You’re standing in the middle of a GameStop in 2017—or maybe you’re scrolling through the 3DS eShop in the present day—and you have to make a choice. It’s the classic Pokémon dilemma. Do you want the lion or the bat? The sun or the moon? But with Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon, the choice actually matters a lot more than it did back in the original Sun and Moon days.
Honestly, the "Ultra" versions are weird. They aren't sequels like Black 2 and White 2. They’re more like "remixes" or enhanced versions, sort of like Emerald or Platinum but split into two again. Because of that, the ultra sun moon exclusives list got bloated with a massive amount of legendary Pokémon from every single previous generation.
If you pick the wrong one, you’re missing out on more than just a couple of Alolan forms. You’re potentially locking yourself out of catching Groudon or Kyogre, or deciding whether you want to hunt a shiny Heatran or a shiny Regigigas. It’s a lot to process.
The Core Species Split
Let's look at the basic wild encounters first. You've got your standard Alolan variations and some older mons that only pop up in one version. If you want that beautiful Alolan Vulpix (and who doesn't?), you basically have to go with Ultra Sun. If you’re more of an Alolan Sandshrew fan, it’s Ultra Moon all the way.
In Ultra Sun, you’re looking at:
- Alolan Vulpix and Ninetales
- Houndour and Houndoom (this was a new addition for the Ultra games)
- Cottonee and Whimsicott
- Rufflet and Braviary
- Passimian
- Turtonator
Over in Ultra Moon, the vibe is different:
- Alolan Sandshrew and Sandslash
- Electrike and Manectric
- Petilil and Lilligant
- Vullaby and Mandibuzz
- Oranguru
- Drampa
It’s a classic trade-off. Passimian vs. Oranguru. Turtonator vs. Drampa. But wait, there's more. The fossils. Usually, you’re stuck with whatever the shop in Konikoni City sells you. Ultra Sun gets the "pointy" ones—think Cranidos, Tirtouga, and Tyrunt. Ultra Moon gets the "bulky" or "weird" ones like Shieldon, Archen, and Amaura.
A quick pro-tip: you can actually find the "other" fossils in the Poké Pelago if you send your Pokémon on enough Rare Treasure Hunting missions. It’s tedious, but it means the fossil mons aren't strictly locked away forever if you’re patient.
The Ultra Wormhole Legendary Problem
This is where the decision gets heavy. The Ultra Wormhole is basically a gambling mini-game where you fly through space on a legendary lion or bat. Depending on the color of the hole you jump into, you find different legendaries. But—and this is a big "but"—half of them are locked to your specific game.
If you’re hunting in Ultra Sun, you get the heavy hitters like Ho-Oh, Raikou, Groudon, Latios, Dialga, Heatran, Reshiram, Tornadus, and Xerneas.
Ultra Moon players get the counterparts: Lugia, Entei, Kyogre, Latias, Palkia, Regigigas, Zekrom, Thundurus, and Yveltal.
Here is the kicker that trips everyone up. There are "duo-locked" legendaries. You want Suicune? You need both Raikou and Entei in your party. Since you can only catch one in your game, you have to trade for the other and then go back into the wormhole. The same goes for Rayquaza (needs Groudon/Kyogre), Giratina (needs Dialga/Palkia), Landorus (needs Tornadus/Thundurus), and Kyurem (needs Reshiram/Zekrom).
It's a clever way to force people to interact, or more realistically, a clever way to make you buy both versions.
Ultra Beasts and the New Kids on the Block
We can't talk about ultra sun moon exclusives without mentioning the Ultra Beasts. These are the extradimensional horrors that look more like Digimon than Pokémon.
In Ultra Sun, you’re catching Buzzwole and Kartana. Kartana is a beast in competitive play—literally a tiny paper samurai with an Attack stat that makes most gods look weak. You also get the new "exclusive" Ultra Beast for Sun: Blacephalon. It's a fire/ghost clown that literally blows its own head up. Fun times.
Ultra Moon gives you Pheromosa and Celesteela. Celesteela is basically a giant bamboo rocket ship and is notoriously hard to kill. The new UB for Moon is Stakataka, a living stone fortress made of hundreds of little eyes.
The Ultra Recon Squad—the weird blue people from space—also change based on your version. You’ll spend the whole game talking to Dulse and Zossie in Ultra Sun, while Phyco and Soliera take the lead in Ultra Moon. It doesn't change the plot much, but the dialogue flavor is different.
Totem Stickers: Bigger is Sometimes Better
One of the coolest new features in the Ultra games is collecting Totem Stickers. You see them stuck to the sides of buildings, hidden under porches, or plastered on the back of signs. If you collect enough, Samson Oak (the tan cousin of Professor Oak) gives you actual Totem-sized Pokémon.
These aren't just big. They are heavy. This matters because moves like Low Kick or Grass Knot do more damage to heavier targets.
In Ultra Sun, your sticker rewards include:
- Gumshoos (20 stickers)
- Alolan Marowak (40 stickers)
- Lurantis (50 stickers)
- Vikavolt (70 stickers)
- Ribombee (100 stickers)
In Ultra Moon, you're looking at:
- Alolan Raticate (20 stickers)
- Araquanid (40 stickers)
- Salazzle (50 stickers)
- Togedemaru (70 stickers)
- Kommo-o (100 stickers)
Getting a giant Kommo-o is probably the biggest flex in the game, so Ultra Moon wins the sticker war for a lot of people.
The Time Loop and Aesthetic Shifts
You might remember this from the original games, but it’s still here. Ultra Sun follows your 3DS clock. If it’s noon in real life, it’s noon in the game. Ultra Moon flips it. If you’re playing at noon, it’s midnight in Alola.
This isn't just a visual thing. Some Pokémon only evolve at certain times. Rockruff, for example, has a very specific window for its Dusk Form. If you're playing Ultra Moon and want that orange wolf, you’re basically doing math in your head to figure out when 5:00 PM is in "reverse time."
The "Reverse World" also returns. If you take your cover legendary (Solgaleo or Lunala) to the Altar of the Sunne/Moone at the right time, you can jump through a portal to the "other" version's time cycle. It doesn't turn your game into the other version—you still find your own ultra sun moon exclusives—but it makes the sky look different and lets you evolve things that are time-sensitive.
What Should You Actually Buy?
If you’re a competitive player, Ultra Sun has Kartana and Xerneas. Those are huge.
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If you’re a collector, Ultra Moon has the more visually striking legendaries like Yveltal and Palkia.
Ultimately, it comes down to which box art makes you feel cooler. Both games are the definitive Alola experience, far surpassing the original 2016 releases.
Next Steps for Your Journey:
- Check your clock. If you hate playing in the dark, avoid Ultra Moon unless you plan on playing mostly at night in real life.
- Find a trade partner. You literally cannot get Suicune, Rayquaza, or Giratina without someone (or another 3DS) providing the other half of the duo.
- Start peeling. Those Totem Stickers are everywhere. Check the back of every trial gate and the inside of every Pokémon Center.
- Bank your mons. Remember that the 3DS eShop and Bank situation is "legacy" now. If you have these games, get your exclusives moved to Pokémon HOME before the hardware eventually gives out.
Alola is a weird, bright, and slightly terrifying place thanks to the Ultra Beasts. Whether you’re team Sun or team Moon, just make sure you’ve got a team that can handle a literal god made of light.