You remember the hype. 2016. The Pokémon 20th anniversary was peaking, and Game Freak decided to toss the traditional Gym system into the ocean. Instead of badges, we got Z-Crystals. Instead of HMs, we got Poké Ride. It was a massive shift that still catches people off guard when they revisit Alola today. Most people looking for a Pokémon Sun and Moon game guide just want to know how to beat the Totem Pokémon, but the real depth is in the mechanics that the game barely explains.
Honestly, Alola is brutal if you aren't prepared. It’s arguably the hardest generation on the 3DS. Those Totem battles? They aren't your typical 1v1 fights. They are 2v1 ambushes where the boss has boosted stats and a partner specifically designed to ruin your day. If you’re trying to breeze through with just your starter, you’re going to get walled by a Lurantis or a Kommo-o pretty quickly.
The Island Challenge is Not a Gym Run
Forget everything you know about walking into a building and fighting four trainers before a leader. The Island Challenge is a different beast entirely. You have four islands—Melemele, Akala, Ula'ula, and Poni—each with its own "Kahuna." But before you even see a Kahuna, you have to pass the Trials.
The Trials are basically environmental puzzles ending in a boss fight. The Totem Pokémon is the real gatekeeper. These things have an aura that boosts a specific stat (usually Defense or Speed) the moment the battle starts. Then, they call for help. This is where most players fail. They focus on the partner Pokémon, but the Totem will just keep summoning new ones. You’ve got to prioritize high-damage output on the main threat. For example, when you face Totem Araquanid in Ultra Sun, it’s holding a Power Herb. It’s going to hit you with a one-turn Solar Beam. If you don't have a Flying or Electric type ready to move fast, it's game over before you even settle in.
Mastering the Z-Move Meta
Z-Moves were the big gimmick here. Some people hated them; some loved the cinematic flair. Regardless of your feelings, you need them. Unlike Mega Evolution, which lasted the whole fight, a Z-Move is a one-shot nuke. Use it at the wrong time—like into a Protect or a resist—and you’ve wasted your biggest advantage.
Think about the typing. You get the Normalium Z early on, but don't sleep on the specialized crystals. Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina each have exclusive Z-Moves that hit like a truck. If you’re struggling with a specific Trial, check your bag. You might be sitting on a type-specific crystal that could one-shot the boss. It’s also worth noting that Z-Moves bypass the accuracy check. If a Pokémon has been spamming Sand Attack or Double Team, a Z-Move will still land. That’s a life-saver in the late game.
Rotom Dex: Annoying but Useful
Let's be real. The Rotom Dex talks way too much. It’s constantly flickering on the bottom screen, giving you advice you didn't ask for. However, in the Ultra versions especially, the Roto-Loto is broken. You can get "Roto Boosts" that raise all your stats in battle. It feels like cheating. If you’re doing a Nuzlocke or a challenge run, these items are the difference between keeping your team alive and a total wipe.
How to Handle the Ultra Beasts
The endgame of Sun and Moon shifts gears into sci-fi territory. Suddenly, you aren't just fighting monsters; you're fighting interdimensional aliens called Ultra Beasts (UBs). These things have the Beast Boost ability. Every time they knock out one of your Pokémon, their highest stat goes up.
It’s a snowball effect.
If Nihilego gets a kill, its Special Attack rises, making the next kill even easier. The trick to catching them is the Beast Ball, but don't waste them on regular Pokémon—the catch rate is abysmal. Save them for the actual UBs. Look for Looker (a recurring character from the Sinnoh and Kalos games) to start the post-game questline. He’ll give you the info you need to track down Buzzwole, Pheromosa, and the rest.
The SOS Battle Mechanic
This is the single most important thing for anyone trying to build a competitive team or find Shinies. When a wild Pokémon's HP gets low, it cries for help. Another Pokémon joins the fray. If you keep this chain going, the incoming Pokémon will have better IVs, a higher chance of being Shiny, and potentially a Hidden Ability.
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To master SOS chaining, you need two things: Adrenaline Orbs and a Pokémon with False Swipe. Use the orb to increase the call rate. Keep the original Pokémon at 1 HP. Knock out the help as it arrives. By the time you hit a chain of 30, you’re guaranteed at least 4 perfect IVs. It’s tedious. It’s boring. But it’s the only way to get a competitive-ready Ditto without trading.
Managing Your Team Composition
Alola’s Pokédex is surprisingly diverse, but it’s heavy on slow, bulky attackers. Many of the new Gen 7 Pokémon, like Vikavolt or Mudsdale, have incredible stats but terrible Speed. If your whole team is slow, you’re going to get out-sped and flinched to death by the faster older-gen Pokémon that populate the islands.
You need a balance.
Salazzle is a fantastic choice because of its unique Corrosion ability, allowing it to poison Steel and Poison types. It’s also incredibly fast. Mudsdale is a tank thanks to Stamina, which raises Defense every time it gets hit. Pair these with a solid Water-type like Araquanid or Golisopod, and you’ve got a core that can handle most of what the Kahunas throw at you.
Why You Can't Ignore the Festival Plaza
The Festival Plaza replaced the PSS from Gen 6, and many fans weren't happy about it. It feels clunky. However, it’s where all the social stuff happens. Trading, battling, and even some specialized shops like the Dye Houses or the Bouncy Houses for EV training are tucked away here. If you want to get your Pokémon to Level 100 for Hyper Training, the Rare Kitchens in the Plaza are the fastest way to do it. Just keep talking to people to earn Festival Coins (FC).
Hidden Mechanics Most Guides Skip
Did you know that the time of day in Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon is shifted by 12 hours? If you’re playing during the day in real life, it’s night in the game. This affects evolutions for Pokémon like Rockruff. If you want a Midday Lycanroc, you have to be playing when the game thinks it's daytime.
Also, the Poké Pelago. Do not ignore this. It’s a passive way to grow berries, find evolution stones, and even train your Pokémon’s EVs while you sleep. Mohn (the guy who runs it) will trade you beans for island upgrades. Max out Isle Abe and Isle Aphun as soon as possible. The sheer volume of evolutionary stones and Gold Bottle Caps you can find just by sending your Pokémon on "cave hunts" is staggering. It saves you hours of grinding.
Defeating Ultra Necrozma
In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, there is a specific boss fight that serves as a massive difficulty spike: Ultra Necrozma. This thing has a +1 boost to all stats and a base stat total that rivals Mega Rayquaza. Most players get swept.
The "cheesy" way to win? Use a Pokémon with the Sturdy ability or a Focus Sash and hit it with Toxic. Then, just keep reviving your team or using Protect until the poison ticks it down. If you try to out-damage it fairly, you’ll likely need to be 10-15 levels higher than it. It’s a brutal reality check that proves Alola isn't just a tropical vacation.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
- Pick your starter based on the late game. Rowlet (Decidueye) is great early on but struggles with the many Dark and Ice types later. Litten (Incineroar) is a powerhouse once it gets its Dark typing. Popplio (Primarina) is secretly the MVP because Fairy typing is broken in Alola.
- Get a Pokémon with False Swipe early. You can get the TM from Professor Kukui after defeating the first Kahuna. It’s mandatory for catching Pokémon and SOS chaining.
- Upgrade Poké Pelago immediately. Use your beans to unlock the second and third islands. It’s the best way to get stones for Eevee or Pikachu without spending money.
- Check the QR Scanner. You can scan 10 QR codes a day to trigger an "Island Scan." This lets you catch non-Alolan Pokémon like Charmander or Togekiss that aren't usually in the game.
- Use the "Refresh" feature. After a battle, use Pokémon Refresh to pet your team and feed them beans. If their affection is high, they will literally survive lethal hits with 1 HP just because they love you. They also gain more EXP and shake off status effects automatically.
- Visit the Name Rater and Move Deleter. In Alola, they are both located in the Tourist Bureau in Hehea City and the Pokémon Center on Mount Lanakila. You'll need them to optimize your movesets before the Elite Four.
The Alola region is a weird, beautiful, and sometimes frustrating departure from the Pokémon norm. It rewards exploration and a deep understanding of status effects and Z-Move timing. If you stop trying to play it like a Kanto remake and embrace the Trial system, it's one of the most rewarding experiences in the entire franchise. Stop grinding levels and start looking at your team's synergy—that’s how you actually win here.