You're staring at a QR code on a screen, wondering if this whole thing is even worth it. Honestly, it probably is. The Ultra Sun and Moon Island scan system is one of those weird, clunky, but ultimately rewarding mechanics that Game Freak threw into the Alola sequels. It’s basically a scavenger hunt that lets you find Pokémon that have no business being in Alola. We're talking about Kanto starters, Johto icons, and Sinnoh powerhouses that just... show up. It's a bit of a grind. But if you want a Chikorita or a Luxray before the Elite Four, this is your only ticket.
The QR Scanner isn't just for show. Every 10 scans you complete gives you enough "points" to trigger a single Island Scan. That scan reveals a rare Pokémon on your current island for exactly one hour. If you fail to catch it? It’s gone. You have to wait for the next day or points recharge. It sounds simple. It’s actually kind of a nightmare if you don’t know the schedule.
Why the Ultra Sun and Moon Island Scan Still Matters Years Later
Most people play Pokémon to fill the Pokédex. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the National Dex isn't actually in the game, which was a huge controversy back in the day. However, you can still catch these "non-native" species. This is the only way to get a Serperior with its Hidden Ability (if you're lucky with breeding later) or a competitive-ready Aegislash without transferring from older games.
The mechanic works on a strictly 24-hour cycle based on your 3DS internal clock. Monday's Pokémon is always Monday's Pokémon. You can’t just spam scans and hope for the best. You need a plan. If you're looking for a specific starter, you might have to wait an entire week if you miss your window. That’s the high-stakes reality of Alolan hunting. It’s annoying. It’s also strangely addictive.
The QR Code Grind
You need 100 points. Most QR codes—literally any barcode on a cereal box or a random Google Image search—give you 10 points. Do the math. That’s ten scans. You get one "charge" every two hours. If you’re starting from zero, you’re looking at a 20-hour wait for a full recharge.
But there’s a loophole. Special QR codes, like the Magearna one or those from the Rotom Dex toys, give you 20 points instead of 10. That cuts your work in half. You’ve probably seen people online sharing sheets of these codes. They’re lifesavers. Without them, you’re just a person scanning their toothpaste tube hoping for a Squirtle.
The Alola Island Scan Schedule You Actually Need
Forget those messy, over-formatted tables you see on wikis. Let’s talk about what actually shows up and where. Each island—Melemele, Akala, Ula'ula, and Poni—has a different set of spawns for every day of the week.
Melemele Island is where you start, but the spawns are surprisingly decent. On Sundays, you get Cyndaquil. Mondays bring Totodile. If you’re playing on a Friday, you’re looking at Bulbasaur. It’s a Kanto and Johto starter goldmine. You’ll find them in places like Route 2 or Verdant Cavern. Don't expect them to be level 100; they're scaled to the island's difficulty.
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Akala Island steps it up. Tuesdays give you Luxio. Wednesdays? That's Honedge day at Akala Outskirts. If you want a Doublade or Aegislash for your mid-game team, Wednesday on Akala is non-negotiable.
Ula'ula Island is where things get serious. This is where the Sinnoh and Unova starters live. Thursday is the big one here: Empoleon’s pre-evolution, Prinplup. Saturday gives you Emboar’s first form, Tepig. You’ll be trekking through Malie Garden or Route 10. Bring Max Repels. There is nothing worse than being chased by a random Zubat when your one-hour Island Scan timer is ticking down.
Poni Island is the endgame. This is where the fully evolved forms show up. We’re talking level 40 to 60 monsters. Sunday on Poni Island is Leavanny. Friday is Samurott. This is the only place in the game where you can catch these final evolutions in the wild, standing right there in the tall grass of Poni Wilds. It’s wild.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Hunt
The biggest mistake? Activating the scan on the wrong island. If you’re on Melemele but you really wanted that Eelektross from Poni Island, you’re out of luck. Once you hit that button, the game locks in the spawn for the island you are currently standing on.
Another one is the "One-and-Done" rule. You only get one encounter. If you accidentally knock the Pokémon out with a critical hit, it doesn't respawn. Use False Swipe. Seriously. If you don't have a Pokémon with False Swipe, don't even bother pressing the scan button. You’re playing with fire.
The timer is also ruthless. Sixty minutes. That sounds like a long time until you realize the Pokémon is tucked away in a corner of a route you haven't fully explored yet. Check your map immediately. The "R" icon will show you exactly where the rare spawn is located.
Deep Cuts: The Pokémon You Didn't Expect
Most players focus on the starters. That’s a mistake. There are some incredibly niche competitive picks hidden in the Ultra Sun and Moon Island scan list.
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Take Rotom, for example. In the original Sun and Moon, you couldn't actually catch Rotom. You just had the one in your Dex. In Ultra, you can scan for it on Tuesdays at Poni Island. It’s at the Poni Gauntlet. This is huge for anyone who wants to use Wash-Rotom or Heat-Rotom in battle without having to trade.
Then there’s Aggron (or rather, Lairon). Available on Wednesdays on Poni Island. Having a Steel/Rock beast like that in the Alola region is a game-changer for the late-game trials. It resists almost everything the Poni Island trainers throw at you.
- Monday: Spheal (Melemele), Conkeldurr (Poni - technically Gurdurr).
- Tuesday: Luxio (Akala), Rotom (Poni).
- Wednesday: Honedge (Akala), Lairon (Poni).
- Thursday: Klink (Ula'ula), Chesnaught (Poni - technically Quilladin).
- Friday: Bulbasaur (Melemele), Greninja (Poni - technically Frogadier).
Notice a pattern? Poni Island is where the power is. If you're just starting the game, stick to Melemele to round out your team's types. But once you hit the fourth island, that's where the real "Island Scanning" happens.
The Myth of the Shiny Island Scan
Can they be shiny? Yes. Is it easy? Absolutely not.
The Island Scan Pokémon are not affected by the Shiny Charm in the same way regular encounters are, and you can’t SOS chain them. Because it’s a single static encounter, you have to save your game before you initiate the scan. If the Pokémon isn't shiny, you soft reset.
This is a brutal hunt. You are looking at the base 1 in 4096 odds for most players. Some dedicated hunters have spent weeks soft-resetting for a shiny Johto starter. It’s a badge of honor in the community, mostly because it’s so tedious. If you see someone with a shiny Meganium with an Alola origin mark, they’ve seen some things.
Technical Nuances and the 3DS Hardware
The QR Scanner actually uses the physical cameras on your 3DS. It’s one of the few times the game reminds you that you're playing on a handheld from 2011. If you’re in a dark room, the camera might struggle to pick up the codes. Turn on a light.
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Also, the "points" system is tied to your save file, but the "recharge" is tied to the system clock. If you try to cheat by changing the date on your 3DS, the game will detect it. It’ll freeze all time-based events for 24 to 48 hours. Don't do it. It’s a trap that has ruined many a weekend for impatient players.
How to Optimize Your Daily Routine
If you want to make the most of this, keep a folder of QR codes on your phone. Whenever you have a spare thirty seconds—waiting for a bus, sitting through a commercial—scan a few. You don't have to do all ten at once.
Build up your points so that when "Honedge Wednesday" or "Charmander Sunday" rolls around, you’re ready to go immediately.
I usually keep a "Catcher Smeargle" in my PC specifically for these runs. Soak, False Swipe, and Spore. Since many of the Island Scan Pokémon are high-level or have annoying move sets (like Roar or Self-Destruct), you need to shut them down instantly. Gurdurr on Poni Island loves to use high-damage fighting moves, and if you aren't prepared, it'll wipe your lead Pokémon before you can throw an Ultra Ball.
Final Thoughts on the Alola Grind
The Island Scan isn't perfect. It’s a weird remnant of a time when Nintendo was trying to force AR features into everything. But in the context of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, it adds a layer of variety that the base games desperately needed. It turns Alola from a tropical vacation into a global crossover event.
You’ve got the tools. You’ve got the schedule. Now you just need the patience to scan ten random boxes of crackers to get that Squirtle.
Next Steps for Your Hunt:
- Download a QR Code Compendium: Search for "20-point QR codes Pokémon" to find the most efficient images to scan.
- Prepare a Catcher: Ensure you have a Pokémon with False Swipe and a status move like Thunder Wave or Sleep Powder to avoid losing your one-and-only encounter.
- Check Your Clock: Double-check that your 3DS day matches the Pokémon you are hunting before you activate the scan.
- Fly to the Right Island: Always physically land on the island (Melemele, Akala, Ula'ula, or Poni) before hitting the "Start Scan" button to ensure you get the correct spawn list.