You remember that feeling. You're staring at a blank spot in your Alola Pokedex, and you know exactly what should be there, but you just can't find the encounter. Maybe it's a rare spawn in a patch of grass with a 1% encounter rate. Maybe it's a version exclusive your friends don't have. This is exactly why ultra sun and moon qr pokemon became such a massive deal when the games launched, and honestly, they’re still the most efficient way to handle your collection today.
It’s not just about cheating the system. It’s about the Island Scan.
The QR scanner in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon wasn't just a gimmick. It was a bridge. It allowed players to register "Seen" data for almost any Pokémon in the Alola Dex instantly. More importantly, it unlocked the ability to catch Pokémon that aren't even native to the Alola region. We're talking about Johto starters, Sinnoh classics, and heavy hitters like Aegislash.
The Weird Mechanics of Island Scan
Most people think you just scan a code and the Pokémon appears. It's actually a bit more methodical than that. You get 10 scans a day. Every scan gives you 10 points. Once you hit 100 points, you can trigger an Island Scan.
The game checks which island you’re currently standing on and what day of the week it is. Then, it drops a rare Pokémon into a specific route for exactly one hour. If you mess up the encounter or run away, that’s it. You've gotta wait for your points to recharge. It sounds tedious, but compared to the old days of soft-resetting for a specific encounter, it’s a dream.
The variety is actually wild. On Melemele Island on a Friday, you can snag a Bulbasaur. If you’re on Poni Island on a Tuesday, you’re looking at a Dragonite. These aren't just random monsters; they often come with special moves they wouldn't normally have in the wild.
Why standard QR codes are different from Special QR codes
There's a distinction here that trips up a lot of players.
Regular QR codes—the kind you find on the back of a bag of chips or a random website—will give you 10 points. Any QR code works. Seriously. I once scanned a box of cereal and got a Caterpie entry. But "Special" QR codes are different. These were officially released by Nintendo or The Pokémon Company, often tied to movie releases or events.
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The big one? Magearna.
Unlike the rotating Island Scan mons, the Magearna QR code is "persistent." It doesn't expire. You can find that code online right now, scan it after you've become the Alola Champion, and pick up a Mythical Pokémon at the antique shop in Hau'oli City. It’s arguably the easiest Mythical to obtain in the history of the franchise because it doesn't require a limited-time Gamestop distribution.
How to Maximize Your Scans Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re trying to grind out the Alola Pokedex, don't just scan random household items. It takes too long.
Pro tip: look for "Wonder Trade" QR sets online.
Back in the peak of the 3DS era, the community created massive grids of 100+ QR codes. These are optimized so the scanner reads them instantly. You can burn through your 10 daily scans in about 90 seconds.
Here’s the catch. You only get one scan every two hours. You can "bank" up to ten. If you’re serious about completing the dex, you need to check your 3DS once in the morning and once at night.
The Island Scan Schedule You Actually Need
Forget trying to memorize this. Just know that the Pokémon change based on the island and the day. Here is a quick look at the "must-haves" available through ultra sun and moon qr pokemon scans:
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On Melemele Island, Monday gives you Squirtle and Thursday brings Charmander. It’s the easiest way to get the Kanto trio without trading.
Akala Island is where things get interesting. You can find Mimikyu (which is notoriously annoying to find in the Thrifty Megamart) or even Combusken on certain days.
Ula'ula Island is for the heavy hitters. We're talking Swampert on Saturdays and Empoleon on Tuesdays.
Poni Island is late-game territory. This is where you find the powerhouse evolutions. If you want a Gallade or a Volcarona without the grinding, this is your spot.
The Myth of the Shiny QR Code
Let's clear something up because there's a lot of misinformation on old forums. Scanning a QR code of a Shiny Pokémon does not make a Shiny Pokémon appear in your game.
It just puts the Shiny version in your Pokedex as "Seen."
If you want a Shiny through the Island Scan, you have to hunt it the old-fashioned way. You trigger the scan, go to the route, and save your game before the encounter starts. Then you encounter, check for sparkles, and soft-reset if it's normal. The Island Scan Pokémon aren't "Shiny locked," which is great news for hunters, but the QR code itself isn't a magic "get shiny free" card.
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Why this system died out (and why we miss it)
When the series moved to the Switch with Sword and Shield and later Scarlet and Violet, the QR system was scrapped. Game Freak moved toward "Raids" and "Mass Outbreaks."
Raids are fine, but they require an internet connection and, often, a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. The beauty of the ultra sun and moon qr pokemon system was that it was entirely local. You didn't need a server. You didn't need a friend with the opposite version. You just needed a camera and a screen to look at.
It provided a level of autonomy that’s missing from the newer games. You could sit down with a checklist, a list of codes, and actually see progress in your Pokedex without relying on the RNG of a mystery gift or a limited-time raid event that ends on a Sunday night while you're asleep.
The technical side of the scan
The 3DS camera isn't great. We know this. If you're struggling to get a code to register, it's usually a lighting issue.
Don't try to scan your computer screen in a dark room. The glare will kill the sensor. Turn up the brightness on your monitor, but keep the room light even. Also, don't hold the 3DS too close. The focus on those old lenses is pretty shallow. Keep it about 6-8 inches away and let the yellow box lock on.
What you should do right now
If you’re pulling your 3DS out of the drawer for a nostalgia trip, the first thing you should do is find the "Magearna QR Code." It’s the single best value for your time.
After that, determine which starters you're missing. Since you can’t easily use the GTS anymore (it's essentially a wasteland of glitched trades and hacked mons), Island Scan is your only reliable way to get non-Alolan starters with your own Original Trainer (OT) ID.
- Open your X menu and go to the second page to find the QR Scanner.
- Scan 10 random codes (or a dedicated Alola Dex grid).
- Fly to Poni Island if you want high-level competitive mons, or Melemele if you want the Kanto/Johto starters.
- Save your game before you initiate the scan.
- Check the "Island Scan" button to see exactly which route the Pokémon spawned on.
- Go there, catch it, and profit.
The 3DS eShop might be closed, but the hardware is still perfectly capable of reading these codes. It’s a preserved feature that doesn't rely on Nintendo's servers, making it one of the few "event" styles that will work forever. Whether you're trying to finish a Living Dex or you just want a Venusaur for your playthrough, the QR system is the most overlooked tool in the Gen 7 arsenal.
Go grab that Magearna. You've earned it.