Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon tell the same Alola story on the same map, which leaves the Pokemon as the one reason to pick a side. Here are the Pokemon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon exclusives: 36 wild Pokemon that only Ultra Sun has and 36 that only Ultra Moon has. The legendary on Mahalo Trail, the Necrozma on the box and one Captain change with the version too.
Whatever your version is missing takes a trade to get. It pays to know which Pokemon you'd miss before you buy.
Which wild Pokemon only one version has
Ultra Sun is the version for Heatran, Houndoom and Turtonator, and it carries the big legendaries Groudon, Dialga, Reshiram, Xerneas and Ho-Oh. Ultra Moon answers them one for one with Kyogre, Palkia, Zekrom, Yveltal and Lugia. It also has Oranguru, Cradily and Dragalge, and it's the one with Celesteela and Pheromosa while Ultra Sun has Kartana and Buzzwole.
The old fossil lines are split too. Ultra Sun gets Omanyte, Anorith, Cranidos, Tirtouga and Tyrunt, and Ultra Moon gets Kabuto, Lileep, Shieldon, Archen and Amaura. Raikou and Latios are in Ultra Sun, Entei and Latias in Ultra Moon.
Only in Ultra Sun
Turtonator
Passimian
Rufflet
Braviary
Houndour
Houndoom
Kartana
Vulpix
Ninetales
Omanyte
Omastar
Raikou
Anorith
Armaldo
Latios
Groudon
Cranidos
Rampardos
Dialga
Heatran
Cottonee
Whimsicott
Tirtouga
Carracosta
Golett
Golurk
Tornadus
Reshiram
Clauncher
Clawitzer
Tyrunt
Tyrantrum
Xerneas
Buzzwole
Blacephalon
Ho-Oh
Only in Ultra Moon
Drampa
Oranguru
Vullaby
Mandibuzz
Celesteela
Sandshrew
Sandslash
Kabuto
Kabutops
Entei
Lugia
Electrike
Manectric
Baltoy
Claydol
Lileep
Cradily
Latias
Kyogre
Shieldon
Bastiodon
Palkia
Regigigas
Petilil
Lilligant
Archen
Archeops
Thundurus
Zekrom
Skrelp
Dragalge
Amaura
Aurorus
Yveltal
Pheromosa
Stakataka
Neither side is longer than the other. Pick the column with the Pokemon you'd want on your team.
Solgaleo or Lunala on Mahalo Trail
- Type
- PsychicSteel
- Category
- Sunne Pokémon
- National Dex
- #0791
- Debut
- Gen VII
- Base stat total
- 680
Ultra Sun puts Solgaleo on Mahalo Trail at level 60, and Ultra Moon puts Lunala there at the same level. Whichever one you meet is the one you can add without a trade, and the other is a trade away.
Dusk Mane or Dawn Wings Necrozma on the box
- Type
- Psychic
- Category
- Prism Pokémon
- National Dex
- #0800
- Debut
- Gen VII
- Base stat total
- 600
Ultra Sun's box has Dusk Mane Necrozma. Ultra Moon's has Dawn Wings Necrozma. It's the same Necrozma in a different form, and the cover is where you see which game you have.
Captains and the Ultra Recon Squad change a little
Sophocles is the Ultra Sun Captain and brings Togedemaru, Magnezone and Golem at level 51. Lana holds the same post in Ultra Moon with Lanturn, Cloyster and Araquanid at level 51. Later on, the Ultra Recon Squad member who battles you with a level 47 Poipole is Dulse in Ultra Sun and Soliera in Ultra Moon.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Ultra Sun if you want Solgaleo or Heatran, and Ultra Moon if you want Lunala or Oranguru. Only the Captain and the Recon Squad fights change between them, so the trainers won't decide it. (Oranguru looks like it has already seen the end of the game.)
Ultra Sun vs Ultra Moon FAQ
Can you get Lunala in Ultra Sun?
Yes, but only through a trade.
Is the Alola story different in the two games?
No. The map and the story are the same in both.
Do both versions have the same number of exclusives?
Yes. Each one has 36.
