Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the final core series titles for the Nintendo 3DS, continue to receive support through official promotional distributions from The Pokémon Company. These giveaways provide players with complimentary Legendary, Mythical, and Shiny Pokémon, as well as cosmetic items for other games. Accessing these freebies typically requires specific actions, such as visiting participating retailers, creating online accounts, or redeeming download codes within the game. This article outlines the free content still available for these titles, detailing the methods of acquisition, eligibility rules, and the specific Pokémon and items on offer.
The games were released globally on 17 November 2017. While they are no longer the latest entries in the series, The Pokémon Company has maintained a schedule of limited-time distributions. These promotions are often version-exclusive, meaning the specific Pokémon a player receives depends on whether they own Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon. The primary methods for obtaining these freebies include in-store code distributions, digital downloads via the Nintendo Network, and newsletter sign-ups. For UK players, certain distributions are available at retailers such as GAME, while others are accessible via the online Mystery Gift function.
The free content available through these methods includes a variety of Legendary, Mythical, and Shiny Pokémon. Many of these distributions are time-limited and have specific geographic restrictions. For instance, some codes are only available at physical retail locations in the United States, while others are distributed globally via the Nintendo Network. Players should verify the availability for their region and the specific dates for each promotion. The following sections detail the various free Pokémon and items that have been offered, along with the methods for obtaining them.
Official Distribution Methods
The Pokémon Company establishes several primary methods for distributing free content to players of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. These methods are designed to provide players with access to special Pokémon and items through official channels. The main avenues for obtaining these freebies include in-store code distributions, digital downloads via the Nintendo Network, and newsletter sign-ups through the Pokémon Trainer Club.
Retailer-Specific Download Codes
Certain promotions require players to visit physical retail locations to obtain a code card. These codes must then be redeemed in the game. The availability of these codes is often tied to specific retailers and has varied over time. For example, in the past, Best Buy distributed the Eon Pokémon Latios and Latias in September. The version received depended on the player's game: Sun and Ultra Sun players received Latias, while Moon and Ultra Moon players received Latios.
GameStop has hosted multiple distributions. In August, players could pick up codes for Groudon (Moon/Ultra Moon) or Kyogre (Sun/Ultra Sun). In May, codes for Xerneas and Yveltal were available. In June, a Shiny Zygarde was distributed. Additionally, a Shiny Poipole was offered at GameStop locations in the US from 17 September to 7 October. Target has also been a distribution point, having distributed Tornadus and Thundurus in July.
For UK players, specific retailers have been involved in distributions. For the Xerneas and Yveltal distribution in May, players in the UK could obtain codes from GAME. For the Shiny Poipole distribution, players in the UK could obtain codes at Smyths until 15 October.
Digital Distribution via Nintendo Network
Many distributions are available directly through the Nintendo Network via the Mystery Gift function within the game. This method does not require a physical visit to a retailer. For example, in Europe and Australia, Latios and Latias were available via Mystery Gift until 23 September. Similarly, the Shiny Zygarde distribution was available via Mystery Gift in Europe and Australia. The Tornadus and Thundurus distribution was also available via Mystery Gift in Europe. The Entei and Raikou distribution in April was available via Mystery Gift in Europe. The Reshiram and Zekrom distribution in October was also available via the Nintendo Network.
Newsletter Sign-ups
Another method for obtaining free Pokémon is through the Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter. This requires creating an account with The Pokémon Company. For example, Regigigas and Heatran were available in March exclusively through the Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter. Players with Ultra Sun or Sun received Regigigas, while those with Ultra Moon or Moon received Heatran.
Purchase Bonus
A purchase bonus was also available. Players who bought Pokémon Gold or Silver from the 3DS eShop by 21 September 2018 received a code for the Mythical Pokémon Celebi.
Available Free Pokémon and Items
The freebies available through these methods include a variety of Legendary, Mythical, and Shiny Pokémon, as well as cosmetic items for other games. The following list details the specific Pokémon and items that have been distributed, along with the relevant version exclusivity and distribution details.
Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
- Regigigas and Heatran: Available in March via the Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter. Version exclusive: Regigigas for Ultra Sun/Sun, Heatran for Ultra Moon/Moon.
- Dialga and Palkia: Available in February at GameStop stores. Version exclusive: Dialga for Sun/Ultra Sun, Palkia for Moon/Ultra Moon.
- Latios and Latias: Available in September at Best Buy (US) and via Mystery Gift (Europe/Australia). Version exclusive: Latias for Sun/Ultra Sun, Latios for Moon/Ultra Moon.
- Reshiram and Zekrom: Available in October via the Nintendo Network. Version exclusive: Reshiram for Sun/Ultra Sun, Zekrom for Moon/Ultra Moon.
- Tornadus and Thundurus: Available in July at Target (US) and via Mystery Gift (Europe). Version exclusive: Tornadus for Sun/Ultra Sun, Thundurus for Moon/Ultra Moon.
- Groudon and Kyogre: Available in August at GameStop (US) and via Mystery Gift. Version exclusive: Kyogre for Sun/Ultra Sun, Groudon for Moon/Ultra Moon.
- Entei and Raikou: Available in April at Target (US) and via Mystery Gift (Europe). Version exclusive: Entei for Sun/Ultra Sun, Raikou for Moon/Ultra Moon.
- Xerneas and Yveltal: Available in May at GameStop (US) and GAME (UK). Version exclusive: Yveltal for Sun/Ultra Sun, Xerneas for Moon/Ultra Moon.
- Shiny Zygarde: Available in June at GameStop (US) and via Mystery Gift (Europe/Australia). This distribution is not version exclusive; all players receive Shiny Zygarde, though its moveset may differ by version.
- Shiny Poipole: Available from 17 September to 7 October at GameStop (US) and from 17 September to 15 October at Smyths (UK). This is a Shiny version of Poipole, which is required to know Dragon Pulse to evolve into Naganadel. It is not version exclusive.
- Celebi: Available as a purchase bonus for buying Pokémon Gold or Silver from the 3DS eShop by 21 September 2018. This is a Mythical Pokémon.
Cosmetic Items
In addition to Pokémon, some distributions offer cosmetic items for other games, such as Pokémon GO. While specific items are not detailed in the provided source material, the source mentions that giveaways can include "cosmetic gear for the mobile title Pokémon GO."
Redemption Process
To redeem these free codes or Mystery Gifts, players must follow a specific process within the game. The general steps involve accessing the Mystery Gift function from the game's main menu. For download codes obtained from retailers, players will need to select "Receive a Gift" and then "Code." They will then be prompted to enter the 16-character code found on the code card. For Mystery Gifts distributed via the Nintendo Network, players should select "Receive a Gift" and then "Via the Internet." The game will then connect to the Nintendo Network to download the gift.
Once the gift is received, the player can find the new Pokémon or item in their game. The Pokémon will typically be received at a Pokémon Center, where the player must speak to the deliveryman. The item may be placed directly in the player's Bag. It is important to note that some distributions are time-limited. For example, the Latios/Latias distribution in Europe and Australia was available until 23 September, and the Tornadus/Thundurus distribution in Europe was available until 25 July. Players must ensure they redeem the codes or download the Mystery Gift before the distribution period ends.
Version Exclusivity
A key aspect of many of these distributions is version exclusivity. The Pokémon Company often ties the specific Legendary Pokémon to the version of the game the player owns. This is a common practice in the Pokémon series to encourage trading between players. For example, during the May distribution, players with Sun or Ultra Sun received Yveltal, while those with Moon or Ultra Moon received Xerneas. Similarly, in September, Sun and Ultra Sun players received Latias, while Moon and Ultra Moon players received Latios.
This version exclusivity applies to most of the Legendary Pokémon distributions. Players should be aware that they will not be able to obtain both Pokémon from a single distribution without trading with a player who owns the opposite version. The Shiny Zygarde and Shiny Poipole distributions, however, are not version exclusive; all players receive the same Pokémon regardless of which version they own.
Historical Context and Sales Data
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are the second paired versions of Generation VII and are the upper games of Pokémon Sun and Moon, respectively. They feature an alternate storyline and were released globally on 17 November 2017. In the fiscal year of their release, they sold 7.51 million units. As of 31 March 2025, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon have sold 9.26 million copies worldwide, making these the lowest-selling core series Pokémon games on the Nintendo 3DS.
In Japan, the games sold 667,439 individual units in their first week, with a sell-through rate of approximately 66%. By January 2021, they had sold 1,908,201 copies in Japan. The Veteran Trainer's Dual Pack sold 247,782 units in its first week in Japan, with a sell-through of 84.37%. Combining all releases, the games sold 2,618,141 units in Japan. The games received positive reviews, with Famitsu giving them a score of 36 out of 40 and IGN rating them 9.0/10. They hold a rating of 84% on Metacritic.
Conclusion
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon continue to offer free content through official distributions from The Pokémon Company. Players can obtain a variety of Legendary, Mythical, and Shiny Pokémon through methods such as in-store code distributions, digital downloads via the Nintendo Network, and newsletter sign-ups. Many of these distributions are version-exclusive, meaning the specific Pokémon received depends on whether the player owns Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon. It is important for players to check the distribution dates and geographic availability for each promotion, as many are time-limited. For UK players, retailers such as GAME and Smyths have been involved in past distributions, while others are available online via the Mystery Gift function. By following the official channels and redemption processes, players can add these special Pokémon to their collection.