016. Event QR code for Champions; it had started in Japan on launch day and in the Americas on 5 December 2016.
- Version 1.1 update – 10 January 2017. Fixed the Memento and Parting Shot Z-Move fault, the Rocky Helmet result glitch and the evolution move-learning glitch.
- Pokémon Bank support – 24 January 2017. Pokémon Bank’s update for Sun and Moon opened transfers from earlier generations and the Virtual Console games via Poké Transporter.
- Version 1.2 update – 17 May 2017. Fixed the Spiky Shield and Sky Drop fault, the Poké Pelago end-of-month fault and an evolution-item crash.
- Marshadow distribution (Europe) – 30 September 2017. Online Mount Tensei Marshadow gift for Sun and Moon, running until 23 February 2018.
- Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon – 17 November 2017. Enhanced 3DS follow-ups with an expanded Necrozma story; they can trade and battle with Sun and Moon.
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! – 16 November 2018. Switch remakes of Yellow that brought Alolan forms of Kanto Pokémon into a Kanto adventure.
- Pokémon Sword and Shield – 15 November 2019. The next generation on Switch; many Alolan Pokémon can join it through Pokémon HOME.
- Pokémon HOME – 12 February 2020. Cloud service that receives Pokémon from Pokémon Bank, carrying Alolan Pokémon on to Switch games.
- Nintendo 3DS eShop closes to purchases – 27 March 2023. Sun and Moon, the demo and Pokémon Bank could no longer be bought digitally.
- Nintendo 3DS online services end – 8 April 2024. GTS, Wonder Trade, Battle Spot and online play stop; local wireless play continues.
- Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter close – 26 February 2027. At 03:00 UK time (7pm Pacific on 25 February); the last route from Sun and Moon to Pokémon HOME.
- No Nintendo Switch re-release – As of October 2026. Sun and Moon remain 3DS-only.
Where to play Sun & Moon today
Sun and Moon can only be played on Nintendo 3DS-family hardware, including the 2DS and New 3DS models, from a Game Card or a copy downloaded before the 3DS eShop stopped sales in March 2023. The full adventure and local wireless trading and battling still work, but online features ended in April 2024. There is no Switch version. Anyone with Pokémon stored in Pokémon Bank should move them to Pokémon HOME before the service closes on 25 February 2027 (26 February in the UK).
How Sun & Moon were made
Game Freak began work on Sun and Moon straight after finishing Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, with Shigeru Ohmori staying on as director and designer and Junichi Masuda among the producers. Because the games marked the series’ 20th anniversary, the team rebuilt much of the formula from scratch rather than refining it, and the long-standing Gym structure gave way to the island challenge. Alola was modelled on Hawaii, chosen after the titles were settled because its clear night skies and abundant sunshine suited the sun-and-moon theme, and Ohmori said at E3 2016 that staff had travelled there for research. The soundtrack drew on traditional Hawaiian musical styles. Kazumasa Iwao was responsible for the battle systems before going on to direct Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Trademark filings leaked on 25 February 2016, and the games were announced the next day in a Pokémon Direct marking the anniversary of Red and Green. A free special demo followed on 18 October 2016 and passed 3.5 million downloads within nine days, ahead of the November launch.
Sun & Moon in other media
The English and Japanese title screens:
Sales & reviews
Sales figures
Sales for Pokémon Sun & Moon versions have been extremely strong: in North America alone they moved 4.5 million units between their November release and mid-January, and Nintendo of America called them the fastest-selling titles in Nintendo’s history at the time (source), bolstering the longevity and success of the Nintendo 3DS alongside popular titles like Super Mario Maker and Mario Kart 7. Nintendo’s latest figure puts the pair at 16.34 million copies worldwide (31 March 2026).
Japan bought 1,590,629 copies in the first week (807,540 Sun, 783,090 Moon) plus 151,379 Dual Packs, and Europe more than 1.5 million in its first week – Nintendo’s biggest European launch – with 368,000 in the UK alone. Across Japan, North America and Europe the pair passed 7.5 million in two weeks, and Nintendo shipped 15.44 million by 31 March 2017. Only Mario Kart 7 and Pokémon X & Y have sold more on the 3DS.
- 16.34mworldwide, March 2026
- 7.5m+in the first two weeks
- 1.59mJapan in the first week
- 368kUK launch week
Review scores
Sun & Moon were pretty well received across the board – check out the review scores from major sources below:
- IGN’s Kallie Plagge was clearly impressed, scoring the game 9/10 and rating it Amazing: “Pokemon Sun and Moon switch up the formula to create an engaging adventure that improves on its predecessors.” Additionally, the games were nominated for IGN’s game of 2016.
- Metacritic’s critic score is a very strong 87/100, from 84 reviews.
- Justin Haywald from GameSpot scored the game a strong 8 out of 10.
- Our own DetroitDJ was a little more critical, scoring the game 3 out of 5 and rating it Fair.
Critics broadly agreed that Sun and Moon were the freshest Pokémon games in years. Reviewers welcomed the island challenge’s break from the Gym routine, the richer, more character-driven story and the warmth of Alola itself; IGN singled out how much they improved on their predecessors, and Nintendo Life called the plot the deepest and most ambitious Game Freak had tried. Eurogamer rated them essential and the best generation in more than a decade, while VG247’s reviewer felt more invested in this story than in any earlier one. The complaints were consistent: the opening hours drag under heavy tutorials, the route through Alola is more linear than before, Polygon found little to do beyond the main story, and USgamer thought Z-Moves underwhelming. Both versions settled at 87 on Metacritic.
Awards and honours:
Media & artwork
- Official artwork gallery from Pokémon Sun & Moon – a large gallery featuring many of the Pokémon from the game
- Official artwork gallery from Pokémon Sun & Moon – characters, places and supporting art
- Box art from Pokémon Sun, including numerous regional variations and editions
- Box art from Pokémon Moon, including numerous regional variations and editions
- Screenshots from Pokémon Sun version
- Screenshots from Pokémon Moon version
Further reading
Other Pokémon Sun & Moon links on the site, plus the games either side: