Pokémon Sun and Moon: How to Catch the Ultra Beasts and Necrozma

Hunting and catching Ultra Beasts is part of Pokémon Sun and Moon's post-game (for more information about Pokémon Sun and Moon's post-game, consult Professor Kat's guide!). Ultra Beasts are extra-dimensional Pokémon that are kind of horrific-looking, and as you might expect, they put up quite a fight. But once you're Alola's champion, catching these Lovecraftian horrors should be a cakewalk. Right? This Pokemon Sun and Moon guide to catching Ultra Beasts and Necrozma will tell you all you need to know.

You can start hunting Ultra Beasts after you become Alola's champion and meet the International Police outside your house. You need "Beast Balls" to catch Ultra Beasts, which you can get from Wicke at the Aether Foundation. This guide will help you find the Ultra Beasts and give you tips on catching them. Don't forget to visit our Pokémon Sun and Moon guide for more tips, walkthroughs, and hints related to Sun and Moon!

Ultra Beast Locations in Pokemon Sun and Moon

Below you'll find a rundown of the locations for each of the Ultra Beasts you can find in Pokemon Sun and Moon.

Nihilego (Codename: UB-01 Symbiont. Rock / Poison-type. Level 55.)

You can find the first Ultra Beast on Route 8. When you arrive, one of the members of the International Police, Looker, will tell you this jellyfish-like entity has been spotted around Wela Volcano and Diglett's Tunnel. Explore the grass around that area, as well as inside Diglett's Cave itself; Nihilego will appear randomly.

Buzzwole / Pheromosa (Codenames: UB-02 Absorption / Beauty. Bug / Fighting-types. Level 65.)

When Nihilego is captured and you report to Anabel, Looker will inform you of another Ultra Beast sighting near Route 02 on Melemele Island. If you have Pokémon Sun, you'll be tasked with finding and capturing two Buzzwole in Melemele Meadow. If you have Pokémon Moon, you'll need to catch four Pheremosa in Verdant Cavern.

Xurkitree (Codename: UB-03 Lightning. Electric-type. Level 65.)

Once you've put away Buzzwole or Pheromosa, report to Anabel to discover there's been another Ultra Beast sighting on Akala Island. Head to Route 8 to meet up with the Trial Captain Mina and challenge her to a battle. If you win, she'll tell you two Xurkitree can be found at Memorial Hill and Lush Jungle.

Kartana / Celesteela (Codenames: UB-04 Blade / Blaster. Grass / Steel-type and Steel / Fighting-type respectively. Level 65.)

When Xurkitree is captured, report to Anabel to find out more Ultra Beasts have been spotted on Ula'Ula Island. Head to Route 17, where the Island Kahuna Nanu will tell you about the new Beasts: Four Kartana (in Pokémon Sun) or two Celesteela (in Pokémon Moon). You can find Kartana on Route 17, and Celesteela is in Haina Desert and Malie Garden.

Guzzlord (Codename: UB-05 Gluttony. Dark / Dragon-type. Level 70.)

After you've captured Kartana or Celesteela, report back to Looker and Anabel. They tell you the last Ultra Beast can be found on Poni Island near Seafolk Village. Nanu challenges you to another battle to make sure you're ready. If you win, he tells you to find Guzzlord in the basement of Resolution Cave.

How to Capture Legendary Pokémon Necrozma

When all the Ultra Beasts are captured, Looker informs you of a black shadow flying around Alola's skies. It's not an Ultra Beast, though: It's the Legendary Pokémon Necrozma, and you can find him at the Farthest Hollow on Ten Carat Hill. Necrozma is level 75, a Psychic-type, and needs to be caught with regular PokéBalls (e.g. Great Balls, Ultra Balls, or Master Balls). Since it's technically not an Ultra Beast, Beast Balls have no added effect on it.

On the topic of hard-to-nab Pokemon, why not learn how to catch a female Salandit quickly, and how to use Pokemon Sun and Moon's QR code scanner?