Pokémon Sun & Moon Essentials Guide – Part 1

by

SPOILERS AHEAD

Over the past few weeks, several anonymous sources have been leaking details about the upcoming Nintendo 3DS games, Pokémon Sun & Moon. As usual, we won’t be sharing any images, but we have been keeping track on any and all details about the game. Below is a compilation of information we’ve previously reported on and some new ones as well – all in one place for your convenience! Anything related to the plot of the game will be “highlight to view” – Read at your own risk.

Pokémon

Version Exclusives

  • Pokémon Sun: Turtonator, Alolan Vulpix, Alolan Ninetales, Passimian, Lycanroc Midday Form, Solgaleo, UB-02 Expansion, Braviary line, Carracosta line, Whimsicott line, Rampardos line
  • Pokémon Moon: Drampa, Alolan Sandshrew, Alolan Sandslash, Oranguru, Lycanroc Midnight form, Lunala, UB-02 Beauty, Mandibuzz line, Archeops line, Lilligant line, Bastiodon line

Alolan Forms

  • Alolan Rattata & Alolan Raticate // Dark/Normal-type
  • Alolan Raichu // Electric/Psychic-type
  • Alolan Meowth & Alolan Persian // Dark-type
  • Alolan Grimer & Alolan Muk // Poison/Dark-type
  • Alolan Diglett & Alolan Dugtrio // Ground/Steel-type
  • Alolan Marowak //Fire/Ghost-type
  • Alolan Geodude, Alolan Graveler & Alolan Golem // Rock/Electric-type
  • Alolan Sandshrew & Alolan Sandslash // Ice/Steel-type
  • Alolan Vulpix // Ice-type
  • Alolan Ninetales // Ice/Fairy-type
  • Alolan Exeggutor // Grass/Dragon-type

New Pokemon (Not Officially Revealed in Pre-Release Promo)

  • Trumbeak & Toucannon // Normal/Flying-type
  • Crabominable // Fighting/Ice-type
  • Mareanie & Toxapex // Poison/Water-type
  • Dewpider & Araquanid // Water/Bug-type
  • Shiinotic // Grass/Fairy-type
  • Salazzle // Poison/Fire-type
  • Golisopod // Bug/Water-type
  • Dhelmise // Ghost/Grass-type
  • Cosmoem // Psychic-type
  • Marshadow // Fighting/Ghost-type

Pokémon Evolutions

  • Rowlet –lvl. 17–> Dartrix –lvl. 34–> Decidueye
  • Litten –lvl. 17–> Torracat –lvl. 34–> Inceneroar
  • Popplio –lvl. 17–> Brionne –lvl. 34–> Primarina
  • Pikipek –lvl. 14–> Trumbeak –lvl. 28–> Toucannon
  • Yungoos –lvl. 20 at Morning–> Gumshoos
  • Grubbin –lvl. 20–> Charjabug –lvl. up at Lectical Cave–> Vikavolt
  • Crabrawler –lvl. up at Ula’ula Snowies Summit–> Crabominable
  • Cutiefly –lvl. 25–> Ribombee
  • Rockruff –lvl 25 at Morning–> Lycanroc Midday Form (Sun Version only)
  • Rockruff –lvl 25 at Night–> Lycanroc Midnight Form (Moon Version only)
  • Mareanie –lvl. 38–> Toxapex
  • Mudbray –lvl. 30–> Mudsdale
  • Dewpider –lvl. 22–> Araquanid
  • Fomantis –lvl. 34 at Morning–> Lurantis
  • Morelull –lvl. 24–> Shiinotic
  • Salandit –lvl. 33 female–> Salazzle
  • Stufful –lvl. 27–> Bewear
  • Bounbsweet –lvl. 18–> Steenee –lvl. up with Stomp–> Tsareena (Steenee learns Stomp at lvl. 29)
  • Wimpod –lvl. 30–> Golisopod
  • Sandygast –lvl. 42–> Palossand
  • Type: Null –lvl. up with Friendship–> Silvally
  • Jangmo-o –lvl. 35–> Hakamo-o –lvl. 45–> Kommo-o
  • Cosmog –lvl. 43–> Cosmoem –lvl. 53–> Solgaleo (Sun Version only)
  • Cosmog –lvl. 43–> Cosmoem –lvl. 53–> Lunala (Moon Version only)

Note: All Pokémon not listed DO NOT evolve

Ultra Beasts (Highlight to View)

  • Ultra Beasts are Pokémon that came from from an alternate dimension called the Ultra Space via Ultra Wormholes
  • UB-01’s true name is Nihilego and is Rock/Poison-type
  • UB-02 Beauty’s true name is Pheromosa and is Bug/Fighting-type – exclusive too Moon version
  • UB–02 Absorption’s true name is Buzzwole and is Bug/Fighting-type – exclusive to Sun version
  • UB-03 Lighting’s true name is Xurkitree and is an Electric-type
  • UB-04 Blaster’s true name is Celesteela and is Steel/Flying-type – exclusive to Moon version
  • UB-04 Blade’s true name is Kartana and is Grass/Steel-type – exclusive to Sun version
  • UB-05 Glutton’s true name is Guzzlord and is Dark/Dragon-type
  • Necrozma is Psychic type and does not have an Ultra Beast number or code name
  • Necrozma has an incredibly odd Pokédex entry compared to the other Ultra Beasts that suggests it came to Alola from the Ultra Space back in ancient times and has been residing underground on Earth ever since. Ultimately its considered a regular Legendary Pokémon, not an Ultra Beast
  • In some cases multiple UBs exist and can be caught: 1 Nihilego, 2 Buzzwole/4 Phermosa, 2 Xircutree, 4 Kartana/2 Celesteela, and 1 Guzzlord

Characters

Returning Characters From Past Games (Highlight to View)

  • Protagonist Red from Gen I
  • Rival Blue from Gen I
  • Salon Maiden Anabel from Gen III
  • Rival Wally from Gen III
  • Champion Cynthia from Gen IV
  • Agent Looker from Gen IV
  • Elite Four Grimsley from Gen V
  • Team Plasma Boss Colress from Gen V
  • Professor Burnet from Gen V
  • Prof. Assistant Sina from Gen VI
  • Prof. Assistant Dexio from Gen VI

Trial Captains, Totem Pokémon & Kahunas (Highlight to View)

  • Ilima – Normal-type Trial Captain // Melemele Island // Totem Alolan Raticate (Moon) or Totem Gumshoos (Sun)
  • Lana – Water-type Trail Captain // Akala Island // Totem Wishiwashi
  • Kiawe – Fire-type Trial Captain // Akala Island // Totem Salazzle
  • Mallow – Grass-type Trial Captain // Akala Island // Totem Lurantis
  • Sophocles – Electric-type Trial Captain // Ula’Ula Island //Totem Vikavolt
  • Acerola – Ghost-type Trial Captain // Ula’Ula Island// Totem Mimikyu
  • Mina – Fairy-type Trial Captain // Poni Island
  • Final Trial is centered around Dragon-types but has no Trial Captain // Poni Island // Totem Kommo-o
  • Hala – Fighting-type Kahuna //Melemele Island
  • Olivia – Rock-type Kahuna // Akala Island
  • Nanu – Dark-type Kahuna // Ula’Ula Island
  • Hapu – Ground-type Kahuna // Poni Island

(Highlight to View) Elite Four

  • Hala – Fighting-type
  • Olivia – Rock-type
  • Acerola – Ghost-type
  • Kahili – Flying-type

When you defeat the Elite Four you ultimately become the Champion, but one of these trainers will challenge you for the title immediately after and acts as a “Champion Battle”

  • Professor Kukui (Challenges you after you first defeat the Elite Four)
  • Rival Hau
  • Rival Gladion
  • Kahuna Hapu
  • Aether Foundation’s Faba
  • PokeStar Ryuki
  • Team Skull’s Plumeria
  • Trial Captain Sophocles
  • Former Trial Captain Molayne

Post Game (Highlight to View)

  • Battle Tree
  • Rematches
  • Assist Police in tracking down the escaped Ultra Beasts
  • Defending your Champion title from Challengers
  • After beating the main story line a portal appears that allows you to switch between alternate realities and changes some things in game such as Pokémon encounters
  • Usual complete Pokédex, capture legendaries/Ultra Beasts, explore region, etc.

Other

  • The starters are not shiny locked, however there is a lengthy cute scene that makes soft resetting a pain
  • Legendaries, Ultra Beasts, Cosmog, and Magearna are all shiny locked
  • Apricorn Pokéballs from Gen II are back
  • Wonder Trading is back
  • The Daycare is located on Akala Island, however, unlike past generations, the Pokémon you leave in the daycare will not level up. They will only breed and lay eggs
  • Using the Island Scanner you’re able to catch starters from previous games
  • You are able to customize the way you throw Pokéballs into battles from 7 different choices: Normal style, Elegant style, Reverent Style, Smug Style, Left-handed Style, Passionate Style and Idol Style
  • You get the Zygarde Cube to collect Zygarde Cells on Akala Island. You use a special room to turn them into 10%, 50% and Complete Form depending on how many Cells you have
  • The small island to the southeast of Poni Island is full of Alolan Exeggutors
  • You can buy the Strange Souvenir from Pokémon X & Y in a tourist shop

Part 2 of our Leaks Compilation will be posted tomorrow and features info about new moves, new abilities, and more!

T MINUS THREE DAYS UNTIL POKÉMON SUN & MOON!

t minus 8 days for europe sorry ’bout it

Supporters

Nick F

Smearg

Foil Island

Conglome NERD

alcremie sundae

Radiant Blutle

Zachery

Dragoniteo

Austin John Plays

Help support our work by becoming a Patron on Patreon! Swadloon Platoon members and above will be added to our site supporters list!

780 thoughts on “Pokémon Sun & Moon Essentials Guide – Part 1”

  1. These games look awesome and I can’t wait to play them this Friday! Even though I’ve seen so many leaks, I’m still super excited. Sure, people may be unhappy with a thing or two, but I think most people can agree that over all, these will be great games.

    Reply

  6. So.. competitively.. do we even invest in speed this gen? Sure few are fast.. but like.. Do we with Decidueye? I feel like below 70.. what’s the point.. correct?

    Reply

    • I think 80+ is the average speed where you really want to go Timid/Jolly/Naive/Hasty and outspeed stuff in VGC ‘2017.

      I would do something called speed creeping though. For example you got an adamant Decidueye invested in HP and Attack, and expect to run into opponent Decidueyes in a tournament, you can remove some HP EVs and put in a bit of extra speed EVs so that you’ll go first against the opponent and they’ll wonder why they never win the speed tie. :p

      Reply

    • You invest in order to survive or outspeed specific Pokémon you think are important to be able to best. There’s no blanket rule.

      Reply

  7. Official terms to refer to things from the regions

    Kanto-Kantonian
    Sinnoh-Sinnohan
    Kalos-Kalosian
    Alola-Alolan

    Haven’t heard of anything for Johto, Hoenn or Unova

    Reply

    • Yeah, and now people have moved on to thinking their suppose to the the seven deadly sins. Oh how lovely it is to see people finding patterns in nothing.

      Reply

    • Actually , fun fact. There is correlation between Lillie and UB-01
      There’s a line mentioning that her mom pretty much chooses what she wears. And being that she is obsessed with UB’s… she dresses her daughter like one

      Reply

      • Tbh I don’t think it’s that straight forward, Lusamine probably didn’t force Lillie to dress like UB-01, it’s most likely an in game unintentional correlation that is meant to symbolise Lusamine trying to substitute her collapsed family (daughter included) with Ultra Beasts

        Reply

  10. So, does anybody have valid information when we’ll be able to battle with the new mons, buffs/nerfs, mechanics on showdown? I suppose, since they’ve had the data for over a week now, on the 18th? I need something to do while crying because I live in Europe q.q

    Reply

  11. They went overboard with legendaries this gen. From what we know, we got 16 legendaries and only 35 (36 if you include midnight Lycanroc) fully evolves ordinary Pokemon 😐

    Reply

  12. So if anyone is one
    I’ve been hearing a lot of talk that you receive an egg pretty early and reports are saying that some came out as Shinies

    Does anyone have any information on this

    Reply

  17. Another question has been added to impossible-to-answer questions;
    1) Why do we laugh?
    2) Why is Trump alive?
    3) Why is Vulpix not a Moon exclusive?

    Reply

Leave a Comment