S.O.S. Battles

S.O.S. Battles are a new featured introduced in Pokémon Sun & Moon where wild Pokémon will call for help. This is most notably seen during the Totem Battles in the Island Trials, but they also happen in standard wild encounters. As a Pokémon gets lower and lower in health, they will often call for help. This will bring another Pokémon into the battle, causing it to become a Double Battle against your single Pokémon. While this can be frustrating, S.O.S. Battles come with certain benefits when you carry the battle on.

As the S.O.S. Battles chain, there are a variety of perks. As the chain increases, you have a higher chance of getting Pokémon with maximum IVs, capping at 4 max IVs. This is also the only way you can find Pokémon with their Hidden Abilities. In addition to that, the likelihood of encountering a Shiny Pokémon also increases. This resets when an SOS Battle ends either through defeating all Pokémon or by causing a Pokémon of an evolution line different to the original Pokémon be the last on the field.

  • Defeated Pokémon - 5+ - 1 IV of 31 Guaranteed
  • Defeated Pokémon - 10+ - 5% Chance of Hidden Ability
  • Defeated Pokémon - 10+ - 2 IVs of 31 Guaranteed
  • Defeated Pokémon - 20+ - 10% Chance of Hidden Ability
  • Defeated Pokémon - 20+ - 3 IVs of 31 Guaranteed
  • Defeated Pokémon - 30+ - 30% Chance of Hidden Ability
  • Defeated Pokémon - 30+ - 4 IVs of 31 Guaranteed
  • Defeated Pokémon - 70+ - Shiny Pokémon Chance increased by 3 giving a 1 in 1024 chance without Shiny Charm and 1 in 683 chance with Shiny Charm

For competitive players, there's yet another perk. As you progress through the chain, the Effort Points yielded from each Pokémon are multiplied by 2 which results in the Effort Values you receive getting increased. As such, with this, a Power Item and PokéRus, you can get 36 Effort Points from one Pokémon being defeated and max a stat out in 7 KOs in a chain. Do note, however, that a chain will reset at 255

Activating S.O.S. Battles

S.O.S. Battles can happen in any battle, but due to the Effort Point element and Shiny Pokémon element, you may wish to force it to carry on. There are many ways to make S.O.S. Battles more likely. The first is to simply keep the Pokémon at a low amount of health. A move such as a False Swipe will work for this. Here, the Pokémon has a higher chance of calling for help. It won't call for help if it currently has assistance.

Another way is to use the brand new item, the Adrenaline Orb. This item is found in all Pokémon Centers and, when used during a wild battle, will make the likelihood of the Pokémon calling for help even higher. You can only use one per battle, but the effect should last for the duration

The ability of the Pokémon you have in battle is also one that factors into S.O.S. Battles. If your Pokémon has the abilties Intimidate, Pressure or Unnerve then the opposing Pokémon is more likely to call for help.

Do note that even if a Pokémon calls for help, it is not guaranteed that a wild Pokémon will come to its aid. If it is afflicted by a status condition, then it will not call for help. Legendary Pokémon and Island Scan Pokémon will not call for help. Minior & Komala also won't call for help.

S.O.S. Battles - Different Pokémon

The even better thing about S.O.S. Battles is that they don't necessarily call the same Pokémon. In the encounter listings, there are up to 8 different rows of Pokémon and when a Pokémon calls for help, it will select a random encounter row and give you a Pokémon of the same slot in that row as the Pokémon you are facing. Our Pokéarth Section allows for checking these tables.

Due to this, there are many Pokémon that will only appear when you call for an S.O.S. Battle, such as Mareanie. You can also get low level versions of fully evolved Pokémon, like a Salamence when you have an SOS Battle with Bagon in Route 3. If you knock out the original Pokémon and the new Pokémon isn't part of the same evolution line, then no more Pokémon will be called

List of Pokémon Exclusive to S.O.S. Battles

No. Pic Name Type Abilities Base Stats Locations
HP Att Def S.Att S.Def Spd
#025
Pikachu
ピカチュウ
Static
Lightningrod
35 55 40 50 50 90 Route 1
Hau'oli City - Shopping District
#035
Clefairy
ピッピ
Cute Charm
Magic Guard
Friend Guard
70 45 48 60 65 35 Mount Hokulani
#039
Jigglypuff
プリン
Cute Charm
Competitive
Friend Guard
115 45 20 45 25 20 Route 4
Route 6
#080
Slowbro
ヤドラン
Oblivious
Own Tempo
Regenerator
95 75 110 100 80 30 Kala'e Bay
#094
Gengar
ゲンガー
Cursed Body 60 65 60 130 75 110 Thrifty Megamart - Abandoned Site
#113
Chansey
ラッキー
Natural Cure
Serene Grace
Healer
250 5 5 35 105 50 Route 12
Blush Mountain
Mount Hokulani
Poni Grove
#119
Seaking
アズマオウ
Swift Swim
Water Veil
Lightningrod
80 92 65 65 80 68 Brooklet Hill
Malie Garden
#121
Starmie
スターミー
Illuminate
Natural Cure
Analytic
60 75 85 100 85 115 Route 7
#125
Electabuzz
エレブー
Static
Vital Spirit
65 83 57 95 85 105 Route 12
Blush Mountain
#126
Magmar
ブーバー
Flame Body
Vital Spirit
65 95 57 100 85 93 Wela Volcano Park - Bottom
#130
Gyarados
ギャラドス
Intimidate
Moxie
95 125 79 60 100 81 Route 7
Route 8
Route 9
Route 13
Route 14
Route 15
Akala Outskirts
Brooklet Hill
Brooklet Hill - Totem's Den
Kala'e Bay
Malie Garden
Melemele Sea - East
Melemele Sea - West
Paniola Town
Poni Breaker Coast
Poni Gauntlet
Poni Meadow
Poni Wilds
Seafolk Village
Seaward Cave
Secluded Shore
Vast Poni Canyon - B1F
#143
Snorlax
カビゴン
Immunity
Thick Fat
Gluttony
160 110 65 65 110 30 Route 1
#148
Dragonair
ハクリュー
Shed Skin
Marvel Scale
61 84 65 70 70 70 Poni Gauntlet
Poni Meadow
Vast Poni Canyon - B1F
#149
Dragonite
カイリュー
Inner Focus
Multiscale
91 134 95 100 100 80 Poni Gauntlet
#169
Crobat
クロバット
Inner Focus
Infiltrator
85 90 80 70 80 130 Resolution Cave - 1F
Resolution Cave - B1F
#185
Sudowoodo
ウソッキー
Sturdy
Rock Head
Rattled
70 100 115 30 65 30 Route 1
Route 5
Lush Jungle - South
#196
Espeon
エーフィ
Synchronize
Magic Bounce
65 65 60 130 95 110 Route 4
Route 6
#197
Umbreon
ブラッキー
Synchronize
Inner Focus
95 65 110 60 130 65 Route 4
Route 6
#302
Sableye
ヤミラミ
Keen Eye
Stall
Prankster
50 75 75 65 65 50 Ten Carat Hill - Cave
Ten Carat Hill - Undersea Cave
Vast Poni Canyon - Inside
Vast Poni Canyon - 2F
Vast Poni Canyon - 2F Deep
Vast Poni Canyon - 3F
Vast Poni Canyon - B1F
#340
Whiscash
ナマズン
Oblivious
Anticipation
Hydration
110 78 73 76 71 60 Paniola Town
Poni Gauntlet
Poni Meadow
Seaward Cave
Vast Poni Canyon - B1F
#362
Glalie
オニゴーリ
Inner Focus
Ice Body
Moody
80 80 80 80 80 80 Mount Lanakila - Mountainside
Mount Lanakila - Mid-Point
Mount Lanakila - Cave
#372
Shelgon
コモルー
Rock Head
Overcoat
65 95 100 60 50 50 Kala'e Bay
#373
Salamence
ボーマンダ
Intimidate
Moxie
95 135 80 110 80 100 Route 3
#440
Happiny
ピンプク
Natural Cure
Serene Grace
Friend Guard
100 5 5 15 65 30 Route 1
Route 4
Route 5
Route 6
Hau'oli City - Shopping District
Lush Jungle - South
#448
Lucario
ルカリオ
Steadfast
Inner Focus
Justified
70 110 70 115 70 90 Poni Grove
#569
Garbodor
ダストダス
Stench
Weak Armor
Aftermath
80 95 82 60 82 75 Malie City - Outer Cape
#675
Pangoro
ゴロンダ
Iron Fist
Mold Breaker
Scrappy
95 124 78 69 71 58 Route 10
Route 11
Route 17
#747
Mareanie
ヒドイデ
Merciless
Limber
Regenerator
50 53 62 43 52 45 Route 9
Melemele Sea - East
Melemele Sea - West
#783
Hakamo-o
ジャランゴ
Bulletproof
Soundproof
Overcoat
55 75 90 65 70 65 Vast Poni Canyon - Top
Vast Poni Canyon - Under Tree
#784
Kommo-o
ジャラランガ
Bulletproof
Soundproof
Overcoat
75 110 125 100 105 85 Vast Poni Canyon - Top
Vast Poni Canyon - Under Tree

Weather S.O.S. Battles

In some areas of the game, there is often natural weather. In Malie Garden, Exeggutor Island, Lush Jungle and Route 17, there is rain. In Haina Desert, there is often a Sandstorm and in Tapu Village & Mount Lanakila, there is snow. With this, when the weather is in effect, the game will instead shift to include a new and unique SOS Battle table. This table provides unique Pokémon that can't be found anywhere else except within the S.O.S. Battles during the weather. This means getting the Pokémon can be somewhat tricky.

However, there is a twist with this. In these areas, you are able to use the corresponding weather move in the areas in order to bring the Pokémon. It doesn't have to be natural weather.

List of Pokémon Exclusive to Weather S.O.S. Battles

No. Pic Name Type Abilities Base Stats Locations Weather
HP Att Def S.Att S.Def Spd
#061
Poliwhirl
ニョロゾ
Water Absorb
Damp
Swift Swim
65 65 65 50 50 90 Malie Garden
Rain
#062
Poliwrath
ニョロボン
Water Absorb
Damp
Swift Swim
90 95 95 70 90 70 Malie Garden
Rain
#186
Politoed
ニョロトノ
Water Absorb
Damp
Drizzle
90 75 75 90 100 70 Malie Garden
Rain
#351
Castform
ポワルン
Forecast 70 70 70 70 70 70 Route 17
Exeggutor Island
Haina Desert
Lush Jungle - South
Lush Jungle - West
Lush Jungle - North
Malie Garden
Mount Lanakila - Mountainside
Mount Lanakila - Mid-Point
Tapu Village
All
#444
Gabite
ガバイト
Sand Veil
Rough Skin
68 90 65 50 55 82 Haina Desert
Sand
#582
Vanillite
バニプッチ
Ice Body
Snow Cloak
Weak Armor
36 50 50 65 60 44 Tapu Village
Snow
#583
Vanillish
バニリッチ
Ice Body
Snow Cloak
Weak Armor
51 65 65 80 75 59 Mount Lanakila - Mountainside
Mount Lanakila - Mid-Point
Snow
#704
Goomy
ヌメラ
Sap Sipper
Hydration
Gooey
45 50 35 55 75 40 Route 17
Lush Jungle - South
Lush Jungle - West
Lush Jungle - North
Rain
#705
Sliggoo
ヌメイル
Sap Sipper
Hydration
Gooey
68 75 53 83 113 60 Exeggutor Island
Rain