You're standing in the middle of Route 8, staring at a blank spot in your Alolan Pokedex, and honestly, it’s frustrating. We've all been there. You want that Shiny Charm, but some of these encounter rates are just abysmal. That’s where ultra sun ultra moon qr codes come into play, and frankly, it’s a mechanic I really miss in the newer Switch titles.
Back when Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon launched on the 3DS, Game Freak handed us a literal cheat code—well, a legal one. By using the R-button to activate the 3DS camera, you could scan almost any QR code in existence. It didn't even have to be a Pokémon code; a barcode on a bag of chips would give you points. But the real magic happened when you scanned specific, patterned codes designed for the Alola region.
How the Island Scan Actually Works
It’s pretty simple. Every scan gives you 10 points. Once you hit 100 points, you unlock the "Island Scan." This is where things get interesting because the Pokémon you find aren't actually native to Alola. You're catching Kanto starters, Johto beasts, and Sinnoh favorites that normally don't show up in the wild.
There's a catch, though. You only get one scan every two hours, and you can only "bank" ten scans at a time. If you’re trying to hunt something specific, you have to time it right. The Pokémon available via Island Scan change based on which island you’re currently on and—this is the part that trips people up—which day of the week it is.
If you scan on Melemele Island on a Friday, you’re getting a Squirtle. Do it on a Saturday, and it’s a Litwick. If you mess up the day, you've wasted those 100 points and have to wait for the timer to recharge. It's a bit of a grind, but for a completionist, it's gold.
Tracking Down the Rare Stuff
Most players just want the Magearna. That’s the big one. Unlike regular ultra sun ultra moon qr codes, the Magearna code is a "Special QR Code." It doesn't just give you points; it triggers an actual event in Hau'oli City. You have to be the Alola Champion first, though. If you haven't beaten the Elite Four, the deliveryman at Antiquities of the Ages won't show up.
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But what about the rest? You can find massive libraries of these codes online. People have compiled "Wonder QR Codes" that give you 20 points instead of 10. These are usually the shiny versions of Pokémon or special event distributions. Scanning a Shiny Celebi code won't give you a Shiny Celebi in your game, but it will register the "Seen" data in your Pokedex, which is a huge help for tracking things down via the Global Trade Station (GTS)—back when that was more active, anyway.
The Math Behind the Scan
Every 20 hours, you can perform a full Island Scan if you've let your points fully recharge.
- Regular Scan: 10 Points
- Special/Wonder Scan: 20 Points
- Total needed for Island Scan: 100 Points
It sounds slow. It is. But compared to soft-resetting for a 1% encounter rate in the tall grass? I'll take the QR codes any day.
The "Secret" Strategy for Version Exclusives
Here is something a lot of people overlook. While the QR scanner helps you "see" Pokémon, it doesn't bypass version exclusivity for the main Pokedex. However, the Island Scan Pokémon are the same across both Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
If you’re playing Ultra Sun and you’re desperate for a localized challenge, you can use the Island Scan to grab a Totodile on Melemele Island (Monday). It doesn't matter which version you have. This makes the QR system the ultimate equalizer for solo players who don't have a friend to trade with.
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I remember spending an entire Tuesday on Poni Island just trying to get a Leavanny. The encounter lasts for one hour. If you accidentally KO the Pokémon or run away, that’s it. Points gone. Timer reset. You have to be prepared with False Swipe and plenty of Ultra Balls before you even hit that scan button.
Why You Should Still Care in 2026
You might think, "Why bother with 3DS games now?" Well, with the closure of the 3DS eShop and the eventual sunsetting of Pokémon Bank, these physical copies and their built-in mechanics are becoming the only way to "legitimately" source certain movesets and ribbons.
Pokémon caught via Island Scan often have special moves they wouldn't normally learn at that level. For example, catching a Honedge on Akala Island (Wednesday) gives you a head start on a competitive Aegislash build without needing to breed through five generations of compatibility.
Maximizing Your Daily Scans
To get the most out of your ultra sun ultra moon qr codes, you need a routine. Don't just scan random stuff.
- Use a dedicated QR gallery. There are several community-hosted sites that have every single Alolan Pokedex entry mapped to a code.
- Focus on the 20-point codes. It cuts your "work" in half.
- Check the clock. The game uses your 3DS system time. If you're hunting a Thursday Pokémon, make sure your DS knows it's Thursday. (But don't change the clock manually! The game detects "time travel" and will lock you out of time-based events for 24 hours).
- Save before you initiate the Island Scan. If you blow the encounter, you can just soft-reset (L+R+Select) and try the battle again as long as that one-hour window hasn't closed.
Common Misconceptions About QR Scanning
I see a lot of people claiming you can get Mythicals like Marshadow or Zeraora just by scanning a code. Let’s clear that up: you can’t.
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Those were local wireless or serial code distributions. Scanning a QR code for Marshadow will only add the "Seen" entry to your Pokedex. It’s useful if you want to see where it sits in the list, but it won’t make the Pokémon appear in your party. Magearna is the only exception to this rule because its QR code was designed to be permanent and "evergreen" for everyone who finishes the game.
Another weird quirk? The "Island Scan" Pokémon don't have their Hidden Abilities. If you were hoping to farm a Protean Froakie using this method, you're out of luck. You’ll get the standard Torrent ability every single time. For Hidden Abilities, you still have to go through the grueling SOS Battle chain process.
Actionable Steps to Complete Your Collection
If you're looking to dust off your 2DS or 3DS and actually finish that Pokedex, here is the most efficient way to use the QR system right now:
- Download a QR Mega-Sheet: Search for the "Alola QR Code" images on your phone or tablet. Having them all in one scrollable gallery makes the 10-scan limit feel much faster.
- Prioritize the "Starters": Each island offers different generation starters on specific days. Melemele has Kanto, Akala has Sinnoh, Ula'ula has Hoenn, and Poni has Johto/Kalos.
- Stock up on Repeat Balls: Since you'll likely be scanning Pokémon you've technically "seen" in the Pokedex via the QR reader, Repeat Balls become incredibly effective, often better than Ultra Balls.
- Beat the Game First: Don't waste your time hunting the rare Island Scans until you have access to all four islands. You'll want the freedom to fly (or Charizard Glide) to any location immediately once the scanner picks up a signal.
The QR system was a weird, experimental phase for Pokémon. It felt a bit like a gimmick at the time, but looking back, it gave us a level of control over the "wild" that we haven't really seen since. It turned the real world into a scavenger hunt for digital monsters. Even if you're just doing it to get that little crown icon next to your Pokedex entry, it’s a journey worth taking.
Go grab your 3DS. Scan the back of a cereal box. See what happens. You might just find that one 10-point bump is all you need to trigger an encounter with a Pokémon you haven't seen in years.