Unearthing prehistoric creatures adds a layer of history and excitement to exploring the Alola region in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Players looking to fill out their Pokédex will need to collect ancient fossils and revive them into living Pokémon. Staying updated with daily gaming news can help trainers uncover hidden location secrets and optimize their endgame team rosters effectively.
Purchasing Fossils in Konikoni City
In Pokémon Sun and Moon, obtaining primary fossils requires a visit to Olivia's jewel shop located in Konikoni City on Akala Island. The shop owner sells version-exclusive fossils for reasonable prices, allowing players to purchase them directly once they reach this point in the story. Sun players can buy the Cover Fossil and Skull Fossil, while Moon players can acquire the Plume Fossil and Armor Fossil.
These purchases are limited to one of each fossil type per save file, making your initial choice significant for team planning. If you want to obtain the fossils exclusive to the opposite version, you will need to trade with another player or acquire them through online features.
Reviving Ancient Pokémon at the Route 8 Restoration Center
Once you have acquired your desired fossil from Konikoni City, head directly to Route 8 on Akala Island to bring it back to life. Deep in the forest area, you will find a dedicated fossil restoration center managed by a passionate researcher. Speaking with the NPC inside allows you to hand over your fossil and receive a level 15 prehistoric Pokémon immediately.
Depending on which fossil you hand over, you will receive Cranidos from the Skull Fossil, Shieldon from the Armor Fossil, Tirtouga from the Cover Fossil, or Archen from the Plume Fossil. Make sure you leave an open slot in your party before reviving a fossil so the newly restored creature can join your team without being sent straight to a storage box.
Obtaining Pre-Generation Alola Fossils via Poke Pelago
Beyond the primary version-exclusive choices, players can uncover older generation fossils by utilizing the Isle Abeens feature within Poké Pelago. By developing and sending your Pokémon on path-finding treasure hunting missions, your team can return with rare items including the Helix, Dome, Old Amber, Root, Claw, Jaw, and Sail fossils. This minigame provides a reliable method for completing your collection without needing past generation games.
Once brought back from Poké Pelago expeditions, these older fossils can also be brought to the Route 8 lab for restoration. This enables trainers to add iconic classics like Omanyte, Kabuto, Aerodactyl, Lileep, Anorith, Tyrunt, and Amaura to their Alolan collection.
Trading and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Differences
While standard Sun and Moon restrict direct purchases to two specific fossils per version, the expanded Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon titles broaden your access significantly. In the Ultra versions, the shop in Konikoni City sells an expanded selection of fossils from multiple generations during the post-game. This makes acquiring every single ancient species considerably easier for dedicated collectors.
For base Sun and Moon players, trading via the Global Trade System or local wireless remains the fastest strategy to obtain version exclusives. Breeding your revived fossil Pokémon and trading their offspring is a great way to complete your Alolan Pokédex smoothly.
