Sun and Moon SOS battles and catching
Keep a caller active, manage its allies and end the chain safely when a rare species or useful Ability appears.
Original Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon for Nintendo 3DS (2016). Sun and Moon differences are labelled. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon have a different story, expanded Pokédex and altered trials.
Build an SOS encounter
After the first trial, eligible wild Pokémon can call for help. Lower HP increases calling, and an Adrenaline Orb boosts the chance for the battle. False Swipe helps leave the caller alive. Defeat the called ally while preserving the caller to continue. Calls can fail, so have a safe way to spend a turn and enough PP for a long encounter. Original Sun/Moon can produce repeated calls without the Ultra games’ one-call restriction before an Orb.
Catch the correct target
You cannot throw a Ball while two wild opponents remain. Once the desired Pokémon appears, remove the other opponent and use sleep or paralysis to stop further calls. Avoid poisoning or burning a target that could faint. Watch recoil moves and Struggle: a caller with exhausted PP can defeat itself. Renew the caller when necessary instead of expecting one low-HP Pokémon to survive indefinitely.
Some helpers are different species
Corsola can call Mareanie, and Route 3 Bagon can rarely call Salamence. Weather-dependent helpers use the relevant location and weather conditions. These are SOS results, not ordinary grass slots. Rare incoming species may be unable to call for themselves, so knocking out the original caller can end a planned chain. Island Scan Pokémon do not call for help.
Longer chains have separate rewards
SOS chains improve the chance of Hidden Abilities, several maximum IVs and shiny encounters. Original Sun/Moon’s counter wraps during extremely long chains, so do not assume the best bonuses persist forever. For a wanted Ability, inspect it with a suitable ability-revealing move before ending the battle. The training guide separates SOS EV gains from the inherited IV values of a catch.
These guides cover original Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon (2016). Check the version and in-game time before planning an encounter.