You’re standing in the tall grass of Melemele Island, and you’ve got a choice to make. It isn’t just about Rowlet, Litten, or Popplio anymore. The real divide starts the second you pick up the box. Most people think the differences between these two versions are just cosmetic—a different legendary on the cover, maybe a shift in the clock—but that's not the whole story. If you're hunting for a competitive edge or just trying to fill that Alolan Pokédex, the ultra sun and moon exclusive pokemon are going to dictate your entire playstyle.
It's weird. Game Freak has this habit of locking some of the most iconic creatures behind a version wall. You want that majestic, fire-breathing lion? You're going one way. You want the graceful, moon-bat? You're going the other. But it’s the smaller stuff, the Alolan forms and the Ultra Beasts, that really mess with your head when you're trying to build a team.
The Legendary Divide: Solgaleo vs. Lunala
Let’s be real. The cover stars are the main event. In Ultra Sun, you’re gunning for Solgaleo. It’s a Psychic/Steel powerhouse that basically shrugs off stat drops thanks to Full Metal Body. It feels heavy. It hits like a truck. On the flip side, Ultra Moon gives you Lunala. Psychic/Ghost. It’s spooky, it’s fast, and Shadow Shield makes it surprisingly tanky for something that looks like it’s made of starlight.
But in the "Ultra" versions, things got complicated with Necrozma. Depending on your version, you’re getting Dusk Mane or Dawn Wings. This isn't just a skin swap. We are talking about fundamental shifts in base stats. Dusk Mane Necrozma is a physical wall. Dawn Wings is a special attacking nuke. Honestly, if you don’t have a friend to trade with, you’re locking yourself into a very specific endgame meta the moment you start the game.
Digging Into the Wild Ultra Sun and Moon Exclusive Pokemon
The wild encounters are where the frustration—or the excitement—really kicks in. You’ve got the classics. Ultra Sun players get the Vulpix line. Alolan Vulpix is arguably the cutest thing in the game, and Alolan Ninetales with Snow Warning is a genuine threat in competitive play. If you’re on Ultra Moon, you get Alolan Sandshrew. It’s cool, sure, but it’s no Ninetales.
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Then you have the fossil Pokemon. It’s a bit of a throwback. Ultra Sun gives you the Cranidos and Tirtouga lines. Ultra Moon counters with Shieldon and Archen. Archen is a beast, but that Defeatist ability is a total buzzkill. You really have to weigh whether you want the raw power of Rampardos or the defensive utility of Bastiodon.
Here is a quick look at the split for the standard wild encounters:
In the Sun-drenched version, you're looking at Houndour, Cottonee, and Rufflet. If you prefer the Moon, you're hunting Electrike, Petilil, and Vullaby. It seems balanced on paper, but try telling that to someone who needs a Whimsicott for a Prankster build and realizes they bought the wrong cartridge. It’s those little realizations that happen twenty hours in that really sting.
The Ultra Beast Dilemma
This is where the ultra sun and moon exclusive pokemon list gets really intense. The Ultra Beasts aren't just rare; they are meta-defining.
Ultra Sun exclusive Ultra Beasts:
- UB-02 Absorption (Buzzwole): This thing is a bodybuilder mosquito. It’s Bug/Fighting and has a physical defense stat that makes it nearly unkillable by physical attackers.
- UB-04 Blade (Kartana): Don't let the size fool you. It’s a tiny piece of origami that has one of the highest Attack stats in the entire history of the franchise. It’s a glass cannon, but man, does it fire.
- UB Assembly (Stakataka): A literal wall. It’s slow, but in a Trick Room team, it becomes a god.
Ultra Moon exclusive Ultra Beasts:
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- UB-02 Beauty (Pheromosa): The polar opposite of Buzzwole. It’s incredibly fast and hits hard on both sides, but if a breeze hits it, it faints.
- UB-04 Blaster (Celesteela): Probably one of the most versatile Pokemon ever made. It’s Steel/Flying. You can run it defensive, offensive, or as a staller. It’s a nightmare to play against.
- UB Burst (Blacephalon): It’s a clown that explodes. Literally. Mind Blown is a terrifying move if you aren't prepared for it.
The choice here is basically between raw physical pressure (Sun) and tactical versatility (Moon). Most high-level players I know leaned toward Ultra Moon simply because Celesteela is such a Swiss Army knife. But if you love the idea of sweeping a team with a folding piece of paper, Kartana is hard to pass up.
The Totem Sized Factor
One of the coolest additions in the Ultra versions was the ability to collect Totem Stickers. These let you get "Totem-sized" versions of certain Pokemon. These aren't just bigger; they often have different weights, which actually matters for moves like Grass Knot or Low Kick.
In Ultra Sun, you can snag a giant Gumshoos, Alolan Marowak, and Ribombee. Ultra Moon hands over Alolan Raticate, Araquanid, and Salazzle. Getting a Totem Salazzle is a huge deal because Salandit is notoriously annoying to evolve (only females evolve, and the encounter rate is brutal). Getting a giant, guaranteed female Salazzle via stickers is a massive shortcut.
Why the Time Shift Still Distracts People
We have to talk about the clock. It's the most "love it or hate it" feature in the series. Ultra Sun follows your 3DS (or 2DS) system clock perfectly. If it's noon in real life, it's noon in the game. Ultra Moon flips it. 12 hours off. If you're a "night owl" player who only picks up the console after work at 8 PM, Ultra Moon will show you a bright, sunny Alola.
This affects evolution. Want a Midday Lycanroc? You better be playing Ultra Sun during the day or Ultra Moon at night. Want the Dusk form? That’s a whole different headache involving a very specific real-world time window. The ultra sun and moon exclusive pokemon experience is tied inextricably to when you actually sit down on your couch to play.
Making the Right Choice for Your Team
So, how do you actually decide? You have to look at your gaps. If you’re a solo player with no interest in the GTS (which, let’s be honest, is a bit of a ghost town these days), you need to pick the version that has your favorites.
If you want an aggressive, fast-paced team, Ultra Sun with Kartana and Solgaleo feels right. It’s proactive. If you like playing the long game, setting up hazards, and pivoting, Ultra Moon with Celesteela and Lunala offers much better defensive synergy.
Don't forget the Island Scan Pokemon either. While many are the same, the availability of certain Johto and Sinnoh starters can vary depending on the day and the version. It's a layer of complexity that keeps these games relevant even years after the Switch took over.
Actionable Next Steps for Trainers
If you are just starting your journey or looking to complete your collection, here is exactly what you should do:
- Check your clock first: Decide if you want the game world to match your real-world time. If you hate playing in the "dark" during your actual daytime, avoid Ultra Moon.
- Prioritize the Ultra Beasts: Look at Buzzwole vs. Pheromosa. They represent the core philosophy of each version. One is a tanky brawler; the other is a glass-cannon speedster.
- Identify your Alolan Form preference: If you can't live without an Alolan Ninetales, Ultra Sun is your only path unless you plan on trading.
- Focus on the Totem Stickers: If you're going for Ultra Moon, prioritize getting those stickers early to unlock the Totem Salazzle—it's arguably the most useful Totem reward in terms of saving time on breeding and evolving.
- Use the GTS cautiously: If you are hunting exclusives, look for "Level 1-10" trades for version-swapped babies like Vulpix or Sandshrew. It's usually the fastest way to bridge the gap between versions.
The Alola region is huge, and the differences between these two versions are more than skin deep. Whether you're chasing the sun or hiding in the moon's shadow, your team is going to look vastly different depending on that initial choice. There's no "wrong" version, but there's definitely a version that fits your personality better. Get out there and start catching.