You’re standing at the altar. The screen flickers. Suddenly, a literal dragon made of blinding light descends from a golden rift, its stats boosted to high heaven, and it proceeds to one-shot your entire team before you can even select an attack. Welcome to Alola. If you're looking for a Pokémon Ultra Sun walkthrough, you’ve probably realized by now that this isn't the breezy tropical vacation the box art promised. It's actually one of the most deceptively difficult games in the entire franchise.
I've played through every generation since Red and Blue. Usually, you can just overlevel your starter and steamroll the Elite Four. Not here. Between the Totem Pokémon having built-in "aura" buffs and the revamped AI that actually knows how to use held items, Ultra Sun is a different beast entirely. You need a plan.
Melemele Island: Don't Rush the Early Game
Most people think the first island is just a long tutorial. They're wrong. While Professor Kukui is busy explaining how to catch a Pidgey for the millionth time, you should be looking for a Hawlucha. Specifically, the one you can trade for in the Route 2 Pokémon Center. Her name is Cha, and she is basically the "Easy Mode" button for the first half of the game.
The first big wall is Ilima’s trial at Verdant Cavern. In Ultra Sun, you face a Totem Gumshoos. It’s got a Defense boost and calls in reinforcements. If you’re just clicking "Tackle," you're going to lose. Use Cha. Low Sweep is your best friend here. Honestly, the biggest mistake people make in this Pokémon Ultra Sun walkthrough is ignoring the X-Items. This isn't the competitive ladder; there is no shame in using an X-Attack or an X-Defense to survive a Totem’s opening turn.
Once you beat Hala—who is a bit of a pushover if you caught a Wingull or a Drifloon—you get the Ride Passport. This is where the game opens up. But before you leave Melemele, go back to Ten Carat Hill. You can find Carbink there. It’s not a powerhouse, but its Defense is legendary for this stage of the game, and it can soak up hits while you heal your heavy hitters.
Akala Island and the Infamous Totem Lurantis
Akala is where the difficulty spike really hits. You’ve got three trials here, and they are all designed to punish specific weaknesses.
- Lana’s Trial: Totem Araquanid is a nightmare because of its "Water Bubble" ability. It doubles its Water-type damage. If you don't have a Pikachu or a Grubbin, you're in trouble.
- Kiawe’s Trial: Everyone remembers the Marowak dance, but the fight is the real deal. Totem Marowak has a Speed boost.
- Mallow’s Trial: This is the one. Totem Lurantis.
Let's talk about Lurantis for a second. It carries a Power Herb. It uses Solar Blade—a 125-power move—instantly on turn one. Then it calls in a Castform that uses Sunny Day, making Solar Blade spammable without the charge turn. It’s a brutal synergy. To beat it, you need a Salandit or a Fletchinder. You have to burn it. If you don't reduce its Attack or change the weather, it will sweep you. Period.
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After the trials, you face Olivia. Her Lycanroc is fast. Like, really fast. If you chose Rowlet or Litten, you might struggle here unless you’ve picked up a Mudbray on Route 4. Mudbray with the "Stamina" ability is arguably the best Pokémon for a casual Alola run. Every time it gets hit, its Defense goes up. By the time the fight is half over, it's a physical tank that nothing can touch.
The Ultra Space Problem
By the time you reach Ula'ula Island, the story starts getting weird. You meet the Ultra Recon Squad. They’re weirdly tall, they wear futuristic spandex, and they have Poipole.
The biggest thing to watch out for in this part of the Pokémon Ultra Sun walkthrough is the level jump. The jump between the third island and the Aether Paradise segment is significant. You’ll be fighting Gladion and then a series of Aether Foundation employees. They love status moves. Stock up on Full Heals. You’ll find them in the Malie City Pokémon Center.
A lot of players get stuck at the Aether Foundation because they didn't prepare for Lusamine’s Clefable. It’s bulky. It heals. It’s annoying. Use a Poison-type or a strong Steel-type like Magneton. You can find Magnemite right at the start of the game near the Trainers' School, and honestly, you should keep it all the way to the end. Magnezone is a top-tier encounter for this game.
The Ultra Necrozma Wall: How to Actually Win
This is the moment. The reason you're reading this. Ultra Necrozma at the top of Megalo Tower is widely considered the hardest boss fight in any mainline Pokémon game.
It is Level 60. All of its stats are boosted by one stage immediately. It has "Neuroforce," which makes its super-effective moves even stronger. Most players arrive here with a team in the mid-50s and get wiped in six turns.
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Here is the secret strategy that most guides won't tell you because they want you to "play fair." You don't have to play fair.
- The Zoroark Bait: Necrozma’s AI is programmed to use Photon Geyser (a Psychic move) if it sees a Fighting or Poison type. If you have a Zoroark in your party, its "Illusion" ability makes it look like the Pokémon in your last slot. Put a Fighting-type like Hawlucha in the back. Necrozma will spam Psychic moves against your "Hawlucha," but since it's actually Zoroark (a Dark-type), the moves do zero damage. You can just sit there and chip away at it.
- The Focus Sash / Mirror Coat Trick: Give a Pokémon a Focus Sash (you can get one from the Poni Island wilds or via BP). Let Necrozma hit you. You survive with 1 HP. Use Mirror Coat or Counter. Since Necrozma hits like a truck, you’ll send back double that damage and usually OHKO it.
- Toxic Stall: If you have a Pokémon with the "Sturdy" ability (like Magnezone or Gigalith), give it a Toxic TM. Survive the first hit, poison the dragon, and then just spam Revives on your other Pokémon until the poison ticks it down to zero.
It feels cheap. But so is a Level 60 legendary with a +1 boost to every stat. Use what works.
The Alola Elite Four and the Title Defense
Once you’ve saved the multiverse, you still have to become the Champion. Mount Lanakila is a bit of a trek, and you’ll have one last fight with Gladion. His Silvally will change types to counter your starter, so be ready for that.
The Elite Four in Ultra Sun consists of Molayne (Steel), Olivia (Rock), Acerola (Ghost), and Kahili (Flying).
Steel is weak to Fire and Ground. Rock is weak to Water, Grass, and Fighting. Ghost is weak to Dark and Ghost. Flying is weak to Electric and Ice. If you have a well-rounded team, this isn't the hardest part of the game. The real challenge is the final battle for the throne.
In Ultra Sun, your final opponent isn't Hau (like it was in the original Sun/Moon). It’s Professor Kukui or, depending on certain choices and the specific version, it can feel like a gauntlet. Actually, in the Ultra versions, it's Hau who challenges you for the title of the first-ever Champion. His Alolan Raichu is incredibly fast, and his Crabominable hits like a freight train.
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Pro Tip: Don't let his Noivern get a Dragon Pulse off. It’s faster than almost anything you have unless you’re using an Alolan Dugtrio or a Ribombee.
Essential Pokémon for Your Team
If you’re struggling to fill your six slots, here are the absolute "must-haves" for a smooth run:
- Magnezone: Resists almost everything. High Special Attack. Thunderbolt clears half the game.
- Mudsdale: The Stamina ability makes it nearly invincible against physical attackers.
- Hawlucha: High speed and great typing for the early and mid-game trials.
- Zoroark: Necessary for the "cheese" strategy against Necrozma and generally great for mind games.
- Arcanine: You can catch Growlithe early on Route 2. You’ll need the Fire power for the Steel-type Elite Four.
- Primarina (If you chose Poipole): Having a Fairy/Water type is a massive advantage against the many Dragon and Dark types in the late game.
After the Credits: The Team Rainbow Rocket Episode
Don't put the 3DS down yet. The post-game content in Ultra Sun is actually better than the main story. You get the Episode RR (Rainbow Rocket) arc.
This is fanservice at its peak. You’ll fight Giovanni, Archie, Maxie, Cyrus, Lysandre, and Ghetsis. They all have their signature legendaries. Yes, Cyrus has a Dialga/Palkia, and Giovanni has a Mega Mewtwo.
The strategy here is simple: Level up. Use the Chansey SOS calling method on Poni Island to grind your team to Level 70+. If you go into the Rainbow Rocket castle under-leveled, Ghetsis will absolutely wreck your day with his Hydreigon.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Journey
- Go get the trade Hawlucha: If you're still on the first island, go to the Route 2 Pokémon Center. Trade a Spearow for "Cha." It will save you hours of frustration.
- Farm for a Thick Club: If you catch a Cubone, try to find one holding a Thick Club (use a Pokémon with the "Frisk" ability). It doubles Marowak's Attack, making it one of the hardest-hitting Pokémon in the game.
- Download the QR Scanner: Use the QR scanner feature to get "Island Scan" Pokémon like Charmander or Squirtle. They aren't in the Alola Dex, but they are incredibly strong additions to any team.
- Visit the Move Tutor: In Big Wave Beach, you can spend Beach Points (earned from Mantine Surfing) to teach your Pokémon moves they wouldn't normally learn, like Iron Head or Drain Punch. This is vital for coverage.
Alola is a beautiful region, but it’s punishing if you play it like a standard Pokémon game. Use the environment, use the SOS mechanics to find hidden abilities, and for the love of Arceus, keep a Focus Sash in your bag for Necrozma. You're going to need it.