Alola was weird. I mean that in the best way possible. When Game Freak dropped the list of pokemon in sun and moon back in 2016, it wasn't just another regional Pokédex update. It felt like a fever dream in a Hawaiian shirt. For the first time, we weren't just looking for "the bird" or "the dog" of the region. We were looking at sentient sandcastles and interdimensional glass insects.
The Alola Pokédex consists of 302 entries in the original Sun and Moon games, though the "New" Pokémon count—the actual Generation 7 debuts—clocks in at 81. If you count the Ultra Beasts and the Alolan regional forms, the variety gets even wilder. It basically threw the rulebook out the window. You’ve got the traditional starters, sure, but then you’ve got these "Regional Forms" that reimagined Kanto classics. It was the first time we saw a Vulpix made of ice or an Exeggutor with a neck so long it literally didn't fit on the Nintendo 3DS screen.
Breaking down the list of pokemon in sun and moon
So, what are we actually looking at here?
The starters set the tone. Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio. Rowlet became a fan favorite almost instantly because, honestly, it’s a round owl in a bowtie. But the evolution lines were where things got interesting. Decidueye turned into a Ghost-type archer. Incineroar became a heel wrestler. Primarina was a literal opera singer. This trend of "themed" final evolutions really took off here.
Then you have the early-route staples. Pikipek is your standard wood-pecker, evolving into Toucannon, which sports a beak that actually heats up to blast opponents. Yungoos and Gumshoos were... controversial, mostly because people thought they looked like a certain politician, but they served their purpose as the regional "rodent."
But let's talk about the stuff that actually makes this list of pokemon in sun and moon unique.
The Guardian Deities. The Tapus. Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini. These four basically defined the competitive meta for years. They brought "Terrain" mechanics to the forefront, changing the battlefield as soon as they switched in. If you weren't running a Tapu on your team in 2017, you were probably losing.
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The Alolan Forms: Nostalgia with a twist
This was the genius move. Instead of just adding 150 new monsters, Game Freak took the old ones and gave them an "island" makeover.
Rattata and Raticate became Dark-types because they were scavengers in the Alolan night. Raichu gained the Psychic type and started surfing on its own tail—purely because it ate too many sweet pancakes, according to the in-game lore. Honestly, that's the kind of world-building I can get behind.
You also had Muk and Grimer. Instead of purple sludge, they became rainbow-colored chemical spills. It was a clever way to keep the list of pokemon in sun and moon feeling fresh without overwhelming players with entirely unfamiliar designs.
The Ultra Beasts and the "What is that?" factor
If Alolan forms were a twist, Ultra Beasts were a complete pivot. Nihilego, Buzzwole, Pheromosa, Xurkitree, Celesteela, Kartana, and Guzzlord. They aren't even called Pokémon in the traditional sense within the story. They come from Ultra Space.
Their designs are intentionally "alien." Kartana is a tiny piece of origami that can cut through steel. Guzzlord is a giant mouth that eats buildings. They have this ability called Beast Boost, which raises their highest stat every time they knock something out. It made them terrifying to face.
Looking back, the list of pokemon in sun and moon was heavily experimental. We got Type: Null and Silvally, which were literally "synthetic" Pokémon created to fight these gods. We got Mimikyu, a Ghost/Fairy type that just wanted to be loved like Pikachu. Mimikyu is arguably one of the most successful designs in the history of the franchise, successfully blending creepy lore with a genuinely useful "Disguise" ability.
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Legendaries and the box art stars
Solgaleo and Lunala. The Sunne and Moone Pokémon. Unlike previous games where you just found the legendary at the end of a cave, Sun and Moon gave you "Nebby."
Cosmog. The little cloud that wouldn't stay in Lillie's bag.
Watching Cosmog evolve into Cosmoem and then finally into either Solgaleo (Sun) or Lunala (Moon) made the legendary feel earned. It wasn't just a trophy; it was a character you’d traveled with for 30 hours.
The complete Alola Dex at a glance
If you're trying to fill that Pokédex today, here’s a rough breakdown of what you're dealing with across the four islands: Melemele, Akala, Ula'ula, and Poni.
- The Starters: Rowlet, Litten, Popplio (and their evolutions).
- The Legends: Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma, Magearna, Marshadow, Zeraora.
- The Guardians: The four Tapus.
- The Ultra Beasts: Including the weird ones like Stakataka and Blacephalon from the "Ultra" versions.
- The Regional Variants: 18 total forms for Kanto-native Pokémon.
- The "New" 81: From Grubbin to Kommo-o.
Kommo-o, by the way, is the "Pseudo-Legendary" of this generation. A Dragon/Fighting type covered in scales that clack together like armor. It struggled a bit in the competitive scene early on, but its signature Z-Move later on made it a genuine threat.
Why this list matters for collectors
Getting a full list of pokemon in sun and moon is a massive task because of the "S.O.S. Battles." In this generation, wild Pokémon can call for help. This is the only way to catch certain rares, like Mareanie or Castform. It’s tedious. You sit there, let a Pokémon get to low health, and wait for it to scream for its friends.
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Sometimes, those friends are Shiny. Sometimes, they have Hidden Abilities. It’s a grind, but for a completionist, it's the core of the Alola experience.
The Island Scan feature is another weird quirk. By scanning QR codes, you could find Pokémon that weren't even in the Alola Dex, like Chikorita or Honedge. It made the game feel much bigger than it actually was.
Moving forward with your Alolan adventure
If you are digging back into your 3DS or trying to complete a Home Living Dex, remember that some of these are version-exclusive. You aren't finding Vulpix in Moon, and you aren't getting Sandshrew in Sun.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check version exclusives first. If you’re playing Sun, look for a trading partner with Moon or Ultra Moon immediately to secure the Alolan Sandshrew and Drampa.
- Focus on the Island Scan. Download a sheet of QR codes (they are easily found in archival gaming forums) to unlock the non-native spawns like the Johto and Sinnoh starters.
- Prepare for S.O.S. chaining. Get a Pokémon with the move "False Swipe" and plenty of Adrenaline Orbs. You’ll need them to force the rare spawns like Salamence (which can shockingly appear at level 10 on the first island if you have the patience).
- Visit the fossils. Go to the shop in Koni Koni City on Akala Island to buy your version's fossils; you can revive them at the Pokémon Center on Route 8.
The Alola region changed the way we think about Pokémon ecology. It stopped being about just "new" monsters and started being about how monsters adapt to their environment. Whether you love the slow-paced story or hate the hand-holding, there is no denying that the Pokémon themselves are some of the most creative the series has ever seen.