Gen 7 was weird. Let’s just start there. When Game Freak dropped us into the Alola region back in 2016, they didn’t just give us a new map; they fundamentally broke the rules we'd been following since the 90s. No more Gym Leaders. No more HMs. And, perhaps most controversially at the time, the Pokemon Sun Moon Pokedex didn't include a National Dex at all.
It was a gutsy move.
The Rotom Dex—a possessed tablet that literally talked back to you—became our guide through a tropical ecosystem that felt more "alive" than any previous region. Instead of just a checklist of 800+ monsters, we got a curated, 300-ish entry deep dive into how Pokemon actually survive in the wild. It wasn't about catching 'em all anymore. It was about understanding them.
The Alolan Forms Revolution
Before 2016, a Pokemon was a Pokemon. A Vulpix was always fire-type. Then Alola happened. The Pokemon Sun Moon Pokedex introduced regional variants, a concept that changed the franchise forever. It was a brilliant bit of biological storytelling. Why is Exeggutor fifty feet tall with a dragon tail? Because the Alolan sun is just that intense. Why is Sandshrew an Ice-type? Because the volcanic activity forced it into the snowy peaks.
This wasn't just a gimmick. It gave older, forgotten designs a new lease on life. Suddenly, Muk wasn't just a pile of purple sludge; it was a psychedelic, chemical-eating rainbow. This shift shifted the competitive meta too. Alolan Marowak, with its Ghost/Fire typing and Lightning Rod ability, became a staple in VGC (Video Game Championships) circles, proving that these "remixes" had real substance.
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Honestly, it makes sense. If you look at real-world island biogeography—think Darwin in the Galápagos—species adapt to their specific environment. Game Freak finally leaned into that.
Ultra Beasts and the "Not-Quite-Pokemon"
Then we have the Ultra Beasts. Nihilego, Buzzwole, Pheromosa—these things looked like they belonged in a different game entirely. That was the point. The Pokemon Sun Moon Pokedex treats them as invasive species from another dimension (Ultra Space).
They don't have traditional names at first; they have codenames like UB-01 Symbiont. Their stats are skewed and weird. Usually, they have one massive stat and several mediocre ones, all tied together by the Beast Boost ability. It was a jarring addition. Some fans hated it. They thought the designs were "too Digimon" or too alien. But in the context of the Alola story, it worked. It created a sense of genuine dread and mystery that the series usually lacks. You weren't just catching a bird on Route 1; you were dealing with interdimensional anomalies that the Aether Foundation was trying to control.
The Rotom Dex and the Death of the National Dex
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: the lack of a National Dex. In Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon, you couldn't see the entries for non-Alolan Pokemon within the game itself. You had to wait for the Pokemon Bank update.
People were furious.
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However, looking back with the perspective of someone who has played through Galar and Paldea, the Alolan approach was actually pretty focused. By limiting the scope, the developers could write more detailed, and often darker, Pokedex entries. Have you actually read the entry for Mega Salamence in this game? It says the Pokemon is so stressed by its evolution that it "slices everything in its path" including its own trainer. Or how about Gengar? The Pokemon Sun Moon Pokedex entry for Gengar basically says if you feel a sudden chill, it’s because a Gengar has decided there is no escape for you.
It's grim. It's awesome.
The Rotom Dex itself was a polarizing feature. Having a map on the bottom screen was a godsend, but the constant chatter? Kinda annoying after the fiftieth hour. Still, it gave the Pokedex a personality. It wasn't just an encyclopedia; it was a companion. It even had a "Poké Finder" mode that felt like a mini-reboot of Pokemon Snap, letting you take photos of creatures in the wild to earn points.
Navigating the Island Challenge
Because there were no Gyms, the Pokedex was organized by island: Melemele, Akala, Ula'ula, and Poni. Each island had its own "sub-dex." This made the goal of "completing the Pokedex" feel much more achievable. You could "finish" Melemele Island and get a little stamp of completion, which provided those hits of dopamine much earlier than the 60-hour mark.
It also highlighted the "Totem Pokemon." These weren't just boss fights; they were the apex predators of their respective habitats. When you look at the Pokemon Sun Moon Pokedex today, you realize it was the first time Game Freak tried to build a cohesive world rather than just a linear path of boss battles. The SOS Battle mechanic—where a wild Pokemon calls for help—further emphasized this. It showed that Pokemon had social structures and allies. (Though, let's be real, trying to catch a Beldum while it kept calling for help was an absolute nightmare).
Hidden Gems and Hard-to-Find Encounters
If you're going back to finish your Alolan Pokedex now, you've probably realized some of these encounter rates are brutal.
- Mareanie: You can only find it if a Corsola calls for help in a specific spot. Then, Mareanie might show up and attack the Corsola. Brutal.
- Dhelmise: A 1% encounter rate in a tiny patch of water in Seafolk Village.
- Salamence: You can actually find a level 10 Salamence on the first island if you have the patience to chain Bagon SOS calls. It’s the ultimate sequence break.
These rare encounters made the Pokedex feel like it had secrets again. In an era where everything is leaked weeks before launch, finding a Dhelmise felt like a genuine discovery.
Why it Still Matters
The Pokemon Sun Moon Pokedex was the bridge between the "classic" era and the "modern" era of Pokemon. It introduced the concept of regional forms that we saw again in Galar (Galarian Ponyta) and Paldea (Clodsire). It experimented with "open" world elements and removal of HMs, which eventually led to the full freedom of Scarlet and Violet.
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Even the UI was a massive step up. Being able to see stat changes and move effectiveness during a battle—features that the Pokedex "fed" to the battle screen—made the game much more accessible for newcomers without stripping away the depth for veterans.
It wasn't perfect. The tutorials were long. The cutscenes were unskippable. But the heart of the game—the creatures and their lore—was arguably at its peak here. The Alola region felt like a place where people and Pokemon actually lived together, rather than just a series of arenas for 10-year-olds to fight in.
How to Efficiently Complete the Alolan Pokedex Today
If you are dusting off your 3DS or running an emulator to wrap up that 100% completion mark, don't just wander through the tall grass. Use these specific tactics to save yourself dozens of hours.
- Prioritize the Island Scan: Use the QR scanner feature. Every 10 scans gives you an "Island Scan" which spawns non-native Pokemon like Charmander or Klink. These don't count toward the official Alola 300, but they are essential for a Living Dex.
- Abuse the GTS (While You Can): If you're on original hardware, Nintendo has shut down many online services, but community-run servers and local trades are still your best bet for version exclusives like Passimian (Sun) and Oranguru (Moon).
- The Adrenaline Orb Trick: To trigger those rare SOS encounters (like Happiny or Sableye), always use an Adrenaline Orb. It increases the chance the wild Pokemon will call for help. Keep the "caller" at low HP but don't knock it out.
- Evolution Stones: Many Alolan forms, like Alolan Raichu or Exeggutor, require specific stones or being in specific locations (like Vast Poni Canyon for Magnezone). Check your bag before you spend hours grinding levels for a Pokemon that won't evolve via XP.
- Claim Your Shiny Charm: Once you hit that 100% mark for the Alola Dex, head to Game Freak’s office in Hehea City. Talking to the director will net you the Shiny Charm, which triples your chances of finding a shiny Pokemon. It’s the only way to hunt if you’re serious about it.