Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

Pokémon Ultra Sun; ポケットモンスターウルトラサン
	; Pokémon Ultra Sun's boxart, featuring Dusk Mane Necrozma
Pokémon Ultra Moon; ポケットモンスターウルトラムーン
	; Pokémon Ultra Moon's boxart, featuring Dawn Wings Necrozma
Basic info
Platform:	Nintendo 3DS
Category:	RPG
Players:	1-4 players simultaneous
Connectivity:	3DS Wireless, Nintendo Network, IR
Developer:	Game Freak
Publisher:	Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Part of:	Generation VII core series
Ratings
CERO:	A
ESRB:	E
ACB:	PG
OFLC:	PG
PEGI:	7
GRAC:	ALL
GSRR:	6+
Release dates
Japan:	November 17, 2017
North America:	November 17, 2017
Australia:	November 17, 2017
Europe:	November 17, 2017
South Korea:	November 17, 2017
Mainland China:	November 17, 2017
Hong Kong:	November 17, 2017
Taiwan:	November 17, 2017
Websites
Japanese:	Pokémon.co.jp
English:	Official site; Pokémon.com; Nintendo.com (Ultra Sun); Nintendo.com (Ultra Moon)
	Japanese boxart ; Pokémon Ultra Sun Japanese boxart ; Pokémon Ultra Moon Japanese boxart

US redirects here. For information on the Pokémon series in the United States, see Pokémon in the United States.

Pokémon Ultra Sun (Japanese: ポケットモンスターウルトラサン Pocket Monsters Ultra Sun) and Pokémon Ultra Moon (Japanese: ポケットモンスターウルトラムーン Pocket Monsters Ultra Moon) are the second paired versions of Generation VII and are the upper games of Pokémon Sun and Moon, respectively, featuring an alternate storyline. The games are available on the Nintendo 3DS.

Bulbanews has multiple articles related to this subject:

Articles relating to Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

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Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

The games were announced worldwide on June 6, 2017, at 11 pm JST through Nintendo Direct. The paired versions were released worldwide on November 17, 2017. All copies of the game are playable in nine languages: Japanese, English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

The games feature Pokémon that did not appear in Pokémon Sun and Moon, including, as a series first, entirely new Pokémon introduced in the midst of a generation.

Plot

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

The game begins with a video call made by Professor Kukui to the player. Professor Kukui helps create a Trainer Passport for the player before they and the mother move from Kanto to Alola. Meanwhile, at roughly the same time, a young girl is seen escaping what seems to be a lab with an unidentified Pokémon in her bag. As she gets sandwiched between the workers from the lab on one side and alien-looking people in strange uniforms on the other, the Pokémon teleports itself and the girl away from the lab and away from danger.

Three months later, the player, along with the mother and Meowth, are enjoying their new home on Melemele Island. While taking a stroll on Route 1, the player gets attacked by a wild Yungoos, only for a Rowlet, Litten and Popplio to suddenly arrive on the scene and scare it off. Professor Kukui soon joins the player and explains these Pokémon are supposed to be given out as first partner Pokémon on behalf of the island kahuna Hala. Excited by what he just saw, he decides to give the player one of the three Pokémon right away. Before arriving to Iki Town, Professor Kukui and the player run into Hala's grandson Hau, who immediately takes a liking to the player. Of the two remaining first partner Pokémon, Hau chooses the one that is weak to the player's first partner Pokémon and challenges the player to a battle.

As the player, Professor Kukui and Hau reach Iki Town, the kahuna is nowhere to be found, so Kukui sends the player to the Mahalo Trail in hopes of finding the kahuna. On the trail, the player spots the girl that escaped the lab and follows her to the Plank Bridge.

The Pokémon that the girl was holding escapes her bag as they reach the Plank Bridge, happy about the new environment it is in. Suddenly, a flock of Spearow attack the defenseless Pokémon, leaving the girl worrying and asking the player to save her friend Nebby. As she asks this, one of the Spearow rushes towards the player, making the chosen first partner Pokémon save the day again. Once the Spearow is dealt with, the player rushes in and guards Nebby from further harm before Nebby uses its power to destroy the bridge. Before the player and Nebby fall to their doom, Tapu Koko flies through the Spearow and bring the pair back to safely. Thankful for rescuing Nebby, the girl gives the player a Sparkling Stone that appeared after Tapu Koko's departure.

The player and the girl then return to Iki Town and get greeted by Kukui. Kukui introduces the girl as his lab assistant, Lillie, before the kahuna, Hala, returns from resolving a problem on the island. After Lillie explains the encounter she and the player had with Tapu Koko, Hala gets touched by the moment. Kukui then gives the player a Pokédex and sends them to their mother to show off the new Pokémon. Before the player leaves, Hala notices the sparkling stone and asks if he could borrow it, to which the player obliges, before inviting the player to a festival the following day.

The next day, Kukui stops by the player's house again and takes him to Route 1 so he can teach them how to catch Pokémon. Kukui then lets the player train before going to the festival. Before reaching the festival, the player runs into the alien-looking people who seem preoccupied by auras surrounding Iki Town. They briefly talk to the player before leaving.

At the festival, Hala and Kukui reveal that it is an event where Pokémon battles are held in honor of the Guardian Pokémon in Alola. Hau and the player battle once again in honor of Tapu Koko, and this time the entire town watches, including Lillie, the player's mother, and Meowth. After Tapu Koko approves of the battling, Hala returns the sparkling stone, which is now converted into a Z-Power Ring. Hala explains the Z-Power Ring's powers and the Z-Crystals that can only be acquired by participating in the island challenge, where the player must travel to all four of Alola's islands to become the island challenge champion. Afterward, the player then returns home to prepare for the next day.

The next day, Lillie visits the player and the two head to Kukui's lab. In the lab, Kukui upgrades the player's Pokédex into a Rotom Pokédex and explains more about the island challenge, which includes taking trials and getting recognized by each island kahuna. As the three leave the lab, the sky momentarily darkens. Kukui dismisses the event as an unforeseen eclipse.

Before taking any trials, the player must attend the Trainers' School to learn the basics of battling. Luckily, the player is able to take on the teacher's assignments and the player is able to take Captain Ilima's trial in Verdant Cavern. After beating the teacher in battle, Ilima invites the player to Hau'oli City after the player trains some more.

When the player meets up with Ilima, two Team Skull Grunts appear, but they appear to be minor threats to Ilima. After a quick lesson from the player and Ilima, the Grunts flee and Ilima heals the player's Pokémon before challenging the player to a battle himself. After the battle, Ilima gets impressed by the player's team and allows the player to attempt his trial. On the way to Verdant Cavern, a Crabrawler drags the player to the Big Wave Beach as more Team Skull Grunts are causing trouble with other people. The Grunts get defeated by the player, and they announce to mess with Ilima's trial.

As the player makes it to Verdant Cavern, Ilima explains the rules of the trial and lets the player attempt it. Midway into the trial, the Grunts from earlier challenge the player again and get defeated. The Grunts bother a wild Pokémon in the area, unwittingly helping the player complete the next section of the trial. As the player almost completes the trial, Totem Gumshoos^US/Totem Raticate^UM ambushes the player and challenges the player to a battle. Upon defeat of the Pokémon, the player completes the trial.

After hearing that Lillie has gone missing, the player heads to Route 3 and into Melemele Meadow, where the player finds Lillie. Lillie again loses Nebby and the player has to go find it. The player finds a small opening and crawls inside, emerging in the Seaward Cave. There the player finds Nebby in the company of the same alien-looking people, Dulse and Zossie^US/Phyco and Soliera^UM, one of whom challenges the player to a battle. After dealing with them, the player returns to Lillie with Nebby in tow and they both leave the meadow to be greeted by Hau and Kukui. After hearing that Hau and the player passed their first trial, Kukui sends the player back to Iki Town for their grand trial with island kahuna Hala.

After defeating Hala, the player receives another Z-Crystal and is given a Ride Pager in order to ride Pokémon like Tauros in the Alola region. The player makes way to the next island, Akala Island, surfing on the back of a Mantine. On Akala Island, the player attends the trials of Lana, Kiawe, and Mallow before battling island kahuna Olivia. On Akala Island, the player once again encounters Team Skull and Dulse and Zossie^US/Phyco and Soliera^UM as well as new people like a suspicious scientist from Unova called Colress, a neglected member of Team Skull named Gladion who owns a Pokémon called Type: Null, and Hapu, a wanderer traveling the region with her Mudsdale. After defeating the island kahuna, Faba invites the player and Hau to Aether Paradise.

At Aether Paradise, the player and Hau meets the Aether Foundation President Lusamine and learn that the company is responsible for making Aether Paradise a sanctuary for abused Pokémon. In the middle of the meeting, a weird creature from another universe attacks the player and after a short battle retreats to its own world. That's when Dulse and Zossie^US/Phyco and Soliera^UM enter the scene once again. Lusamine introduces them as the Ultra Recon Squad, and explains that she is working with them to protect Alola from an otherworldly Pokémon called Necrozma. Lusamine then sends the player and Hau to Ula'ula Island to complete their island challenge.

On Ula'ula Island, the player prepares for the trials of Sophocles and Acerola. While taking these trials, the player learns about a Pokémon League under construction and is challenged to participate in it as soon as the player completes the island challenge. After completing the two trials, the player meets the Team Skull leader Guzma and visits their base at Po Town. After defeating the team in Po Town, Police officer Nanu and Acerola thank the player for rescuing a stolen Yungoos and head to the Aether House.

Upon entering the house, Hau tells the player that Team Skull's Admin, Plumeria, kidnapped Lillie and Nebby. Gladion overhears the conversation and demands Hau and the player to travel with him to the ferry terminal for their next destination. Before the trio leave, Nanu challenges the player as an island kahuna. Nanu gives the player another Z-Crystal and asks Gladion what he is depending on Team Skull for before departing. Gladion reveals to the player and Hau that they have to return to Aether Paradise to rescue Lillie and Nebby. Despite the crazy story, the player and Hau tag with Gladion to Aether Paradise.

At Aether Paradise, employees begin to attack the team as they believe they are intruders. They eventually reach Faba who, after a battle from the player, redirects the trio to the lower level of Aether Paradise, with the trio unaware that it is a trap in order to buy time. After learning of the trap, they head back up to find Faba, who brought reinforcements to battle them. Wicke then appears to them and says that Lillie might be with the President, but it would be hard to get to them. Faba then ambushes them again with more employees. The team defeats the employees and Faba again, resulting in Faba giving them access to the president's office.

The trio then spots Team Skull and Guzma in front of where they need to go. Gladion immediately takes on Guzma, while Hau and the player take out the Grunts. After taking out the Grunts, Guzma takes down Gladion and the player takes his place in battle. Guzma gets defeated by the player again and is forced to let the team move onward. After powering through another battle with Dulse^US/Soliera^UM, the player runs into Lusamine and Lillie. The player witnesses a darker side of Lusamine and learns that Nebby is being sacrificed to open an Ultra Wormhole to the place where Necrozma dwells. Lillie tries to reason with her mother but fails to do so, resulting in the player going after Lusamine.

Gladion and Hau catch up to the player and Gladion tells his mother she is not ready to fight Necrozma on her own, but again, Lusamine ignores her children and opens the wormhole anyways. She challenges the player to prove her children she can handle any threat with her Pokémon, but even a loss is not enough to deter her, as she calls a similarly stubborn Guzma with her, and they both cross over. After the Ultra Wormhole closes, Lillie checks on Nebby, who has now transformed into a new form. Shocked by Lusamine's actions, Dulse and Zossie^US/Phyco and Soliera^UM nevertheless respond to Lillie's plea for help and reveal they came to Alola from their world on the back of a Lunala^US/Solgaleo^UM, and that an altar on the final Island of Alola, Poni Island, holds a secret to awakening such a dimension-travelling beast.

The next day, Gladion gives Lillie the Moon Flute^US/Sun Flute^UM, helps the player and Lillie get to Poni Island, and recommends finding the island kahuna. The player and Lillie eventually find Hapu again, who reveals the island has no kahuna. The three then travel to the Ruins of Hope where Tapu Fini grants Hapu the honor of becoming Poni Island's new kahuna. Hapu then talks about the Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo^US/Lunala^UM and how there needs to be a ceremony at the Altar of the Sunne^US/Altar of the Moone^UM involving two particular flutes. Lillie shows Hapu the flute Gladion gave her and are told the other flute is on Exeggutor Island. The player then heads to Exeggutor Island to obtain Lillie's flute counterpart.

After the player returns to Poni Island, they and Lillie head to the Altar. On the way to the Altar, they get ambushed by Team Skull. Team Skull battles the player in order to try and get them to talk about where Guzma disappeared to, but Plumeria puts a stop to the battling. Plumeria apologizes for her actions and lets them continue onward in hopes of rescuing Guzma. Soon after, Dulse and Zossie^US/Phyco and Soliera^UM catch up to the duo and challenge the player. They explain that now that Lusamine has proven to be untrustworthy, the player is their only chance to stop Necrozma. The player makes way through the Vast Poni Canyon, walking into an unmanned Trial in the process, and completing it.

The player and Lillie reach the Altar and both prepare to play their flutes and either wait until dawn^US or dusk^UM to summon the Legendary Pokémon. After playing their flutes, an odd power in the Altar forms and takes Lillie's bag to the source of the power. Nebby is taken from the bag and evolves into Solgaleo^US/Lunala^UM. Nebby prepares to take the player and Lillie to Ultra Space with its new power, but an Ultra Wormhole suddenly opens, and Guzma and Lusamine fall out of it, followed by a levitating Necrozma. Necrozma immediately spots Nebby and assaults it, ultimately besting it in a battle and merging with it. The player then fights the merged Necrozma, but despite losing, it manages to escape. All the while, other wormholes appear all over Alola, sending Ultra Beasts across the land. The light all over the region also disappears, and the archipelago is plunged into darkness.

Lusamine asks the Ultra Recon Squad for help. However, they brush her off, as they're unwilling to forgive her for her recklessness. Instead, they give the player a uniform like their own and send them across dimensions to the Ultra Recon Squad's world on the back of their own Lunala^US/Solgaleo^UM. The player emerges in Ultra Megalopolis, ascends the Megalo Tower and faces Necrozma, now in its true form, a dragon made of light. After the battle, Necrozma disappears, as light returns to Alola. Returning to the Altar, the player learns that after Necrozma and Nebby landed in Alola, they unfused. Necrozma vanished, and Lusamine and Lillie are taking a severely weakened Nebby to Aether Paradise.

The threat of Necrozma is gone, but the player still has one trial to pass in order to complete the island challenge. The player meets the final Trial Captain, Mina, whose trial involves challenging the other Captains to a Pokémon battle. During the trip around the region, the player notices that Sophocles is saying goodbye to his cousin Molayne and that Acerola is nowhere to be found, having left her place in Mina's trial to Nanu. The player completes the trial, after which Hapu invites the player to the Exeggutor Island for the final Grand Trial. After Hapu is bested, the player's island challenge is officially complete. The only thing left to do is challenge the new Pokémon League in Mount Lanakila on Ula'ula Island and become Alola's first ever Champion.

While making way through Mount Lanakila, the player comes across a huge crater with, in the middle of it, a weakened Necrozma. The player gives it some of the light from their Z-Ring and catches it. Then, Colress, who has been watching the battle, arrives, congratulates the player for befriending the beast, and gives them the machines he built for triggering Necrozma's form changes by merging with Solgaleo and Lunala.

When the player reaches the Pokémon League, Professor Kukui greets the player and gives him the choice to battle any of the four members of the Alola League in whatever choice the player decides. The members include former Trial Captain Molayne who uses the Steel type, island kahuna Olivia who uses the Rock type, Trial Captain Acerola, who uses the Ghost type, and Kahili, a former island challenge champion and golfer who uses the Flying type. After the player defeats the Elite Four, they prepare to take a seat in the Champion's chair before Professor Kukui surprises the player with a final challenge, coming from none other than Hau. After winning the battle, the player becomes the first Alola League Champion and is invited back to a big festival in Iki Town to celebrate the big accomplishment.

During the following days, Guzma and Plumeria disband Team Skull. Gladion leaves the region by boat to train overseas and is surprised to see his mother Lusamine wave him goodbye from the Hau'oli Marina.

After the end credits, Hau and the Ultra Recon Squad meet the player outside of their house, congratulate them on becoming the Champion, and invite them along to Poni Island, where Ultra Beasts are still on the loose. On the way to Poni Grove, the player and Hau meet Wicke, who gives the player Type: Null. The player and Hau arrive at Poni Grove to help the Ultra Recon Squad capture Blacephalon^US or Stakataka^UM using the provided Beast Balls. One specimen caught by Hau is given to the Ultra Recon Squad and the Aether Foundation for research while the other two are caught by the player to keep. After the crisis is over, the Ultra Recon Squad thank the player and Hau and leave. The player returns home to rest.

Episode RR

Main article: Episode RR

After the search for Blacephalon^US/Stakataka^UM, the player takes a break at their house. Sophocles suddenly comes in, saying someone took over the Festival Plaza, and both he and the player immediately teleport there. It turns out the Festival Plaza has been taken over by Team Rainbow Rocket, and the player must battle a Team Rainbow Rocket Grunt at the Battle Agency to buy Sophocles enough time to fully regain his admin rights and kick the villainous team out of Festival Plaza.

Just after the player has returned home, a live television broadcast from Aether Paradise is interrupted when Team Rainbow Rocket makes its entrance there, taking over Lusamine's mansion. When the player arrives to Aether Paradise with Lillie, they find out that Team Rainbow Rocket has taken Lusamine hostage and turned her mansion into their base; Team Rocket's Castle. Upon trying to enter the castle, the player and Lillie are confronted by Faba, who is revealed to have allied himself with the villainous team in the hopes of furthering his own career.

Once Faba has been defeated, the player starts making their way through the castle. Along the way to rescue Lusamine, they must battle and defeat the villainous team leaders Archie, Maxie, Cyrus, Lysandre, and Ghetsis, whom Team Rainbow Rocket had summoned from alternate universes where their respective plans had succeeded. The player and Lillie are assisted by Colress, who believes the villainous intrusions to be a result of Necrozma's power to open Ultra Wormholes overflowing and resonating with the villains' evil intentions. At the deepest part of the castle, the player confronts the team's leader, Giovanni, who reveals his goal being to assemble an army of Ultra Beasts using Aether Foundation's resources. However, once the player has defeated him, he accepts his loss and leaves, causing the mansion to be restored to normal in the process. Faba is punished for his treachery by being demoted to an intern, and Giovanni is seen teleporting away to continue his evil schemes in a different reality.

Blurb

New Secrets Await Discovery in Alola...
LET'S GO!

Changes from Pokémon Sun and Moon

Aesthetic changes

All HUDs and menus have received graphical updates.
Animations leading to battles flash in colors of the rainbow.
Trainers' models are now continuously animated when they lose.
Trainers' models now have a lead-in animation for Double Battles before throwing their Poké Balls, instead of staying in place.
Some locations feature visible wild Pokémon wandering in the background, such as Murkrow and Wingull on Route 1, Magmar on Route 7, Alolan Dugtrio in Diglett's Cave, or Bewear at the end of Poni Gauntlet.
The wild Pokémon battle theme has been remixed.
The Trainer battle theme has been remixed for regular Trainers. Its original version is played while fighting against Trial Captains.

Location changes

The four islands now have beaches where Mantine Surf can be played. While Big Wave Beach on Melemele Island and Heahea Beach on Akala Island are entirely new locations, Ula'ula Beach is a repurposed Secluded Shore, and a part of Poni Wilds has been cut off for Poni Beach.
- Big Wave Beach also gives access to Sandy Cave, another new location.
Alola Photo Clubs have been added to Hau'oli City and Konikoni City where vacant lots used to be. Hau'oli City also has a completely new design.
A previously vacant lot in Heahea City and a previously empty island on Route 15 now house branches of the Surf Association.
A previously vacant lot in Royal Avenue now houses a branch of the Pokémon Fan Club.
A previously vacant lot in Malie City now houses the Kantonian Gym.
The interior appearance of the player's house has been completely changed.
Route 1 and Mahalo Trail have more colorful vegetation. In addition, an additional patch of grass located on the previously grassless path to Iki Town has been added to Route 1.
The camera places itself in a different angle when the player traverses the northern part of Route 2.
Seaward Cave features a more icy design and no longer requires Tauros Charge.
Kala'e Bay has been expanded.
The path to the Flyinium Z through Ten Carat Hill no longer requires using Machamp Shove.
The third floor of the Tide Song Hotel in Heahea City can now be explored.
A new area, Pikachu Valley, can be accessed from Route 4.
Lana's trial site now occupies the entirety of Brooklet Hill, and not just the Totem's Den.
Dividing Peak Tunnel between Route 7 and Route 8 is now a distinct location.
Lush Jungle features different vegetation in some parts.
Hokulani Observatory has a new room, where the updated trial takes place.
Some of the sea surrounding Poni Breaker Coast can now be surfed on.
A part of Exeggutor Island can no longer be reached by foot, requiring a lift from a helpful Exeggutor. It also features more colorful vegetation.
Mount Lanakila has been greatly expanded, now housing numerous Trainers, making it similar to Victory Roads from previous games.
A new cave, Plains Grotto, can be accessed from Poni Plains.

Gameplay changes

For the first time in the series, five new Pokémon were introduced mid-generation in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, bringing the total from 802 to 807. The added Pokémon consist of the Ultra Beasts Poipole, Naganadel, Stakataka, and Blacephalon and the Mythical Pokémon Zeraora.
101 Pokémon have been added to the Alola Pokédex, bringing it to a total of 403 entries.
New forms have been introduced for several Pokémon:
- The Partner Cap Pikachu, obtainable via a QR Code.
- The event-exclusive Dusk Form Lycanroc, distributed as a special Rockruff which has to be evolved from 5 PM to 5:59 PM^US/5 AM to 5:59 AM^UM in in-game time.
- Dusk Mane, Dawn Wings and Ultra forms for Necrozma, of which two are seen during the main adventure.
New signature Z-Moves for certain Pokémon have been introduced:
- Splintered Stormshards for Lycanroc
- Let's Snuggle Forever for Mimikyu
- Clangorous Soulblaze for Kommo-o
- Searing Sunraze Smash for Solgaleo and Dusk Mane Necrozma
- Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom for Lunala and Dawn Wings Necrozma
- Light That Burns the Sky for Ultra Necrozma
Besides Z-Moves, three new moves are introduced: Photon Geyser, Mind Blown, and Plasma Fists. All of them are signature moves.
The Rotom Pokédex has been improved with added features:
- It can grow closer to the player over the course of their journey, eventually picking a nickname for its owner.
- As its affection towards the player grows, it also unlocks the possibility of obtaining boosting items similar to O-Powers through the Roto Loto or to use Z-Moves more than once per battle.
- It will comment on seeing a Pokémon for the first time, but only if the player can catch it in the same battle.
- It offers gameplay advice, such as warning the player that they haven't saved in a while or suggesting that the player heal their injured Pokémon.
- In later portions of the game, Rotom offers constant tutorial-style advice on how to use features of the game, such as how to give a Pokémon an item. Rotom offers random advice every time the player finishes a battle or conversation, or travels between screens.
The Alola Photo Club has been introduced, which allows players to take photos with the Pokémon in their party. These photos can then be edited with stickers, posted to the Pokémon Global Link, or saved to the 3DS's SD card. The player also has the option of doing an impromptu photo shoot after a Pokémon in their party evolves.
Two mini-games have been introduced, each one being mandatory to try out once during the main adventure:
- Mantine Surf is a new Poké Ride and minigame accessible from Big Wave Beach on Melemele Island, Heahea Beach on Akala Island, Ula'ula Beach (formerly Secluded Shore) on Ula'ula Island, and Poni Beach on Poni Island. The minigame, in addition to transporting players to other islands, allows them to earn Battle Points by executing tricks off the ocean waves and earning points.
- Ultra Warp Ride allows the player to traverse Ultra Space on the back of a Solgaleo or Lunala, allowing them to explore the Ultra Space Wilds to find non-regional Pokémon and visit the homeworlds of Ultra Beasts. By absorbing energy, they can travel more light-years through space, increasing their chance of finding rarer, even Shiny Pokémon. This also includes the chance of encountering all the past Legendary Pokémon (excluding Zygarde), though many are version-exclusive, or require trade to encounter the third member of their set.
The Zygarde Cube sidequest has been mostly removed, as the player now only needs to capture a 50% Forme Zygarde in Resolution Cave during the postgame, and meet and battle Dexio and Sina on Route 16 to get another Zygarde in its 10% Forme and a Zygarde Cube with 40 cells, allowing them to combine both Zygarde and cells into a Power Construct Zygarde immediately afterwards.
In the place of Zygarde Cells and Cores, the player can collect Totem Stickers scattered throughout the four islands of Alola by its captains. Upon hitting certain milestones, the player can receive Pokémon the size of Totem Pokémon from Samson Oak at Heahea Beach. These Pokémon, with the exception of Mimikyu, vary by game.
Altar of the Sunne and Altar of the Moone can be directly flown to using Charizard Glide, instead of requiring the player to fly to Vast Poni Canyon and walk up the stairs.
Many Pokémon have acquired the ability to learn new moves and expand and improve their movesets; for example, Litten can now learn Double Kick by leveling up and Swablu can now learn Play Rough through breeding.
Location-based evolutions can be triggered during the player's first visit to Ula'ula Island:
- The special magnetic field used to evolve Magneton, Nosepass, and Charjabug is now also present on Blush Mountain.
- The base of Mount Lanakila is open from the start, allowing the player to evolve Crabrawler.
Unless the player uses an Adrenaline Orb, wild Pokémon will only call for help once. This does not apply to Totem Pokémon.
Pikachu, Cubone, and Exeggcute can evolve into their non-Alolan forms if the evolution is triggered in Ultra Space.
Ultra Beasts introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon can be repeatedly caught. To accommodate for this, Beast Balls are now available for purchase in Aether Paradise.
Necrozma's catch rate has been increased from 3 to 255.
Most of the trials have been updated, and a new one has been added:
- Lana, Kiawe, Mallow, and Sophocles have new tasks for the player to complete before fighting the Totem Pokémon.
- The species of the Totem Pokémon met at the end of Lana, Kiawe, and Sophocles's trials have been changed.
- Except for Totem Gumshoos^US/Raticate^UM, Totem Pokémon call on different allies, making use of different strategies.
- Mina now has her own trial as well, bringing the number of trials from seven to eight.
All of the Mega Stones that were only collected by special events in the original games are now available as prizes at the Battle Tree.
Most of the Pokémon found from Island Scan were replaced with new non-regional Pokémon that were not found in the original games.
- The Pokémon that were part of the Island Scan in the original games have a different special move in their moveset when found in either of these games.
The location where the player could pick up the Pikanium Z as well as the Move Tutor for teaching Pikachu Volt Tackle is now located outside of Hano Grand Resort instead of at Konikoni City.
The Snorlium Z, Mewnium Z, Marshadium Z, and Diancite can now be acquired through normal gameplay.
More Move Tutors have been added to teach Pokémon moves in exchange for Battle Points with one of them located on each island.
Due to the expansion of the Alola Dex, the other Fossil Pokémon are now included and just like with the Sinnoh and Unova Fossils, their Fossils can also be purchased once at Konikoni City depending on the version. Furthermore, all of the above mentioned Fossils are no longer limited to one game, as any of them have a very rare chance of being obtained at Poké Pelago's Isle Aphun regardless of version.
During the post-game, Type: Null is now given at Ancient Poni Path at the exit to Poni Grove by Wicke, instead of by Gladion at Aether Paradise.
The list of possible Trainers encountered at the Pokémon League Title Defense battles has been slightly altered, replacing Faba and Molayne with Lusamine and Guzma.
A number of TMs have been moved to new locations.
In routes where fishing is available, bubbles indicating more interesting encounter rates don't always appear on the same fishing spot, and can appear on multiple spots at once.
The Battle Agency is introduced, unlocked after clearing Sophocles's trial.

Storyline changes

The player obtains their first Pokémon on Route 1 from Professor Kukui instead of Iki Town, and does so before saving Lillie.
Hau is first fought before arriving in Iki Town, instead of before leaving it.
While saving Nebby, the player fights one of the wild Spearow before taking their first step on the bridge.
The player receives the island challenge amulet from Hala during the festival instead of obtaining it from Professor Kukui the next day.
The first encounter with the two Team Skull Grunts takes place in Hau'oli City itself, rather than at the Marina.
Instead of being led to Berry fields by a Delibird, the player is led to Big Wave Beach by a Crabrawler, where the second battle against Team Skull takes place.
Instead of wandering in Melemele Meadow, Nebby hides in Seaward Cave.
The player and Hau travel from Melemele Island to Akala Island using Mantine Surf instead of hitching a ride on Professor Kukui's boat.
Adding Charizard to the Ride Pager does not automatically unlock access to Poké Pelago, the player has to meet Mohn on Route 7 first.
Hau forces the player to visit Festival Plaza upon meeting him on Route 8.
Molayne does not challenge the player to a battle before Sophocles's trial. Instead, Molayne would give the player the Steelium Z upon meeting him, whereas in the original games, he would give the player the Steelium Z upon completing Sophocles's trial.
Bits of dialogue were added between Hau and Guzma, in which they sometimes discuss the purpose and the satisfaction found in the island challenge and battling Pokémon in general.
An additional cutscene plays during Acerola's trial, where the character sees an apparition in the shape of Acerola, begging them to leave the site.
The player and Lillie are welcomed to Poni Island by Mina instead of the chief of Seafolk Village, though the latter still takes the player to Exeggutor Island.
The player visits Exeggutor Island alone, and has to fight three Pinsir pestering the Exeggutor residing there, one of which then helps the player reach the Sun Flute^US/Moon Flute^UM.
An additional storyline involving Necrozma and the Ultra Recon Squad starts early in the game and converges with Lusamine's storyline when the player reaches Aether Paradise.
- After the player and Lillie leave Professor Kukui's lab, the sky darkens for a few seconds. Professor Kukui dismisses the phenomenon as a solar (if seen during the day) or lunar (if seen during the night) eclipse, and considers it a good omen.
- The player frequently runs into Dulse and Zossie^US/Phyco and Soliera^UM. On occasion, Dulse^US/Soliera^UM challenges them to a Pokémon battle.
- Lusamine's motivations are changed from being obsessed with Ultra Beasts to wanting to save the world from Necrozma by any means necessary. In both cases, she is willing to harm Nebby in order to open up an Ultra Wormhole(s) to achieve her goal. Her first battle against the player happens under the same circumstances but for a different reason, and she does not fight the player a second time.
- Instead of directly catching Nebby when it evolves into Solgaleo^US/Lunala^UM, the player witnesses Necrozma fighting Nebby and merging with it. The player then fights the merged Necrozma and chases it across dimensions all the way to Megalo Tower in Ultra Megalopolis for a final battle.
- After these events, a weakened Necrozma can be found and captured in Mount Lanakila. Nebby can be captured at Mahalo Trail.
Hapu is now fought on Exeggutor Island after all of the trials have been completed.
- Due to this change, the player cannot return to the Exeggutor Island after collecting the Sun Flute^US/Moon Flute^UM until Hapu's grand trial becomes available. Additionally, completing the grand trial is also necessary for the player to fly there directly.
Molayne replaces Hala as a member of the Elite Four.
- Hala can still be rematched during the post-game in Iki Town. Defeating Hala will allow him to give the player the Z-Crystals for the final evolutions of the other two Alola first partner Pokémon, a role Hau did at the beginning of the post-game in the original games.
Hau does not challenge the player before their Pokémon League challenge, appearing as the final challenger instead.
The player is no longer forced to fight Tapu Koko before the end credits.
The quest involving Looker and Anabel investigating Ultra Beasts is replaced with a brief search for Blacephalon^US/Stakataka^UM, followed by Episode RR, a larger quest involving Team Rainbow Rocket.
Gladion leaves Alola to train overseas in Johto and Kanto, unlike the original games where Lillie and Lusamine were the ones to leave the region at the end of the main story. He later returns to Alola to rematch the player.

Pokémon

See Category:Generation VII Pokémon

Version-exclusive Pokémon

Ultra Sun

0037	Vulpix Alolan form	Ice
0038	Ninetales Alolan form	Ice	Fairy
0228	Houndour	Dark	Fire
0229	Houndoom	Dark	Fire
0243	Raikou	Electric
0250	Ho-Oh	Fire	Flying
0381	Latios	Dragon	Psychic
0383	Groudon	Ground
0483	Dialga	Steel	Dragon
0485	Heatran	Fire	Steel
0546	Cottonee	Grass	Fairy
0547	Whimsicott	Grass	Fairy
0550	Basculin Red-Striped	Water
0622	Golett	Ground	Ghost
0623	Golurk	Ground	Ghost
0627	Rufflet	Normal	Flying
0628	Braviary	Normal	Flying
0641	Tornadus	Flying
0643	Reshiram	Dragon	Fire
0692	Clauncher	Water
0693	Clawitzer	Water
0716	Xerneas	Fairy
0766	Passimian	Fighting
0776	Turtonator	Fire	Dragon
0791	Solgaleo	Psychic	Steel
0794	Buzzwole	Bug	Fighting
0798	Kartana	Grass	Steel
0800	Necrozma Dusk Mane Necrozma	Psychic	Steel
0806	Blacephalon	Fire	Ghost

Ultra Moon

0027	Sandshrew Alolan form	Ice	Steel
0028	Sandslash Alolan form	Ice	Steel
0244	Entei	Fire
0249	Lugia	Psychic	Flying
0309	Electrike	Electric
0310	Manectric	Electric
0343	Baltoy	Ground	Psychic
0344	Claydol	Ground	Psychic
0380	Latias	Dragon	Psychic
0382	Kyogre	Water
0484	Palkia	Water	Dragon
0486	Regigigas	Normal
0548	Petilil	Grass
0549	Lilligant	Grass
0550	Basculin Blue-Striped	Water
0629	Vullaby	Dark	Flying
0630	Mandibuzz	Dark	Flying
0642	Thundurus	Electric	Flying
0644	Zekrom	Dragon	Electric
0690	Skrelp	Poison	Water
0691	Dragalge	Poison	Dragon
0717	Yveltal	Dark	Flying
0765	Oranguru	Normal	Psychic
0780	Drampa	Normal	Dragon
0792	Lunala	Psychic	Ghost
0795	Pheromosa	Bug	Fighting
0797	Celesteela	Steel	Flying
0800	Necrozma Dawn Wings Necrozma	Psychic	Ghost
0805	Stakataka	Rock	Steel

Totem-sized Pokémon

Ultra Sun

0105	Marowak Alolan form	Fire	Ghost
0735	Gumshoos	Normal
0738	Vikavolt	Bug	Electric
0743	Ribombee	Bug	Fairy
0754	Lurantis	Grass

Ultra Moon

0020	Raticate Alolan form	Dark	Normal
0752	Araquanid	Water	Bug
0758	Salazzle	Poison	Fire
0777	Togedemaru	Electric	Steel
0784	Kommo-o	Dragon	Fighting

Compatibility

On November 20, 2017, an update for Pokémon Bank was released that allows it to interact with Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. In addition to regular storage, the update allows Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon to receive Pokémon from the Generation VI games, as well as the Virtual Console releases of the Generation I and II games through the Poké Transporter in a similar method used to transfer from Generation V.

Totem-sized Alolan Marowak, Ribombee, Araquanid, and Togedemaru cannot be transferred to Pokémon Bank. Unlike Spiky-eared Pichu, they can be traded, but they cannot leave Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Localization changes

Localization changes shared by Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

Main article: Pokémon Sun and Moon → Localization changes shared by Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

Reception

Gaming magazine Famitsu gave Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon a score of 36 out of 40.^[1] IGN rated the games an "Amazing" 9.0/10.^[2] Both Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon hold a rating of 84% on Metacritic.^[3]^[4]

Sales

In the fiscal year of their release, they sold 7.51 million units.^[5] As of September 30, 2024, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon have sold 9.23 million copies worldwide, making these the lowest selling core series Pokémon games on the Nintendo 3DS.^[6]

Japanese sales

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon sold 667,439 individual units on their first week on the Japanese market, being 335,454 from Pokémon Ultra Sun and 331,986 from Pokémon Ultra Moon, with a sell-through of 66.30% and 66.98% respectively.^[7] By January 3, 2021, the end of their 164th week, they had sold 1,908,201 copies, being 968,772 from Pokémon Ultra Sun and 939,429 from Pokémon Ultra Moon.^[8]

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Veteran Trainer's Dual Pack sold 247,782 units on its first week, with a sell-through of 84.37%.^[7] By December 30, 2018, the end of its 59th week, it had sold 354,970 copies.^[9] Combining all releases, the games sold 2,618,141 units, being 1,323,742 from Pokémon Ultra Sun and 1,294,399 from Pokémon Ultra Moon.

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

Week	Week ending	Ranking	Units sold	Total units sold
1	November 19, 2017	1st	667,439	667,439
2	November 26, 2017	1st	168,978	836,417
3	December 3, 2017	1st	107,657	944,074
4	December 10, 2017	3rd	106,094	1,050,168
5	December 17, 2017	3rd	119,005	1,169,173
6	December 24, 2017	3rd	176,789	1,345,962
7	December 31, 2017	4th	61,698	1,407,660
8	January 7, 2018	4th	69,355	1,477,015
9	January 14, 2018	5th	21,494	1,498,509
10	January 21, 2018	8th	16,790	1,515,299
11	January 28, 2018	6th	12,702	1,528,001
12	February 4, 2018	9th	11,028	1,539,029
13	February 11, 2018	12th	9,654	1,548,683
14	February 18, 2018	15th	9,358	1,558,042
15	February 25, 2018	12th	8,614	1,566,656
16	March 4, 2018	8th	9,930	1,576,586
17	March 11, 2018	8th	8,622	1,585,208
18	March 18, 2018	12th	7,708	1,592,916
19	March 25, 2018	15th	7,001	1,599,916
20	April 1, 2018	16th	5,999	1,605,916
59	December 30, 2018	20th	6,257	1,796,584
111	December 29, 2019	-	-	1,885,144
164	January 3, 2021	-	-	1,908,201

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Veteran Trainer's Dual Pack

Week	Week ending	Ranking	Units sold	Total units sold
1	November 19, 2017	2nd	247,782	247,782
2	November 26, 2017	6th	20,297	268,080
3	December 3, 2017	11th	10,872	278,952
4	December 10, 2017	14th	11,198	290,149
5	December 17, 2017	15th	12,117	302,266
6	December 24, 2017	17th	17,679	319,945
7	December 31, 2017	27th	-	324,944
8	January 7, 2018	29th	-	-
9	January 14, 2018	32nd	-	-
10	January 21, 2018	34th	-	-
11	January 28, 2018	47th	-	-
16	March 4, 2018	44th	-	-
17	March 11, 2018	47th	-	-
59	December 30, 2018	-	-	354,970

Staff

Main article: Staff of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

Music

This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

Version history

Version	Release date	Official changelog	More information
1.0	November 17, 2017	N/A	Initial release
1.1	December 13, 2017	Various bugs have been fixed in order to provide a smoother gaming experience.	Fixes the following glitches: Mantine Beach Move Tutor glitch Ion Deluge glitch Wide Guard glitch Litten crash glitch Battle Videos recorded prior to this update cannot be played on the Vs. Recorder.
1.2	February 7, 2018	Various fixes to improve gameplay.	The double game freeze glitch was fixed.

Beta elements

Main article: Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon beta