You're wandering around Melemele Island, your Rotom Dex is buzzing, and you've already caught every Yungoos in sight. It feels a bit empty, doesn't it? That's because the Alola regional Dex is actually pretty small compared to the massive history of the franchise. But then there’s this weird QR feature tucked away in your menu. Most people scanned a few random cereal boxes, got bored, and moved on. That was a mistake. If you really want to fill your PC boxes with heavy hitters like Deino, Honedge, or the Johto starters, the Island Scanner Pokemon Sun mechanics are basically your secret weapon.
It’s a bizarre system when you think about it. You’re literally using your 3DS camera to "eat" data from the real world to manifest digital monsters. Honestly, it’s one of the most creative ways Game Freak ever bypassed the "you can't catch these here" limitation.
How the Island Scanner Actually Functions
The math is simple but annoying if you're impatient. You need 100 points to trigger a scan. Every QR code you find—whether it’s on a bag of chips or a specialized Magearna code—gives you 10 or 20 points. You get 10 scans stored at a time. Do the math, and you realize you can basically do one "Island Scan" per day if you're keeping up with the regeneration rate of one scan every two hours.
Once you hit that 100-point threshold, you hold the button, and the game searches the specific island you are currently standing on. It finds a "rare" Pokemon not found in the Alola Dex. You get one hour. One chance. If you knock it out or run away, that’s it. You’re waiting another day.
The Geography of Rarities
The Pokemon you find isn't random. It’s tied to the day of the week and the island you’re on. This is where most players mess up. They scan while standing on Melemele on a Tuesday and get a Luxio, when they actually desperately needed a Togekiss from Poni Island.
Melemele Island is usually for the early-game nostalgia. Think Cyndaquil on Sundays or Totodile on Mondays. It’s great for getting your team started with something that isn't a bird or a bug. Akala Island steps it up. This is where you grab Honedge (Wednesday) or Marill (Monday). If you're looking for the competitive stuff, you're looking at Ula'ula Island. That’s where Rhyhorn and Swinub hang out. Finally, Poni Island is the endgame. We're talking Eelektross, Togekiss, and Serperior.
Why You Should Care About the QR Codes
You don't need "official" Pokemon QR codes. That’s a common misconception. Literally any QR code works. I've scanned the back of a Wi-Fi router and pulled a Chikorita.
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However, there are "Special" QR codes. These are worth 20 points instead of 10. If you find the right ones online—specifically the Wonder Scan codes—you can trigger your Island Scanner Pokemon Sun event twice as fast. It saves a massive amount of real-world time. Also, once you scan 100 Pokemon into your "Seen" list via QR codes, you actually unlock the ability to see exactly where certain Alolan Pokemon live without having to stumble onto them by accident.
The Hidden Grind: Level and Moves
These aren't just "flavor" encounters. The Pokemon you find through the Island Scanner often come with a specific move they wouldn't normally have at that level, or they're just straight-up higher level than the surrounding grass.
Take Klink on Akala Island (Thursday). It shows up at level 23 in Hau'oli Outskirts. That's a solid addition if you're struggling with the Totem Pokemon. Or look at Leavanny on Poni Island. It shows up at level 54. That’s a fully evolved, high-tier Grass/Bug type handed to you just for scanning a couple of barcodes while sitting on your couch.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Hunt
The biggest tragedy is the "One Hour" timer. People trigger the scan, get distracted by a cutscene or a trainer battle, and the Pokemon despawns. You have to be in the specific sub-location. If the scanner says the Pokemon is at Ten Carat Hill, you have to actually go inside the cave or the Farthest Hollow. It won't just jump out at you on the beach.
Another thing? Adrenaline Orbs.
In normal Alolan encounters, you use Adrenaline Orbs to trigger SOS calls for Hidden Abilities and Shinies. Island Scanner Pokemon do not call for help. You cannot chain them. This means if you want a Shiny Honedge via the Island Scanner, you are looking at full 1/4096 odds (unless you have the Shiny Charm, which brings it down to 1/1365). It is a brutal, soul-crushing hunt because you only get one encounter per 100 points. Most hunters prefer Masuda Method breeding for these specific species because the Island Scanner is just too restrictive for efficient shiny hunting.
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The Daily Schedule You Need to Bookmark
If you're serious about this, you need to sync your 3DS clock. Don't change it manually, though! If you change the time on your 3DS, the game freezes all time-based events for 24 to 48 hours. Just wait for the actual day to roll around.
- Sunday: Melemele (Cyndaquil), Akala (Gothita), Ula'ula (Rhyhorn), Poni (Eelektross).
- Monday: Melemele (Totodile), Akala (Spheal), Ula'ula (Swinub), Poni (Conkeldurr).
- Tuesday: Melemele (Deino), Akala (Luxio), Ula'ula (Duosion), Poni (Togekiss).
- Wednesday: Melemele (Horsea), Akala (Honedge), Ula'ula (Roselia), Poni (Leavanny).
- Thursday: Melemele (Klink), Akala (Venipede), Ula'ula (Staravia), Poni (Serperior).
- Friday: Melemele (Chikorita), Akala (Bellsprout), Ula'ula (Vigoroth), Poni (Samurott).
- Saturday: Melemele (Litwick), Akala (Marill), Ula'ula (Axew), Poni (Emboar).
Notice the pattern? The starters are scattered. If you want the Unova starters, you're looking at the end of the week on Poni Island. If you want the Johto starters, you're looking at the beginning of the week on Melemele.
The Mystery of the "Point" Cap
You can only hold 100 points. If you have 90 points and scan a 20-point Special QR code, you don't keep the extra 10. They just vanish into the ether. It's a minor thing, but when you're trying to be efficient, it's annoying. Always try to land exactly on 100 or as close as possible.
Also, remember that the Island Scanner Pokemon Sun list is different from the Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon list. If you're reading a guide and it says you can find Squirtle, you're looking at an Ultra Sun guide. In the original Sun and Moon, you're restricted to the Johto and Unova starters, plus a handful of others like the Shinx and Gible lines.
Is It Still Relevant in 2026?
With the 3DS eShop closed and Pokemon Bank’s future always feeling a bit shaky, catching these "out-of-region" Pokemon in their original Gen 7 home is becoming a bit of a lost art. But for those of us still playing on original hardware, it’s the only way to get a Luxury Ball Aegislash or a Beast Ball Serperior without trading.
It adds a layer of "daily ritual" to the game that feels a lot like Pokemon GO. You wake up, check the day, scan your milk carton, and go hunt a Deino. It’s a loop that works.
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Master the Island Scan with These Steps
To maximize your efficiency and ensure you don't waste your daily scan, follow this protocol. First, save your game before you hit the "Start Scan" button. If you accidentally kill the Pokemon or your battery dies, you can't just reload and have the scan back—the points are spent the moment you trigger the search. However, saving before scanning allows you to at least stay positioned in the right tall grass.
Second, clear your schedule. Ensure you have a Pokemon with False Swipe and a status move like Spore or Thunder Wave in your lead slot. Since you only get one shot, you cannot afford a critical hit killing your target.
Third, check your location. Use the map to ensure you are in the exact sub-area named by the scanner. If it says "Route 2," don't hang out in the graveyard.
Finally, use the QR Scanner to fill your Pokedex's "Seen" entries. Even if you don't do the Island Scan, just scanning random codes can help you see where rare Alolan Pokemon are located, making your standard hunt much easier.
Focus on Poni Island on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Togekiss and Serperior are arguably the most valuable pulls from the entire system, both for their competitive viability and their rarity in other titles. Happy hunting.