Previous Pokémon games had several differences between the two versions. In all games there were different Pokémon in different locations and Ruby & Sapphire took it further by having a different storyline between the games and Black & White took it further to take areas and battles to be different. Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon continue the theme of differences This page will detail all the non-Pokémon Version Exclusives.

Time

The biggest and most notable change between Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon is the change to the time of day. Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon have a 12 hour differentiation, with Pokémon Ultra Sun being set by normal time and Pokémon Ultra Moon being set by a different time. This means that if playing Pokémon Moon in the daytime, night shall be experienced. As such, encounters and even some in-game events will differ.

Ultra SunUltra Moon
Trials & Totem Pokémon

In the game, you will play through the various Island Trial Challenge and towards the end of them, you will face up against a more powerful Totem Pokémon. In the Verdant Cavern of Melemele Island, the Totem you face will differ between the games. In Pokémon UltraSun it is Gumshoos, and in Pokémon UltraMoon it is Alolan Raticate.

Ultra SunUltra Moon

When you come to Mina's trial, there will also be some difference in trainers you battle. In Ultra Sun you battle Mallow and Sophocles while in Ultra Moon you battle Lana and Nanu.

In addition to this, the special Totem Pokémon from Totem Stickers vary depending upon the game.

Story

While the story remains largely the same between the two games, the culmination at the end has a different Pokémon that Nebby evolves into and then Necrozma takes over. This is mirrored by the Cosmoem you evolve in the game later on.

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Ultra Recon Squad

Throughout the story, you will interact with the Ultra Recon Squad. This team is from Ultra Megalopolis and the admins you meet are different depending on the game and have slightly different goals. In Ultra Sun you meet with Dulse and Zossie who want to help stop Necrozma while in Ultra Moon you are with Phyco and Soliera who want to more have control over Necrozma's power. You will meet the other two when you go to Ultra Megalopolis

Ultra SunUltra Moon
Clothing

Clothing is another version exclusive. There are multiple outfits, mostly just colours, which are version exclusive. Ultra Sun has the colours Red, Yellow, Orange, Pink & Beige while Ultra Moon has the colours Green Blue, Navy Blue, Purple & Grey. These clothing options however can be purchased through the Festival Plaza when you encounter other players wearing them.

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Sandygast

One version exclusive feature is in regards to Sandygast. In Ultra Sun, you will find a Sandygast in Route 14, unhappy with its location. Move it to get a Stardust. In Ultra Moon, in Route 15, you will encounter the Sandygast on the beach, but it will attack you and can be captured.

Ultra SunUltra Moon
Trial Captains

During the game, you can battle various Trial Captains after completing their trial. However, there is a difference. In Pokémon Sun, you have the ability to meet and battle the Fire-type Captain, Kiawe while in Moon you have the ability to battle the Grass-type Captain, Mallow.

Festival Plaza

Festival Plaza is another feature with Version Exclusives. As you level up through the plaza, you will be given a variety of different stores you can use to gain access to more activities. However, some of these stores, or in most cases the higher ranks of them, can only natively be obtained in one game or the other. They can, however, be obtained through interacting with other players who have them.

Ultra SunUltra Moon
General Store ★★General Store ★★★
General Store ★★★★General Store ★★★★★
Soft Drink Parlor ★★Ball Shop ★★
Soft Drink Parlor ★★★Ball Shop ★★★
Pharmacy ★★Battle Shop ★★
Pharmacy ★★★Battle Shop ★★★
Clink-Clunk Land ★★Thump-Bump Park ★★
Clink-Clunk Land ★★★Thump-Bump Park ★★★
Clink-Clunk Land ★★★★Thump-Bump Park ★★★★
Clink-Clunk Land ★★★★★Thump-Bump Park ★★★★★
Stomp-Stomp House ★★Stomp-Stomp House ★★★
Stomp-Stomp House ★★★★Stomp-Stomp House ★★★★★
Rare Kitchen ★★★Rare Kitchen ★★
Rare Kitchen ★★★★★Rare Kitchen ★★★★
Friendship Parlor ★★Friendship Café ★★
Friendship Parlor ★★★Friendship Café ★★★
Friendship Parlor ★★★★Friendship Café ★★★★
Friendship Parlor ★★★★★Friendship Café ★★★★★
Team RedTeam Yellow
Team GreenTeam Blue
Team OrangeTeam Navy Blue
Team PurpleTeam Pink
Battle Tree

In the Battle Tree, after defeating them, you have the ability to scout a variety of trainers. However, some of these trainers are exclusive to each version and you cannot battle or Scout them in the other version.

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Plumeria

Guzma

Sina

Dexio

Kiawe

Mallow