The Alola region changed everything. Seriously. When Game Freak dropped Pokémon Sun and Moon back in 2016 for the 3DS, they didn't just give us a new batch of monsters; they basically took the existing rulebook and tossed it into a volcano. It was a weird time to be a fan. We were moving away from the traditional Gym structure and diving into a world inspired by Hawaii, where the pokemon from sun and moon list felt more like a tropical ecosystem than a standard RPG roster.
It’s been years, and we’ve seen Galar, Paldea, and the massive shift of Legends: Arceus since then. Yet, looking back at the Alolan Pokédex, there’s a level of creative risk-taking there that we haven't quite seen duplicated. From the introduction of Regional Variants to the high-concept weirdness of Ultra Beasts, the seventh generation was a massive experiment.
The total count and the Alolan shift
Basically, Gen 7 added 81 new species. That might seem small compared to the 150+ of Gen 5 or the massive Gen 1 original set, but it's about quality, not quantity. Or maybe complexity. The pokemon from sun and moon list is unique because it also introduced 18 Alolan Forms. These weren't "new" Pokémon in the technical sense of the National Dex number, but they functioned as entirely different entities.
Think about Alolan Exeggutor. It’s a meme now. We all laughed at the long neck. But it represented a fundamental shift in how Game Freak viewed Pokémon biology. They weren't just static sprites anymore; they were creatures that adapted to their environment. A Dragon-type palm tree makes zero sense until you realize it’s basking in the Alolan sun, allowing it to grow to its "true" form. That’s world-building 101.
Starters that actually tell a story
Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina. Honestly, this is one of the strongest starter trios we’ve ever had, mostly because their secondary typing is so purposeful.
Rowlet starts as this cute, round owl. By the time it hits Decidueye, it’s a Grass/Ghost-type archer based on the extinct stilt-owl. It’s literally a ghost of a bird that used to exist. Litten turns into Incineroar, the "Heel" wrestler. People were mad it wasn’t a four-legged Fire/Fighting type, but making it Fire/Dark to represent a "dirty" fighter in a wrestling ring was a stroke of genius. Then you have Primarina, the Water/Fairy soloist. It’s a mermaid that uses sound. These aren't just animals; they're characters with jobs.
The Ultra Beast controversy
You can't talk about the pokemon from sun and moon list without mentioning the Ultra Beasts (UBs). These things are divisive. Some fans hate them because they "don't look like Pokémon."
That’s the point.
They are interdimensional aliens. Nihilego looks like a glass jellyfish. Buzzwole is a mosquito that spent too much time at the gym. Xurkitree is literally just a bundle of electrical wires. When you encounter them in the wild, the game treats them differently. They have the Beast Boost ability, which snowballs their highest stat every time they net a KO. In the competitive scene (VGC), Celesteela and Kartana became absolute nightmares to deal with. Kartana is a tiny piece of origami with a massive Attack stat. One wrong move and it sweeps your entire team. It’s bizarre, it’s frustrating, and it’s arguably the most "alien" the franchise has ever felt.
Totem Pokémon and the death of Gyms
Instead of Gym Leaders, Alola gave us Island Challenges and Totem Pokémon. This changed how we looked at the local fauna. A Totem Lurantis isn't just a Grass-type; it’s a boss fight that calls for help.
This mechanical shift made the Pokémon themselves the obstacles. You weren't just fighting a trainer; you were fighting the land itself. This gave species like Salazzle or Kommo-o a sense of scale and authority. Salazzle, by the way, has one of the coolest (and most annoying) abilities: Corrosion. It can poison Steel and Poison types. In a meta where Steel types usually wall everything, Salazzle was a middle finger to the status quo.
Why some Alolan designs are misunderstood
Look at Gumshoos. People immediately compared it to certain political figures, but it’s actually based on a stakeout detective and a mongoose. Its design reflects the "patience" required to hunt Rattata. Then there’s Bruxish. It’s ugly. People hate it. But it’s based on the Reef Triggerfish, Hawaii’s state fish. It’s supposed to be gaudy and loud.
Then we have the Guardian Deities. The Tapus—Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini—completely dominated the competitive landscape for years. They introduced "Surge" abilities that automatically set Terrains. If you played on the ladder during the Sun and Moon era, you were either using a Tapu or building your team specifically to survive one. They weren't just legendary lore fillers; they were meta-defining powerhouses.
Regional variants: The real legacy
The most lasting impact of the pokemon from sun and moon list is definitely the Regional Forms. Before Gen 7, if you liked Sandshrew but hated its stats or typing, you were out of luck. Alolan Sandshrew changed that. Turning a Ground-type into an Ice/Steel-type was a revelation.
- Alolan Raichu: Gains Psychic typing and "surfs" on its tail. It’s adorable and surprisingly fast.
- Alolan Marowak: A Fire/Ghost type that uses a bone as a flaming torch. This is arguably one of the coolest redesigns in the history of the series.
- Alolan Muk: It’s a rainbow of toxic sludge. It’s colorful, weird, and actually incredibly good in battle thanks to the Poison/Dark typing, which only has one weakness.
These variants allowed long-time players to reconnect with Kanto classics in a way that felt fresh. It wasn't just nostalgia bait; it was an evolution of the brand.
The legendary trio: Solgaleo, Lunala, and Necrozma
The box legends for Sun and Moon were bold. Solgaleo is a lion that represents the sun but is... a Steel/Psychic type? People were confused. Why isn't it Fire-type? The lore explains it: it’s the "beast that devours the sun." It's not the sun itself; it's a cosmic entity. Lunala, the Psychic/Ghost bat, represents the moon.
But the real star is Necrozma. In the sequels, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Necrozma becomes one of the most terrifying bosses in Pokémon history. Ultra Necrozma is a literal light-dragon that can one-shot your entire team if you aren't prepared. It’s a rare moment where a Pokémon game actually feels difficult.
What users often get wrong about Alola
Many players think the Alolan Dex is slow. It’s a common complaint. "Everything in Alola has a base Speed of 60," people say. While it's true that Gen 7 introduced many slower, bulkier Pokémon (looking at you, Vikavolt), it was a conscious effort to move away from the "speed-is-everything" meta of Gen 6. It forced players to think about Trick Room strategies and defensive pivots.
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Another misconception is that the Ultra Beasts aren't Pokémon. Mechanically, they are. They can be caught in balls (Beast Balls, ideally), they have stats, and they have types. They just represent a different branch of the multiverse.
How to use the Alolan roster today
If you're playing through the newer games or competing on the ladder, the Alolan Pokémon still hold up. Mimikyu is a perennial favorite. Its Disguise ability allows it to take one free hit, making it the ultimate "safe" switch-in or setup sweeper. Toxapex remains one of the most hated defensive walls in existence. Seriously, if you see a Toxapex, be prepared for a 40-turn stall war.
Actionable insights for fans and players
To really make the most of the pokemon from sun and moon list, you need to understand the mechanical nuances Game Freak introduced during this era.
- Leverage Secondary Types: Many Alolan Pokémon have rare type combinations. Use Alolan Marowak to wall Fighting and Normal moves, or Dhelmise (which is a Ghost/Grass type) to utilize its "Steelworker" ability for an unofficial third STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) on Steel moves.
- Experiment with Terrain: If you're playing in a format where Tapus are legal, remember that Terrain doesn't just boost move power; it changes how certain moves like Nature Power or Secret Power function.
- Hunt for Hidden Abilities: Many Gen 7 Pokémon only become "top tier" with their Hidden Abilities. Incineroar is decent, but Incineroar with Intimidate is the undisputed king of doubles.
- Don't ignore the "Slow" Mons: A Vikavolt might be slow, but its Special Attack is astronomical. Pair it with a Trick Room setter like Oranguru (another Gen 7 native) to turn its weakness into its greatest strength.
The Alolan Pokédex wasn't just a list of new creatures. It was a statement that Pokémon could be weird, ecological, and deeply tactical. Whether you love the "Ugly" Bruxish or the majestic Solgaleo, the seventh generation changed the DNA of the franchise forever. It moved the needle from "collecting pets" to "understanding an ecosystem," and the games are better for it.