You’re standing in the middle of Poni Island, your 3DS battery is blinking red, and you’ve just spent the last ten minutes spinning in circles. It sounds ridiculous. But if you’ve ever used Island Scan Pokemon Ultra Moon, you know the drill. You’re waiting for that specific beep, the one that tells you a Pokémon not even native to the Alola Pokédex has suddenly appeared. It’s a rush. Honestly, it’s one of the few mechanics in the Gen 7 games that actually rewards you for engaging with the outside world—or at least, for googling a bunch of QR codes on your laptop.
Most people play through Ultra Moon and stick to the basics. They grab a Rowlet, catch a Pikipek, and call it a day. But if you aren't using the QR Scanner, you're missing out on some of the heaviest hitters in the franchise. We’re talking about starters from Johto, Sinnoh, and Unova. We're talking about pseudo-legendaries and rare competitive picks that you usually have to wait until the post-game to find. It’s basically a legal cheat code for building a team that looks like it belongs in a different region entirely.
How the QR Scanner Actually Functions
The math is simple but tedious. You get one "scan" every two hours. You can hold a maximum of ten scans at once. This means you can't just spam the feature all day; you have to be intentional. Each scan gives you 10 points. Once you hit 100 points, you can trigger the Island Scan Pokemon Ultra Moon feature.
It’s a bit of a commitment. You have to open the menu, find the QR Scanner, and then point your camera at literally any QR code. It doesn't even have to be a Pokémon code. I’ve scanned the back of a cereal box and a bottle of shampoo before. It works. The game doesn't care. It just wants the data. Once that 100-point meter is full, you hold down the R button, and the game "searches" the island you’re currently standing on.
Timing is Everything
Here is where most players mess up: they don't check the day of the week. The Pokémon you get is entirely dependent on which island you are on and what day it is in the real world. If you fire off your scan on a Tuesday on Melemele Island, you’re getting a Luxio. If you do it on a Saturday, you’re getting a Litwick.
If you waste your 100 points on a day when the available Pokémon is something you don't want, you’re stuck waiting another twenty hours to recharge your points. It’s brutal. You’ve got to be calculated. Check your 3DS clock. Make sure you’re standing in the right patch of tall grass.
Melemele Island: The Early Game Power Trip
Usually, the first island in a Pokémon game is a slog. You’re stuck with Rattatas and birds. But with Island Scan Pokemon Ultra Moon, Melemele becomes a gold mine.
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On Mondays, you can snag a Squirtle at Seaward Cave. Think about that. You haven't even finished the first trial and you can have a Kanto starter. On Fridays, it’s Bulbasaur at Route 2. Sunday gives you Charmander at Route 3. If you’re patient, you can have the entire Kanto trio before you even leave for Akala Island. It completely breaks the difficulty curve of the early game, but in the best way possible.
There’s also Deino on Tuesdays at Ten Carat Hill. Hydreigon is one of the most powerful Dragon-types in the game, and getting its base form this early is a massive advantage. You just have to be prepared for the grind, because Deino doesn't evolve until level 50, and then level 64. It’s a long-term investment.
Akala Island: Mid-Game Reinforcements
By the time you hit Akala, the levels start to jump. The Pokémon found via Island Scan Pokemon Ultra Moon here are usually in the level 17 to 24 range.
- Monday: Spheal (Route 7). Great for Ice-type coverage which is notoriously hard to find early.
- Tuesday: Luxio (Route 8). A solid Electric-type if you didn't pick up a Grubbin or Pichu.
- Wednesday: Honedge (Akala Outskirts). This is the big one. Aegislash is a competitive monster. Having a Ghost/Steel type mid-game makes the Totem fights significantly easier.
- Thursday: Venipede (Route 4).
- Friday: Sceptile’s pre-evolution, Grovyle (Route 5).
- Saturday: Marshtomp (Brooklet Hill). Swampert is widely considered one of the best starters ever due to its Water/Ground typing.
- Sunday: Combusken (Route 8). Blaziken with Speed Boost (if you’re lucky with abilities later) is a literal nuke.
The variety here is wild. You can essentially build a Hoenn-themed team while walking through a tropical Alolan volcano.
Ula'ula and Poni: The Heavy Hitters
Once you reach the later islands, the stakes get higher. This is where you find the Sinnoh starters and some of the more "exotic" picks.
On Ula'ula Island, Wednesday brings you Empoleon's first form, Piplup. Thursday gives you Monferno. Friday gives you Grotle. It’s the Sinnoh fan’s dream. But the real prize on Ula'ula is Sunday: Aegislash's counterpart, the powerhouse Rhyperior (well, Rhyhorn).
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Poni Island is the end-game. The levels here are high—often in the 40s and 50s. On Mondays, you can find Samurott’s base form. Tuesdays bring the Johto starters like Quilava. But the Wednesday scan at Poni Gauntlet is what everyone wants: Togekiss. Actually, it's a Togekiss directly. You don't even have to evolve a Togepi with friendship. You just catch the final form right there. It’s one of the best Fairy-types in the game and it comes with a movepool that can dismantle the Elite Four.
The Mechanics of the Catch
When you trigger the scan, you only have one hour. One. If you faint the Pokémon or run away, it’s gone. You can't just "try again" immediately. You have to wait for the points to recharge.
Always bring a Pokémon with False Swipe. Always. These Island Scan encounters are unique because the Pokémon will often have a "special move" that it doesn't normally learn at that level. For example, the Squirtle you catch on Melemele might know Aqua Ring. The Charmander might have Belly Drum. These are egg moves that usually require hours of breeding, but Island Scan Pokemon Ultra Moon just hands them to you.
Also, these Pokémon will never call for help. The S.O.S. mechanic that Alola is famous for (and that many people hate) is disabled for these encounters. It’s a straight-up 1v1 fight. It’s refreshing.
Why Does This Matter in 2026?
You might wonder why anyone is still talking about a 3DS game. It’s simple: the Pokémon Home ecosystem. With the way modern games work, having a legitimate way to catch "non-native" Pokémon with rare moves is still incredibly valuable for collectors and competitive players who prefer the "Old School" ribbons.
Plus, Ultra Moon is arguably the most "complete" version of the Alola story. It’s a dense, difficult game compared to the newer Switch titles. Using Island Scan isn't just about filling a Pokédex; it's about customizing an experience that can otherwise feel very linear.
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Common Pitfalls and Troubleshooting
I’ve seen people complain that their scan didn't work. Usually, it's because they are in a building. You have to be in a location where wild Pokémon can actually appear. If you’re standing in a Pokémon Center and trigger the scan, the game will tell you where the Pokémon is, but you still have to run to that specific route.
Another issue is the "Day of the Week" glitch. If you change your 3DS clock to try and trick the game into giving you a different Pokémon, the game will lock all time-based events for 24 to 48 hours. Don't do it. It’s not worth the penalty. Just wait until the actual day.
Essential Strategy for Efficiency
If you want to maximize this, find a "Mega QR Code" list online. There are images that contain 10 or 20 QR codes in a single grid. You can scan ten of them in about sixty seconds. Do this every morning when you wake up. By the time you’re off work or out of school, your points will have recharged, and you can do it again.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Team
Stop ignoring the QR Scanner. It’s not just a gimmick.
- Check the Day: Before you press that button, look at your 3DS calendar. If it’s Wednesday and you’re on Akala, get to the Outskirts for that Honedge.
- Stock up on Nest Balls: Since many of these Pokémon are lower level than your current team, Nest Balls are more effective than Ultra Balls.
- Prepare a Catcher: Get a Smeargle or a Parasect with Spore and False Swipe. You do not want to accidentally crit a Venusaur and lose your chance for the day.
- Save Before Scanning: While the Pokémon doesn't appear until you enter the grass, saving your game before you initiate the 100-point scan is a safety net.
The Island Scan Pokemon Ultra Moon feature turns a standard playthrough into something much more personal. There is something deeply satisfying about beating the Alolan Champion with a team consisting of a Samurott, a Togekiss, and a Luxray. It’s your team, not the one the game tried to force on you.