One save of Pokémon Sun or Moon gets the four Tapu, Solgaleo (Sun) or Lunala (Moon), a second Cosmog, Necrozma, Zygarde, Type: Null and five kinds of Ultra Beast, 10 catches in all. You catch Solgaleo or Lunala at Lv. 55 at the altar on Poni Island during the story. You can't skip it. Zygarde can also be built during the story. Everything else waits until you become Champion. The Tapu are Lv. 60 in each island's ruins, the Ultra Beasts come from Looker's missions, and Necrozma (Lv. 75) shows up in Ten Carat Hill after the last mission. Sun gets Solgaleo, Buzzwole and Kartana. Moon gets Lunala, Pheromosa and Celesteela. Mewtwo and the legendary birds have no catch spot in Sun and Moon, and Poipole is only in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
This page covers retail Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, versions 1.0 to 1.2, on any 3DS or 2DS. The updates didn't move any of these Pokémon. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are separate games with their own story, so their steps don't work here. The Sun vs Ultra Sun page covers those differences.
Every Legendary in Sun and Moon
The Version column shows which cartridge has each one. The Ultra Beasts, Type: Null and Zygarde aren’t Legendaries in every sense, but they’re hunted the same way, so they’re in the table too.
| Pokémon | Alola no. | Version | When | Where | Lv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tapu Koko | #285 | Both | After you become Champion | Ruins of Conflict (Melemele) | 60 |
 Tapu Lele | #286 | Both | After you become Champion | Ruins of Life (Akala) | 60 |
 Tapu Bulu | #287 | Both | After you become Champion | Ruins of Abundance (Ula’ula) | 60 |
 Tapu Fini | #288 | Both | After you become Champion | Ruins of Hope (Poni) | 60 |
 Solgaleo | #291 | Sun | Story, before the League | Altar of the Sunne (Poni) | 55 |
 Lunala | #292 | Moon | Story, before the League | Altar of the Moone (Poni) | 55 |
 Cosmog | #289 | Both | After you become Champion | Gift at the lake past Ula’ula Meadow, other world | 5 |
 Nihilego | #293 | Both | Looker mission 1 | Diglett’s Tunnel or Wela Volcano Park (Akala) | 55 |
 Buzzwole | #294 | Sun | Looker mission 2 | Melemele Meadow | 65 |
 Pheromosa | #295 | Moon | Looker mission 2 | Verdant Cavern trial site (Melemele) | 60 |
 Xurkitree | #296 | Both | Looker mission 3 | Lush Jungle or Memorial Hill (Akala) | 65 |
 Kartana | #298 | Sun | Looker mission 4 | Route 17 or Malie Garden (Ula’ula) | 60 |
 Celesteela | #297 | Moon | Looker mission 4 | Haina Desert or Malie Garden (Ula’ula) | 65 |
 Guzzlord | #299 | Both | Looker mission 5 | Resolution Cave, lowest floor (Poni) | 70 |
 Necrozma | #300 | Both | After the last mission’s closing scenes | Ten Carat Hill, Farthest Hollow (Melemele) | 75 |
 Zygarde | #205 | Both | Cube on Akala; build from 10 cells | Aether Base, Route 16 (Ula’ula) | varies |
 Type: Null | #203 | Both | After you become Champion | Gift from Gladion, Aether Paradise | 40 |
 Magearna | #301 | Both | QR code, after you become Champion | Antiquities of the Ages, Hau’oli City | 50 |
 Marshadow | #302 | Both | 2017 serial-code event (ended) | Trade only now | — |
Silvally (#204) and Cosmoem (#290) come from evolving Type: Null and Cosmog. Every static Legendary and Ultra Beast in this table is shiny-locked. Type: Null is the one gift that isn't.
Sun exclusives, Moon exclusives and the trade list
Your version decides three of them: the cover legendary, the second Ultra Beast and the fourth Ultra Beast. The other version's three are never in your grass, whatever time it is.
| Slot | Pokémon Sun | Pokémon Moon |
|---|---|---|
| Cover legendary | Solgaleo | Lunala |
| Ultra Beast, mission 2 | Buzzwole ×2 | Pheromosa ×4 |
| Ultra Beast, mission 4 | Kartana ×4 | Celesteela ×2 |
The Alola Pokédex lists both sides, so a finished Pokédex needs a trade. The GTS and online trades ended with 3DS online services on 8 April 2024. Local wireless trading with a second 3DS nearby still works.
Names that are only in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
These are from Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. You can’t catch any of them in Sun or Moon:
- Poipole and Naganadel, Stakataka and Blacephalon. These can’t be moved into Sun or Moon at all.
- Dusk Mane Necrozma, Dawn Wings Necrozma and Ultra Necrozma
- Ultra Wormhole legendaries, such as Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mewtwo and the other past legendaries. These can still be traded or moved into Sun and Moon with Pokémon Bank.
- Zeraora, which isn't one of the 302 Alola Pokédex entries
Necrozma itself is in Sun and Moon, but it is somewhere else. Sun and Moon put it in Ten Carat Hill at Lv. 75 with a catch rate of 3. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon put it on Mount Lanakila at Lv. 65, where it is much easier to catch.
Solgaleo and Lunala at the altar
The cover legendary is part of the story, before the Pokémon League. After the Vast Poni Canyon trial, Lillie plays the Sun Flute or Moon Flute at the altar on Poni Island and Nebby evolves. It takes you to Ultra Space to rescue Lusamine. Back at the altar, it wants to join you, and you battle Solgaleo at the Altar of the Sunne in Sun, or Lunala at the Altar of the Moone in Moon.
- Level: 55, with three perfect IVs and a random nature.
- Catch rate: 45, so any ball works. Lower its HP and it usually goes down in a few throws.
- Moves: Solgaleo knows Sunsteel Strike, Cosmic Power, Crunch and Zen Headbutt. Lunala knows Moongeist Beam, Cosmic Power, Night Daze and Shadow Ball.
- Shiny: never. Resetting for a shiny won't work.
Nebby is not the catch
Lillie's Cosmog, Nebby, is never a wild battle, so you can't miss it on Mahalo Trail. You catch the cover legendary once it has evolved. You have to catch it: if it faints or you run, the battle starts again. Save before the altar if you want a nature you like, because you can reset and fight it again.
The second Cosmog, and why the portal does nothing
After you become Champion, the altar can send you through to the other world. Do this to get a second Cosmog. The portal needs everything in this list. If one thing is missing, nothing happens.
- Become Champion.
- Put your Solgaleo or Lunala in your party. Keep it there the whole time.
- Go at the right in-game time: night in Sun (6:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.), day in Moon (6:00 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.). Moon's clock runs 12 hours apart from your 3DS clock, so in Moon go when the 3DS clock says night.
- Go to the Altar of the Sunne (Sun) or Altar of the Moone (Moon) and step into the light.
- You are now in the other world, where day and night are swapped. Fly to Ula'ula Island and walk through Ula'ula Meadow to the lake. That's the Lake of the Sunne in Sun, or the Lake of the Moone in Moon.
- Walk to the altar on the lake with your legendary still in your party. A Lv. 5 Cosmog joins you with no battle.
The usual mistakes are going to the lake in your own world, the wrong time of day, and taking Solgaleo or Lunala out of the party. Fly back to the altar to go home. Changing the 3DS clock to get the right time is fine.
A second Solgaleo is not a Lunala
The portal doesn't give you the other version's legendary. Cosmog evolves into Cosmoem at Lv. 43. Cosmoem evolves at Lv. 53, and the result depends on the game it's in. It becomes Solgaleo in Sun and Lunala in Moon. To get the other one, trade for it, or trade Cosmoem to the other version before Lv. 53 and level it up there. The gift Cosmog has three perfect IVs and is never shiny.
The four Tapu after you become Champion
Each island guardian waits in its ruins at Lv. 60. Before you become Champion, the ruins are empty or only story scenes happen there. After the Champion celebration, Lillie takes you to the Ruins of Conflict and Tapu Koko battles you. The other three appear when you touch the statue at the back of their ruins.
| Tapu | Ruins | Island | Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tapu Koko | Ruins of Conflict | Melemele | Electric Surge |
| Tapu Lele | Ruins of Life | Akala | Psychic Surge |
| Tapu Bulu | Ruins of Abundance | Ula’ula | Grassy Surge |
| Tapu Fini | Ruins of Hope | Poni | Misty Surge |
All four have a catch rate of 3, the lowest in the game. Save in front of the statue. Lower its HP and inflict a status condition, then throw Ultra Balls, Dusk Balls or Timer Balls once the battle has gone on a while. Watch the terrain. Tapu Koko is Electric, so it can't be paralyzed, and its Electric Terrain stops sleep. Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain blocks all status conditions. Wait five turns for the terrain to end, or replace it with your own. If you knock one out, beat the Elite Four again and it comes back. Some ruins have a boulder puzzle before the statue. Use Machamp Shove from the Ride Pager to push the boulders.
Ultra Beasts you can catch, and the one you can't
After the credits, a man outside your house gives you the Enigmatic Card. It sends you to Looker and Anabel at the Route 8 motel. Wicke gives you Beast Balls, and Looker sends you after one kind of Ultra Beast per mission. The Ultra Beast guide has the meeting points, catch odds and a tracker.
How many to catch before the quest moves on
| Mission | Ultra Beast | Catch | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nihilego | 1 | 55 |
| 2 | Buzzwole (Sun) / Pheromosa (Moon) | 2 / 4 | 65 / 60 |
| 3 | Xurkitree | 2 | 65 |
| 4 | Kartana (Sun) / Celesteela (Moon) | 4 / 2 | 60 / 65 |
| 5 | Guzzlord | 1 | 70 |
The music changes while a mission Ultra Beast is still in the area. If you knock one out, it comes back. Once the quota is met, that spawn is gone for good, so Sun and Moon give one set per save.
The Ultra Beast you fight at Aether Paradise during the story is a Lv. 27 Nihilego. That battle is scripted and you can't catch it. The Ultra Beasts that appear in cutscenes later in the story can't be caught either.
Necrozma in Ten Carat Hill
Necrozma doesn't show up when you catch Guzzlord. Report back to Looker in Seafolk Village and watch the closing scenes first. After that, a Lv. 75 Necrozma waits in the grass of Ten Carat Hill's Farthest Hollow on Melemele. Break the rocks with Tauros Charge to get there.
It's a Legendary, not an Ultra Beast. A Beast Ball works at only 0.1× on it, and there's no music cue. Its catch rate is 3, the same as the Tapu. Use Ultra, Dusk or Timer Balls, or a Quick Ball on the first turn. If it faints, it comes back. It's never shiny.
If Ten Carat Hill is empty, check that you finished every mission, including the last report and the scenes that follow it. Then make sure you're in the Farthest Hollow and not the main cave.
Zygarde and Type: Null
Zygarde: cells, not a wild battle
You get the Zygarde Cube on Akala Island, early in the story. After that, every green Zygarde Cell or Core you touch goes into the Cube. There are 100 to find. Some show up only during the day and some only at night. Take the Cube to the Aether Base on Route 16 to put Zygarde together.
- 10 Cells: Zygarde 10% Forme, with Aura Break.
- 50 Cells: Zygarde 50% Forme, with Aura Break.
- All 100: Zygarde with Power Construct. Below half HP in battle it changes to Complete Forme.
The level of the Zygarde you build goes up the further you are in the story. If you separate a Zygarde, it turns back into Cells in the Cube and that Zygarde is gone. Its level, nature and IVs go with it.
Type: Null and Silvally
After you become Champion, Gladion gives you a Lv. 40 Type: Null at Aether Paradise. Make room in your party or Boxes first. It has three perfect IVs. It evolves into Silvally when you level it up with high friendship. Both count for the Alola Pokédex.
Magearna and Marshadow
Magearna: the official QR code still works. Become Champion, scan the code for your 3DS region, then collect a Lv. 50 Magearna holding a Bottle Cap at Antiquities of the Ages in the Hau'oli City Shopping Mall. It's never shiny. The Magearna QR code page has all five region codes.
Marshadow: it came from a 2017 serial code event, and that event is over. Now you can only get one by local trade, or with Pokémon Bank from another game that already has one.
Neither counts for the Shiny Charm. You need 300 of the 302 Alola Pokédex entries, and #301 Magearna and #302 Marshadow are the two you can skip. See the Pokédex completion guide. Island Scan and normal QR codes don't give any Legendaries. The Island Scan page explains what they do give.
What a second game still has to give you
- The other version's cover legendary, its mission 2 Ultra Beast and its mission 4 Ultra Beast.
- Marshadow, if you want all 302 entries.
- A second copy of any Tapu, Necrozma or Ultra Beast. Each save gets one set.
Trade locally with a second 3DS. Pokémon Bank can move them to Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon or Pokémon HOME until it closes on 25 February 2027 at 7:00 p.m. Pacific time. The full Pokédex order is on the Alola Pokédex list.
Frequently asked questions
How many Legendary Pokémon are in Sun and Moon?
There are 12 Legendaries in the Alola Pokédex: the four Tapu, Cosmog, Cosmoem, Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma, Type: Null, Silvally and Zygarde. The two Mythicals, Magearna and Marshadow, bring that to 14. The seven Ultra Beasts are a separate group. One save can catch five kinds of them.
Are Ultra Beasts Legendary Pokémon?
No. They are their own group, with the Beast Boost Ability, and Beast Balls only help against them. Cosmog and Necrozma are not Ultra Beasts.
Why won't the altar portal open?
You need all of these: you're Champion, Solgaleo or Lunala is in your party, and it's night in Sun or day in Moon by the in-game clock. After you go through, walk to the lake past Ula'ula Meadow.
Why isn't Tapu Koko at the Ruins of Conflict?
You aren't Champion yet, or you already caught it. If you knocked it out, beat the Elite Four again.
Why isn't Necrozma in Ten Carat Hill?
Finish all five Ultra Beast missions and the closing scenes, then check the Farthest Hollow. It isn't in the main part of the cave.
Can you catch Mewtwo or the legendary birds in Sun and Moon?
You can't catch them. In the Alola games they come from Ultra Wormholes, which are only in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. You can trade them in or move them in with Pokémon Bank.
Can the Sun and Moon legendaries be shiny?
Not the ones you find in the game. Every static Legendary, every Ultra Beast and the Cosmog and Magearna gifts are shiny-locked, but Type: Null can be shiny. Shiny ones from events or moved in from other games are fine to own.