Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon do not have a lot of differences, but they matter anyway. The most obvious difference is that the former has the legendary Pokemon Solgaleo while the latter has Lunala. Apart from these, there are also other Pokemon that are exclusive to each version. Let's find out which has which that might help you decide in deciding which to pick up.
Pokemon Sun Version Exclusive Pokemon
Apart from Solgaleo, we have the Alolan forms of Vulpix and Ninetales that are exclusive to Pokemon Sun. This means that Pokemon Moon owners will not encounter it in the wild. If you want one, though, you can have it via trading.
Then we also have the "cool" Fire/Dragon type Turtonator, which can be found in Ula'Ula Island. Two Ultra Beasts are also exclusive in Pokemon Sun and these are the Bug/Fighting type Buzzwole known as the "Swollen Pokemon" and the Grass/Steel type Kartana, the "Drawn Sword Pokemon."
The Rock type Fossil Pokemon Cranidos and its evolution Rampardos can also only be found in Pokemon Sun. Another Fossil Pokemon that we have are Tirtouga and its evolution Carracosta, which are of the Rock/Water type.
The Fighting type Passimian in Lush Jungle is right up in this list together with the cute ones: the Grass/Fairy Cottonee and its evolution Whimsicott and the Flying/Normal Pokemon Rufflet and its evolution Braviary. Those that were not mentioned are either exclusive to Pokemon Moon or are available in both versions.
Pokemon Moon Version Exclusive Pokemon
We have an equal number of version exclusives in Sun and Moon. The first in this list are the Alola forms of Gen 1 Pokemon Sandshrew and Sandslash. With Vulpix and Ninetales, they make up four of the 18 creatures that have Alola forms.
Then we have the ones who don't evolve or don't come from evolutions. We have the Normal/Psychic type Oranguru in Lush Jungle and. Normal/Dragon type Drampa in Mount Lanakila. We also have Ultra Beasts: Bug/Fighting type Pheromosa and Steel/Flying type Celesteela.
Onto the Fossil Pokemon, we have the Rock/Steel Pokemon Shieldon and its evolution Bastiodon. Another one is the Rock/Flying type Archen that evolves into Archeops.
Then, there's the Grass types Petilil and its evolution Lilligant. Finally, there's the Flying/Dark Pokemon Vullaby and its evolution Mandibuzz. And that's about it for the version exclusives in Pokemon Moon.
Pokemon Sun and Moon: Lycancroc
Actually, that is not all there is to the version exclusives of Pokemon Sun and Moon. We still have Rockruff, which are abundant in both titles. However, it has two direct evolutions, both of which are called Lycancroc.
The abilities, base stats, moves and everything else are completely the same, but the appearance and Pokedex entries are different in both versions. In Pokemon Sun, Rockruff evolves into Lycancroc Midday Form and Midnight Form in Moon.
"Its quick movements confuse its enemies. Well equipped with claws and fangs, it also uses the sharp rocks in its mane as weapons," the entry in Sun reads. "When properly raised from a young age, it will become a trustworthy partner that will absolutely never betray its Trainer," the entry in Moon reads.
So there you have it, all the version exclusives in Pokemon Sun and Moon. You can read more of our guides to become a better trainer: How to Hatch Eggs Faster; How to Get a Female Salandit; Team Skull's Passwords; How to Get a Shiny Pokemon; and How to Transfer Pokemon from past titles.
