Legendary Pokemon Moon — Alola’s Ultimate Catching Guide

Introduction

If you love exploring the Alola region and battling the most powerful creatures, this guide to legendary pokemon moon will be your best companion. Whether you’re playing Pokémon Moon, Pokémon Ultra Moon, or replaying Sun and Moon for nostalgia, the thrill of encountering Solgaleo, Lunala, Tapu guardians and Ultra Beasts never fades. This article covers where to find them, how to prepare for encounters, recommended movesets and abilities, shiny odds, and helpful tips to make every catch count.

Why legendary pokemon moon matter — lore, power, and the Alola region

Legendary and Mythical Pokémon shape the story and landscape of the Alola region. In Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon, they are central to the plot: Lunala and Solgaleo connect to the cosmos, Zygarde hides in caves, and Necrozma ties into later post-game content. Island Guardians like the Tapu quartet protect their islands, while Ultra Beasts provide an interdimensional twist connected to the Aether Foundation and Ultra Wormholes.

• Lore: Legendary Pokémon often carry regional myths and drive the narrative in Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon.
• Gameplay: They are among the strongest catchable Pokémon with unique movesets and abilities.
• Collecting: Capturing them, including their shiny forms, is a major draw for completionists.

Where to find legendary pokemon moon: locations and encounter tips

Finding legendaries in the Pokémon Moon version or Ultra Moon can vary. Some are fixed encounters tied to story events (e.g., Lunala in Pokémon Moon), while others appear in specific late-game locations or special encounters like Ultra Wormholes. Here are the most important locations and conditions to watch for:

• Lunala / Solgaleo: Lunala is the version mascot for Pokémon Moon and appears during the main story. Solgaleo has a parallel role in Sun. In Ultra Moon, both names figure into alternate encounters after key story beats.
• Tapu Guardians (Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Fini): Each guardian typically appears as a fixed battle during island trials or boss events on its respective island. Save before each battle to retry capture attempts.
• Ultra Beasts and Ultra Wormholes: In Ultra Moon, Ultra Wormholes lead to encounters with Ultra Beasts and rare legendaries. Use the Festival Plaza or specific post-game access points to trigger these wormholes.
• Zygarde and Necrozma: Zygarde cells and cores must be collected across Alola, then assembled, while Necrozma is tied to late-game dungeons and storyline triggers.
• Mythical Pokémon: These are often event-only (serial codes or Mystery Gift events). Keep an eye on Nintendo announcements for codes and distributions.

Tip: Always save before any story-linked or one-time legendary encounter. Use a separate save file if possible so you can return to an earlier point in case of mistakes or if you want to hunt for a shiny.

How to prepare for legendary battles: team composition, movesets, and items

Preparation is critical for successful captures. Legendary Pokémon often have high level and powerful movesets with status-inducing abilities. Here’s how to set up an effective strategy:

• Build a sturdy lead: Bring a Pokémon that resists or is immune to the target’s STAB moves. For example, for Lunala (Psychic/Ghost), Dark- or Ghost-types typically handle damage better.
• Status moves: Moves like Thunder Wave, Spore, or Hypnosis dramatically improve catch rate. False Swipe is essential to drop HP to 1 without knocking out the target.
• Stat control: Use moves that lower Speed or Attack if the legendary is likely to use strong attacks. Moves like Screech, Dragon Tail (for phasing), or custom setups can help.
• Key items: Ultra Balls/Beast Balls (for Ultra Beasts), Timer Balls (late-battle), Dusk Balls (in caves/night), and Master Balls for guaranteed capture if you prefer saving them for Mythical Pokémon.
• Abilities: Abilities such as Synchronize can help with natures (e.g., getting a desirable nature if the Synchronize lead matches).

Example setup for Lunala in Pokémon Moon:

• Lead: Pokémon with Dark-type moves and Immunity to Psychic (e.g., Gengar or Tyranitar).
• Support: A Pokémon with False Swipe (e.g., Breloom), a status inflictor with Spore, and a sturdy tank to absorb hits.
• Items: Dusk Balls (if night), Timer Balls later in the fight, and Quick Claw if you want to strike first in some situations.

Best movesets and abilities for legendary pokemon moon counters

Knowing a legendary’s typical moveset and ability helps you plan counters accordingly. Below are common recommendations for top Alola legendaries:

• Lunala (Psychic/Ghost): Expect Moongeist Beam and powerful Psychic moves. Use Dark- and Ghost-type resistors. Recommended counters: Tyranitar (with Dark), Gengar (Ghost), or physical tanks with priority moves.
• Solgaleo (Psychic/Steel): Expect Sunsteel Strike and high physical power. Fire and Ground moves often exploit its Steel typing. Recommended counters: Fire- or Ground-types, bulkier Pokémon that can absorb Steel hits.
• Tapu Guardians: Each Tapu has its terrain-based power. Tapu Koko benefits Electric terrain — bring Ground or Rock types and consider terrains when choosing abilities.
• Ultra Beasts: Beast Balls increase capture chance for Ultra Beasts. Learn their signature moves and immunities — many hit extremely hard early on.

Tip: Keep a Pokémon with the Synchronize ability at the front to influence nature, and a Pokémon with False Swipe plus a sleep move for safe HP reduction. Use Berry items like the one that raises the chance of catching or Quick Claw only sparingly during crucial encounters.

Shiny hunting and odds for legendary pokemon moon

Hunting for shiny legendary Pokémon requires patience and strategy. Shiny odds in Pokémon Sun and Moon are typically 1 in 4096 for wild encounters unless affected by specific mechanics. However, registered Poké Radar or Masuda Method don’t apply to fixed story legendaries, so your options are:

• Soft resetting: Save before the encounter and reset repeatedly to try for a shiny. This is the standard method for fixed legendaries like Lunala in Pokémon Moon.
• Event distributions: Mythical Pokémon distributed via Mystery Gift may have boosted shiny odds if the event specifies; otherwise, they follow base odds.
• Ultra Wormholes: Some wormhole encounters may offer multiple chances with different Pokémon; use them to increase encounter volume for Ultra Beasts.

Practical tips:

• Use a dedicated battery-saving setup or portable charger for long soft-reset sessions.
• Stay calm and track your attempts. Sessions of 1,000+ resets are common for collectors aiming at shinies.

Post-catch: training, movesets, and competitive tips

After capturing a legendary, maximize its potential with proper training and move planning. Many legendaries have high base stats and unique abilities that make them competitive in both casual and serious battles.

• EV training: Focus EVs where the Pokémon benefits most — Attack or Special Attack, Speed, HP, and so on. For Solgaleo, invest in Attack and HP; for Lunala, invest heavily in Special Attack and Speed or HP depending on role.
• Nature choices: Timid, Modest, Adamant, or Jolly depending on desired role. Use Synchronize to influence nature during capture.
• Move tutoring and TMs: Teach useful coverage moves to handle common threats in the Alola meta or online play. For example, give neutral coverage to handle bulky Steel- or Dark-types depending on your team.
• Battle tips: Use terrain and weather to your advantage. Tapu guardians change terrains, so build synergy to exploit or mitigate those effects.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced trainers make mistakes when hunting legendaries. Avoid these common errors:

• Not saving before the encounter: Always save in a separate slot to preserve your chance at a shiny or preferred nature.
• Underestimating moves: Many legendaries have surprise moves that can one-shot your false-swipe user. Have a reliable switch-in tank ready.
• Running out of Poké Balls or healing items: Stock up on Ultra Balls, Dusk Balls (if applicable), Beast Balls, and Revives before the fight.
• Ignoring abilities and held items: Some legendaries have abilities that change battle flow (e.g., pressure, absorb). Be prepared with items like Leppa Berries or Eject Packs if necessary.

FAQ — Quick answers about legendary pokemon moon

Conclusion

Hunting and capturing legendary pokemon moon in the Alola region is both rewarding and challenging. From story-driven encounters with Lunala and Solgaleo to the unpredictable Ultra Beasts opened via wormholes, each legendary offers unique lore, battle potential, and collection value. Prepare your team with appropriate movesets, abilities, and items. Save before critical encounters, use False Swipe and status effects, and be ready for long soft-reset sessions if you’re chasing a shiny. Whether you’re aiming to complete your Pokédex, optimize a competitive moveset, or simply enjoy the stories, the world of Alola is rich with legendary adventures—so get ready, trainer, and happy hunting!

Summary tips:

• Always save before story or one-off legendary encounters.
• Bring False Swipe + a reliable sleep or paralysis move.
• Use Dusk Balls, Beast Balls, or Timer Balls depending on context.
• Employ Synchronize to influence nature and EV train post-catch for competitive play.
• Monitor official events for Mythical Pokémon distributions and special codes.