Players of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon on the Nintendo 3DS have access to a variety of complimentary creatures and items distributed through official channels by The Pokémon Company. These giveaways, which range from powerful Legendary Pokémon to cosmetic gear for other titles like Pokémon GO, are often available for a limited time and through specific methods. For UK consumers interested in digital freebies, understanding how to locate and redeem these offers is key. The available information, sourced from promotional announcements and guides, outlines the primary distribution methods, current and past free Pokémon, and the steps required to claim them.
Official distribution methods for free content in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are primarily facilitated through partnerships with major retailers, the Nintendo Network, and the Pokémon Trainer Club. These methods include in-store code distributions, digital downloads via the Nintendo Network, and newsletter sign-ups. Certain promotions require players to visit physical retail locations to obtain a code card, which must then be redeemed in the game. Other giveaways are available directly through the game's Mystery Gift function using the Nintendo Network, particularly for players in Europe and Australia. A third method involves signing up for the Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter to receive codes via email.
For UK players, specific retailer partnerships have included GameStop (in the US) and Smyths, as well as the Game store in the UK. For example, a Shiny Poipole was distributed in the UK at Smyths stores until October 15, 2018. Similarly, Xerneas and Yveltal were available at Game (UK) locations in May. These in-store promotions typically involve visiting a participating store to collect a physical code card or a digital code printed on a receipt. The code is then entered within the game's Mystery Gift menu.
The Nintendo Network and Mystery Gift function serve as a digital distribution channel, often used for promotions in Europe and Australia. For instance, during September 2018, players in Europe and Australia could download Latios and Latias from the Nintendo Network until September 23. Similarly, Tornadus and Thundurus were available via Mystery Gift in Europe in July. This method does not require a physical retailer visit; instead, players connect their 3DS to the internet and access the Mystery Gift feature directly from the game's main menu.
The Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter is another source of free codes. Subscribers to the official newsletter may receive download codes for specific Pokémon as part of promotional campaigns. For example, Regigigas and Heatran were distributed exclusively through the Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter in March. Players with Ultra Sun or Sun received Regigigas, while those with Ultra Moon or Moon received Heatran. This method requires creating a free account on the official Pokémon Trainer Club website and opting in to receive promotional emails.
A unique distribution method for a specific Mythical Pokémon involves scanning a QR code. Magearna, a Steel/Fairy-type Mythical Pokémon, is available not through Mystery Gift but via a QR code. After defeating the Elite Four and completing the main story, players can use the QR Scanner feature within the game to scan a specific code. After scanning, players must visit the Antiques shop in Hau'oli City to pick up Magearna from a deliveryman. This method does not require an internet connection for the distribution itself, though the QR code must be obtained from an official source.
A list of free Pokémon and items available through these methods includes a variety of Legendary, Mythical, and Shiny Pokémon. The availability of these giveaways is time-sensitive, and many have specific end dates. The following list is compiled from official distributions announced in 2018, as detailed in the provided sources.
- Magearna: Available via QR code scan after completing the main story in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon.
- Regigigas and Heatran: Available in March via the Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter. Version exclusive: Regigigas for Sun/Ultra Sun, Heatran for Moon/Ultra Moon.
- Dialga and Palkia: Available in February at GameStop stores (US). Version exclusive: Dialga for Sun/Ultra Sun, Palkia for Moon/Ultra Moon.
- Latios and Latias: Available in September. In the US, distributed at Best Buy stores (Latias for Sun/Ultra Sun, Latios for Moon/Ultra Moon). In Europe and Australia, available via Mystery Gift on the Nintendo Network until September 23.
- Reshiram and Zekrom: Available in October as part of a distribution campaign.
- Tornadus and Thundurus: Available in July. In the US, distributed at Target stores (Thundurus for Sun/Ultra Sun, Tornadus for Moon/Ultra Moon). In Europe, available via Mystery Gift.
- Groudon and Kyogre: Available in August. In the US, distributed at GameStop stores (Kyogre for Sun/Ultra Sun, Groudon for Moon/Ultra Moon). Also available via Mystery Gift.
- Entei and Raikou: Available in April. In the US, distributed at Target stores (Entei for Sun/Ultra Sun, Raikou for Moon/Ultra Moon). In Europe, available via Mystery Gift.
- Xerneas and Yveltal: Available in May at GameStop (US) and Game (UK) stores. Version exclusive: Xerneas for Sun/Ultra Sun, Yveltal for Moon/Ultra Moon.
- Shiny Zygarde: Distributed at GameStop locations in the US in June.
- Shiny Poipole: Distributed to celebrate the Dragon Majesty expansion. In the US, available at GameStop from September 17 to October 7. In the UK, available at Smyths until October 15. This is a special white and gold Shiny Poipole that already knows Dragon Pulse, a move necessary for its evolution into Naganadel.
- Celebi: A bonus download code for the Mythical Pokémon Celebi was offered to players who purchased either Pokémon Gold or Silver from the 3DS eShop by September 21, 2018. The code could be redeemed in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon.
The redemption process for download codes is standard across most distributions. To claim a free Pokémon or item, a player must follow these steps: 1. Launch the game. 2. From the main menu, select "Mystery Gift." 3. Select "Receive Gift." 4. Select "Get with Code." 5. Enter the 16-digit code found on the code card or in the email. 6. Once received, the gift can be claimed from the delivery man inside any Pokémon Center in the game. For QR code distributions like Magearna, the process is different: after scanning the code via the QR Scanner feature (accessed from the main menu), the player must visit the Antiques shop in Hau'oli City to collect the Pokémon.
It is important to note that the availability of these freebies is tied to specific promotional windows. The sources indicate that many of these distributions have already ended, such as the Latios/Latias distribution in September 2018 and the Shiny Poipole distribution at Smyths in the UK. The provided information does not confirm the current status of any active distributions for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon as of the present day. Players interested in obtaining free content should monitor official Pokémon channels for new announcements, as The Pokémon Company frequently releases new distributions for these titles. The provided sources also mention that the Year of Legendary Pokémon promotion in 2018 gave away a ton of Legendaries, but specific details on all distributions from that year are not fully listed.
The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article. Below is a factual summary based on available data.
Players of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon can obtain free Pokémon and items through several official methods: in-store code distributions at retailers like GameStop, Target, Best Buy, and Smyths; digital downloads via the Nintendo Network's Mystery Gift function; and newsletter codes from the Pokémon Trainer Club. A unique method for Magearna involves scanning a QR code after completing the main story. Specific free Pokémon available in 2018 included Legendaries like Latios, Latias, Groudon, Kyogre, Reshiram, Zekrom, and Mythicals like Celebi and Magearna. Redemption requires entering a 16-digit code in the Mystery Gift menu or scanning a QR code. Distributions are time-limited and often version-exclusive, with different Pokémon granted based on whether the player owns Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon. For UK players, retailers like Smyths and Game have participated in past promotions. To claim these freebies, players must monitor official announcements for active distribution windows and follow the specific redemption instructions provided for each offer.