Sun and Moon tell the same story, but not quite under the same sky: the legendary, the in-game time, a handful of wild Pokémon and two Ultra Beasts change from one version to the other. Here is the complete list, taken from location data.

☀️The legendary and the time of day

Pokémon Sun features Solgaleo, Psychic and Steel; Pokémon Moon features Lunala, Psychic and Ghost. Each is caught at level 55 at the Altar, at the end of the story. The other one is obtained by trade.

Above all, Pokémon Sun follows your console’s clock, and Pokémon Moon is offset by twelve hours. If you play in the evening after school or work, it will be night in Sun and day in Moon. This matters: some Pokémon only appear at certain times of day, and several evolutions depend on it, such as Lycanroc, Gumshoos or Alolan Raticate.

🌿Exclusive wild Pokémon

These Pokémon live in the wild in one version and not the other. Their evolutions follow: an Alolan Vulpix caught in Sun will become an Alolan Ninetales, for example.

Pokémon Sun only (not in Moon) 8

Pokémon Moon only (not in Sun) 8

Alolan Vulpix or Alolan Sandshrew

The two Alolan forms of the snow are split between versions: Alolan Vulpix, Ice, in Sun; Alolan Sandshrew, Ice and Steel, in Moon. They can be found in Tapu Village and on Mount Lanakila.

Turtonator or Drampa

Two seventh-generation dragons: Turtonator, the Fire and Dragon turtle of Blush Mountain, in Sun; Drampa, Normal and Dragon, in the cave on Mount Lanakila, in Moon.

Passimian or Oranguru

The two monkeys of Lush Jungle: Passimian, Fighting, a berry-throwing player, in Sun; Oranguru, Normal and Psychic, the sage, in Moon.

🌌The Ultra Beasts

After the Pokémon League, five Ultra Beasts are common to both versions and two are exclusive: Buzzwole and Kartana in Sun, Pheromosa and Celesteela in Moon.

🔁How to get the other version’s Pokémon

  • Local trading is still possible between two 3DS consoles, from Festival Plaza.
  • The GTS and Wonder Trade worked until online play on the 3DS consoles ended in April 2024.
  • Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon often offer the other exclusive, and trades between the four games are possible.
  • Pokémon Bank, for as long as it stays open, lets you deposit Pokémon from one version and take them back in the other. See Playing today.

To choose your version, see also Sun or Moon?