You're standing in the middle of a grassy patch in Alola, desperately hoping for a rare spawn. It doesn't happen. Honestly, we’ve all been there. Whether you are playing the original Sun and Moon or the expanded Ultra versions, the grind is real. But there is a massive shortcut that a lot of people sort of forget about or don't use to its full potential. I'm talking about QR codes for Ultra Moon.
It’s a mechanic that feels a bit "2017," sure. But in 2026, if you are revisiting the 3DS era or using an emulator like Citra, these pixelated squares are basically your best friend. They aren't just for showing off a "seen" entry in your Pokédex. They unlock the Island Scan, which is the only way to get your hands on non-Alolan starters and classic powerhouses like Charizard or Aegislash without trading.
How the Island Scan Actually Works
Most players think you just scan a code and a Pokemon pops up. Not quite. You’ve got a scanner that holds ten charges. Each QR code you scan gives you 10 points. Do the math—you need ten scans to trigger a single Island Scan.
The cool part? It doesn't even have to be a "Pokemon" QR code. You can literally scan the back of a soup can or a digital gift card. If the game recognizes the pattern, you get points. But, if you use specific QR codes for Ultra Moon that are tied to a Pokedex entry, you get the added benefit of registering that Pokemon as "seen" in your Alolan Dex. This is huge for tracking down spawns later or just satisfying that completionist itch.
Once you hit 100 points, you fire off the Island Scan. The game checks your current island and the day of the week. This part is crucial. If you scan on Melemele Island on a Friday, you're getting Squirtle. Do it on a Saturday, and you’re looking at a Litwick. The encounter lasts for exactly one hour. If you mess up, faint the Pokemon, or run away, that’s it. You have to wait for your scanner to recharge, which takes about two hours per scan (20 hours for a full reset). It’s a slow burn, but it's worth it.
The Magearna Secret
There is one specific code that everyone needs. It’s the "Special" QR code. Unlike the standard ones that give you 10 points, this one is a hard-coded event trigger. Even years after the event officially "ended," the code still works because it's stored locally on the cartridge's logic.
If you’ve finished the main story—meaning you are the Alola Champion—you can scan the special Magearna QR code.
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Go to the Antiquities of the Ages shop in Hau'oli City. Talk to the deliveryman. Boom. A Level 50 Mythical Pokemon with a Soul-Heart ability and a Bottle Cap. It’s probably the easiest Mythical you will ever get in the history of the franchise. No Gamestop codes, no timed internet windows, just a simple scan.
Island Scan Schedule: Who is Where?
You can't just wander around and hope for the best. You need a plan. The QR codes for Ultra Moon database is vast, but the Island Scan pool is specific.
On Melemele Island, you're mostly looking at lower-tier favorites. Monday gets you Totodile. Thursday is Scatterbug. Sunday is Charmander. If you're just starting your journey, Melemele is where you build your core team.
Akala Island steps it up. This is where you find Grovyle on Tuesdays or Combusken on Wednesdays. See the pattern? The Ultra versions actually include the Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Kalos starters. It makes the game feel way more expansive than the original versions.
Ula'ula Island is for the mid-game hunters. This is where you find Swinub, Empoleon, and even Honedge. Honestly, Aegislash is such a beast in the Alola meta that skipping the Wednesday scan on Ula'ula is basically handicapping yourself.
Finally, Poni Island is the end-game goldmine. We are talking Eelektross, Chesnaught, and Greninja. Yes, you can get a wild Greninja. It won't have the Battle Bond ability (that's exclusive to the demo transfer), but it’s still a Greninja.
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Why Some Codes Fail to Work
It’s annoying when you find a "complete list" online and half of them don't scan. Usually, this happens because of image resolution. If the QR code is too blurry or too small on your screen, the 3DS camera—which wasn't exactly high-def even back then—won't pick it up.
Another weird quirk? Region locking. While most QR codes for Ultra Moon are universal, some promotional codes from the Japanese arcade game Pokemon Ga-Olé sometimes act funky on North American or European systems. If you're hitting a wall, try finding a "Wonder QR" code. These are randomly generated and usually bypass any regional check issues.
Also, remember the 10-scan limit. You can't just sit there and scan 500 codes in a row. The game forces you to pace yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
The Myth of the "Shiny QR Code"
Let’s clear something up. There is a persistent rumor that scanning a QR code of a Shiny Pokemon increases your odds of finding a Shiny via Island Scan.
It doesn't.
Total myth. I’ve seen people spend hours hunting for specific Shiny QR images thinking it tweaks the RNG. It’s a placebo. The Island Scan Pokemon has the standard 1/4096 Shiny rate. You can use the Shiny Charm to bring those odds down to about 1/1365, but the code itself doesn't change the math. What the Shiny QR code does do is give you the Shiny sprite in your Pokedex entry, which looks cool, but it won't help you catch one.
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Maximizing Your Efficiency
If you’re serious about using QR codes for Ultra Moon to finish your Pokedex, you need to sync your real-world clock with the game’s schedule. Or, you know, just change the 3DS system clock.
Wait. Don't do that.
If you change the system clock on your 3DS, the game detects it. It will freeze all time-based events for 24 to 48 hours. No berries, no lottery, and no QR scanner refills. It's better to just play the long game. Set a reminder on your phone for the specific days your favorites are available.
Quick Strategy for New Players
- Save up 100 points by scanning random household items.
- Fly to the island that has the Pokemon you want.
- Save your game before you trigger the scan.
- Use a Pokemon with "False Swipe" in your lead slot. These Island Scan encounters are often at a higher level than the local wild Pokemon, and you don't want to accidentally knock out a Venusaur you've been waiting all week for.
Beyond the Dex: The "Points" Meta
There is an underrated benefit to the scanner system. Every time you scan a code, you're essentially interacting with the Global Link (or what remains of that infrastructure's logic). While the official 3DS online services have moved into a different phase of life, the local QR data remains a static, reliable way to fill gaps in your collection that would otherwise require a copy of Pokemon Bank or a friend with a different version of the game.
It's also worth noting that the QR codes for Ultra Moon aren't just for Pokemon. There are specialized codes for "Movie Cap" Pikachu. For a long time, the I Choose You! Cap Pikachu was only available via a specific QR distribution tied to the 20th movie. Like Magearna, this code isn't time-sensitive in the traditional sense. If you have the image, you can get the Pikachu.
Taking Action: Your Pokedex Checklist
To get the most out of this system today, stop looking for "official" lists and start looking for community-archived QR spreadsheets. There are massive Imgur albums and Reddit threads dedicated to high-resolution scans of every single Pokemon in the Alolan Dex.
- Step 1: Download or bookmark a full Alola Pokedex QR gallery. This ensures you have 100% scan success rates.
- Step 2: Check the daily Island Scan rotation chart. Do not waste your 100 points on a Tuesday if the Pokemon you actually want only appears on Saturday.
- Step 3: Use the Magearna code immediately after your first Hall of Fame win. It is a free Level 50 boost that helps immensely with the post-game "Episode RR" (Team Rainbow Rocket) storyline.
- Step 4: Focus on the starters first. Since you can only pick one at the start of the game, the Island Scan is your primary method for obtaining the others without needing to find a trade partner in a dwindling 3DS player base.
The beauty of the QR system is that it's a legacy feature that doesn't rely on a server. As long as your 3DS camera works and you can find the images online, you have access to a huge chunk of the National Dex right in the palm of your hand. It turns the game into a bit of a daily ritual, which, honestly, is exactly how Pokemon was meant to be played.