You’re staring at a half-finished Alola Pokedex and realize you made a choice back in 2017 that’s still haunting you today. It’s the classic dilemma. You picked the version with the cool bat on the cover, only to realize your best friend—who also bought the same version—can’t help you finish the set. Pokemon Ultra Moon exclusives are the primary reason the GTS (Global Trade System) was a chaotic wasteland of impossible requests for years.
Honestly, the Gen 7 mid-generation "sequels" did something weird. They didn't just swap a few birds and bugs. They locked away massive, meta-defining Ultra Beasts and legendary titans behind a $40 paywall. If you want a Stakataka, you aren't finding it in Ultra Sun. Period. You’ve gotta trade or own both. It’s a calculated move by Game Freak that feels especially punishing now that the 3DS eShop is a ghost town and the official servers are officially sunsetted.
The Big Heavy Hitters: Which Monsters Are Only in Ultra Moon?
Let's talk about the heavy hitters first. Everyone remembers the box art. Lunala is the obvious one, evolving from that weird little cloud-nebula thing, Cosmog. But the real meat of the Pokemon Ultra Moon exclusives list lies in the Ultra Beasts.
Pheromosa and Celesteela are the big ones here. While Ultra Sun players were busy catching the glass-cannon Kartana, Ultra Moon players got Celesteela—a Steel/Flying beast that has haunted the competitive VGC scene for nearly a decade. It’s essentially a floating bamboo rocket ship that refuses to die. Then you have the newer additions like Stakataka. It’s a literal stone fortress with legs. If you’re trying to build a Trick Room team, Stakataka is basically your holy grail, and it’s nowhere to be found in the Sun version.
It isn't just about the new weirdos from space, though.
The classic fossil pool is split right down the middle too. If you want the T-Rex (Tyrunt) or the snowy dinosaur (Amaura), you’re playing Ultra Moon. Sun players get the shield-head and the bird-fossil. It’s a trade-off that feels small until you’re trying to complete a Living Dex and realize you have a glaring hole where Aurorus should be.
The Legendary Divide
The Ultra Wormholes changed everything. Suddenly, you could catch nearly every legendary from previous generations. But there’s a catch. A big one.
Kyogre is an Ultra Moon exclusive. Same for Latias, Lugia, and Entei. If you grew up playing Pokemon Silver or Sapphire, Ultra Moon is basically a nostalgia trip designed specifically for you. But here’s where it gets complicated: to unlock the "trio masters" like Rayquaza, Giratina, or Suicune, you need both version exclusives in your party at the same time.
Think about that.
To get Rayquaza, you need Kyogre (Moon) and Groudon (Sun). If you’re playing solo in 2026, you’re basically stuck unless you have a second 3DS and a copy of the other game. It’s a frustrating hurdle that makes these specific Pokemon Ultra Moon exclusives feel more like a gatekeeper than a bonus feature.
Wild Encounters and the Alolan Landscape
The distribution of regular Alolan Pokemon is equally lopsided. Take the Alolan Vulpix line. It’s arguably the most popular regional variant ever made. It’s also not in Ultra Moon. You get Alolan Sandshrew instead.
Now, don't get me wrong, Alolan Sandslash is cool. It’s got those ice-pick claws and a metallic blue sheen that looks incredible. But it isn't a snowy fox. Most people want the fox. This is the kind of detail that makes people trade away their soul on Reddit forums just to get a Level 1 Breedject.
Petilil and Lilligant are also locked to the Moon side of the fence. If you want that Grass-type elegance, you’re looking at Ultra Moon. Sun gets Cottonee and Whimsicott. It’s a fair trade in terms of competitive utility—Whimsicott with Prankster is a menace—but for the casual collector, these choices define the entire "vibe" of your playthrough.
The Totem Sized Problem
One of the coolest features in the Ultra games was the ability to collect Totem Stickers and trade them to Samson Oak for "Totem-sized" Pokemon. These are giant versions of regular monsters.
In Ultra Moon, you get access to a giant Raticate, Araquanid, Salazzle, Togedemaru, and Kommo-o.
Compare that to the Sun list. You get Gumshoos and Lurantis there. Honestly? Ultra Moon wins this round. A giant Salazzle is a terrifying presence on any team, and having a Kommo-o that towers over the opponent is a massive flex. These aren't just cosmetic either; they have different weights and heights which can technically affect move interactions like Grass Knot or Low Kick.
Why the Version Choice Still Matters Today
We live in a post-eShop world. For those of us still clinging to our 3DS hardware, the Pokemon Ultra Moon exclusives represent a dwindling resource.
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Since the official Nintendo Network servers went dark, trading has moved to local wireless or fan-run private servers like Pretendo. This makes version-exclusive hunting significantly harder than it was five years ago. You can’t just hop on the GTS and find a Pheromosa in thirty seconds anymore. You have to actually know someone, or own the hardware yourself.
The Competitive Legacy
Even with the advent of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet on the Switch, the Alola dex remains relevant. Why? Because of Pokemon HOME.
Many of the legendaries you catch in the Ultra Moon wormholes are the easiest way to get "clean" versions of these Pokemon for use in modern competitive formats. Catching a Lugia in a Luxury Ball in Ultra Moon and transferring it forward is a badge of honor. It’s about the hunt. It’s about the fact that you went through the effort of navigating the motion-control nightmare of the Ultra Warp Ride to find that one specific shiny-locked (or not) legendary.
Navigating the Ultra Warp Ride
If you’re hunting Pokemon Ultra Moon exclusives in the wormholes, color matters.
Blue holes lead to the water and ice types. This is where you find your Kyogre and Latias. Purple holes are for the Ultra Beasts. If you’re looking for Celesteela or Pheromosa, you’re diving into the white holes. It’s a mini-game that requires a surprising amount of patience, especially since the distance you travel determines the IVs and the shiny rate of what you find at the end.
Most people don't realize that the further you go, the better your odds. But you also run the risk of hitting a rogue electrode-shaped obstacle and losing all your momentum. It’s high-stakes fishing for space monsters.
The Full List of Ultra Moon Exclusives
For those who need the raw data to check off their list, here’s the breakdown of what you’re looking for:
- Standard Pokemon: Alolan Sandshrew, Alolan Sandslash, Petilil, Lilligant, Vullaby, Mandibuzz, Oranguru, Drampa.
- Fossils: Shieldon, Bastiodon, Archen, Archeops, Amaura, Aurorus, Tyrunt, Tyrantrum.
- Legendaries: Lugia, Entei, Kyogre, Latias, Palkia, Regigigas, Zekrom, Thundurus, Yveltal.
- Ultra Beasts: Pheromosa, Celesteela, Stakataka.
- Totem-Sized: Raticate, Araquanid, Salazzle, Togedemaru, Kommo-o, Vikavolt.
How to Get What You’re Missing
Since you’re likely reading this because you realized you’re missing half the dex, what do you actually do?
First, check your local scene. Retro gaming groups are surprisingly active, and there’s always someone with a copy of Ultra Sun looking for a Celesteela. Second, look into the Pokemon HOME GTS. While 3DS-to-3DS trading is restricted to local/private servers, the Pokemon you already have in HOME can be traded for the Sun counterparts with relative ease.
Pro Tip: If you have an extra Stakataka, you can almost always trade it for a Blacephalon (the Sun exclusive) because they are both required for the Pokedex completion and both are limited in number per save file.
Final Thoughts on the Alolan Split
The divide between Sun and Moon was always about theme. Day vs. Night. Lion vs. Bat. But with the "Ultra" versions, it became about utility. Ultra Moon arguably has the better defensive options. Between Celesteela’s typing and Stakataka’s raw power in Trick Room, the Moon version caters to a specific kind of strategic player.
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If you’re just starting a new save file in 2026, keep in mind that the clock is shifted by 12 hours in Ultra Moon. When it’s day in the real world, it’s night in the game. It sounds like a small aesthetic choice, but it affects which Pokemon spawn and how certain ones—like Rockruff—evolve. It’s that extra layer of "weird" that makes the Alola region so memorable.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors:
- Audit Your PC Boxes: Sort your Pokemon by National Dex number to quickly identify which Pokemon Ultra Moon exclusives you are missing.
- Capture Duplicates: Catch at least two of every Ultra Beast available in your version. You will need these as "currency" for trading with Sun players later.
- Sync Your Clock: If you are trying to evolve Lycanroc into its Midnight form, remember the 12-hour offset. Plan your gameplay sessions accordingly or manually adjust your 3DS system clock if you’re impatient.
- Visit Samson Oak: If you haven't collected your Totem-sized Pokemon at Heahea Beach, do it now. These are unique trophies that cannot be obtained any other way in the franchise.