You’re standing in the middle of Route 8, staring at that stone shop, wondering if you actually have to gamble your way through the entire Alolan Pokédex just to get a Tyrunt. It’s a vibe. Honestly, the way fossil pokemon ultra moon handles its ancient revivals is kind of a mess if you're coming from the older games where you just smashed rocks until a skull popped out.
In Ultra Moon, things are specific. Very specific.
If you’re looking for the classic Kanto or Hoenn vibes, you aren’t just digging. You’re shopping. Or you’re trading. Or you’re praying to the RNG gods at Poké Pelago. It’s a system that feels a bit more "collector-heavy" than previous entries, and if you don't know which shop sells which rock, you’re going to spend a lot of time flying Charizard in circles for no reason.
The Olivia Shop Method: Your Primary Source
Basically, the most straightforward way to get your hands on these prehistoric beasts is by visiting Olivia’s jewelry shop in Konikoni City. This isn't like the old days. You don't find these in the wild. You buy them.
But here is the catch that trips everyone up: The stock is version-exclusive. In Ultra Moon, Olivia sells a specific set of fossils that differs from Ultra Sun. You can grab the Shield Fossil (Shieldon), the Plume Fossil (Archen), the Amaura-related Sail Fossil, and the Cover Fossil (Tirtouga). You also get the Claw Fossil for Anorith. You walk in, hand over 7,000 Poké Dollars, and you’ve got a rock. That’s it.
Wait. There is a catch. You can only buy one of each per save file.
This is where the "Expert" strategy deviates from the "Casual" one. If you want more than one Bastiodon or Archeops, or if you’re looking for the Ultra Sun exclusives like Cranidos or Tyrunt, you have to look elsewhere. You can’t just buy your way to a full living dex in one afternoon at the jewelry store. It's a bummer, I know.
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Bringing Them Back to Life on Route 8
Once you have the fossil, you don't stay in Konikoni. You have to go to the Fossil Restoration Center on Route 8. It’s not really a "center" in the way a Pokémon Center is; it’s basically a guy in a van near the forest entrance.
Talk to the man standing outside the RV. He’s the one who runs the regenerator.
He’ll take your fossil, the screen fades to black for a second, and boom—you have a Level 15 Pokémon. This is standard stuff, but remember to keep a slot open in your party. If your party is full, the Pokémon goes straight to the PC, which is fine, but it adds an extra step if you were planning on immediate training.
What about the fossils Olivia doesn't sell?
This is where people get frustrated. If you want a Tyrunt or a Cranidos in Ultra Moon, Olivia isn't going to help you. You have two real options:
- Poké Pelago (Isle Aphun): This is the long game. If you develop Isle Aphun to Rank 2 or 3, you can send your Pokémon on "Interesting Item" or "Rare Treasure" hunting expeditions. They can—and will—occasionally bring back fossils that are not sold in shops. It’s entirely random. It's frustrating. But it’s the only way to get "infinite" fossils within a single game without trading.
- The GTS or Trading: Let’s be real. Most people just trade. Because the fossils are version-exclusive, the GTS is usually flooded with people looking for an Amaura in exchange for a Tyrunt.
The Version Exclusive Split
You need to know exactly what you're looking for so you don't waste time searching for a rock that doesn't exist in your code.
Ultra Moon Exclusives (The ones you can buy):
Shieldon (Shield Fossil), Tirtouga (Cover Fossil), Archen (Plume Fossil), Amaura (Sail Fossil), and Anorith (Claw Fossil).
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Ultra Sun Exclusives (The ones you have to trade for or find in Pelago):
Cranidos (Skull Fossil), Tirtouga’s counterpart Omanyte (Helix Fossil), Kabuto (Dome Fossil), Lileep (Root Fossil), and Tyrunt (Jaw Fossil).
Aerodactyl is the weird outlier. You don't need a fossil for him. You just go to Seafolk Village on Poni Island, walk into the hunt house on the far left (the one shaped like a Whiscash), and talk to the person inside. They just give it to you. A free Level 40 Aerodactyl. No digging required. Honestly, it’s one of the best gift Pokémon in the game because its speed tier is so high for the late-game trials.
Why Fossil Pokémon Matter in the Alola Meta
It’s not just about the Pokédex entry. Several of these fossils are actually cracked for a casual playthrough.
Archeops has huge stats, but that "Defeatist" ability is a nightmare if you aren't careful. If its HP drops below half, its attack power is basically cut in half. It’s a glass cannon. On the flip side, Aurorus (from the Sail Fossil) has a massive weakness to Fighting and Steel moves, but its "Refrigerate" ability turns Normal moves into Ice moves. That makes "Return" or "Hyper Voice" hit like a truck.
If you’re playing through the main story, getting an Amaura early from Olivia can carry you through the Dragon-type encounters later in the game. Just keep it away from anything that looks like it knows a Karate Chop.
The Hidden Complexity of Fossil Hunting
A lot of players don't realize that the "one-per-save-file" rule at Olivia's shop is a hard cap. If you accidentally release your Carracosta, you are stuck with Poké Pelago.
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Isle Aphun (the cave island) is actually more useful than people give it credit for. When you start the "Path for Rare Treasure" hunt, it takes 24 hours (or 12 if you use beans). The drop rates for fossils are low, roughly 5-10% depending on the specific item. You’ll get a lot of Hard Stones and Float Stones first. Don’t give up. If you're trying to shiny hunt a fossil Pokémon, the best way is to save your game before giving the fossil to the guy on Route 8, then soft-resetting until the Pokémon comes out shiny.
The odds are the standard 1 in 4096. It’s a grind.
Actionable Steps for the Perfect Team
Don't just wander around. If you want to maximize your fossil team in Ultra Moon, follow this specific order to save time:
- First: Head to Konikoni City as soon as you reach Akala Island. You need to have beaten Olivia’s trial first to access the shop fully.
- Second: Buy the Sail Fossil immediately. Amaura evolves into Aurorus at night (level 39), and since you're playing Ultra Moon, the game clock is inverted. This means "night" in-game is actually "day" in real life. It makes evolving Amaura much easier during your normal waking hours.
- Third: Go to Poni Island's Seafolk Village the moment you arrive to pick up your free Aerodactyl. It comes at Level 40, which usually matches your team's level at that point in the story.
- Fourth: Max out your Isle Aphun in Poké Pelago. Even if you aren't actively hunting, having it run in the background is the only way to get those Ultra Sun fossils without needing an internet connection.
Fossil Pokémon in this generation are a bridge between the old-school "find it in the dirt" mechanics and the newer "gift and shop" style. While it’s annoying that you can’t just farm them on Route 8, the ease of the jewelry shop means you can have a prehistoric powerhouse on your team before you even hit the third island. Just remember to watch out for those Type matchups—being part Rock-type in a region full of Water and Grass types is a dangerous game.
Expert Tip: If you're looking for the Old Amber, it’s not in the shop. Like the others, it’s a rare find in Poké Pelago. But since you get a free Aerodactyl anyway, most players don't bother hunting the actual Amber unless they're completionists. Focus your Pelago hunts on the Jaw and Skull fossils instead; Tyrantrum and Rampardos are much harder to come by and have massive physical attack stats that can cheese through some of the tougher Totem battles.