If you played the original Sun and Moon, you probably thought you knew what to expect when you booted up Ultra Moon. You were wrong. The way ultra beasts pokemon ultra moon handles these extra-dimensional entities is fundamentally different, more aggressive, and frankly, a bit more chaotic than its predecessor. They aren't just late-game trophies anymore. They are biological anomalies from Ultra Space that basically function as boss fights on steroids.
I still remember the first time I saw Kartana’s stats. It’s a piece of origami with a base Attack of 181. That’s not a typo. It has more raw physical power than literal gods like Rayquaza or Groudon. This is the kind of design philosophy Game Freak leaned into for the "Ultra" versions—pushing the boundaries of what a competitive Pokémon looks like until the meta started to buckle under the weight of Beast Boost.
📖 Related: Why the Life is Strange Aesthetic Still Hits So Hard Ten Years Later
The Ultra Beast Problem: High Risk, Weird Reward
These things aren't "Pokémon" in the traditional sense. They are invasive species. In Pokémon Ultra Moon, the lore emphasizes that these creatures are disoriented and terrified, which makes them incredibly dangerous. From a gameplay perspective, they all share the Beast Boost ability. This is what makes them terrifying in competitive play. Every time they knock out one of your monsters, their highest stat goes up.
It creates a snowball effect.
If you let a Xurkitree get a single Kill with Thunderbolt, it’s basically game over. Its Special Attack is already astronomical. With a +1 boost? You’re looking at a sweep that’s almost impossible to stop without a dedicated Choice Scarf user or a priority move. But they aren't perfect. Most of them have a "glass cannon" problem where one specific stat is abysmal to compensate for their strengths. Stakataka, for instance, has incredible Defense and Attack but moves with the speed of a tectonic plate.
Catching Them All (Again)
In Ultra Moon, the process of finding these beasts is tied to the Ultra Wormhole minigame. It's a polarizing feature. Some people love the motion-control flight through space; others find it a tedious barrier to entry for shiny hunting.
Here is how the exclusivity breaks down for the Ultra sequels. If you’re playing Ultra Moon, you get access to Pheromosa and Celesteela, which are staples of the Alolan competitive scene. But the big additions for the Ultra versions were Stakataka and the weird adhesive-turned-dragon Poipole. You also get Blacephalon if you’re on the Ultra Sun side, but Moon players are stuck with the brick-wall-with-legs that is Stakataka.
Honestly, Stakataka is the better deal for Trick Room teams. It’s a Rock/Steel type that looks like a sentient fortress. Its signature move, Gyro Ball, hits like a freight train because it is so incredibly slow.
The Competitive Meta: Beast Boost is Everything
You can't talk about ultra beasts pokemon ultra moon without mentioning the VGC (Video Game Championships). For a couple of years, you couldn't throw a Poké Ball without hitting a Celesteela. It’s arguably one of the most annoying Pokémon to face. It has the typing of Skarmory (Steel/Flying) but the bulk of a legendary and access to Leech Seed.
It’s a war of attrition.
- Pheromosa: High speed, high attack, made of wet paper.
- Buzzwole: The "Swole" Pokémon. It’s a bug that looks like it spends 8 hours a day at the gym. Great physical tank, but dies to a single Gust from a Pidgey because of its 4x Flying weakness.
- Guzzlord: The disappointment. Despite having a massive HP stat, its defenses are so low that it’s actually less bulky than many middle-stage evolutions.
The strategy with these things is usually "hit first, hit hard." Because Beast Boost rewards aggression, the Ultra Moon endgame becomes a high-speed chess match. You aren't just trying to win; you're trying to prevent the opponent from getting that first "snag" that triggers the boost.
The Necrozma Connection
While not technically an Ultra Beast by the strictest definition of the Pokédex (it doesn't have Beast Boost), Necrozma is the glue that holds the Ultra Moon narrative together. In this game, it’s the "Prizm Pokémon." It consumes light. The climax of the game involves Ultra Necrozma, a fight that actually caught veteran players off guard.
Most Pokémon games are easy. Ultra Necrozma is not. It gets a +1 boost to all its stats at the start of the fight. If you aren't prepared with a Focus Sash or a specific strategy like "Toxic and Stall," it will wipe your entire team in six turns. It’s the ultimate expression of the "Ultra" theme—overwhelming power that ignores the standard rules of the game.
Finding the Rarest Beasts
One thing people often miss in Ultra Moon is the specific mechanics of the White Wormholes. When you’re flying through the Ultra Warp Ride, the distance you travel matters.
The further you go (measured in light-years), the higher your chances of encountering an Ultra Beast. But it’s not just about distance. You have to look for the wormholes with the most "rings" around them. A wormhole with two or three rings is almost guaranteed to house a Beast.
Is Poipole Worth the Grind?
You get given a Poipole by the Ultra Recon Squad. A lot of players just box it. That’s a mistake. Poipole evolves into Naganadel after learning Dragon Pulse. Naganadel is a Poison/Dragon type that dominated the Smogon tiers for a long time. It has the perfect Speed tier to outpace most of the unboosted cast, and its Special Attack is high enough to make Sludge Wave a terrifying prospect for any Fairy-type switch-in.
It's one of the few Pokémon that feels like it was designed specifically to break the "Fairy-type dominance" that had plagued the game since Generation 6.
The Ecosystem of Ultra Space
What's really cool about ultra beasts pokemon ultra moon is the environmental storytelling. When you enter an Ultra Ruin (Guzzlord’s home), you realize you’re looking at an alternate version of Hau'oli City that has been destroyed. It’s grim. It’s a level of environmental storytelling we rarely see in the main series.
Guzzlord isn't just a monster; it’s a literal personification of environmental collapse. It eats everything. It’s a garbage disposal for a world that ran out of space.
Then you have the Ultra Crater where Celesteela lives. It’s quiet. Metallic. It feels alien. Game Freak really nailed the "Uncanny Valley" feel with these designs. They look like they were designed by someone who had never seen a Pokémon before, which is exactly the point. They are supposed to be "wrong."
Technical Limitations and Glitches
Let’s be real: the 3DS struggled with Ultra Moon. When you have two Ultra Beasts on the screen in a Double Battle, the frame rate dips. It’s noticeable. If you’re playing on an older 3DS model rather than the "New" 3DS, the lag can get pretty bad during the more particle-heavy moves like Mind Blown or Beast Boost triggers.
Despite the hardware chugging, the art direction holds up. The neon colors and jagged edges of the Ultra Beasts stand out against the soft, tropical aesthetic of Alola. It creates this constant visual tension that keeps you reminded that these things don't belong here.
How to Maximize Your Ultra Beast Hunt
If you’re still playing Ultra Moon or revisiting it for a Living Dex, there are a few things you should do to make the hunt easier.
👉 See also: Pokemon HeartGold Action Replay: Why We Still Use Cheats on a 16-Year-Old Game
First, get a Pokémon with Synchronize. If you put a Synchronize Abra (with the nature you want, like Timid or Jolly) at the front of your party, you have a 50% chance (in this generation) of the Ultra Beast having that same nature. This is vital because you cannot breed Ultra Beasts. What you catch is what you get.
Second, stock up on Beast Balls. You can buy them at the Aether Foundation. They have a miserable catch rate for normal Pokémon, but they have a 5x multiplier for Ultra Beasts. Don't waste your Master Ball on a Nihilego. Save it for something that can actually run away or struggle to death.
Third, pay attention to the "soft reset." Since Ultra Beasts are standing encounters, you can save right in front of them. This makes hunting for specific IVs (Individual Values) or Shiny variants much easier than random grass encounters.
The Legacy of Alola's Invaders
The Ultra Beasts changed how we think about Pokémon power creep. Before them, "Legendary" usually meant high stats and a majestic design. The Beasts introduced "Polarized" stats. They showed us that a Pokémon doesn't need to be good at everything; it just needs to be world-class at one thing.
They also bridged the gap between the main series and the more "sci-fi" elements of the franchise. We went from fighting Team Rocket in a basement to traveling through dimensions to stop a light-eating dragon from another universe.
In the end, ultra beasts pokemon ultra moon remains the definitive way to experience this weird chapter of the franchise. The sheer volume of content, the difficulty of the Necrozma fight, and the bizarre variety of the beasts themselves make it a standout, even years after the Switch has taken over.
Actionable Next Steps for Trainers
- Check your Poipole: If you haven't evolved it yet, teach it Dragon Pulse via the Move Reminder in Mount Lanakila. Naganadel is a massive upgrade for any post-game team.
- Farm the Warp Ride: Target the White Wormholes exclusively if you are looking to complete the Beast collection. The further you go, the higher the "Shiny" chance for non-legendary encounters too.
- Nature Control: Always carry a "Synchronize" Pokémon. Given the unique stat spreads of the Beasts, a bad nature (like Modest on a Buzzwole) renders them almost useless in high-level play.
- Balance Your Team: If you’re using Ultra Beasts, remember they often share common weaknesses. A team of Pheromosa, Celesteela, and Kartana is terrifying but will get dismantled by a single fast Fire-type or a well-placed Heat Wave.