Honestly, the Pokemon Sun and Moon QR code scanner is one of those features that most people used once, got a little confused by, and then completely ignored for the rest of their Alolan journey. It's a shame. It basically feels like a weird mini-game buried in your menu, but if you actually know what’s going on, it’s the closest thing to "cheating" without actually breaking the game.
You aren't just scanning cereal boxes for fun. You're hunting.
The system is pretty straightforward once you stop overthinking it. You open your menu, flip to the second page, and fire up the QR Scanner. Your 3DS camera turns on, and you point it at a code. Any code. Seriously, you can scan the back of a shampoo bottle or a bag of chips. The game translates that data into a "Wonder Code," usually giving you 10 points and a "Seen" entry in your Pokedex.
The Secret Economy of Island Scan
The real magic happens when you hit 100 points.
Once you’ve scanned ten codes—or fewer if you find those "Special" 20-point codes floating around the internet—you unlock the Island Scan. This is how you find the stuff that technically shouldn't be in Alola. I’m talking about Johto starters like Cyndaquil or powerhouse classics like Deino.
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Here is the catch: it’s not random. The Pokemon that spawns depends entirely on two things:
- Which island you are standing on.
- What day of the week it is.
If you’re on Melemele Island on a Sunday, you’re getting a Cyndaquil. If it’s Monday, it’s Totodile. You basically have one hour to track them down in a specific patch of grass. If you mess up, or accidentally knock it out, that’s it. You’re done until your scans recharge.
Don't Waste Your Scans
You only get ten scan slots. They recharge at a rate of one every two hours. That means if you blow all ten at once, you’re waiting 20 hours for a full refill.
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A lot of players make the mistake of scanning everything they see immediately. Kinda silly, right? Instead, you should save those scans for when you actually have time to go hunting. There is nothing worse than triggering an Island Scan for a Chikorita and then realizing you haven't even unlocked the route where it spawns yet.
Where to Find the Best Codes
You don't need to go hunting for physical objects. The Pokemon community has already done the heavy lifting. There are massive grids online—sites like Imgur and Reddit have archived them for years—that contain the QR codes for every single Pokemon in the Alolan Dex, including the shiny versions.
Scanning a Shiny QR code won't give you a shiny Pokemon to keep (I wish), but it does register that shiny form in your Pokedex. It’s a completionist’s dream.
The Magearna Loophole
Then there is the big one: Magearna. This is a Mythical Pokemon that isn't tied to a limited-time event anymore. It’s just sitting there. If you've finished the main story and become the Champion, you can scan a specific "special" QR code that stays active forever.
Once scanned, you just head over to the deliveryman at the Antiquities of the Ages shop in Hau'oli City. Boom. Level 50 Mythical Pokemon for basically zero effort. It’s one of the few "event" Pokemon in history that didn't actually expire, which is a massive win for anyone playing the game in 2026.
Daily Island Scan Schedule (Sun and Moon)
If you're hunting in the original Sun and Moon (not the Ultra versions), the schedule is fixed. You’ll want to be in the right place at the right time.
- Monday: Totodile (Melemele), Spheal (Akala), Swinub (Ula'ula), Conkeldurr (Poni)
- Tuesday: Deino (Melemele), Luxio (Akala), Duosion (Ula'ula), Togekiss (Poni)
- Wednesday: Horsea (Melemele), Honedge (Akala), Roselia (Ula'ula), Leavanny (Poni)
- Thursday: Klink (Melemele), Venipede (Akala), Staravia (Ula'ula), Serperior (Poni)
- Friday: Chikorita (Melemele), Bellsprout (Akala), Vigoroth (Ula'ula), Samurott (Poni)
- Saturday: Litwick (Melemele), Marill (Akala), Axew (Ula'ula), Emboar (Poni)
- Sunday: Cyndaquil (Melemele), Gothita (Akala), Rhyhorn (Ula'ula), Eelektross (Poni)
The Ultra versions changed this list significantly, adding starters from different generations like Charmander and Bulbasaur, so make sure you know which version you’re holding before you start the hunt.
Pro Tips for Shiny Hunting
Using the Pokemon Sun and Moon QR code scanner for shiny hunting is a test of patience. Since you only get one encounter per Island Scan, you can't "chain" them like you would with SOS calls.
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Basically, you have to save your game before you hit the scan button. If the Pokemon isn't shiny, you soft-reset. But wait—the points get used up. It’s a grind. Most veteran hunters suggest using the scanner just to fill the Dex, and then switching to more efficient methods for the sparkles.
How to Get Started Right Now
If you’ve got your 3DS sitting nearby, here is how you should actually use this feature to be efficient:
- Check the Day: Look at your 3DS clock. Don't change it! Changing the time locks you out of time-based events for 24 hours.
- Pick Your Target: Use the list above to decide which non-Alolan Pokemon you want.
- Travel First: Fly to the island where that Pokemon spawns before you start scanning.
- Batch Scan: Open the scanner and zap ten codes from an online database.
- Trigger and Hunt: Activate the Island Scan, check the bottom screen to see which route it's on, and get moving. You’ve got 60 minutes.
It’s a great way to add some variety to your team, especially if you're tired of seeing the same Yungoos and Pikipek every five seconds. Just remember to bring a Pokemon with False Swipe—you don't want to accidentally crit a rare Staravia and have to wait another day to try again.