You're standing at the Altar of the Sunne. The music swells, that eerie, synth-heavy Alola theme that feels both tropical and cosmic. Then, it happens. A tear in reality opens up, and suddenly you aren't just playing a handheld game from 2017 anymore—you're staring down the literal collapse of the multiverse. That's the vibe of Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon. Honestly, if you played the original Sun and Moon and then jumped into Ultra Sun, the jump in power scaling for these legendaries was absolutely wild. It wasn't just a small stat bump; Game Freak basically handed us the keys to a nuclear reactor and said, "Have fun."
People still argue about whether the "Ultra" versions were necessary. Some call them glorified DLC. I disagree. From a lore and competitive standpoint, the Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon lineup—specifically the Necrozma fusions—redefined what "legendary" even means in the Pokemon world. We went from "strong bird" or "big dog" to "interdimensional light-eater that can delete your entire team with a single move." It's intense.
The Necrozma Problem: More Than Just a Mascot
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the jagged, black crystalline prism in the room. Necrozma is the undisputed king of Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon. In the base games, it was a bit of an afterthought, a weird "third bird" type hidden in Ten Carat Hill. But in Ultra Sun, it becomes a cosmic horror.
When Necrozma fuses with Solgaleo to become Dusk Mane Necrozma, it isn't just a cosmetic change. You get the Steel/Psychic typing, which is defensively incredible, but you also get the Prism Armor ability. That ability reduces damage from super-effective hits. Think about that for a second. You have a god-tier legendary with massive base stats, and its only real weaknesses are suddenly mitigated by its own skin. It's frustratingly good.
Ultra Necrozma: The 754 Stat Monster
There’s a specific moment in the Ultra Megalopolis where you fight Ultra Necrozma. If you weren't overleveled or using a Zoroark trick, it probably wiped you. I've seen grown adults lose their minds over this fight. Why? Because Ultra Necrozma has a Base Stat Total (BST) of 754.
To put that in perspective:
- Mega Rayquaza and Mega Mewtwo have a BST of 780.
- Arceus, the literal God of Pokemon, has a BST of 720.
Necrozma, in its Ultra form, is technically more powerful than the creator of the universe. It’s the peak of the Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon power creep. It uses a move called "Light That Burns the Sky," a Z-Move that ignores the opponent's ability. Sturdy? Doesn't matter. Disguise? Doesn't matter. You're just gone.
Why the Ultra Wormhole Changed Everything
If you’re hunting for Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon, you aren't just looking at the box art. You’re looking at the Ultra Wormholes. This was the smartest thing Game Freak did for the endgame. By hopping onto Solgaleo's back and flying through warp holes, you could find almost every previous legendary from the older generations. Ho-Oh, Groudon, Heatran—they’re all there.
But it’s quirky. The distance you travel in the minigame (measured in light-years) actually dictates your shiny odds. It made shiny hunting legendaries accessible to people who didn't want to spend three months soft-resetting at a stationary sprite. You could literally see the rarity of the hole before you jumped in.
Solgaleo and the Alola Power Trip
We have to give credit to Solgaleo. As the primary Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon, it represents the "Sun" half of the Alolan mythos. It’s a Psychic/Steel type, which weirdly means it's weak to Fire despite being the "Sunne Pokemon." Pokémon logic is strange like that.
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Sunsteel Strike is its signature move. What makes it special isn't just the 100 base power; it's the fact that it ignores the target's ability. This was a direct counter to the annoying defensive abilities that dominated the 7th Gen meta. You want to hide behind Multiscale or Unaware? Solgaleo doesn't care. It just rams through you like a freight train made of starlight.
Honestly, the design of Solgaleo is one of the best "regal" designs we've ever seen. It feels heavy. It feels important. When it opens its third eye and enters the Radiant Sun phase, it's peak Pokemon design.
The Competitive Impact: Why Smogon Had to Step In
In the competitive scene, specifically the VGC (Video Game Championships) and Smogon tiers, the Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon shook everything up. Dusk Mane Necrozma became a staple. It was the "Xerneas Killer." Before Ultra Sun, Xerneas was terrorizing everyone with Power Herb and Geomancy. Then Dusk Mane showed up with its Steel typing and Sunsteel Strike, and suddenly the deer wasn't so scary anymore.
It created a "rock-paper-scissors" meta that was incredibly high-stakes. You had to account for Ultra Burst. You had to decide if you were going to use your Z-Move slot on Necrozma or something else. It added a layer of resource management that didn't exist in the previous games.
The Tapus and the Guardians
While not "legendaries" in the same sense as the box art stars, the Tapu guardians (Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, etc.) are effectively the functional Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon for most players. Their ability to set "Terrain" upon entering the field changed the game forever.
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- Tapu Koko makes Electric moves hit like a truck.
- Tapu Lele shuts down priority moves like Quick Attack or Sucker Punch.
- Tapu Bulu makes everyone regenerates HP.
- Tapu Fini prevents status conditions.
They are the "sub-legendaries" that actually define how a battle feels. In Ultra Sun, you catch them after the Elite Four, and they are essentially required reading if you want to tackle the Battle Tree or online play.
The "Ultra" Difference: Sun vs. Moon
It's worth noting that the version exclusives are real. If you’re looking for specific Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon, you’re getting:
- Ho-Oh
- Raikou
- Groudon
- Latios
- Dialga
- Heatran
- Reshiram
- Tornadus
- Xerneas
If you wanted Lugia or Kyogre, you were out of luck unless you traded. This encouraged the community to actually talk to each other, which was the whole point of Pokemon from the beginning.
Missing No More: The Zygarde Quest
In the original Sun and Moon, collecting Zygarde cells was a chore. It was a scavenger hunt that nobody really asked for. In Ultra Sun, they fixed the pacing. You can actually get a 100% Forme Zygarde—the "Complete Forme"—and it is a defensive wall that basically refuses to die. When its HP drops below half, it transforms, its HP stat skyrockets, and it becomes a literal titan. It’s easily one of the most satisfying Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon to use in a long-form battle.
How to Actually Catch Them Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re going back to play Ultra Sun now, or maybe playing it for the first time on an old 3DS, you need a plan. Catching Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon isn't just about throwing Ultra Balls until your finger hurts.
- The Harvest Strategy: Use a Trevenant with the Skill Swap move and the Harvest ability. Give it a Leppa Berry. Swap the ability to the Legendary, then use Trick to give them the berry. They will never run out of PP and struggle themselves to death. It’s a lifesaver for long captures.
- Synchronize is King: Put a Pokemon with the Synchronize ability (like Abra or Espeon) at the front of your party. There is a 50% chance the legendary will have the same Nature. This is vital if you want a "Jolly" Solgaleo or a "Timid" Tapu Koko.
- Rotom Powers: Don't ignore the Roto-Loto. The "Roto Catch" power significantly boosts catch rates. It's basically a temporary Master Ball lite.
Final Insights for the Ultra Hunter
The Ultra Sun legendary Pokemon represent a specific era of Pokemon where Game Freak wasn't afraid to let things get a little weird. We had aliens (Ultra Beasts), cosmic fusions, and literal gods. It’s a high-water mark for power in the series.
To make the most of your legendary hunt, focus on the Ultra Wormholes first. Get your "Synchronize" team ready so you aren't stuck with a legendary that has a terrible Nature. Once you’ve secured your Necrozma, head to the Crater on Mount Lanakila to grab the N-Solarizer. Without that item, you can't fuse your Necrozma with Solgaleo, and you're missing out on half the fun.
The Alola region might be a vacation destination, but its legends are built for war. Go get them.