Finding every ultra moon island scan pokemon isn't just about completionism. It's about grabbing those weird, out-of-place species that simply don't belong in Alola. Honestly, the QR Scanner was one of the coolest features Game Freak added to the Generation VII games. It felt like a scavenger hunt. You aren't just walking through tall grass hoping for a 1% encounter rate; you're actively hunting down a specific signal.
Most people just scan random cereal boxes or some old receipts to get their points. That works, sure. But if you want the heavy hitters like Charmander, Greninja, or Eevee’s various evolutions, you need a plan.
The Weird Mechanics of the Island Scan
The Island Scan isn't your typical encounter method. It’s tied to the day of the week and the specific island you’re standing on when you hit the button. If you fire it up on Melemele Island on a Monday, you’re getting a Totodile. Do it on a Tuesday? You’re looking at a Deino.
The math is simple but annoying if you're impatient. You need 100 points to trigger a scan. Each "normal" QR code gives you 10 points. Special codes—usually from Alolan Pokedex entries—give you 20. You can store up to 10 scans at a time, and they regenerate every two hours. Basically, if you empty your tank, you're waiting 20 hours for a full recharge. It’s a slow burn.
Once you trigger the scan, you have exactly one hour to find the Pokémon. It will be in a specific patch of grass or a specific cave on the island. If you knock it out or run away, that’s it. You’ve wasted your points. Save your game before you step into the grass. Seriously. Don't be the person who accidentally crits a Shiny Emboar and has to wait another week for the cycle to reset.
Why Some Scans Feel "Broken"
I’ve seen plenty of forum posts from players complaining that their ultra moon island scan pokemon won't show up. Usually, they're in the wrong spot. The "location" provided by the scanner is often vague. It might say "Route 2," but it won't tell you it's specifically in the patch of grass behind the graveyard.
Also, level scaling is a thing. In Ultra Moon, the Island Scan Pokémon are often higher level than the local wildlife. If you're using a Repel to keep the Zubats away, make sure your lead Pokémon is a lower level than the scan target, or the Repel will block your rare encounter too.
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The Melemele Island Lineup
Melemele is where you start, but the Pokémon here aren't just "starter" trash.
On Sundays, you can find Cyndaquil at Route 3. It's a classic. But the real prize for many is Greninja (or rather, Frogadier) which shows up on Poni Island later. Back to Melemele: Mondays give you Totodile (Seaward Cave), Tuesdays give you Deino (Ten Carat Hill), and Wednesdays give you Horsea (Kala'e Bay).
Thursdays are for Klink at Hau'oli City. Fridays? Chikorita at Route 2. Saturdays bring Lithwick to the Hau'oli Cemetery.
Notice a pattern? It's heavily weighted toward Johto starters. If you're a fan of Gold and Silver, Melemele is your playground. The levels here are low, usually under level 20, so they're easy to catch but require some training to be viable for the Elite Four.
Akala Island: The Kanto Connection
Akala Island ups the stakes. This is where the ultra moon island scan pokemon start getting interesting for competitive breeding or just filling out a living dex.
- Sunday: Mimikyu’s trial site (Thrifty Megamart) hides Swadloon.
- Monday: Spheal shows up at Route 7.
- Tuesday: Combusken at Route 8. (Speed Boost Blaziken fans, take note, though you'll need an Ability Patch or luck with the hidden ability if available).
- Wednesday: Honedge at Akala Outskirts. This is a big one. Aegislash is a monster.
- Thursday: Beedrill at Route 4.
- Friday: Sceptile (Grovyle) at Route 5.
- Saturday: Marshtomp at Brooklet Hill.
The Grovyle and Marshtomp encounters make Akala a must-visit for Hoenn fans. Honestly, finding a Marshtomp in the middle of a tropical Alolan stream feels right.
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Ula'ula Island: The Power Gap
By the time you reach Ula'ula, the levels jump. You’re looking at Pokémon in the 30s and 40s.
Rhyhorn shows up on Sundays at Blush Mountain. Monday brings Swanyl to the Malie Garden. On Tuesday, you get Emboar (Pignite) at Route 12. Wednesday is Staravia at Route 10.
The highlight for many is Thursday: Gardevoir (Kirlia) at Ula'ula Meadow. If you missed out on a good psychic or fairy type, this is your best bet. Friday is Chestnaught (Quilladin) at Route 11, and Saturday is Slakoth at Route 15.
Poni Island: The End Game
Poni Island is where the strongest ultra moon island scan pokemon reside. These are mostly final evolutions or high-tier base forms.
Sunday gives you Eelektross at Poni Grove. No weaknesses? Yes, please. Monday is the big one: Greninja (Frogadier) at Poni Wilds. While it doesn't have the Battle Bond ability (that's exclusive to the Ash-Greninja demo transfer), it’s still a Greninja.
Tuesday is Delphox (Braixen) at Ancient Poni Path. Wednesday is Tynamo again (usually a repeat or variation). Thursday is Chesnaught (the actual final form) at Exeggutor Island. Friday is Greninja (the final form) at Poni Wilds. Wait, did I mix those up? Let me clarify: In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the Poni Island scans are specifically designed to give you the fully evolved Kalos starters.
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The Shiny Hunting Strategy
Island Scan Pokémon are not shiny-locked. This is huge. However, you cannot SOS chain them.
Since they are "single" encounters, you have to use the "Soft Reset" method or the "Run Away" method if you have multiple encounters available (which you don't in a single scan). The most efficient way to shiny hunt them is to save right before the encounter, trigger it, and if it's not shiny, reset the game. It is tedious. It is soul-crushing. But a Shiny Samurott in a Beast Ball? That's bragging rights.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't waste your scan if you haven't unlocked the area yet. If the scanner says the Pokémon is in the "Poni Gauntlet" and you haven't even finished the third trial, you've just flushed 100 points down the toilet. You can't fly to areas you haven't visited, and many Island Scan locations are gated behind HM-like Poké Ride abilities.
Another tip: Check your clock. The game uses the 3DS system clock. If you change your clock to try and "cheat" the day of the week, the game will freeze all time-based events for 24 to 48 hours. This includes the Island Scan. Just wait the day out.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Hunt
To make the most of your ultra moon island scan pokemon experience, follow this specific workflow:
- Mass Scan: Use a website like QRServer or a dedicated Pokémon database to find 10 "Special" QR codes. Scan them all at once to get your 100 points instantly.
- Verify the Day: Double-check the actual day in-game. Remember, Ultra Moon is offset by 12 hours from the real world. If it's day outside, it's night in the game. This can occasionally flip the "daily" reset if you're playing near midnight.
- Prep the Party: Put a Pokémon with "False Swipe" and a status move (Sleep Powder or Thunder Wave) at the front of your party.
- Save the Game: Stand in the general area of the route where the Pokémon is supposed to appear. Save.
- Trigger and Hunt: Run the scan. Find the shadows or the rustling grass.
- Catch and Save: Once caught, save immediately. If you're going for a specific Nature, use a Pokémon with the Synchronize ability (like Abra or Ralts) in the first slot. There is a 50% chance the wild Pokémon will inherit that Nature.
The Island Scan feature is a bridge between Alola and the rest of the Pokémon world. It fills the gaps in the Pokedex and gives you access to competitive staples without needing to transfer from older generations. It requires patience and a bit of Googling for the right QR codes, but the payoff is a roster of rare Pokémon that most casual players will never see in their playthrough.