Pokémon Sun & Moon: How To Get Hoopa (& 9 Other Things To Know About The Pokémon)

What’s the difference between a Legendary Pokémon and a Mythical Pokémon? Well, it’s not just that Mythicals tend to be deceptively adorable-looking powerhouses (Mew, Celebi, Victini, and so on) Commonly, Legendary critters are available in-game (though in super limited supply), while Mythical ones are usually acquired only through special events.

One formidable recent addition to the Mythical stable is Hoopa, which was introduced in Generation VI. With its curious typing, incredible stat spread, and mysterious second form, this frightening Pokémon could be the most intriguing Mythical Pokémon yet. Here’s how it was acquired in Pokémon Sun & Moon, as well as some other essential trivia about it.

10 Surprise, Surprise: It Was An Event-Exclusive

As with so many other things about the franchise, Pokémon fans just can’t make their minds up about Mythical critters. Some enjoy the anticipation of an event, the chance to add a one-of-a-kind Pokémon to their collection, while others resent the fact that they can’t usually participate in competitive play (official events almost always ban them all, as some players won’t have access to them).

When it comes to Sun & Moon’s Hoopa, then, many players won’t be surprised to learn that it’s event-exclusive, as it was in the previous generation. To nab one in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, users need to have participated in the event that ran from December 2017 to April 2018. This was an event that utilized Japanese serial codes, for the so-called Full Force Hoopa. Outside of that, nine other Hoopa events (some repeated in different regions) were held during the Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire generation, so trades are another option.

9 Its Second Form Is Activated Using A Very Obscure Item

Fans know that Pokémon evolution is one heck of a mysterious process. Some simply evolve by leveling up, others need a particular item, some don’t evolve at all, and others can evolve but are sometimes better off not doing so.

Certain Pokémon don’t evolve but have multiple forms. These forms can also be activated with items, as is the case with Hoopa. Using the Prison Bottle on it will change it from Hoopa Confined to Hoopa Unbound (more on that later). Once a Trainer has got their hands on Hoopa, they will need to go to Aether Paradise and talk to an NPC in Secret Lab A for the item (the new clerk who appears in a Poké Mart when a player has Hoopa in their party will give them the Prison Bottle in the previous generation). It will revert back to its default form after being deposited or when three days have passed.

8 Hoopa Unbound Is One Heck Of A Powerhouse

Hoopa Confined already has a lot of firepower in its teeny body. Its standout stats are its 110 base Attack, 150 Special Attack, and 130 Special Defense. It shines as a special attacker but can pull off mixed sets and even take a special attack or two (not so much physical, with 60 base Defense). A very solid all-around Pokémon at the very least.

Hoopa Unbound, however, is definitely a cut above that. this monstrous creature reaches 160 base Attack and 170 base Special Attack, some of the highest natural numbers in the series. Dang.

7 A Certain Stat Makes It Very Awkward To Use, Though

With power like this on its hands, Hoopa Unbound had the potential to be outright broken. A few key traits let it down, though, the first of which being its base Speed: 80.

While this isn’t necessarily slow, it’s right in the unfortunate range where it can often be outsped and taken down without major difficulty. Without any priority and with that horrible Defense, it’s tough for Hoopa Unbound to stick around long enough to sweep.

6 Its Typing Is Very Unusual

Another factor that makes things harder for Hoopa is its very unique typing. In fact, both of its forms have their own: Hoopa Confined is Psychic/Ghost and Hoopa Unbound is Psychic/Dark. Typing has always been a complex issue in the Pokémon games, and these two type combinations have some real flaws.

For one thing, Hoopa Confined is 4x weak to Dark (and Ghost), which means that a swift Sucker Punch or Pursuit will launch it into the fiscal year 2312. Meanwhile, Hoopa Unbound is a rare critter with a 4x weakness to Bug. It’s always neat to see unusual type combinations like these, but they don’t really do Hoopa any favors.

5 It Has Some Neat Signature Moves

Hoopa has its issues like any other Pokémon or Pokémon game, but it has some incredible assets too. All that power it has would be nothing without some excellent moves to use, and Hoopa definitely doesn’t disappoint there.

Hoopa Confined’s signature move is Hyperspace Hole, while Hoopa Unbound has exclusive access to Hyperspace Fury (though it can use Hyperspace Hole as well). The former is a special Psychic move with 80 base power, while the latter is a physical Dark-type move with 100 power. They both have the handy side effect of hitting through Protect and similar moves, and even through Substitute! Hyperspace Fury also drops the target’s Defense after hitting. They have low PP, but they’re darn strong.

4 Those Loops Aren’t Just For Show

Every fan has their favorite and least favorite Pokémon designs, but there’s no denying that Game Freak carefully considers every aspect of every critter in the series. The most important element of Hoopa’s design (in both its forms) would have to be those golden rings, but they’re so much more than simply small, decorative details.

According to the Pokédex, those things have some frightening dimension-transcending powers. As Pokémon X reports, “this troublemaker sends anything and everything to faraway places using its loop, which can warp space,” while Pokémon Y adds, “it gathers things it likes and passes them through its loop to teleport them to a secret place.” What better way to use this tremendous power than for petty mischief?

3 Hoopa Confined Has A Whole Series Of Short Episodes Dedicated To Its Trickery

As has probably become clear, then, Hoopa Unbound is the unrelenting, furious, destructive rage-machine of the two, while Hoopa Confined is the silly trickster who teleports people’s underwear to a parallel universe just to mess with them on a Monday morning. In keeping with that spirit, Hoopa Confined starred in a series of anime shorts entitled Hoopa’s Surprise Ring Adventures.

These six episodes marked the Mythical Pokémon’s debut on the show, seeing the devious creature subjecting Ash and Pikachu to all kinds of silly tricks. In the first installment, “Flying in the Air,” Ash wants to practice Sky Trainer battles but there’s barely a breeze. To “help,” Hoopa teleports Flying-type Pokémon at him from all angles, causing windy pandemonium.

2 It Has A Super Niche Ability

Experienced Pokémon players will know that there’s more to a solid team member than just powerful moves and the stats to back them up. Held items, abilities, EVs, IVs, and a whole range of other considerations come into play too.

Another area in which Hoopa falls short is its ability. Whether Confined or Unbound, it’s stuck with Magician. This might sound very fitting (and perfect for a hypothetical Harry Potter/Pokémon crossover), but the ability gives Hoopa no benefit at all in most cases. A Pokémon with Magician will automatically steal the item of an opponent it hits (if it’s not already holding one itself), but this is very rarely usable at all.

1 It Has Access To All Kinds Of Interesting Moves & Sets

While that unfortunate-yet-appropriate ability limits Hoopa’s utility, it has a wide and tricky movepool that allows it to pull off all sorts of shenanigans.

It’s most commonly used as a raw offensive wallbreaker, but it can boost itself with Nasty Plot or support the team with screens, Ally Switch, Trick Room, and other sneaky moves. It can also be a mixed attacker with surprising coverage, giving it a lot of potential uses with the right support.