Pokémon Sun and Moon Walkthrough: Every Trial, Boss and Reward

Pokémon Sun and Moon follow one fixed route across four islands: Melemele, Akala, Ula’ula and Poni. You clear seven trials and four grand trials against the island kahunas, then climb Mount Lanakila to the Pokémon League. The kahunas’ strongest Pokémon are Lv. 15 (Hala), Lv. 27 (Olivia), Lv. 39 (Nanu) and Lv. 48 (Hapu). The Elite Four top out at Lv. 55 and Professor Kukui at Lv. 58. Hau, Gladion and Kukui change their teams to match the starter you picked, and Ilima’s Totem Pokémon is Gumshoos in Sun and Alolan Raticate in Moon.

This walkthrough covers Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon on 3DS and 2DS, up to version 1.2. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon use a different story and several different Totem Pokémon, such as Kiawe’s Alolan Marowak and Sophocles’ Togedemaru. The Sun vs Ultra Sun page lists those changes.

Walkthrough tracker

Pick your game and starter, then check off each stop as you finish it. “Up next” shows where to go and your next big battle. Boss levels lists every major fight in story order, and Z-Crystals and Ride Pokémon show where each one comes from. Progress is saved in this browser only.

The route at a glance

You cannot skip ahead: each island’s ferry or boat only opens after its grand trial, and Ride Pokémon unlock the paths in between. The table shows the highest-level Pokémon in each required battle and the move types that are super effective against that Pokémon, so you can see roughly what level your team should be.

Melemele Island

You move into a house on Route 1. Kukui takes you to Iki Town, and on Mahalo Trail Tapu Koko rescues Lillie’s Pokémon and leaves you the Sparkling Stone. Hala then lets you choose your partner. Your first battle is against Hau, his grandson, who takes the starter that is weak to yours.

Hau’s starter for each choice

At the Iki Town festival Hala turns the Sparkling Stone into your Z-Ring. Next morning Kukui adds Rotom to your Pokédex, and at the Trainers’ School he gives you the Exp. Share. In Hau’oli City, pick up the Poké Finder at the Tourist Bureau, then meet Captain Ilima at the Marina.

Ilima’s trial in Verdant Cavern

Beat the three Pokémon that leap out of the dens, then take the Normalium Z from the pedestal and the Totem Pokémon attacks. It is Lv. 12 with a +1 Defense aura and calls one Lv. 10 ally on the first turn. Both versions are weak to Fighting moves. The Lass at the Route 2 Pokémon Center trades her Machop for a Spearow, which helps a lot here.

Hala’s grand trial

After you find Lillie’s Pokémon in Melemele Meadow and beat Hau on Route 3, return to Iki Town. Hala uses Fighting types, so Flying, Psychic and Fairy moves work best. Winning earns the Fightinium Z, Hala registers his Tauros in your new Ride Pager, and Kukui gives you TM54 False Swipe.

Lv.	Pokémon	Type	Held item	Moves
14	Mankey	Fighting	—	Karate Chop, Pursuit, Focus Energy
14	Makuhita	Fighting	—	Arm Thrust, Sand Attack, Fake Out
15	Crabrawler	Fighting	Fightinium Z	Pursuit, Power-Up Punch, Leer

Akala Island

Kukui’s boat drops you in Heahea City. Near the Tide Song Hotel you battle Dexio in Sun or Sina in Moon, and Dexio then gives you the Zygarde Cube. Hau battles you in Paniola Town, Mallow registers Stoutland at Paniola Ranch, and Gladion waits on Route 5. The three trials can only be done in this order, because each captain opens the road to the next.

Lana’s trial

Lana registers Lapras so you can surf to the splashing water. The first two splashes are wild Wishiwashi you can catch. In the Totem’s Den, Totem Wishiwashi starts in its School Form. Grass and Electric moves do the most damage. If its HP is at a quarter or less at the end of a turn, it returns to its weak Solo Form. Lana gives you the Waterium Z and a Fishing Rod.

Kiawe’s trial

The Battle Royal on Royal Avenue comes first: a four-way practice match against Hau, Gladion and the Masked Royal that ends when any Pokémon faints. At Wela Volcano Park, spot the differences between Kiawe’s dances. Totem Salazzle is Poison/Fire, so Ground moves do four times damage. Its Corrosion Ability lets Toxic poison Steel and Poison types too. Kiawe gives you the Firium Z and registers Charizard, which lets you fly back to places you have visited.

Mallow’s trial

Gather the four ingredients in Lush Jungle. Fomantis guards them in both games, along with Parasect in Sun or Shiinotic in Moon. Totem Lurantis has a +2 Speed aura and calls Castform or Trumbeak. Use Fire or Flying moves. Mallow gives you the Grassium Z and Kukui gives you TM67 Smart Strike.

Olivia’s grand trial

In Diglett’s Tunnel two Team Skull Grunts block the exit, and Hau fights alongside you in a Multi Battle. Plumeria blocks the way at Memorial Hill. Olivia waits at the Ruins of Life with Rock types: Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground and Steel moves are all super effective. She gives you the Rockium Z.

Lv.	Pokémon	Type	Held item	Moves
26	Nosepass	Rock	—	Rock Slide, Spark, Thunder Wave
26	Boldore	Rock	—	Rock Blast, Mud-Slap, Headbutt
27	Lycanroc (Midnight Form)	Rock	Rockium Z	Bite, Rock Throw

At the Hano Grand Resort, Faba invites you to Aether Paradise. An Ultra Beast attacks in the Conservation Area. It cannot be caught, and Wicke gives you TM29 Psychic before you sail to Ula’ula.

Ula’ula Island

Hau challenges you in Malie City. His Pikachu is now an Alolan Raichu, and his Eevee has evolved into the Eeveelution that beats your starter: Flareon against Rowlet, Vaporeon against Litten and Leafeon against Popplio.

Sophocles’ trial on Mount Hokulani

Molayne battles you outside Hokulani Observatory. Inside, name the sounds Sophocles plays; each one lets in a Grubbin or Charjabug. In Sun and Moon the Totem Pokémon is Vikavolt (Lv. 29), with every stat raised by one stage. Its Levitate Ability blocks Ground moves, so use Fire or Rock. You get the Electrium Z from Sophocles and the Steelium Z from Molayne.

Guzma in Malie Garden

Back in Malie Garden, Team Skull’s boss steps in. Flying and Rock moves hit both his Golisopod and Ariados. Kukui then gives you the Z-Crystal for your starter’s final form: Decidium Z, Incinium Z or Primarium Z. On Route 12, Hapu registers Mudsdale.

Acerola’s trial at the Thrifty Megamart

The abandoned Thrifty Megamart is on Route 14, past Tapu Village. Check anything that moves on its own with the Poké Finder to reveal a Gastly, Haunter or Gengar. Totem Mimikyu (Lv. 33) has every stat raised, and Disguise blocks the first hit. Ghost and Steel moves are super effective; Normal, Fighting and Dragon moves do nothing. Acerola gives you the Ghostium Z, and the Psychium Z can now be found in Haina Desert.

Po Town and Nanu

On Route 15, Plumeria tells you Team Skull took a girl’s Yungoos, and Grimsley registers Sharpedo so you can cross the water to Po Town. Beat Guzma in the Shady House to rescue the Yungoos and take the Buginium Z from his room. Back at the Aether House, Gladion fights you after Lillie is kidnapped. Nanu then holds his grand trial on the Malie City pier. Fighting, Bug and Fairy moves hit his Alolan Persian hard.

Lv.	Pokémon	Type	Held item	Moves
38	Sableye	Dark / Ghost	—	Power Gem, Shadow Ball, Fake Out
38	Krokorok	Ground / Dark	—	Crunch, Assurance, Swagger, Earthquake
39	Alolan Persian	Dark	Darkinium Z	Power Gem, Fake Out, Dark Pulse

Aether Paradise and Poni Island

Rescuing Lillie at Aether Paradise

Gladion takes you and Hau to Aether Paradise. Faba blocks the first floor, then fights you again in a Multi Battle with Hau at your side. Guzma guards Lusamine’s mansion, and Lusamine uses five Lv. 41 Pokémon of different types. Flying and Poison moves cover most of her team.

Lv.	Pokémon	Type	Held item	Moves
41	Clefable	Fairy	—	Moonblast, Cosmic Power, Metronome
41	Lilligant	Grass	—	Petal Dance, Teeter Dance, Stun Spore
41	Mismagius	Ghost	—	Shadow Ball, Mystical Fire, Power Gem
41	Milotic	Water	—	Hydro Pump, Safeguard, Flail
41	Bewear	Normal / Fighting	—	Baby-Doll Eyes, Hammer Arm, Take Down

Hapu’s grand trial

On Poni Island, Hapu’s grandmother registers Machamp at Ancient Poni Path. With Machamp Shove you can fly back to Ten Carat Hill on Melemele for the Flyinium Z. Hapu becomes Poni’s kahuna at the Ruins of Hope, and you find the second flute at the top of Exeggutor Island: the Sun Flute in Sun, the Moon Flute in Moon. Plumeria gives you the Poisonium Z. In Sun and Moon, Hapu’s grand trial comes before the canyon’s trial. Water, Grass and Ice moves cover her Ground types.

Lv.	Pokémon	Type	Held item	Moves
47	Alolan Dugtrio	Ground / Steel	—	Iron Head, Earthquake, Sucker Punch, Sandstorm
47	Gastrodon (East Sea)	Water / Ground	—	Muddy Water, Mud Bomb, Recover
47	Flygon	Ground / Dragon	—	Earth Power, Dragon Breath
48	Mudsdale	Ground	Groundium Z	Heavy Slam, Earthquake, Double Kick, Counter

The captainless trial in Vast Poni Canyon

Captain Mina gives you the Fairium Z on a bridge partway up. At the end, Totem Kommo-o (Lv. 45) has every stat raised and calls Hakamo-o or Scizor. Fairy moves do four times damage to it. It guards the Dragonium Z.

The altar and Ultra Space

Play the flutes at the Altar of the Sunne (Sun) or the Altar of the Moone (Moon). Lillie’s Pokémon evolves into Solgaleo or Lunala and takes you to Ultra Space, where Lusamine battles you again with Lv. 50 Pokémon that each have an aura. Back at the altar you must catch the Lv. 55 Legendary Pokémon to continue. If it faints or you run, it appears again right away. Ghost and Dark moves hit both Solgaleo and Lunala.

Mount Lanakila and the Pokémon League

Gladion meets you at the base of Mount Lanakila for a full-power battle. His Silvally’s type follows your starter: Fire Memory against Rowlet, Water Memory against Litten and Grass Memory against Popplio. Hau battles you once more at the summit. Pick up the Icium Z and TM13 Ice Beam on the way up.

Elite Four

Champion battle

Kukui challenges you for the new Champion title with six Pokémon. Five are always the same; the sixth is the final form of the starter that beats yours, holding its Z-Crystal at Lv. 58.

Rival teams by starter

Every battle against Hau is listed below. In Diglett’s Tunnel and at Aether Paradise he fights on your side in Multi Battles instead.

Z-Crystals in story order

Ride Pokémon

Step	Ride	What it does	Who registers it
7	Tauros Charge	Charge through boulders	Hala, Iki Town
9	Stoutland Search	Sniff out hidden items	Mallow, Paniola Ranch
11	Lapras Paddle	Surf across water	Lana, Brooklet Hill
13	Charizard Glide	Fly to places you have visited	Kiawe, Wela Volcano Park
22	Mudsdale Gallop	Cross rocky ground	Hapu, Route 12
24	Sharpedo Jet	Ram through rocks at sea	Grimsley, Route 15 (beach)
30	Machamp Shove	Push heavy boulders	Hapu’s grandmother, Ancient Poni Path

What changes between Sun and Moon

• Heahea City: you battle Dexio (Slowpoke, Espeon) in Sun and Sina (Delibird, Glaceon) in Moon.
• Ilima’s trial: Totem Gumshoos with Yungoos in Sun; Totem Alolan Raticate with Alolan Rattata in Moon.
• Mallow’s trial: one ingredient is guarded by Parasect in Sun and Shiinotic in Moon.
• The Legendary Pokémon: Solgaleo at the Altar of the Sunne in Sun; Lunala at the Altar of the Moone in Moon. You find the Sun Flute or Moon Flute on Exeggutor Island to match.
• The clock: Pokémon Moon runs 12 hours off your 3DS clock, so day and night are reversed.
• Wild Pokémon: each game has its own version exclusives. The Alola Pokédex checklist marks them.

Apart from these, the totems, kahunas, rivals, Team Skull, Aether Foundation and League teams are the same in both games.

Level limits for traded Pokémon

Pokémon you caught yourself always obey. Traded Pokémon, including ones from Pokémon Bank, may ignore you above a level set by your Trainer Passport stamps.

Tapu Koko and after the credits

After the Champion celebration in Iki Town, Lillie takes you to the Ruins of Conflict. Tapu Koko battles you there at Lv. 60, the last battle before the credits roll. You can catch it, and you receive the Tapunium Z. If it faints or you run, it returns after you defend your title.

After the credits, Looker’s Ultra Beast missions begin, the other three Tapu wait at their ruins, the Battle Tree opens on Poni Island, and Trainers start challenging you for your title. Poni Grove, Poni Plains, Poni Meadow and the Poni Gauntlet also open, which adds new Island Scan days on Poni Island.