You’re staring at your 3DS screen, wondering why the Pokedex in Alola feels so... empty. It’s a common frustration. You’ve beaten the Trials, you’ve explored the lush jungles of Akala Island, and yet there are dozens of empty slots. The truth is, the standard tall grass encounters only tell half the story. If you want the cool stuff—the starters from other regions or the rare competitive picks—you have to start scanning. Pokemon Moon Pokemon QR codes aren't just a gimmick; they are essentially a secret back door into the game's code that lets you spawn encounters that otherwise don't exist in the wild.
Honestly, the QR system was one of the weirder additions Game Freak threw into Generation 7. It feels a bit like a scavenger hunt. You pull out the in-game camera, scan a random code from a cereal box or a website, and suddenly your Pokedex registers a seen entry. But the real magic happens when you hit ten scans. That's when Island Scan triggers. It's a high-stakes, one-hour window where a non-Alolan Pokemon appears on your current island. If you mess it up or run away, that’s it for the day. No pressure, right?
Why Everyone Still Looks for Pokemon Moon Pokemon QR Codes
It’s about the "Seen" data. Filling a Pokedex is a massive chore. Usually, you have to trade with friends or hope you run into a specific trainer on Route 8 to even see what a Pokemon looks like. With Pokemon Moon Pokemon QR codes, you just point your 3DS at a screen. Done. Your Pokedex now shows you exactly where that Pokemon lives in Alola if it's native to the region. If it isn’t native, you at least get that satisfying "caught" or "seen" stamp.
There's a catch, though. You can only scan ten codes every twenty hours. Each scan gives you 10 points. At 100 points, you get your Island Scan. It’s a slow burn. You can’t just sit there for three hours and finish the Dex. It forces you to be strategic. Are you going to scan random images you found on Google, or are you going to look for the special "Wonder QR Codes" that give 20 points instead of 10? Those 20-point codes are the holy grail for anyone trying to speedrun their collection.
The Island Scan Mechanic Explained Simply
The most important thing to remember is that the Pokemon you find via Island Scan changes depending on two things: the island you are currently standing on and the day of the week. You can't just scan a code on Melemele Island on a Tuesday and expect a Totodile. It doesn't work like that.
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On Melemele Island, Sundays give you Cyndaquil. Mondays give you Totodile. If you’re hunting for a specific starter, you have to coordinate your real-life calendar with your in-game location. It’s a bit of a logistics nightmare if you’re not prepared. I’ve seen players waste their 100-point charge scanning on the wrong island because they forgot they were still at the Battle Tree. Don't be that person. Always check your map before hitting that "R" button to start the scan.
Melemele Island Encounters
- Sunday: Cyndaquil (Route 3)
- Monday: Totodile (Seaward Cave)
- Tuesday: Deino (Ten Carat Hill)
- Wednesday: Horsea (Kala'e Bay)
- Thursday: Klink (Hau'oli City)
- Friday: Chikorita (Route 2)
- Saturday: Litwick (Hau'oli Cemetery)
Akala Island Encounters
On Akala, the power level jumps a bit. You’re looking at things like Gothita on Sundays or Spheal on Mondays. If you’re a fan of the Sinnoh region, Wednesdays are your best bet because that’s when Monferno shows up on Route 11. It’s actually one of the easiest ways to get a Fire/Fighting type early in the game without relying on the local Alolan options.
The Magearna Secret
Most people think Pokemon Moon Pokemon QR codes are just for filling the Dex or getting Island Scan points. That’s mostly true, but there is one massive exception: Magearna. This is a Mythical Steel/Fairy type that you literally cannot get through normal gameplay. It isn't in a patch of grass. It isn't a gift from an NPC after you beat the Elite Four.
To get it, you need a specific, persistent QR code that was released as part of a movie promotion years ago. The wild thing? It still works. Unlike most Mystery Gift events that expire after a few months, the Magearna QR code is permanent. You scan it, head to the Antiquities of the Ages shop in Hau’oli City, and a deliveryman just hands over a Level 50 Mythical. It’s probably the easiest legendary hunt in the history of the franchise. It honestly feels like cheating, but it’s a legitimate feature built into the game's life cycle.
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Managing Your Scan Limits
The 20-hour cooldown is the biggest hurdle. You get one scan back every two hours. If you’re serious about using Pokemon Moon Pokemon QR codes to finish your game, you need to treat it like a daily login bonus. Open the game, do your ten scans, trigger your Island Scan, catch your rare Pokemon, and then save.
If you fail to catch the Island Scan Pokemon—maybe you accidentally knocked it out or it used Roar—you are out of luck. The 100 points are consumed immediately. You have to wait another twenty hours to try again. Pro tip: save your game before you trigger the Island Scan. The Pokemon spawns in a specific patch of grass and stays there for 60 minutes. If you mess up, you can just soft-reset (L+R+Select) and try the encounter again.
Why Some Codes Don't Work
Sometimes you'll find a code online and your 3DS will just beep aggressively at you. This usually happens for one of three reasons. First, you might be trying to scan a code for a Pokemon that isn't in the Alola Pokedex (though most random QR codes will still give you 10 points regardless). Second, you’ve hit your daily limit. Third, and most likely, the image quality is just too poor. The 3DS camera is, to put it mildly, not great. It struggles with glare. If you're scanning off a laptop screen, try dimming your monitor or moving the 3DS further away.
Advanced Strategies for Completionists
If you are looking to optimize this, you want to find the "Special" QR codes. These are usually associated with Shiny Pokemon or rare events. While they don't give you a Shiny Pokemon in your game, they do give you 20 points toward your Island Scan instead of the usual 10. This effectively doubles your speed. You only need five scans to trigger a hunt instead of ten.
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There are massive galleries on Reddit and various Pokemon forums that host these 20-point codes. It’s worth bookmarking a few. Using these allowed me to catch every single Island Scan starter in about a week. Without them, it would have taken nearly a month of perfect timing.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
Ready to actually use this? Stop reading and go grab your 3DS. Here is exactly what you should do to maximize your progress today:
- Check the Day of the Week: This is the most important step. If you want a Charmander but it’s Friday, you’re looking at the wrong list (Charmander is actually an Ultra Sun/Moon exclusive, so make sure you are looking at the base Moon list).
- Clear Your Points: If you have 0/100 points, find a 20-point QR code gallery online. Scan five of them.
- Travel to the Right Island: If it’s Monday and you want Totodile, fly to Melemele Island and go to the entrance of Seaward Cave.
- Save Your Game: I cannot stress this enough. Save before you press that button.
- Trigger Island Scan: Tap the bottom screen, hit Island Scan, and hold the button. It will show you exactly where the Pokemon is.
- Use a Quick Ball: These encounters are "one and done." A Quick Ball on turn one has the highest success rate and saves you the headache of a long battle.
Once you’ve caught your Pokemon, check your Pokedex. You’ll see that the entry is now fully filled out. If you’re looking for more Pokemon Moon Pokemon QR codes, start with the Magearna code—it’s the highest value scan you can possibly perform. Keep your 3DS charged, watch the clock, and you’ll have a full Alolan living dex before you know it.
The QR system in Alola is a relic of a time when Nintendo was obsessed with using every single hardware feature of the 3DS. While it can feel clunky, it’s the only way to get classic favorites like the Johto and Unova starters without using the Poke Bank or trading. Treat it as a daily ritual. Scan, hunt, catch, and repeat. It turns the game into a much more expansive experience than the base story suggests. If you're stuck on a specific encounter, double-check your island location—most "failed" scans are just a result of being in the wrong place at the right time.