Pokemon Sun And Moon Complete Guide To Free Mystery Gifts And Promotional Offers

Pokemon Sun and Moon, along with their enhanced versions Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, have been accompanied by numerous free promotional offers and Mystery Gifts since their release. These freebies have included rare Pokemon, special items, and in-game bonuses that enhance the gameplay experience. For collectors and casual players alike, these offers provide valuable additions to the game that might otherwise be difficult to obtain. This guide examines all the confirmed free promotional content available for these games, detailing what players can receive, how to obtain these items, and important information about eligibility and deadlines.

Overview of Mystery Gifts in Pokemon Sun and Moon

Mystery Gifts form the primary method through which The Pokemon Company distributes free content to players of Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. These special promotions deliver rare items, Pokemon, and other bonuses directly to players' games through the Nintendo Network. The Mystery Gift system has been a staple of the Pokemon franchise for years, allowing developers to reward players with content that extends beyond the standard gameplay.

To access Mystery Gifts in Pokemon Sun and Moon, players must navigate to the main menu and select the "Mystery Gift" option. From there, they can choose to receive gifts "via internet" or "via code/password," depending on the specific promotion. Each gift distribution has its own unique requirements and redemption process, which will be detailed throughout this guide.

The Pokemon Company has utilized this system extensively, particularly during the period surrounding the release of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon and during the "Year of Legendary Pokemon" campaign in 2018. These promotions have provided players with opportunities to obtain rare Pokemon with special attributes, items that are otherwise unavailable in-game, and other bonuses that enhance the gaming experience.

Legendary Pokemon Giveaways

Legendary Pokemon have been a significant focus of many promotional events for Pokemon Sun and Moon. These rare and powerful creatures are typically difficult to obtain in the normal course of gameplay, making special distributions particularly valuable to collectors.

The Shiny Tapu Koko Distribution

One of the most notable promotions was the distribution of a shiny Tapu Koko, available to Pokemon Sun and Moon players for a limited time. Tapu Koko, one of the legendary island guardians from the Alola region, was distributed in a special shiny form that cannot be encountered through normal gameplay in Sun and Moon. According to promotional materials, Tapu Koko is normally "shiny locked" in these versions, meaning it cannot appear in its shiny variant under ordinary circumstances.

To obtain this special Tapu Koko, players needed to follow a specific redemption process. From the main menu of either Pokemon Sun or Moon, players selected "Mystery Gift," then "receive," and finally chose "get via internet." After confirming with "yes," the 3DS system would search for the Mystery Gift over the Nintendo Network, with the Tapu Koko being delivered to the game after a few minutes. This distribution was available until August 14, providing players with a month window to claim this rare legendary Pokemon.

The Year of Legendary Pokemon Campaign

2018 was designated by The Pokemon Company as the "Year of Legendary Pokemon," resulting in a series of themed giveaways throughout the year. This campaign offered players the opportunity to receive a new Legendary Pokemon each month for Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon, with specific distributions tied to particular game versions.

The scheduled giveaways included: - February: Dialga or Palkia (from Diamond/Pearl) - March: Regigigas or Heatran (from Diamond/Pearl)

These distributions were part of a broader effort by The Pokemon Company to celebrate legendary Pokemon across the franchise's history, bringing fan favorites from previous generations into the seventh-generation titles. The exact redemption process for these legendaries varied depending on the specific distribution, with some requiring Mystery Gift access while others might have utilized different methods such as serial codes or QR patterns.

Mega Stones and Rare Items

Beyond legendary Pokemon, The Pokemon Company has distributed numerous rare items through Mystery Gift promotions, with Mega Stones being particularly common. These items allow certain Pokemon to Mega Evolve during battle, temporarily gaining enhanced stats and a new appearance.

The POYONG Code Distribution

One of the most significant item distributions was the worldwide Mystery Gift promotion offering four exclusive Mega Stones through a universal code. Players could redeem the code "POYONG" to receive Mega Stones for Gardevoir, Gallade, Lopunny, and the legendary Pokemon Diancie. These particular Mega Stones were notable because not all of the corresponding Pokemon could be found in the wild within Pokemon Sun and Moon, meaning players would need to transfer them from previous games or through trading to fully utilize these items.

To redeem this promotion, players selected the "Mystery Gift" option from the in-game menu and chose to receive items "via code/password." After entering the code "POYONG," players could collect the items from a deliveryman waiting in any of the Pokemon Centers throughout the game world. Although Nintendo did not announce a specific deadline for this promotion, players were encouraged to redeem the code as soon as possible to ensure they didn't miss out.

Previous Mystery Gifts

The POYONG distribution was not an isolated event but part of a series of Mystery Gift promotions. In the month prior, Nintendo had distributed another set of five different Mega Stones, continuing the trend of providing valuable evolution items to players. These ongoing distributions demonstrated The Pokemon Company's commitment to supporting Pokemon Sun and Moon with regular content updates long after the games' initial release.

The frequency of these item distributions served multiple purposes: they kept players engaged with the games, provided value to those who had purchased the titles, and offered content that might otherwise be difficult or impossible to obtain through normal gameplay. For collectors, these promotions presented opportunities to complete their item collections, while for competitive players, they provided tools to enhance their battle capabilities.

Berries and Consumable Items

In addition to legendary Pokemon and evolution stones, The Pokemon Company has distributed various consumable items that provide tactical advantages in battle or utility in gameplay. Among these were special Berries that cannot be obtained through normal means in Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon.

The Special Berries Distribution

A notable Mystery Gift promotion offered a bundle of five rare Berries to players of Pokemon Sun and Moon or Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. This bundle included 12 of each of the following Berries: Enigma, Micle, Custap, Jaboca, and Rowap. These Berries were particularly valuable because they represented the first opportunity for players to obtain them in the seventh-generation titles.

Each Berry had unique effects when equipped to a Pokemon: - Enigma Berry: Restores some HP after being hit by a super-effective attack - Micle Berry: Raises accuracy one time when your Pokemon is in a pinch - Custap Berry: Allows your Pokemon to move first one time when in a pinch - Jaboca Berry: Opponent also takes damage when your Pokemon is hit with a physical attack - Rowap Berry: Opponent also takes damage when your Pokemon is hit with a special attack

Players could either equip these Berries to their Pokemon for use in battle or plant them in Isle Aplenny of the Poke Pelago to grow more. To claim this distribution, players needed to select Mystery Gift from their game's main menu, though the specific redemption options varied depending on the promotion.

Cross-Game Promotions

Beyond direct Mystery Gifts within Pokemon Sun and Moon, The Pokemon Company has coordinated promotions across different titles in the franchise, offering free content that connects the various games in the Pokemon universe.

Pokemon GO Alola Region Items

One of the most notable cross-game promotions involved Pokemon GO, the mobile augmented reality game. To celebrate the launch of Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Pokemon GO announced free avatar items themed around the Alola region from the Sun and Moon games. These items included sandals, shorts, sun hats, flowery tank tops, and sneakers that allowed Pokemon GO Trainers to appear as if they were from the Alola region.

This promotion marked the first time Pokemon GO had promoted another title from the Pokemon franchise, demonstrating the interconnected nature of the Pokemon ecosystem across different platforms and game styles. Players could access these items through Pokemon GO, creating a tangible connection between the mobile game and the main series titles on Nintendo 3DS.

Game-Specific Free Content

In addition to cross-promotions, Pokemon Sun and Moon received specific free content updates beyond Mystery Gifts. For example, the Steel/Fairy-type Mythical Pokemon Magearna was available not through Mystery Gift, but via a QR code. After defeating the Elite Four and completing the main story, players could use the QR Scanner feature to scan a specific code, then visit the Antiques shop in Hau'oli City to collect Magearna from a deliveryman.

This alternative distribution method demonstrated the flexibility of The Pokemon Company in delivering free content through various means, ensuring that different types of players could access these special offers regardless of their preferred play style or familiarity with specific game mechanics.

How to Claim Mystery Gifts

Claiming Mystery Gifts in Pokemon Sun and Moon follows a general process with some variations depending on the specific promotion. Understanding these steps is crucial for players who wish to take advantage of free content offers.

Internet-Based Distributions

For distributions received "via internet," players need to: 1. Access the main menu of Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon 2. Select "Mystery Gift" 3. Choose "receive" 4. Select "get via internet" 5. Confirm with "yes"

The 3DS system will then connect to the Nintendo Network to search for available Mystery Gifts. After a few minutes, the content will be delivered to the game, typically accessible through the deliveryman in any Pokemon Center. This method was used for distributions like the shiny Tapu Koko and certain item promotions.

Code-Based Distributions

For distributions requiring a "code/password," the process differs slightly: 1. Access the main menu of the game 2. Select "Mystery Gift" 3. Choose "receive via code/password" 4. Enter the specific code provided for the promotion 5. Collect the items from the deliveryman in a Pokemon Center

This method was used for the POYONG Mega Stones distribution and other code-specific promotions. Players needed to obtain the code from official sources, as incorrect codes would not result in receiving the promotional content.

QR Code Distributions

Special distributions like Magearna utilized QR codes instead of traditional Mystery Gift methods: 1. Complete the main story and defeat the Elite Four 2. Access the QR Scanner feature in the game 3. Scan the official Magearna QR code 4. Visit the Antiques shop in Hau'oli City 5. Collect Magearna from the deliveryman

This alternative method required players to have access to a QR code scanner, either through the 3DS camera or a third-party device, and demonstrated the variety of approaches The Pokemon Company has used to distribute free content.

Conclusion

Pokemon Sun and Moon, along with their Ultra versions, have benefited from numerous promotional offers and Mystery Gifts since their release. These freebies have included rare legendary Pokemon like the shiny Tapu Koko, valuable evolution items such as Mega Stones, unique Berries with special effects, and cross-game promotional content. The distribution methods have varied, including internet-based downloads, code redemptions, and QR code scanning, providing multiple avenues for players to access additional content.

For collectors, these offers have provided opportunities to complete their Pokedex or item collections with otherwise unobtainable content. For casual players, they have added new elements of gameplay and enhanced the overall experience. The "Year of Legendary Pokemon" campaign in particular demonstrated The Pokemon Company's commitment to supporting these games with regular, themed content long after their initial release.

As promotional events continue to be announced, players should stay informed through official channels to ensure they don't miss out on time-sensitive distributions. The Mystery Gift system remains a valuable tool for extending the lifespan of Pokemon titles and keeping the player community engaged with ongoing content updates.

Sources

1. Freebie: Pokemon Sun And Moon Overlays
2. New Pokemon GO Update Brings Free Items From Ultra Sun And Moon
3. Free Pokemon And Items For Pokemon Ultra Sun And Moon That Are Available Now
4. Pokemon Sun And Moon's Next Freebie Is An Ultra-Rare Shiny
5. Pokemon Sun And Moon News Legendary Pocket Monsters Available For Free This 2018
6. Pokemon Sun, Moon Mega Stones
7. Pokemon: Rare Freebies Available For A Limited Time In Ultra Sun And Moon