Back in the day, version-exclusive Pokémon were pretty much the only differences between paired versions, such as Red and Blue or Silver and Gold. Nowadays, more things change between versions than just what creatures you can catch. For an extensive list of all version-exclusive Pokémon in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, click here. All the other differences between the two games will be discussed in this article.
Other than version-exclusive Pokémon, probably the most glaring difference between the two games is the time of day. Ultra Sun runs on normal time, meaning when it is day in real life, it is day in the game. Ultra Moon, on the other hand, runs on inverted time, so it will be night in the game when it is day in real life. The only reason why this matters is that there are a few Pokémon that will only appear either in day or night, as well as a few optional side missions that will only take place at a certain time of day.
There are also version differences when it comes to the first Trial in the games. At the end of Ilima’s Trial in Verdant Cave, Ultra Sun players will find a Totem Gumshoos to battle while Ultra Moon players will fight a Totem Alolan Raticate. Additionally, the new mechanic of Totem Stickers allows players to receive Totem Pokémon of their own, but these will differ based on version as well. Ultra Sun players can receive a Totem Gumshoos, Totem Alolan Marowak, Totem Lurantis, Totem Vikavolt and Totem Ribombee, while Ultra Moon players can receive a Totem Alolan Raticate, Totem Araquanid, Totem Salazzle, Totem Togedemaru and Totem Kommo-o. Both versions can receive a Totem Mimikyu.
You will also have the ability to battle different Trial Captains depending on your version. During Mina’s Trial, Ultra Sun players will have to battle Mina, Ilima, Mallow, Kiawe and Sophocles, while Ultra Moon players will fight Mina, Ilima, Lana, Kiawe and Nanu. Additionally, Ultra Sun players will be able to battle Kiawe outside of Mina’s Trial upon entering his room at night whereas Ultra Moon players will be able to battle Mallow upon entering her room during the day.
There are also several more minor differences between the versions. In Ultra Sun, the members of the Ultra Recon Squad you will regularly interact with are Dulse and Zossie and in Ultra Moon you will regularly interact with Phyco and Soliera. Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink and Beige clothes for your character are exclusive to Ultra Sun while Green Blue, Navy Blue, Purple and Grey clothes are exclusive to Ultra Moon. There is also a Sandygast whose location and function changes depending on your version. In Ultra Sun, Sandygast is on Route 14 and can be moved to attain Stardust, whereas in Ultra Moon Sandygast is on Route 15 and can be battled. In the Battle Tree in the post-game, Ultra Sun players can battle and scout Plumeria, Sina and Kiawe while Ultra Moon players can battle and scout Guzma, Dexio and Mallow.
There are also several Festival Plaza stores that are exclusive to one version or the other. Stores that are exclusive to Ultra Sun include:
- General Store (2 stars)
- General Store (4 stars)
- Soft Drink Parlor (2 stars)
- Soft Drink Parlor (3 stars)
- Pharmacy (2 stars)
- Pharmacy (3 stars)
- Clink-Clunk Land (2 stars)
- Clink-Clunk Land (3 stars)
- Clink-Clunk Land (4 stars)
- Clink-Clunk Land (5 stars)
- Stomp-Stomp House (2 stars)
- Stomp-Stomp House (4 stars)
- Rare Kitchen (3 stars)
- Rare Kitchen (5 stars)
- Friendship Parlor (2 stars)
- Friendship Parlor (3 stars)
- Friendship Parlor (4 stars)
- Friendship Parlor (5 stars)
- Team Red
- Team Green
- Team Orange
- Team Purple
Festival Plaza stores exclusive to Ultra Moon include:
- General Store (3 stars)
- General Store (5 stars)
- Ball Shop (2 stars)
- Ball Shop (3 stars)
- Battle Shop (2 stars)
- Battle Shop (3 stars)
- Thump-Bump Park (2 stars)
- Thump-Bump Park (3 stars)
- Thump-Bump Park (4 stars)
- Thump-Bump Park (5 stars)
- Stomp-Stomp House (3 stars)
- Stomp-Stomp House (5 stars)
- Rare Kitchen (2 stars)
- Rare Kitchen (4 stars)
- Friendship Café (2 stars)
- Friendship Café (3 stars)
- Friendship Café (4 stars)
- Friendship Café (5 stars)
- Team Yellow
- Team Blue
- Team Navy Blue
- Team Pink
All of these stores can be obtained in the version they are not available in, however, by interacting with someone via wireless communication who has them.
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