Scanning a little black-and-white square might feel like you're checking a menu at a hipster cafe, but in the Alola region, it's basically a superpower. If you're still playing Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon—and let's be honest, many of us are because the 3DS era had a certain soul the Switch titles sometimes lack—you know that the grind is real. Completing that Pokédex isn't just about walking through tall grass until your eyes bleed. It's about working the system.
QR codes in Ultra Moon aren't just a gimmick. They're a fundamental shortcut.
Back when the games launched in 2017, Game Freak introduced the Island Scan feature. It was a bit of a curveball. Instead of just catching what’s in front of you, you use the 3DS camera to "read" data from the real world. You can scan a box of cereal, a random website's sidebar, or specific, generated patterns to earn points. Get 100 points? You unlock a rare encounter. It’s that simple, yet it’s surprisingly deep once you get into the weeds of "living dex" hunting.
The Mechanics of the Island Scan
Every scan gives you 10 or 20 points. You get ten scans a day, recharging every two hours. Most people just scan random junk, but the real pros look for the "Special" QR codes—the ones that give 20 points instead of 10. These are often found on official Pokémon promotional materials or Magearna's special event disk.
Once you hit that 100-point threshold, you trigger the Island Scan.
This is where things get interesting. Depending on which island you are currently standing on and what day of the week it is, a specific, non-Alolan Pokémon will spawn for exactly one hour. We aren't talking about Pidgeys here. We're talking about starters like Charmander, heavy hitters like Gothitelle, or even the elusive Aegislash line.
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You get one shot. One encounter. If you accidentally knock it out or run away? That's it. You've wasted your scan and have to wait for the points to recharge. It’s high stakes for a handheld game. Honestly, the tension of staring down a Level 12 Squirtle on Melemele Island while trying not to crit it into oblivion is a core memory for a lot of Gen 7 players.
What You Can Find (and Where)
The distribution is strictly tied to the calendar. If you're hunting for a specific competitive breed, you need to check your system clock. For instance, if you're on Melemele Island on a Friday, you're going to find an Island Scan Bulbasaur. Move over to Akala Island on a Tuesday? You're looking at a Luxio.
It’s a bit of a chore to keep track of, but the rewards are unique. These Pokémon often come with a special "Egg Move" already learned. This was a massive deal for competitive players who didn't want to spend six hours chain-breeding just to get a specific move onto a Pokémon. The Island Scan does the heavy lifting for you.
The Magearna Secret
You can't talk about QR codes in Ultra Moon without mentioning the "infinite" one. There is a specific QR code for the Mythical Pokémon Magearna. Unlike most event distributions that expire after a few months, this one is permanent. It’s hard-coded into the game’s logic.
You have to become the Alola Champion first. Once you’ve beaten the Elite Four and the credits have rolled, you can find the Magearna QR code online—it’s widely archived on sites like Serebii or Bulbapedia. Scan it at the Antiquities of the Ages shop in Hau'oli City. A deliveryman will just hand you a Level 50 Magearna. It’s probably the easiest Mythical Pokémon to obtain in the history of the franchise. No Gamestop trips, no limited-time codes, just a scan and a chat.
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Why Does This Still Matter in 2026?
You might wonder why anyone cares about 3DS-era mechanics now that we're deep into the Ninth Generation and beyond. The answer is Pokémon HOME.
A lot of the Pokémon available through Island Scan are actually quite annoying to get in newer games without trading. If you want a specific starter with a specific move set, or if you're trying to build a "Living Dex" that tracks the origin of every creature, the Alola games are a goldmine. Since the 3DS eShop has closed, the "legit" ways to get certain monsters have dwindled. Using QR codes in Ultra Moon remains one of the most reliable methods to generate specific species that can then be banked and moved forward to the Switch or future consoles.
Also, let's talk about the Pokédex completion.
Scanning a QR code doesn't just give you points; it registers that Pokémon as "seen" in your 'dex. If you're struggling to find a rare spawn, scanning its code allows you to see exactly where its habitat is on the map. It turns a guessing game into a targeted hunt. For the completionists among us, this is a godsend. You don't have to wander blindly. You just scan, check the map, and go.
Efficiency and "Cheating" the System
Is it cheating to use a library of generated QR codes from a website? Some purists might say so. But let's be real: scanning a box of crackers ten times a day is boring. Most players end up using a digital gallery of codes.
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There are massive spreadsheets and Imgur galleries dedicated to this. You can cycle through ten "Special" codes in about thirty seconds. This maximizes your points and lets you run an Island Scan every day without the hassle.
One thing people often forget: the "Wonder Scan." If you scan a QR code that the game doesn't recognize as a specific Pokémon, it just gives you random data. It’s sort of like a lottery. Sometimes you get 10 points, sometimes you get a "rare" hit. It’s a weirdly addictive little loop that feels very "of its time."
Breaking Down the Daily Grind
- Prep your team: Bring a Pokémon with False Swipe. You do NOT want to kill a 1-in-a-day spawn.
- Check the day: Use a real-world calendar. The game follows your 3DS clock.
- Scan 5-10 codes: Hit that 100-point mark.
- Fly to the right island: Don't trigger the scan until you are on the island where your target lives.
- Save your game: Seriously. Save right before you press the "Start Scan" button.
- Hunt: You have 60 minutes. Use a Max Repel so random encounters don't eat up your time.
Limitations and Frustrations
It's not all sunshine and Malasadas. The Island Scan Pokémon cannot be "S.O.S. Chained." This is a huge bummer for shiny hunters. In Alola, the primary way to get a shiny is to have a Pokémon call for help repeatedly. Island Scan spawns are "loners"—they won't call for help.
This means if you want a shiny Island Scan Pokémon, you have to get lucky on that single encounter, or you have to catch it and then go the Masuda Method route (breeding with a foreign Ditto). It’s a bottleneck. It’s annoying. But it keeps the rarity high, I guess.
Another quirk? You can't catch Alolan forms through the scan. It’s strictly for "National Dex" style entries. This was a deliberate choice by Game Freak to make the world feel like it was being visited by outsiders. It’s a neat lore touch, even if it adds an extra layer of complexity to your catching strategy.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you're dusting off your 3DS for another run through Alola, don't ignore the camera.
- Bookmark a QR database: Don't waste time scanning household objects. Use a dedicated list of 20-point "Special" codes.
- Get Magearna early: Well, as soon as you finish the story. It's a powerhouse for post-game content.
- Focus on the starters: The Island Scan is one of the few ways to get the Johto, Sinnoh, and Unova starters in these games without trading.
- Sync your clock: If you missed a Tuesday spawn, you can technically change your 3DS system clock, but be warned: this can sometimes freeze time-based events in the game for 24-48 hours as a "punishment." It's better to just wait for next week.
The QR system in Gen 7 was an experiment that we haven't really seen repeated in the same way. It turned the physical world into a tool for digital collection. While it has its clunky moments, QR codes in Ultra Moon remain the most efficient way to turn a standard playthrough into a completionist's dream. Start scanning, watch the clock, and make sure your False Swipe user is at the front of your party.