You probably remember the hype. 2016 was a wild year for the franchise, and when the jump to the Alola region finally happened, it felt like the series was finally growing up. But honestly? Even years later, most people treat their pokemon sun moon guide like a checklist for a game that doesn't exist anymore. They play it like it's Emerald or Platinum. It isn't.
Alola changed the rules.
If you're jumping back into these 3DS classics, you've gotta realize that the old "pick a starter and over-level" strategy is a recipe for a bad time. The Totem Pokemon will absolutely wreck you. These aren't just bigger versions of normal monsters; they are structured boss fights with programmed synergy. If you aren't prepared for a 2-on-1 disadvantage where the opponent has boosted stats, you're going to see the "fainted" screen a lot.
Why the Island Challenge Isn't Just "Gyms With Flowers"
Everyone says the trials replaced gyms. That’s technically true, but it misses the point of why Game Freak made the switch. Gym leaders usually have a theme. You bring a Water-type to a Fire gym, you win. Easy.
But look at the Lurantis trial in Lush Jungle.
This thing is a nightmare. It carries a Power Herb, meaning it can fire off a Solar Blade instantly. Then it calls in a Castform that uses Sunny Day. Now, that Solar Blade doesn't even need a charge turn, and Lurantis is getting healed by Synthesis at an accelerated rate. You can't just "type-advantage" your way out of that without a specific plan. This is where a real pokemon sun moon guide becomes less about finding items and more about understanding action economy.
Most players get stuck because they try to out-damage the boss. You shouldn't. You need to disable the "caller" Pokemon first. Or, better yet, use Taunt. It's one of the most underrated moves in the casual Alola playthrough.
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The Totem Scaling Problem
A weird quirk of Sun and Moon (and the Ultra versions) is the SOS mechanic. In standard battles, it’s an annoyance. In Totem battles, it's a death sentence. The game uses a specific "weight" for certain encounters. For example, Totem Araquanid in Ultra Sun is significantly harder than the original Sun version because of the speed tier adjustments. If you're looking for a smooth ride, you actually have to pivot your team around the 3rd and 4th islands. Your early-game Pikiwek isn't going to cut it once you hit Vast Poni Canyon.
Hidden Mechanics That Actually Matter
Let's talk about Refresh. A lot of "hardcore" fans ignored the petting mechanic because it felt too much like Nintendogs. That was a mistake.
If you max out affection, your Pokemon gets a 1.2x EXP boost. They also get a higher crit rate. They can even "shake off" status effects like paralysis or poison on their own. It’s basically a legal cheat code. If you're struggling with the Alolan Elite Four—especially Olivia’s Lycanroc—having a Pokemon that "toughed it out so you wouldn't feel sad" is sometimes the only way to survive a Stone Edge.
Then there's the Z-Move timing. Don't waste your Z-Crystal on the first turn. The AI in this generation is actually programmed to switch more often than in previous games. If you fire off your "Malicious Moonsault" into a resisted switch-in, you've lost your biggest nuke for the rest of the fight. Save it. Wait for the Totem to call its ally, then delete the ally immediately so you can focus on the big threat.
The Island Scan Secret
Most players finish the game without ever touching the QR Scanner. Big mistake. By scanning QR codes (you can find huge databases of these online), you earn points. At 100 points, you can run an "Island Scan."
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This is how you get non-Alolan starters like Charmander or Totodile, or even rare powerhouses like Deino, early in the game. These Pokemon often have higher base stat totals than the stuff you find in the tall grass on Route 1. If you're building a team for a "Nuzlocke" or just want to breeze through, the Island Scan is your best friend.
The Economy of Festival Plaza
Festival Plaza is... clunky. Let's be real. It's a weird social hub that feels like a step backward from the PSS in Pokemon X and Y. But if you want to get your Pokemon to Level 100 for Hyper Training, you have to use it.
The "Rare Kitchen" is the only way to quickly jump those last few levels. You need to rank up your Plaza to at least Level 30 to unlock the best stalls. To do this efficiently, talk to people with red speech bubbles. They give more Festival Coins. Also, ignore the mini-games unless you're playing with friends; the "Type Matchup" quiz is the only one consistently worth the time investment for solo players.
Essential Alola Team Building
Forget the "Fire-Water-Grass" core for a second. In Alola, you need utility.
- Mudsdale: Seriously. Its ability "Stamina" raises its Defense every time it gets hit. It can solo half the physical attackers in the game.
- Magnezone: Steel/Electric is a god-tier defensive typing for the mid-game trials.
- Salazzle: You need something fast. Most Alolan Pokemon are notoriously slow (looking at you, Vikavolt). Salazzle's "Corrosion" ability lets you poison Steel and Poison types, which is clutch against some of the bulkier Ultra Beasts later on.
Don't sleep on the Alolan forms, either. Alolan Muk is arguably better than the original. Its Poison/Dark typing leaves it with only one weakness (Ground), making it a fantastic pivot against the Psychic and Ghost types that haunt the later islands.
Handling the Post-Game and Ultra Beasts
Once you become the first-ever Alolan Champion (which is a cool narrative touch, honestly), the game opens up into the "Looker" episodes. This is where you hunt the Ultra Beasts.
The catch rates for UBs are weird. Using a standard Ultra Ball is almost pointless. You have to use Beast Balls. Looker gives you plenty, but don't waste them on regular Pokemon; they have a 0.1x catch rate on anything that isn't an inter-dimensional monster.
When you're hunting Celesteela or Kartana, remember that they are coded like "bosses." Their auras give them stat boosts the moment the battle starts. Bring a Pokemon with "Haze" or "Clear Smog" to reset those stats instantly. It makes the "legendary" difficulty curve disappear.
The Battle Tree Reality Check
The Battle Tree is where your casual team goes to die. If you aren't IV breeding or using the "Bottle Cap" mechanic, Red and Blue will embarrass you.
The easiest way to farm BP (Battle Points) is actually through Mantine Surf in Ultra Sun and Moon. It's way faster than grinding out wins in the Tree if you just need items like a Choice Band or Life Orb. If you're on the base versions of Sun and Moon, you’re stuck with the grind. In that case, use a "Gyarados + Dragon Dance" strategy. The AI struggles to handle setup sweepers if you lead with something that intimidates their physical attackers.
The Necrozma Wall
If you're playing the Ultra versions, there is a specific fight that acts as a gatekeeper: Ultra Necrozma.
It is arguably the hardest boss fight in the history of the main series. It gets a +1 boost to all stats immediately. It outspeeds almost everything. It hits like a truck.
The "cheesy" way to win? A Focus Sash and a Pokemon with Toxic. Or use a Zoroark disguised as a Fighting-type. The AI sees a Fighting-type and spams Psychic moves, but since Zoroark is Dark-type, the moves do zero damage. You can just chip away at it while it tries to "exploit" a weakness that isn't there. It feels a bit like cheating, but hey, that's Alola for you.
Moving Forward With Your Save
Once you've conquered the Alola region, the next logical step is completing the Pokedex to get the Shiny Charm. Unlike other games, Alola doesn't have a National Dex. You only need to catch the 300ish Pokemon native to the islands. It’s one of the most "attainable" Pokedex completions in the series.
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Actionable Next Steps for your Alola Journey:
- Check your clock: Remember that Pokemon Moon and Ultra Moon are offset by 12 hours. If you're playing during the day, it'll be night in the game. This affects evolutions for Rockruff and others.
- Go to Heahea City: Talk to the Game Freak developers in the building left of the Dimensional Research Lab. Once you beat the game, they give you the Oval Charm, which makes breeding eggs much faster.
- Visit the Poke Pelago: Don't let your PC Pokemon rot. Put them on Isle Abeens to collect beans. You'll need those beans to max out "Affection" in Refresh, which, as we discussed, provides those massive combat bonuses.
- Farm Leppa Berries: Use the berry fields on Route 2. In Alola, long routes and SOS battles will drain your PP (Power Points) faster than any other game. Having a stack of Leppa Berries is more important than having a stack of Full Restores.
- Locate the Zygarde Cells: If you're playing the original Sun/Moon, start hunting those green sparkles early. You need 50 of them to get the 50% Forme, which is a massive power spike for your mid-game team.
Alola is a slow burn. The cutscenes are long, and the hand-holding at the start is real. But if you look past the tutorial-heavy first island, there's a level of tactical depth here that most other Pokemon games just don't reach. It rewards players who actually read the move descriptions and use the environment to their advantage. Stop playing it like it's 1998 and start using the tools the game actually gives you.