Ultra Beast

The Ultra Beasts (Japanese: ウルトラビースト Ultra Beast) are a group of originating from Ultra Space. They possess power that transcends humans' understanding of the world.

Ultra Beasts infrequently appear from Ultra Wormholes in Alola. These appearances are apparently as unexpected for the Ultra Beasts as for Alolans, which tends to make them combative. They are especially drawn to people who have passed through an Ultra Wormhole, due to the residual wormhole energy on them, apparently expecting to find a wormhole they can use to return home.

There are currently eleven known Ultra Beasts:
 * (codenamed UB-01 Symbiont)
 * (codenamed UB-02 Absorption)
 * (codenamed UB-02 Beauty)
 * (codenamed UB-03 Lighting)
 * (codenamed UB-04 Blaster)
 * (codenamed UB-04 Blade)
 * (codenamed UB-05 Glutton)
 * (codenamed UB Adhesive)
 * (codenamed UB Stinger)
 * (codenamed UB Assembly)
 * (codenamed UB Burst)

All Ultra Beasts share the Ability.

When encountered in the, the residual energy from Ultra Wormholes manifests as a red aura that boosts one of their stats at the start of , similar to a Totem Pokémon's orange aura. Wicke theorizes that they store this energy in their bodies.

Most Poké Balls have difficulty recognizing Ultra Beasts as Pokémon due to their extradimensional origins, impairing their ability to effectively catch them. Only the Master Ball and s escape this impairment.

Although unconfirmed, Aether Foundation scientists hypothesized that is also an Ultra Beast, due to its ability to create Ultra Wormholes. 's Pokédex entry also states that it is "reminiscent of the Ultra Beasts", but when it was in the wild, the International Police reported that all Ultra Beasts it had detected had been caught, and Beast Balls are not effective at catching it. Additionally, Dulse refers to Necrozma as "a creature almost like an Ultra Beast" in Pokémon Ultra Sun. In the, the Aether Foundation, mistaking for an Ultra Beast, gives it the codename "UB: Black".

History
Although an extremely rare event, legends in Alola tell of fearsome Pokémon appearing from Ultra Wormholes. The legends also tell that the guardian deities would fight fiercely against them.

Years prior to the events of Generation VII, Professor Mohn published a theory on Ultra Wormholes and papers describing.

The Aether Foundation also conducted research on the Ultra Beasts. This included the development of the Beast Killer project to create a Pokémon&mdash;&mdash;that could fight against Ultra Beasts. The Beast Killer project ended in failure, and the three known Type: Full were cryogenically frozen and their names changed to Type: Null. It also developed the to catch the Ultra Beasts.

The International Police have also tracked Ultra Beasts in the past and into the present under a secret division known as the UB Task Force. The UB Task Force is tasked with investigating the ecology of Ultra Beasts, protecting people from harm from them, and either safeguarding or destroying the Ultra Beasts. Ten years prior to the events of Sun and Moon, a three-person team composed of Looker, Nanu, and an unnamed came to Alola to track down and destroy a Guzzlord; in the process, the Faller was killed. The International Police refer to each of the Ultra Beasts by code names.

The first reported sightings of Buzzwole, Pheromosa, Xurkitree, Kartana, and Celesteela were after the incident at Aether Paradise where Lusamine forced Cosmog to create an Ultra Wormhole and used it to travel to Ultra Space.

The first reported sightings of Stakataka and Blacephalon were after the incident at the Altar of the Sunne/Altar of the Moone when / opens many Ultra Wormholes across Alola. The first reported sighting of Poipole was through the Ultra Recon Squad.

Pokémon Sun and Moon
During the main story, the player encounters at Aether Paradise during their first meeting with Aether President Lusamine, when it emerges from a spontaneously appearing Ultra Wormhole. During the player's confrontation with Lusamine after she captures Nebby, Lusamine uses Nebby's power to open Ultra Wormholes across the Alola region, bringing Ultra Beasts into the region; Nihilego is seen emerging from the portal near Lusamine, while / is seen emerging from a portal over Melemele Island and battling. The player also encounters several in Ultra Space after arriving with / and Lillie.

After the player becomes, some Ultra Beasts remain at large around Alola. The player receives a card from a stranger directing them to visit the motel on Akala Island's. When they enter the guest room, they will find Looker and Anabel, who invite the player to join the International Police's UB Task Force and protect the Ultra Beasts currently loose in Alola. Upon accepting, the player begins a series of missions to capture the Ultra Beasts, spanning all four of Alola's islands, each time based out of the island's motel (or the restaurant on Poni Island). In some missions, there are multiple of the same species of Ultra Beast to be captured, and in some missions they may be found at either of two locations. If the player flees from or defeats an Ultra Beast, it remains in the area and the player will still be able to find it again immediately (either at the same place or at the alternate location, if applicable). When the player is in an area where there are Ultra Beasts during a mission, the music changes from the area's normal score.

All Poké Balls except Master Balls and s have a catch rate multiplier of 0.1× against Ultra Beasts; the Beast Ball has a catch rate multiplier of 5× for Ultra Beasts. If a Beast Ball is used against any other type of Pokémon, its catch rate multiplier is 0.1×.

Unlike regular Pokémon, the Pokédex will not record Ultra Beasts as seen; it will only register them when they are caught. If an Ultra Beast is not in the Pokédex, its name will show as ??? in battle.

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
During the story, the player encounters as the main Pokémon used by the Ultra Recon Squad member Dulse/Soliera. Like in, appears at Aether Paradise after meeting with Lusamine. During the player's confrontation with Dusk Mane/Dawn Wings, it proceeds to open multiple Ultra Wormholes all across Alola, unleashing Ultra Beasts into Alola. / appears on Mahalo Trail, facing against Hala, Hau, and. Additionally, Olivia finds / on the Ruins of Life, Nanu finds on the Ruins of Abundance, and Hapu finds Xurkitree on the Ruins of Hope.

The first seven Ultra Beasts can be reached in white Ultra Wormholes in the Ultra Warp Ride. can be found in Ultra Deep Sea, in Ultra Jungle,  in Ultra Desert,  in Ultra Plant,  in Ultra Crater,  in Ultra Forest, and  in Ultra Ruin. They can be caught once per visit. After defeating at Megalo Tower, the Ultra Recon Squad offers  to the player, and after the player becomes the Champion, the player can catch two / at Poni Grove.

As with Sun and Moon, the Pokédex will not record Ultra Beasts as seen. It will only register them when they are caught, and their names will be shown as ??? in battle until then. However, there are several exceptions in which they will be recorded as having been seen, as the player will be informed of their names — Poipole after battling the Ultra Recon Squad in Paniola Ranch, Kartana after battling an, and Blacephalon/Stakataka after encountering one at Poni Grove.

In the anime
Nihilego debuted in a flashback in A Masked Warning!, where revealed to  that  was once attacked by one when she was younger, resulting in her present-day fear of touching Pokémon. It appeared again in another flashback in Mission: Total Recall!.

In Faba's Revenge!, Faba managed to summon from an Ultra Wormhole. Lusamine, Gladion, and Ash briefly battled the Ultra Beast before it took Lusamine into the Ultra Wormhole and disappeared. They were given the proper name Nihilego in The Professors' New Adventure!.

Multiple Nihilego appeared in Rescuing the Unwilling! in Ultra Deep Sea.

Nihilego appeared again in a flashback, and debuted in The Professors' New Adventure!. It would eventually be caught by Ash in Love at First Twirl!.

Buzzwole debuted in A Mission of Ultra Urgency!, where it wreaked havoc throughout Melemele Island until the Ultra Guardians it in a  and released it back into Ultra Space. In this episode, it is also revealed that despite being Pokémon, cannot understand what Ultra Beasts are saying.

Celesteela debuted in Rise and Shine, Starship!, where found one while camping at Bamboo Hill. He and dug it out of the ground, and although the Ultra Guardians failed to catch it due to the fact that it was rooted down, it eventually flew off back into space. Unlike other Ultra Beasts, this Celesteela had been growing in Alola for more than 200 years.

Twirling with a Bang! saw the debut of both Blacephalon and Xurkitree. Ash and his classmates first encountered Blacephalon performing during a fireworks show, thinking that it was a part of the show. The next day, they learned that it was an Ultra Beast and set out as the Ultra Guardians to capture it. However, instead of Blacephalon, they encountered a different Ultra Beast, Xurkitree. After preventing Xurkitree from feeding on electricity from a power line, the Blacephalon from the night before appeared. The two Ultra Beasts ended up in a performance showdown, each trying to outperform the other with their moves. Thanks to a distraction from the Ultra Guardians, they were able to distract, weaken, and subsequently catch the two Ultra Beasts, allowing them to be returned home.

debuted in The Shape of Love to Come!, where it appeared inside the dream of Ash's Poipole located inside of an unknown Ultra Space nest location. It physically debuted in The Prism Between Light and Darkness!, where it revealed that Ash's Poipole originally came to Alola to scout for a place for it and its hive to live.

Stakataka debuted in The Long Vault Home!, where it arrived at the Pokémon School during midnight. After several unsuccessful attempts, it later moved to another location where it was mistaken for a pedestal for Viren's statue. The statue being placed on top of it caused it to go berserk, necessitating intervention by the Ultra Guardians.

Guzzlord debuted in SM100, where it was shown to have destroyed an alternate version of Hau'oli City, leaving behind the Ultra Ruin.

In the anime, Nebby was speculated to be an Ultra Beast by the Aether Foundation before its relationship to the Legendary Pokémon was fully understood. Similarly,, having not yet been identified as the "Blinding One" of Alolan myth, was given the codename (Japanese:  UB: Black).

In the Pokémon Adventures manga
The Ultra Beasts debuted in the. They were first mentioned in PASM07 by Gladion, who, after losing to at an Iki Town festival tournament, contemplated losing his chance to meet with the Guardian deities and instead decided to train elsewhere to prepare to confront the Ultra Beasts when they arrive.

In True Identity and the Totem Pokémon of Brooklet Hill, and Mallow found  battling a  as it was emerging from an Ultra Wormhole above Lush Jungle. Moon attempted to capture the Xurkitree, but it managed to retreat back inside the Ultra Wormhole and escape. Later, the two chose to give it the codename "Lighting" to avoid having to describe its appearance every time when talking about it.

Later, Guzma was confronted by the Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, Acerola, Ilima, and Hau, who had traveled to Po Town to talk with the Team Skull boss. Guzma instead sent a, , and to attack the Captains' group. After the beasts proceeded to defeat the Captains' Pokémon, Guzma used a to open more Ultra Wormholes, summoning a Xurkitree and a. The Captains were rescued by Gladion, who used his to battle the beasts, and managed to easily hold them back due to being created specifically to combat them.

Afterward, Nihilego captured Guzma and dragged him into an Ultra Wormhole with it. The other beasts escaped from Po Town's barrier, allowing them to wreak havoc on the rest of Ula'ula Island. Anabel and Looker arrived shortly thereafter, and while Looker went off to investigate the Ultra Beasts that broke through the walls, Anabel assisted Sun and Moon in battling a. Anabel attempted to capture Blacephalon, only to discover that ordinary Poké Balls do not work on Ultra Beasts. Before Blacephalon could retaliate with, blew it away. Afterward, while Sun, Moon,, and Professor Burnet gave Tapu Bulu a Mirage Berry, Anabel speculated that there was a certain person hiding in Alola, who was capable of creating Poké Balls that would be able to capture Ultra Beasts.

In the TCG
Ultra Beasts were introduced to the Pokémon Trading Card Game in the TCG Crimson Invasion expansion as a classification of TCG Pokémon cards. Certain TCG attacks, TCG Ability (Abilities), TCG Trainer cards, and TCG Special Energy cards interact specifically with Ultra Beast cards. Unlike the core series of games, the TCG considers Dusk Mane Necrozma, Dawn Wings Necrozma, and Ultra Necrozma to be Ultra Beasts. Every Ultra Beast card has an attack or Ability that affects or is affected by the player or opponent's TCG Prize cards. In the case of an Ultra Beast GX card, this is always its GX attack. Several of the Ultra Beast-related Trainer cards interact with Prize cards as well. This association with Prize cards may be a reference to the Ultra Beasts' Ability in the core series, as both Beast Boost and Prize cards center around knocking out the opponent's Pokémon.

Ultra Beast cards are distinguished by a red Ultra Beast label superimposed on the card art below the and TCG type. Ultra Beast GX cards have a red graphic instead of the blue  graphic depicted on other other Pokémon-GX cards. Additionally, the GX attack bar, effect text, Pokémon-GX rule box, and outlines for the TCG Full Art card (Full Art) graphics are colored red rather than blue. This red motif may be a reference to the red aura surrounding wild Ultra Beasts in the core series of games.

Trivia

 * The base stats of the Ultra Beasts, and the levels at which they learn moves (except level 1) are all s. They share this trait with and its evolutions. The only exception is, which has a  stat of 121, which is a.
 * The Ultra Beasts and the light trio (plus their pre-evolutions and ) all share an unique sound frequency found within or after their cries, approximately 1.250 seconds in duration. This may reflect their connection to and natural origin from Ultra Space.
 * The only Ultra Beasts that are part of an evolutionary line are and Naganadel.
 * Although the Ultra Beasts are not, they share some characteristics with numerous Legendary Pokémon: they all are , are in the egg group, are scripted encounters, have special battle music, are guaranteed to have at least three s of 31, have special Rotom Pokédex pages, and with the exception of Poipole and Naganadel, have base stat totals of 570.
 * If the player chooses to filter out people seeking or Legendary Pokémon on the Global Trade System, then people seeking Ultra Beasts will not be displayed.
 * ,, and 's Ultra Sun Pokédex entries; and , , and 's Ultra Moon Pokédex entries have exactly the same text. They are the only Pokémon with Pokédex entries identical to another Pokémon. The Pokédex entry reads as: "Although it's alien to this world and a danger here, it's apparently a common organism in the world where it normally lives."
 * The Ultra Beasts are based on the idea of, as stated by Shigeru Ohmori in an interview in Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon: The Official Alola Region Pokédex & Postgame Adventure Guide.