Accessing Free Digital Content and Promotional Items for Pokémon Sun and Moon

A variety of promotional giveaways have been distributed for the Nintendo 3DS titles Pokémon Sun, Pokémon Moon, Pokémon Ultra Sun, and Pokémon Ultra Moon. These freebies typically consist of digital content, such as rare Pokémon, in-game items, and exclusive accessories, distributed through the games' Mystery Gift feature or via specific QR codes. The availability of these offers is generally time-sensitive, with specific distribution windows announced by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo.

The primary method for claiming these digital goods involves accessing the "Mystery Gift" option from the main menu of the game. From there, players can choose to receive gifts via the internet or by entering a code/password. Once the download is complete, the items or Pokémon are usually collected from a deliveryman located inside any Pokémon Center in the game.

Mystery Gift Distributions

The Mystery Gift feature serves as the primary channel for distributing promotional content. Several specific giveaways have been detailed across various sources.

Shiny Tapu Koko

A notable distribution offered a Shiny Tapu Koko, a legendary Pokémon from the Alola region. This specific version of Tapu Koko is considered an ultra-rare color variation, as the Pokémon is normally "shiny locked" in standard gameplay, meaning it cannot be encountered in a shiny form under normal circumstances. This distribution was available for Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon players via the Nintendo Network. To receive the Pokémon, players were required to select "Mystery Gift" from the main menu, choose "Receive," and then select "Get via Internet." The promotion ran for a limited time, specifically until August 14.

Legendary Pokémon Giveaways

The year 2018 was designated as the "Year of Legendary Pokémon," featuring a monthly stream of free Legendary Pokémon for the seventh-generation titles. The specific Pokémon offered depended on the game version being played. The schedule included: * February: Dialga or Palkia (originally from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl). * March: Regigigas or Heatran (originally from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl).

Rare Berries

A bundle of five rare Berries was made available for Pokémon Sun, Pokémon Moon, Pokémon Ultra Sun, and Pokémon Ultra Moon. This bundle contained 12 of each of the following varieties: Enigma, Micle, Custap, Jaboca, and Rowap. These Berries are significant because they cannot otherwise be obtained in these specific game versions. They offer unique battle effects, such as restoring HP after a super-effective hit (Enigma) or raising accuracy when in a pinch (Micle).

Mega Stones

Nintendo distributed a set of four Mega Stones via a universal code: Gardevoirite, Galladite, Lopunnite, and Diancite. To redeem these items, players selected "Mystery Gift" and chose to receive a gift "via code/password," entering the code POYONG. It is noted that while the Mega Stones are provided, the corresponding Pokémon (Gardevoir, Gallade, Lopunny, and Diancie) are not found in the wild in Sun and Moon; players must obtain them by transferring from previous game installments or through trading.

Magearna

Unlike the other distributions mentioned, the Mythical Pokémon Magearna is not distributed through the Mystery Gift internet feature. Instead, it is unlocked by scanning a specific QR code using the QR Scanner feature in the game. This option becomes available only after the player has defeated the Elite Four and completed the main story. Upon scanning the code, the player can visit the Antiques shop in Hau'oli City to collect Magearna from a deliveryman.

Cross-Platform Promotions

Promotional activity extended beyond the 3DS titles to the mobile game Pokémon GO. To celebrate the launch of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon, Pokémon GO distributed free Alola region-themed avatar items. These items allowed players to customize their in-game avatars to resemble the Trainers found in the Alola region. The freebies included sandals, shorts, sun hats, flowery tank tops, and sneakers.

Third-Party Digital Content

In addition to official game distributions, third-party creators have produced digital assets for fans. For example, free video overlays designed for streaming Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon have been shared on platforms like Tumblr. These graphics are intended for use by content creators practicing custom video overlay design.

Conclusion

The Pokémon Sun and Moon game generation featured a robust schedule of digital giveaways, ranging from rare Shiny Pokémon and Legendary encounters to exclusive in-game items like Berries and Mega Stones. Accessing these freebies typically required players to utilize the in-game Mystery Gift function or QR Scanner within specific timeframes. While the primary distribution periods for many of these specific offers have concluded, the methods described reflect the standard approach Nintendo and The Pokémon Company utilize for promotional content distribution.