You’re standing on Poni Island, your 3DS is getting warm in your hands, and you've just burned through 100 points of QR energy. Suddenly, a silhouette appears. It’s a Samurott. This isn't supposed to be here—not in the Alolan wild, anyway. That’s the magic of the Sun and Moon Island Scan feature. It feels like a cheat code, honestly. But it’s a built-in mechanic that Game Freak tucked away behind a QR scanner, and even years after the 2016 release, it remains the only way to catch certain iconic starters and powerhouses without trading or transferring from older generations.
Most people treated the QR scanner as a gimmick. They scanned a few boxes of crackers or some random barcodes on the back of a shampoo bottle, got bored, and moved on. That was a mistake. If you actually know how the timing works, you can snag some of the best competitive Pokémon in the game. It’s about patience and knowing exactly which day of the week it is.
How the Island Scan Actually Functions
Basically, the game gives you 100 points to spend. You earn these by scanning QR codes found in the real world or within the game’s Pokedex. Each scan usually nets you 10 points. Do the math: ten scans equals one Sun and Moon Island Scan attempt. Once you trigger it, you have exactly one hour to find the Pokémon on your specific island. If you faint it or run away? Too bad. You’re locked out until your points recharge, which happens at a rate of one scan every two hours. It’s a slow burn.
The Pokémon you find are strictly determined by two things: which island you are currently standing on and what day of the week your 3DS clock thinks it is. Melemele, Akala, Ula'ula, and Poni each host a completely different roster. You aren't just finding Alolan Rattata here. We’re talking about Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh starters. We're talking about heavy hitters like Aegislash (via Honedge) or the Luxray line.
One thing people often forget is that these Pokémon aren't just "rare." They come with a specific move that they usually wouldn't have at that level. For example, catching a Litwick on Akala Island on a Saturday gives you a Chandelure precursor that feels way more rewarding than just breeding one in a daycare.
The Saturday Meta and the Best Spawns
If you’re hunting for the absolute best value, you have to look at the "Starters." In the original Pokémon Sun and Moon, the distribution was legendary. Monday on Melemele gets you Totodile. Thursday on Akala gives you Venasaur’s pre-evolution, Bulbasaur. But if you’ve moved on to Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon, the list shifts entirely.
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Honestly, the Saturday hunt is usually the most intense. On Poni Island in the Ultra versions, Saturday is the only time you can find Bulbasaur. Wait, no—let me correct that. In the original Sun and Moon, Saturday on Melemele gives you a Litwick. In the Ultra sequels, Saturday on Poni Island is when you find the Gen 6 starter, Chespin. It’s easy to get these mixed up because the schedules changed significantly between the base games and the "Ultra" versions.
Why You Should Care About Melemele Island
Melemele is the starter island, so you’d think the spawns would be weak. Wrong.
- Sunday: Cyndaquil. Who doesn't want a Typhlosion?
- Monday: Totodile.
- Wednesday: Deino. This is huge. Getting a Hydreigon line Pokémon this early in the game is basically a power trip.
- Friday: Chikorita. Okay, maybe less exciting for some, but a completionist's dream.
The Hidden Mechanics of QR Codes
You don't need "official" Pokémon QR codes. This is the biggest misconception about the Sun and Moon Island Scan. You can literally go to a generator online or just scan the barcode on a bag of chips. The game doesn't care. It just reads the data pattern. However, there are "Special QR Codes" that give you 20 points instead of 10. These are usually associated with Magearna or other event-specific distributions. Using these cuts your grind in half.
There is a catch, though. You can only "store" 10 scans at a time. If you’re a heavy player, you’re checking back every 20 hours to make sure you aren't wasting potential points. It creates this weird, rhythmic gameplay loop where you're checking your calendar as much as your Pokeballs.
Strategy for the One-Hour Timer
Once you hit that scan button, the clock starts. The Pokémon will appear in a specific "patch" of grass on the island. The bottom screen will give you a hint, but it won't give you a GPS marker. You have to know the terrain.
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I’ve seen people fail this because they weren't prepared. Bring a Pokémon with False Swipe. Bring a sleeper. If you accidentally KO a Sunday-only Horsea on Poni Island, you are waiting seven literal days to try again unless you mess with your 3DS system clock. And word of advice: don't mess with the system clock. Game Freak anticipated that. If you change the date, the game freezes all time-based events for 24 to 48 hours. It’s a penalty that just isn't worth the risk.
Navigating the Differences in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
It is vital to distinguish which version you are playing. The Sun and Moon Island Scan in the Ultra versions is objectively better. Why? Because they added the remaining starters.
In the original games, you could get the Johto starters. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, they opened the floodgates to the Sinnoh, Hoenn, and Kalos starters. If you want a Charmander, you hit up Route 3 on Melemele on a Sunday in the Ultra versions. If you want a Squirtle, you’re looking at Monday on Melemele. It turned the island scan from a "neat extra" into an essential tool for anyone trying to build a Living Dex without relying on the now-shaky GTS (Global Trade System).
Poni Island: The End-Game Powerhouse
Poni Island is where the level scaling gets real. In the original games, you’d find Eelektross or Togekiss here. In the Ultra versions, this is where you find the heavy-duty Gen 6 starters like Delphox (well, Fennekin) and Greninja (Froakie).
- Friday on Poni (Ultra): You get a level 40+ Swampert. Just straight up. No evolving required.
- Thursday on Poni (Ultra): Sceptile.
- Wednesday on Poni (Ultra): Empoleon.
It’s wild. You’re essentially skipping the entire leveling process for some of the most popular Pokémon in the franchise.
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The E-E-A-T Factor: Why This Feature Matters in 2026
With the 3DS eShop closed and the Nintendo Network for those consoles becoming a relic of the past, the Sun and Moon Island Scan has actually increased in value. You can't just hop onto a forum and ask for a trade as easily as you could five years ago. Local wireless and solo-play features are the new gold standard for preservationists.
This mechanic is one of the few ways to ensure your Alolan journey feels "complete" without needing an external connection. It’s a self-contained ecosystem. Experts in the Pokémon speedrunning and challenge communities, like those found on Smogon or the Serebii forums, often point to Island Scan as a way to "break" the difficulty curve of the game. If you can get a Honedge (Aegislash) on Akala Island early on, the rest of the trials become a cakewalk.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Hunt
To maximize your efficiency with the island scan, stop scanning random items and start a routine. It sounds nerdy, but it's the only way to not waste your life.
- Bank your scans: Every morning when you wake up, scan five barcodes. Do it again before bed. This ensures you always have 100 points ready for the day you actually have time to hunt.
- Check your version: Confirm if you are on base Sun/Moon or the Ultra versions. The Saturday spawn on Akala is Mimikyu in Ultra, but it’s Marill in the original. Huge difference in utility.
- Positioning is key: Travel to the island before you activate the scan. You don't want to waste 10 minutes of your one-hour window flying between islands or sitting through Charizard Glide animations.
- Repel manipulation: Use a Max Repel if your lead Pokémon is at a higher level than the local wild spawns but lower than the Island Scan target. This clears out the "trash" mons and makes the rare spawn appear almost instantly in the grass.
- Save immediately: The moment you catch the Pokémon, save the game. If your 3DS battery dies—which happens a lot with these older handhelds—you lose that weekly window.
The Island Scan isn't just a gimmick; it’s a gateway to the broader Pokémon world within the confines of Alola. It requires a bit of "old school" effort—checking calendars and physical barcodes—but the payoff is a team that looks nothing like the standard Alolan journey. Get your scanner ready. Poni Island is waiting.