In Pokemon Sun and Moon, QR codes do more than register Pokemon in your Pokedex. Scan enough of them and you activate Island Scan, which causes rare Pokemon from other regions to appear across the Alola islands on a specific schedule. Several of the most wanted Pokemon in the game, including Sceptile, Deino, Charmander, and a handful of legendary-tier rare finds, only appear through Island Scan. If you are searching for Sceptile’s QR code or trying to figure out the legendary QR code system, this covers everything.
How Island Scan Works with QR Codes
Each QR code scan in Pokemon Sun or Moon earns 10 points. Scan 10 unique codes in a day and your total reaches 100, which activates Island Scan. Island Scan causes one specific Pokemon to appear at one specific location on one of the four Alola islands. The Pokemon stays available for one hour before disappearing.
The Island Scan schedule is fixed and repeats on a weekly cycle. Different Pokemon appear depending on the day of the week and which island you are on. If you want Sceptile, you need to be on Poni Island on a Sunday with Island Scan active. If you want Deino, you need to be on Ula’ula Island on a Friday.
For more detail on how the QR scanner system works in Sun and Moon generally, the Pokemon QR codes guide covers the full scanning mechanic and daily limits.
The Full Island Scan Schedule for Sun and Moon
This schedule applies to both Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon. The Pokemon that appears differs slightly between the two games for some days, but the island and day structure is the same.
| Day | Melemele Island | Akala Island | Ula’ula Island | Poni Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Squirtle | Bulbasaur | Staryu | Sceptile (Sun) / Decidueye (Moon) |
| Monday | Onix | Slowpoke | Lairon | Eelektross |
| Tuesday | Ekans (Sun) / Sandshrew (Moon) | Exeggcute | Cloyster | Roserade |
| Wednesday | Tentacool | Marowak | Haunter | Togekiss |
| Thursday | Horsea | Spinda | Skarmory | Vikavolt |
| Friday | Ledyba (Sun) / Spinarak (Moon) | Caterpie (Sun) / Weedle (Moon) | Deino | Pinsir (Sun) / Heracross (Moon) |
| Saturday | Ralts | Bellsprout | Axew | Flygon |
Sceptile QR Code in Sun and Moon
With 3,600 monthly searches, Sceptile is the most searched Island Scan target in Pokemon Sun and Moon. Sceptile appears on Poni Island on Sundays in Pokemon Sun. In Pokemon Moon, Decidueye appears instead of Sceptile on Sundays on Poni Island.
There is no specific QR code that summons Sceptile directly. What you need is any 10 valid QR code scans on a Sunday to fill the Island Scan meter to 100, then travel to Poni Island and find the Island Scan encounter spot. The Pokemon that appears is determined by the day and island, not by which specific QR codes you scanned.
To scan 10 codes quickly, use any 10 legitimate Pokemon QR codes for species in the Alola Pokedex. Serebii.net and Bulbapedia maintain full Pokedex QR code lists for all 300+ Alola species. Scan any 10 of them on Sunday, activate Island Scan, and head to Poni Island.
Legendary QR Codes in Pokemon Sun and Moon
The phrase “legendary QR codes” in Pokemon Sun and Moon refers to two separate things that often get confused:
QR Codes for Legendary Pokedex Entries
Every Pokemon species in the Alola Pokedex has a QR code that registers it in your Pokedex. This includes the legendary Pokemon that appear in Sun and Moon. Scanning a legendary Pokemon’s QR code registers that legendary in your Pokedex even if you have not encountered it yet. This shows its habitat and gives you the Island Scan points without actually obtaining the Pokemon.
Legendary Pokemon QR codes for Sun and Moon species like Solgaleo, Lunala, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Fini, Cosmog, and others are available in the community databases on Serebii and Bulbapedia.
Island Scan Rare Pokemon
Some Island Scan targets are not technically legendaries but are rare or powerful Pokemon that function as near-legendary obtainables in the context of the game. Deino (Poni Island, Friday) evolves into the pseudo-legendary Hydreigon. Axew (Ula’ula Island, Saturday) evolves into the pseudo-legendary Haxorus. Charmander and Squirtle are starter Pokemon from other regions. These are what most players mean when they search for “legendary QR codes” in the context of Sun and Moon.
How to Get Charmander Through Island Scan
Charmander does not appear in the standard Island Scan table for Pokemon Sun and Moon. It was added in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon with a different Island Scan schedule. If you are playing the base Sun or Moon games and want Charmander, it is not obtainable through Island Scan in those versions. Charmander appears on Akala Island on Mondays in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
This distinction matters because a lot of guides mix Sun/Moon and Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon Island Scan schedules. The table above applies to the base games. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon have a partially different schedule.
Tips for Getting the Most from Island Scan
- Set a reminder for the day of the week you want your target Pokemon so you do not forget to scan 10 QR codes that morning
- Scan all 10 codes before starting your session rather than during it, since the 10-scan daily limit resets at midnight
- Save your game before the Island Scan encounter so you can soft reset if you need a specific nature or the Pokemon faints
- Island Scan Pokemon do not appear in the Pokedex radar, so ask locals or check online to find the exact location on the island where the encounter happens
- Bring plenty of Ultra Balls or the appropriate ball type for the Pokemon you are hunting
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sceptile QR code in Pokemon Sun and Moon
There is no specific QR code for Sceptile. Sceptile appears through the Island Scan system on Poni Island every Sunday in Pokemon Sun. To trigger Island Scan, scan any 10 Pokemon QR codes on a Sunday to reach 100 points, then go to Poni Island to find the Island Scan encounter.
What are legendary QR codes in Pokemon Sun and Moon
Legendary QR codes in Sun and Moon refer to two things: the Pokedex registration QR codes for actual legendary species like Solgaleo and Lunala, and the QR scanning process that activates Island Scan to obtain rare Pokemon like Deino and Axew that function like pseudo-legendaries in the game.
How do I get Deino in Pokemon Sun and Moon
Deino appears through Island Scan on Ula’ula Island on Fridays. Scan any 10 Pokemon QR codes on a Friday to activate Island Scan, then travel to Ula’ula Island and find the Island Scan encounter location to battle and catch Deino.
Does the Island Scan schedule differ between Sun and Moon
Most Island Scan targets are the same in both games, but a few differ. On Sundays on Poni Island, Sceptile appears in Sun and Decidueye appears in Moon. On Tuesdays on Melemele Island, Ekans appears in Sun and Sandshrew appears in Moon. On Fridays on Melemele Island, Ledyba appears in Sun and Spinarak appears in Moon.
Can I get Charmander through Island Scan in Pokemon Sun
No. Charmander is not in the Island Scan rotation for the base Pokemon Sun game. It was added to the Island Scan schedule in Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. If you want Charmander in base Sun or Moon, you need to trade for one or transfer it from another game.
How many QR codes do I need to scan to activate Island Scan
You need to scan 10 QR codes in one day. Each scan earns 10 points toward the 100-point Island Scan threshold. You can scan any valid Pokemon QR codes from the Alola Pokedex. The daily scan limit is 10 codes, so reaching 100 points requires scanning your full daily allowance.
Plan Your Scan Day Around What You Want
Island Scan in Pokemon Sun and Moon is one of the better QR code systems in any game because every code counts toward something useful regardless of which specific ones you scan. Pick the day of the week for the Pokemon you want, scan any 10 Alola Pokedex QR codes that morning, and show up at the right island before the hour runs out.
For creating QR codes for any standard purpose outside of game systems, the QR code generator handles any URL, contact, or text with full design options and free download. And for the full overview of how QR codes work across the Pokemon series including Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, and Pokemon GO, the Pokemon QR codes guide covers every game in the franchise.
