You're wandering through Melemele Meadow, looking for something—anything—that isn't another Oricorio or a stray Cutiefly. You want a Charmander. Or maybe a Bulbasaur. In the original Sun and Moon, you were basically out of luck unless you traded or used the GTS. But the Pokemon Ultra Sun Island Scanner changed the math. It’s this weird, slightly clunky, but deeply rewarding mechanic that basically feels like a legal cheat code for filling out a high-tier living dex.
The mechanic is simple on the surface but has layers that most players ignore. You scan QR codes. You get points. At 100 points, you trigger a "scan" that reveals a rare Pokemon not found in the Alola Pokedex. Sounds easy? Sure. But if you’re trying to hunt a specific Shiny or snag a competitive Aegislash, there’s a lot more friction than the game lets on.
How the Island Scanner Actually Works
Basically, the game wants you to engage with the real world. You open the QR Scanner from the menu, point your 3DS camera at literally any QR code—on a cereal box, a bus stop, or a specialized website—and the game generates 10 or 20 points. Once you hit that 100-point threshold, you hold down the R button. The "Island Scan" triggers.
Here is the catch: the Pokemon you find is tied to two things: the island you are currently standing on and the day of the week on your system clock.
If you’re on Melemele Island on a Friday, you're going to find a Squirtle. Do it on a Saturday, and it's Litwick. You can’t just spam scans and hope for the best. It’s a rigid schedule. It’s also a ticking clock. Once you trigger the scan, you have exactly one hour to find that Pokemon. If you accidentally faint it or run away? That’s it. You’re done. You have to grind out another 100 points, which usually takes at least ten hours of real-time recharge.
The Math of the Recharge
You get one "scan" (one QR code) every two hours. You can hold a maximum of 10 scans at a time. This means if you want to use the Pokemon Ultra Sun Island Scanner back-to-back, you need to have been away from your 3DS for twenty hours. It’s a slow burn. Honestly, it’s one of those mechanics designed to keep you checking the game daily rather than bingeing it in a single weekend.
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Why Ultra Sun’s List Beats the Original
If you played the original Sun and Moon, you might remember the Island Scanner being a bit... underwhelming. You could get Chikorita or Totodile, which was cool, but the list was short.
Ultra Sun (and Ultra Moon) cranked it up. They added the Kanto starters. They added the Sinnoh starters. They even threw in powerhouses like Eevee (on Akala) and heavy hitters like Axew and Deino. For a lot of us, the appeal isn't just "catching 'em all." It's about the moves. Pokemon caught via the Island Scanner often come with a "special move"—essentially an Egg Move they wouldn't normally have at that level.
Take Charmander, for example. In Ultra Sun, if you catch him on Route 3 on a Sunday, he comes with the move Belly Drum. That is a massive deal for anyone looking to build a Charizard X for the Battle Tree. You’re skipping hours of breeding chains just by using a 20-second scanner mechanic.
The Day-by-Day Breakdown
You need to know where to stand. If you’re in the wrong spot, the scan fails or targets the wrong encounter table.
- Mondays: You’re looking for Spheal (Melemele), Swadloon (Akala), Samurott (Poni), or Aggron (Ula'ula).
- Tuesdays: This is the day for Luxio on Ula'ula. It's also when you find Combusken on Akala.
- Wednesdays: Honedge is the big prize on Akala Island. It’s arguably one of the most sought-after scans because Aegislash is a monster in the Alola meta.
- Thursdays: Beedrill on Melemele or Chesnaught on Poni.
- Fridays: Squirtle (Melemele) and Sceptile (Poni) are the highlights.
- Saturdays: This is arguably the best day. You get Litwick on Melemele, but more importantly, you get Emboar on Poni Island.
- Sundays: Charmander Day. Head to Route 3 on Melemele.
It is worth noting that the Poni Island encounters are significantly higher level. While Melemele scans might give you a level 10 Squirtle, by the time you're scanning on Poni Island, you're looking at fully evolved starters like Serperior or Delphox at level 40 or higher.
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The Shiny Hunting Nightmare
Let’s talk about the Shiny hunters. If you’re a masochist who wants a Shiny Greninja via the Island Scanner, you have a problem.
Island Scan Pokemon cannot trigger an SOS call.
In Alola, the standard way to hunt Shinies is to get a Pokemon low on HP, use an Adrenaline Orb, and wait for it to call for help. Island Scanner Pokemon are "singular" encounters. You walk into the grass, the battle starts, and if it isn't Shiny, you have to soft reset.
But wait. If you soft reset, you lose your Island Scan.
The workaround? You have to save your game before you trigger the 100-point scan. Trigger it. Run into the grass. Not Shiny? Soft reset your 3DS. Trigger the scan again. It is a tedious, soul-crushing process that makes the 1/4096 odds feel even steeper. But for a Shiny Leavanny in a Luxury Ball? Some people swear it’s worth it.
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Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most frustrating thing is "The Scan Failed" message. This usually happens because you’re standing in a "dead zone" where there is no tall grass or water for the Pokemon to spawn in.
If you are on Akala Island searching for a Grovyle (Friday), don't just stand in the middle of Heahea City. Fly to Route 5. Make sure you are actually in a location that supports wild encounters. The game doesn't teleport the Pokemon to you; it just places it in the nearest patch of grass in your current sub-zone.
Also, watch your Pokedex. The Pokemon Ultra Sun Island Scanner Pokemon do not get registered with a Pokedex number in the Alola Dex. They are "Out-of-Region." If you’re checking your progress and don't see them, don't panic. They won't appear in the standard list, which makes them feel like "secret" additions to your roster.
The QR Code Shortcut
Don't go hunting for unique QR codes in the real world if you’re in a hurry. You can find "Master Sheets" online that contain the special QR codes for Legendary or Mythical Pokemon (like Magearna). These special codes often give you 20 points instead of the standard 10. Scanning a few of these is the fastest way to hit that 100-point goal. You can even scan the same codes again after a certain amount of time has passed, though the game prefers variety.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Session
To maximize your efficiency with the scanner, follow this specific workflow:
- Stock up on Poke Balls: Since you only get one shot per scan, bring Timer Balls or Dusk Balls (if hunting at night). You do not want a "Magearna-style" heartbreak where you run out of resources.
- Synchro Lead: If you care about Natures, put a Pokemon with the Synchronize ability (like Abra or Espeon) at the front of your party. There is a 50% chance the scanned Pokemon will inherit that Nature. This is vital for competitive builds.
- Check the Clock: Remember that the game follows the 3DS system clock. If you’re playing Ultra Moon, your game time is offset by 12 hours. This can get confusing when you’re trying to target a "Friday" Pokemon but your game thinks it’s 2 AM Saturday.
- Save BEFORE the Scan: Always save before you hit that final "R" button. If the Pokemon spawns in a patch of grass that’s hard to reach or if you accidentally knock it out with a stray critical hit, you can just reboot and try again without losing your 100 points.
- Use False Swipe: This is non-negotiable. Bring a Smeargle or a Decidueye. Get that rare starter down to 1 HP. These Pokemon often have low catch rates compared to the local Rattatas.
The Pokemon Ultra Sun Island Scanner is a relic of a very specific era of Nintendo design—merging real-world interaction with in-game rewards. It’s clunky, it’s slow, but it provides a sense of discovery that’s missing from the more modern "Max Raid" or "Tera Raid" systems. It requires patience and a bit of scheduling. But when that Kanto starter finally sparkles in the Alolan tall grass, the grind feels entirely justified.