You’ve finished the Alola Dex. Or maybe you’re just starting out on Melemele Island and you’re already bored of seeing the same Yungoos and Pikipek every ten feet. Most players treat the QR scanner as a gimmick—a weird leftover from the base Sun and Moon games that doesn't really matter. They're wrong. Honestly, Island Scan Pokemon Ultra Sun is the only reason some of us are still playing these games years later. It’s the literal gateway to getting Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Kalos starters without needing to trade with a person who wants your soul in exchange for a Charmander.
It’s a weird system. You scan random QR codes—literally any barcode on a cereal box or a specialized Pokemon code—to earn points. Once you hit 100 points, you trigger the scan. Then, a rare Pokemon appears on your specific island for exactly one hour. If you mess it up, you're done for the day. No pressure, right?
The problem is that the "Ultra" versions changed the schedule. If you're looking at an old guide for the 2016 games, you’re going to waste your scan on a Pokemon you don't even want. Let’s get into how this actually works and why you should care about the Tuesday rotas.
The QR Point Grind is Actually Annoying
You need 100 points. Standard QR codes give you 10 points. Special "Wonder" QR codes give you 20. Basically, you can do one Island Scan every ten to twenty hours depending on how many scans you’ve banked. It’s a slow burn.
Don't just scan anything. If you’re smart, you’ll find the specialized QR codes online that give 20 points each. It cuts the busy work in half. You’ve got a limit of 10 scans stored at a time, and they regenerate every two hours. It’s a pacing mechanic designed to keep you from catching every rare mon in a single afternoon. It works. It’s frustrating, but it works.
Once that counter hits 100, the "Island Scan" button glows. Stop. Don't press it yet. You need to be on the right island on the right day of the week. If you trigger a scan on Melemele on a Friday, you're getting a Squirtle. If you wanted a Bulbasaur, you should have waited until Saturday. You can't undo the scan once the timer starts.
Why Island Scan Pokemon Ultra Sun Changed Everything
In the original Sun and Moon, the selection was... okay. You could get Chikorita or Litwick. Cool, I guess. But in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Game Freak went hard. We’re talking about finding Charmander, Grovyle, Monferno, and even Greninja’s pre-evolution just hanging out in the grass.
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It feels like cheating. It’s not, obviously, but catching a level 12 Squirtle in a Dive Ball on the first island feels significantly more "pro" than waiting until the post-game to transfer one from a previous generation.
The Melemele Island Rotation
Melemele is where you start, but the Pokemon here aren't just "starter" trash.
On Sunday, you can find Cyndaquil at Route 3. It’s a fan favorite for a reason. Monday brings Totodile to Seaward Cave. Tuesday is Deino, which is massive because Hydreigon is a beast, even if it takes forever to level up. Wednesday is Horsea at Kala'e Bay. Thursday is Klink at Hau'oli City. Friday brings Squirtle to Seaward Cave, and Saturday wraps up with Bulbasaur at Route 2.
See the pattern? The Kanto and Johto starters are heavily weighted here. If you’re doing a "Professor Oak Challenge" or just want a classic team, you spend your first week of gameplay just scanning Melemele.
Akala Island’s Mid-Tier Gems
Akala gets a bit more diverse.
- Sunday: Gothita (Memorial Hill). Not the most exciting, but great for competitive breeding later.
- Monday: Spheal (Route 7). Walrein is an absolute tank in the Alola sun.
- Tuesday: Luxio (Route 8). People love the Shinx line. Honestly, it's one of the best electric types you can get early on.
- Wednesday: Honedge (Subterranean Desert). This is the big one. Aegislash is a monster.
- Thursday: Venipede (Route 4).
- Friday: Chikorita (Route 2).
- Saturday: Litwick (Memorial Hill).
The Honedge encounter is arguably the most important one on this island. It’s hidden in the desert, and if you’re not looking for it, you’ll never find it.
The Secret to Not Failing Your Encounter
You have one hour. That sounds like a lot of time. It isn't. If you accidentally KO the Pokemon, it’s gone. If you run away, it’s gone. You get one shot.
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Always lead with a Pokemon that knows False Swipe. I cannot stress this enough. These Island Scan Pokemon usually have a lower catch rate than the local Alolan wildlife. They will eat through your Great Balls. Also, make sure you have a status inducer. Sleep is better than paralysis for catch rates, but paralysis is permanent. Pick your poison.
Another thing: these Pokemon often have a "Special Move." This is a move they wouldn't normally learn at that level, or sometimes even through leveling up at all. For example, the Bulbasaur you catch on Melemele knows Grassy Terrain. That’s a massive egg move that you’re getting for free. It makes these specific specimens better than the ones you’d get by just breeding a random Venusaur.
Ula'ula and Poni Island: The Heavy Hitters
By the time you reach Ula'ula, the levels jump up. We’re talking mid-30s.
Sunday is Swinub. Monday is Ralts. Tuesday is Prinplup. Wednesday is Roselia. Thursday is Pidgeot. Friday is Monferno. Saturday is Axew.
Poni Island is where the real power lives. This is endgame territory.
- Sunday: Azumarill (heavily slept on).
- Monday: Eelektross (no weaknesses, people!).
- Tuesday: Chesnaught.
- Wednesday: Greninja (the holy grail for many).
- Thursday: Delphox.
- Friday: Serperior.
- Saturday: Samurott.
Finding a Greninja (well, Frogadier) in the wild on Poni Wilds feels legendary. It’s a level 50+ encounter. You need to be prepared for a fight, not just a catch. These Pokemon are aggressive and can easily sweep a team that isn't leveled properly.
Common Mistakes and Island Scan Myths
A lot of people think you can "reset" the Island Scan by changing the 3DS clock. Do not do this. If you change your system clock, the game detects it and freezes all time-based events for 24 to 48 hours. You’ll be locked out of scanning entirely. It’s a safety measure Game Freak put in to stop people from farming Berries and Island Scans. Just wait the 24 hours. It’s worth the wait.
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Another misconception is that these Pokemon can have their Hidden Abilities. They can't. Island Scan Pokemon Ultra Sun encounters are strictly limited to their standard abilities. If you want a Protean Greninja, you still have to go through the headache of breeding or SOS chaining (though you can't SOS chain Island Scan mons). They also don't "call for help," so you can't use them to shiny hunt via the SOS method.
However, you can shiny hunt them via the "Soft Reset" method before you encounter them in the grass, but it’s incredibly tedious. You save before entering the grass where they are supposed to spawn, run around until they appear, and if they aren't shiny, you reboot. Since the spawn rate is 100% once the scan is active, it’s easier than random encounters, but still a test of patience.
Practical Steps for Your Next Session
If you want to make the most of this mechanic, you need a plan. Don't just scan because the button is ready.
- Check the day of the week. Use your real-world calendar. If it's Tuesday and you're on Akala, you're getting a Luxio. Is that what you want?
- Stock up on Quick Balls and Dusk Balls. Since the encounters happen in specific spots (caves, tall grass), Dusk Balls are often your best friend. Quick Balls are great for that turn-one gamble.
- Bring a "Catcher" Pokemon. A Smeargle with False Swipe, Spore, and Soak is the gold standard. Soak is important because it turns Ghost-types into Water-types so you can hit them with False Swipe.
- Locate the exact patch of grass. The Island Scan tells you the general area, but some zones like "Poni Wilds" are huge. Use an online map to see exactly where that specific species triggers.
- Save your game. Save the second you trigger the scan. If the worst happens and you faint the Pokemon, you can just L+R+Start/Select to reboot and try again within that one-hour window.
The Island Scan feature is basically a "love letter" to long-time fans who want to use their old favorites in a new setting. It breaks the game’s balance in a fun way. Having a Samurott and a Greninja on the same team while trekking through the Alolan trial system makes you feel like a regional champion before you even hit the Elite Four.
Grab your 3DS, find some QR codes on a random image search, and start banking those points. That Cyndaquil isn't going to catch itself.