So, you’re looking at the Alola region again. Maybe you’re doing a Nuzlocke, or maybe you just want to finish that Living Dex before the 3DS online legacy feels even more like ancient history. The thing about ultra moon ultra sun exclusives is that they aren’t just a few color swaps. Game Freak went surprisingly hard on making these two versions feel distinct, and if you pick the wrong one, you’re going to be staring at a GTS screen—or what's left of it—wishing you had a pass to the other side.
It’s not just about the box legendaries anymore. We’re talking about entire species, Ultra Beasts that look like they crawled out of a geometry textbook, and even the literal time of day in the game.
The Day-Night Cycle Flip is Still Weird
Let's get the big one out of the way. If you buy Ultra Sun, the game follows your 3DS clock. Noon is noon. If you buy Ultra Moon, the world is shifted by 12 hours. You’re playing in the dark while the sun is hitting your window in real life. It sounds like a gimmick, but honestly? It changes the whole vibe of the Alolan islands. Lush Jungle feels totally different at "night" during your lunch break.
This matters because some Pokémon only show up based on that clock. You want a daytime form Lycanroc? Good luck doing that easily in Moon without some clock manipulation or waiting until your actual bedtime.
The Big Hitters: Legendary Pokémon and Ultra Beasts
The core of the ultra moon ultra sun exclusives list starts with Solgaleo and Lunala, but it cascades down into the "Wormhole" legendaries. In the Ultra Warp Ride—that mini-game where you tilt your 3DS until your wrists hurt—the color of the portal dictates what you find. But the game version dictates which specific icons show up in those portals.
🔗 Read more: Why Miranda the Blighted Bloom Is the Weirdest Boss You Missed
If you’re hunting the heavy hitters from previous generations, the split is brutal. Ultra Sun players get the "standard" powerhouses like Ho-Oh, Groudon, and Dialga. Ultra Moon players get the more "mystical" or defensive ones: Lugia, Kyogre, and Palkia. It’s a classic divide.
Ultra Sun Exclusive Legendaries:
- Ho-Oh: The rainbow bird.
- Raikou: The electric sabertooth.
- Groudon: You’ll need this for the Primal Reversion powerhouse.
- Latios: Fast, blue, and iconic.
- Dialga: The ruler of time.
- Heatran: Great for competitive play, even years later.
- Reshiram: The dragon of truth.
- Xerneas: Basically broke the meta in Gen 6 and 7.
- Tornadus: The bird-form genie.
Ultra Moon Exclusive Legendaries:
- Lugia: The guardian of the seas.
- Entei: The volcano dog.
- Kyogre: Essential for rain teams.
- Latias: The red, more defensive twin.
- Palkia: Space incarnate.
- Regigigas: Slow start, but a monster if it gets going.
- Zekrom: Pure physical electric power.
- Yveltal: The bird of death.
- Thundurus: Prankster shenanigans start here.
Then there are the Ultra Beasts. These are the weirdest additions to the Alola Pokédex. Ultra Sun gets UB Burst (Blacephalon), which is basically a fire-type clown that explodes its own head. It’s high-risk, high-reward. Ultra Moon gets UB Assembly (Stakataka). It’s a literal stone fortress with a hundred eyes.
If you care about competitive play, Stakataka is a Trick Room king. Blacephalon is a glass cannon. You’ve gotta choose your playstyle before you even pop the cartridge in.
Wild Encounters: The "Common" Exclusives
People always forget the Alolan forms and the standard wild spawns. These are the ones that actually make the journey feel different. If you’re playing Ultra Sun, you’re getting Vulpix. Alolan Vulpix is arguably the cutest regional form ever made, and Ninetales with Snow Warning is a genuine threat.
💡 You might also like: Why Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is the Best Game You Probably Skipped
In Ultra Moon? You get Alolan Sandshrew. It’s cool, sure. An ice/steel type looks great. But it’s no Alolan Ninetales.
Why the Fossil Split Matters
The fossils are also version-locked. Ultra Sun gives you access to Cranidos and Tirtouga. Ultra Moon gives you Shieldon and Archen. If you want a Carracosta to lead your team, you’re locked into Sun. Archen (Archeops) is a beast in Moon, but that Defeatist ability makes it a "handle with care" Pokémon.
The Miscellaneous List
- Ultra Sun: Cottonee (Whimsicott), Rufflet (Braviary), Passimian, Turtonator.
- Ultra Moon: Petilil (Lilligant), Vullaby (Mandibuzz), Oranguru, Drampa.
Passimian and Oranguru are the standouts here. They were designed for Double Battles. Oranguru's "Instruct" move is legendary for letting your partner Pokémon move twice. If you’re a doubles player, Moon is often the smarter pick just for that primate.
Totem Stickers and the Size Factor
One of the most underrated parts of ultra moon ultra sun exclusives is the Totem Stickers. You collect these gold stickers hidden all over the islands. Once you hit certain milestones, Samson Oak gives you "Totem-sized" Pokémon. These aren't just big; they have different weights and different competitive viability because of it.
📖 Related: Why Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch Still Beats Every Other Platformer
In Ultra Sun, you can get a giant Lurantis. In Ultra Moon, you get a giant Salazzle. Since Salazzle is a female-only evolution and usually a pain to grind for, getting a giant one as a gift in Moon is a massive time-saver.
The Necrozma Factor
While both games feature Necrozma as the primary antagonist, the form it takes during the climax is tied to your box art. Ultra Sun gives you Dusk Mane Necrozma (fused with Solgaleo). It’s a physical steel/psychic tank. Ultra Moon gives you Dawn Wings Necrozma (fused with Lunala). It’s a special attacking beast.
Ultimately, both can become Ultra Necrozma—which is widely considered one of the hardest boss fights in Pokémon history—but the journey to get there looks very different. If you prefer the look of a metallic lion over a ghostly bat, your choice is already made.
Making the Choice: Actionable Next Steps
Picking between these two shouldn't feel like a chore, but you do need a plan. Here is how you should actually decide:
- Check your existing collection: If you already have Pokémon Home or a bank of old legendaries, look for the gaps. If you're missing Gen 4 dragons like Palkia, go with Ultra Moon.
- Evaluate your schedule: If you only play late at night and want to see the "daylight" in Alola, go with Ultra Moon. The 12-hour offset will make the game world sunny while it's dark outside your window.
- Prioritize the "New" Ultra Beasts: Remember that Blacephalon and Stakataka are the only entirely new Pokémon introduced in these "Ultra" versions (alongside Poipole/Naganadel and Zeraora). Since you can get the others in the original Sun/Moon, let the clown vs. the fortress be your tiebreaker.
- Consider the Trial difficulty: Some players find the Totem Salazzle in Moon a bit more of a headache to deal with than the Sun exclusives, though the "Ultra" versions revamped these fights to be harder across the board.
The Alola region is dense. It's cutscene-heavy, sure, but the variety of ultra moon ultra sun exclusives ensures that regardless of which version you choose, you're getting a top-tier RPG experience. Just make sure you trade for that Alolan Vulpix if you end up with Moon. You’re gonna want it.