Ultra Beast/Manga

Pokémon Adventures
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. 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.