In Alola there are no Gyms or badges: young Trainers take on the Island Challenge. On each island, Captains run Trials, which always end with a battle against a Totem Pokémon, bigger and stronger than its fellows. Here are the seven Trials of Sun and Moon.
- 1
Verdant CavernCaptain Ilima · MelemeleNormalNormalium Z - 2
Brooklet HillCaptain Lana · AkalaWaterWaterium Z - 3
Wela Volcano ParkCaptain Kiawe · AkalaFireFirium Z - 4
Lush JungleCaptain Mallow · AkalaGrassGrassium Z - 5
Hokulani ObservatoryCaptain Sophocles · Ula’ulaElectricElectrium Z - 6
Abandoned Thrifty MegamartCaptain Acerola · Ula’ulaGhostGhostium Z - 7
Vast Poni CanyonTrial without a Captain · PoniDragonDragonium Z
📜How a Trial works
- The gateway marks the entrance to the Trial area. Once inside, Poké Balls are forbidden and you cannot run from the battle against the Totem Pokémon.
- The mission is different each time: hunting down Pokémon, investigating, observing, cooking, answering a quiz, taking photos.
- The Totem Pokémon is surrounded by an aura that raises one or more of its stats from the start of the battle. It does not pick its moves at random and knows your Pokémon’s weaknesses.
- Reinforcements: the Totem Pokémon calls other Pokémon to its aid, which can heal it, strengthen it or attack you. Taking them down quickly is often the key.
- The reward: a Z-Crystal, which unlocks a Z-Move of the Trial’s type.
👑The seven Totem Pokémon
In Verdant Cavern, the Totem Pokémon changes depending on the version: the row for the other version is greyed out.
| Trial | Totem Pokémon | Aura and item | SOS allies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verdant Cavern Ilima · Normalium Z Sun | GumshoosNo. 12 | Defense +1 Holds: Pecha Berry | Yungoos (Lv. 10) |
| Verdant Cavern Ilima · Normalium Z Moon | Alolan RaticateNo. 12 | Defense +1 Holds: Pecha Berry | Alolan Rattata (Lv. 10) |
| Brooklet Hill Lana · Waterium Z | Wishiwashi (School Form)No. 20 | Defense +1 Holds: Sitrus Berry | Wishiwashi, then Alomomola (Lv. 18) |
| Wela Volcano Park Kiawe · Firium Z | SalazzleNo. 22 | Special Defense +1 Holds: Petaya Berry | Salandit (Lv. 20) |
| Lush Jungle Mallow · Grassium Z | LurantisNo. 24 | Speed +2 Holds: Power Herb | Trumbeak or Castform (Lv. 22) |
| Hokulani Observatory Sophocles · Electrium Z | VikavoltNo. 29 | All stats +1 | Charjabug, twice (Lv. 28) |
| Abandoned Thrifty Megamart Acerola · Ghostium Z | MimikyuNo. 33 | All stats +1 Holds: Lum Berry | Haunter, then Gengar (Lv. 27) |
| Vast Poni Canyon No Captain · Dragonium Z | Kommo-oNo. 45 | All stats +1 Holds: Mental Herb | Scizor or Hakamo-o (Lv. 32) |
🧭The Captains
Ilima, Melemele
Normal-type Captain, elegant and popular, son of a wealthy family from Hau’oli City. He is waiting for you in Verdant Cavern.
His Trial →Kiawe, Akala
Fire-type Captain, a passionate dancer whose family lives in Paniola Town. Wela Volcano Park.
His Trial →Mallow, Akala
Grass-type Captain, a cook at her family’s restaurant in Konikoni City. Lush Jungle.
Her Trial →Sophocles, Ula’ula
Electric-type Captain, a machine enthusiast who works at the Observatory. Mount Hokulani.
His Trial →Acerola, Ula’ula
Ghost-type Captain, she lives at Aether House. Abandoned Thrifty Megamart.
Her Trial →Mina, Poni
Fairy-type Captain, a painter and traveler. In Sun and Moon she does not run a Trial: she gives you her Fairium Z, and Poni Island’s Trial, which has no Captain, guards the Altar.
Vast Poni Canyon →After each island, a Grand Trial pits you against the Kahuna. See the Grand Trials, and for detailed strategies against each Totem Pokémon, our guide Totem Pokémon without losing.
