The Alola region changed everything. Honestly, when Game Freak first dropped the list of Pokemon Sun and Moon back in 2016, the community didn't really know how to react. We were moving away from the rigid, gym-leader structure that had defined the franchise for two decades. Suddenly, we were dealing with "Island Challenges," Kahunas, and these bizarre interdimensional horrors called Ultra Beasts. It felt less like a standard sequel and more like a total cultural reset for the series.
The Pokemon Company took a massive gamble on the 7th Generation. They leaned hard into the Hawaiian aesthetic, giving us 81 new species and, perhaps more importantly, the introduction of regional forms. That first Alolan Exeggutor reveal? Pure chaos. The internet exploded. People were making memes about its neck for weeks. But behind the memes, there was a sophisticated shift in how Pokemon were designed to interact with their environment.
The Absolute Weirdness of the Alola Pokedex
The Pokedex in Sun and Moon isn't just a list of monsters. It’s a biological study. Unlike the sprawling rosters of Kalos or Unova, Alola’s indigenous list felt curated. You had the starters—Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio—who actually grew into complex dual-types with distinct "jobs." Decidueye was the archer, Incineroar was the heel wrestler, and Primarina was the soloist.
But then you get into the weeds.
Take a look at something like Mimikyu. It’s arguably the most successful design of the entire generation. It isn't just "a ghost in a Pikachu suit." The lore, which you can find buried in the Pokedex entries in the actual games, is heartbreaking. It just wants to be loved, so it mimics the most popular mascot in the world. If you look under its rag, you literally die of shock. That kind of dark, weird storytelling is what makes the list of Pokemon Sun and Moon stand out from the more sanitized generations that came before it.
👉 See also: No Holds Barred DBD: Why the Hardcore Community is Actually Splitting
Then there’s the sheer power creep. This generation introduced "Z-Moves." Suddenly, any Pokemon on your team could unleash a tactical nuke once per battle. This fundamentally broke the competitive meta for a while. We saw Porygon-Z using Z-Conversion to boost every single stat, turning a digital duck into a god-tier sweeper. It was a wild time to be playing on the ladder.
Every Single New Pokemon in Sun and Moon
If you’re looking for the raw data, the Alola Pokedex (specifically the New Pokemon) starts at #722 and ends at #802 for the base games, extending slightly with the Ultra sequels.
- The Starters: Rowlet, Dartrix, Decidueye; Litten, Torracat, Incineroar; Popplio, Brionne, Primarina.
- The Early Route Basics: Pikipek, Trumbeak, and Toucannon (who actually has a heated beak mechanic). You also get Yungoos and Gumshoos, which... yeah, everyone had thoughts on that design back then.
- The Bugs: Grubbin, Charjabug, and the incredibly fast Vikavolt.
- The Island Guardians: Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini. These four defined the competitive scene for years. Their "Surge" abilities changed the terrain automatically, making them mandatory for high-level play.
- The Legendaries: Cosmog, Cosmoem, and then the split into Solgaleo or Lunala depending on your version.
- The Mythicals: Magearna and Marshadow. Marshadow, specifically, is a terrifying Ghost/Fighting type with a signature move that steals stat boosts.
The Ultra Beasts are where things get truly experimental. Nihilego, Buzzwole, Pheromosa, Xurkitree, Celesteela, Kartana, and Guzzlord. They don't even look like Pokemon. They look like creatures from a different engine entirely. Kartana is a tiny piece of origami that has a base Attack stat of 181. That is higher than Rayquaza. Let that sink in for a second. A piece of paper hits harder than the god of the sky.
Why Alolan Forms Changed the Game Forever
We can't talk about the list of Pokemon Sun and Moon without acknowledging the Alolan variants. This was the first time Game Freak said, "What if Vulpix was Ice-type?"
✨ Don't miss: How to Create My Own Dragon: From Sketchpad to Digital Reality
It was a brilliant way to reuse old assets while breathing new life into tired designs. The Alolan Vulpix and Ninetales are genuinely beautiful, trading their fire for a mystical snow-draped aesthetic. On the flip side, you have Alolan Muk, which looks like it fell into a vat of neon glowsticks and chemical waste. It actually serves a purpose in the lore, though—it was imported to Alola to deal with the region's garbage problem.
The Alolan forms weren't just cosmetic. They changed typing, move pools, and abilities. Alolan Marowak became Fire/Ghost, a direct reference to the "ghost of the mother Marowak" from the original Red and Blue games. It felt like the developers were finally rewarding long-time fans with deep-cut lore references.
The Competitive Impact You Might Have Forgotten
If you were playing VGC (Video Game Championships) during the Sun and Moon era, you remember the "Chalk" meta being replaced by "AFK" (Arcanine, Fini, Kartana).
The speed tiers in Alola were notoriously slow. Aside from a few outliers like Ribombee or Vikavolt (which is weirdly slow despite being a railgun fly), most Alolan Pokemon had mediocre speed stats. This made Trick Room strategies incredibly viable. Araquanid, with its Water Bubble ability, could effectively double its Water-type damage, making it a monster in the right conditions.
🔗 Read more: Why Titanfall 2 Pilot Helmets Are Still the Gold Standard for Sci-Fi Design
The "Ultra" Expansion and the Final Additions
When Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon arrived, the list expanded. We got Poipole and its evolution Naganadel, which became a staple for anyone needing a fast Dragon-type special attacker. We also got Stakataka and Blacephalon. Stakataka is basically a living colonial fortress, and Blacephalon is a fire-clown that throws its own head at you. It’s delightful.
And let’s not forget Zeraora, the final Mythical of the generation. It’s a pure Electric-type that looks like it stepped straight out of a Shonen anime.
Actionable Tips for Navigating the Alola Roster
If you are jumping back into these games on a 3DS or through an emulator, here is how you should actually build your team. Don't just pick the strongest looking ones; pick the ones that handle the "Trial" mechanics best.
- Get a Salandit, but make sure it’s female. Only the females evolve into Salazzle. You do not want to be stuck with a level 50 male Salandit that can't do anything. Salazzle’s "Corrosion" ability lets you poison Steel and Poison types, which is a life-saver against certain bosses.
- Hunt for a Grubbin early. Vikavolt is a special attacking beast. Its Levitate ability makes it immune to Ground moves, which are everywhere in the late game.
- Use Mudsdale. Its "Stamina" ability raises its Defense every single time it gets hit. In a long battle against a physical attacker, Mudsdale becomes an unkillable wall.
- Don't ignore the Oricorio. Depending on which island you are on, you can change its form using different nectars. It mimics "Dance" moves, so if you're in a double battle and your partner uses Quiver Dance, Oricorio gets the boost for free.
The list of Pokemon Sun and Moon is more than just numbers in a database. It represents a time when the series took a massive risk on vibe and atmosphere over traditional mechanics. It gave us some of the most "out there" designs in the history of the franchise, and even years later, the Alola region feels like a unique, vibrant vacation away from the standard Pokemon formula.
Focus on catching the Ultra Beasts through the wormhole mechanics in the post-game. They are the true highlights of the generation and offer some of the most unique competitive niches ever seen. Also, keep an eye out for the Totem Stickers; collecting them allows you to get oversized "Totem-sized" versions of certain Pokemon, which is a neat flex for any collector.