Pokemon Ultra Sun Update 1.2 !link!
Big News for Alolan Trainers: Pokémon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon Version 1.2 is Here!
If you’ve been adventuring through Alola lately, you’ll notice a new update waiting for you on the Nintendo eShop. Version 1.2 for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon
was released on February 6, 2018. While it might seem like a small patch, it’s a vital one for anyone who loves online battling or competitive play. What’s Fixed?
The primary focus of this update is stability. Trainers previously reported a frustrating glitch that caused the game to freeze during Live Competitions and QR Code events. This bug was specifically tied to the use of four specific moves: Curse Forest’s Curse Power Trick String Shot
Because of this freezing issue, these moves were temporarily banned from official Play! Pokémon video game tournaments. With the release of Version 1.2, Nintendo and Game Freak have officially lifted the ban, allowing these strategic moves back into the competitive arena.
Additionally, the patch addresses a bug where the move Ion Deluge was not functioning correctly. Essential Online Info
If you want to keep using the game’s internet features—like the Global Trade Station (GTS), Wonder Trade, or participating in Online Competitions—you must download this update. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Version 1.2 Patch
The final and most significant update for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon is Version 1.1. If you see a prompt to update your game, this is the version you are installing.
Here is the complete breakdown of the features included in the Version 1.1 Update, which is mandatory for online play and specific in-game events.
Legacy: Why 1.2 Defines the Modern Alola Experience
Six years after the 3DS eShop closure, Pokémon Ultra Sun Update 1.2 remains the definitive way to play. It represents the final, polished iteration of Generation 7. While controversially patching out beloved exploits, it stabilized the game for the official 2018 Pokémon World Championships (where Ultra Necrozma dominated Masters Division). pokemon ultra sun update 1.2
For the casual player wandering through Alola today, the update offers peace of mind: no strange glitches, accurate ball displays, and a smoother online experience. For the hardcore hunter, it represents a locked door—a reminder of the wild west days before Nintendo clamped down on data manipulation.
Verdict: Unless you are a dedicated speedrunner or RNG manipulator, install Update 1.2. The stability and online compatibility far outweigh the loss of a few glitches. After all, the true spirit of Alola is about fair battles and new discoveries—not walking through walls.
Important Notes for Players
How to Verify Your Version:
- On the 3DS Home Menu, highlight the Pokémon Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon icon.
- Press Start or Select, or look at the bottom screen. It should display "Ver. 1.1".
Is "Update 1.2" Real?
- No. Unlike Pokémon Sun and Moon (which also topped out at Ver. 1.1), or Pokémon X and Y (which had a famous Ver. 1.2 and 1.3), the Ultra games did not require a second patch. All official patches were bundled into the 1.1 update.
What if I don't update?
- You cannot use Pokémon Bank.
- You cannot participate in online battles or trades.
- You cannot receive Mystery Gifts via internet.
3. QR Code Functionality
- Island Scan: While Island Scan was available at launch, the update ensured that the pool of available Pokémon was correctly aligned with the server-side data, allowing players to scan QR codes to spawn non-Alola-native Pokémon that were previously causing errors if captured without the patch.
1. The End of the "Glitch City" Exploit (Warstory Saving)
The most famous change in Update 1.2 was the removal of the "warstory" glitch. Previously, players could disconnect their internet during a specific frame of a Link Battle replay, causing the game to load garbage data. This allowed players to walk through walls, encounter illegal wild Pokémon, and even access the void of the Battle Tree.
Post-Update 1.2: Attempting this glitch now hard-crashes the game or displays an error message. Speedrunners lamented this fix, as it eliminated the fastest any% routes.
5. Datamined Secrets: What Was Hidden in Update 1.2?
The Pokémon community’s legendary dataminers (like SciresM and Kaphotics) tore into Update 1.2 within hours of release. They found fascinating leftovers:
- Placeholder Data for a "Mythical Fused" form: Strings referencing a fusion mechanic similar to Necrozma, but labeled for a different, unreleased Pokémon (likely scrapped for Sword/Shield).
- New Shiny Sprites: Despite no new Pokémon being added, the update included updated texture maps for Shiny forms of Poipole and Naganadel, suggesting an upcoming distribution that never materialized via 3DS.
- Debug Menu Remnants: A hidden menu that allowed developers to view Wild Area-like weather patterns (a prototype feature for Sword/Shield's Wild Area).
These datamines confirm that Update 1.2 was the final major development push for the 3DS era, with Game Freak already shifting resources to the Nintendo Switch. Big News for Alolan Trainers: Pokémon Ultra Sun
What’s New in Version 1.2?
According to the official patch notes (and community testing), update 1.2 addresses:
- Battle stability fixes – Corrects rare softlocks during certain Z-Move animations and double battles.
- Online trading improvements – Reduces disconnections in the GTS and Wonder Trade when server traffic is high.
- QR Code scanning reliability – Fixes a bug where some event QR codes (like Partner Cap Pikachu) wouldn’t register properly.
- Local wireless adjustments – Improves link trades and battles between different game versions (Ultra Sun ↔ Ultra Moon).
No Pokémon stats, moves, or encounter rates were changed. This is strictly a stability and bug-fix patch.
Summary
If you are looking to play the game today, installing Version 1.1 provides you with the "complete" software experience, unlocking the full National Pokédex capability via Bank and restoring access to the game's online features.
The Version 1.2 update for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon addresses key bugs, including move-induced crashes and evolution issues, while enhancing overall game stability. This mandatory update is required for accessing online features such as Festival Plaza and Battle Spot. For more details, visit the Nintendo eShop.
The Alola region is usually a place of tropical sun and swaying , but for the competitive trainers of the era, a strange "curse" had fallen over the land.
In the early days of 2018, Alolan trainers were facing a bizarre phenomenon. Every time a Pokémon used the move Curse, Forest’s Curse, Power Trick, or—most strangely of all—the humble String Shot, the very fabric of reality seemed to tear. In the heat of Live Competitions, the screen would simply freeze, leaving trainers staring at a frozen battlefield while their hearts pounded in the silence.
Because of this "glitch in the Matrix," the Alolan authorities—known in our world as Play! Pokémon—were forced to ban these moves entirely to keep tournaments running. For a while, the strategy of slowing down opponents with sticky silk or swapping stats with a Power Trick was lost to the wind. But on February 7, 2018, everything changed.
The Version 1.2 Update descended upon the eShop like a saving grace from the Nintendo eShop. It wasn't a massive expansion or a new island, but it was the "patch of peace" the region needed. Weighing in at 539 blocks, it quietly rewrote the code of the world.
Suddenly, the freezes vanished. Trainers could once again use String Shot without fear of crashing the universe. The ban was lifted, and the competitive scene breathed a sigh of relief. It was a small update on paper, but for the trainers whose games had been "cursed," it was the most important story in Alola that week. Legacy: Why 1
If you are a collector looking for rare finds, did you know that Ash-Pikachu was famously not shiny-locked during this era, though some thought the 1.2 update might change that? What Alolan adventure are you currently working on?
Released in early 2018, Update 1.2 was primarily designed to solve game-breaking glitches that occurred during high-level play. Before this patch, certain move combinations would cause the game to freeze or behave unpredictably, which was a nightmare for the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC). Key Fixes Included:
The "Curse" Glitch: Fixed an issue where the move Curse would cause the game to crash if used in specific circumstances during online battles.
Move Interactions: Resolved bugs involving the moves Ion Deluge and Forest’s Curse, which weren't interacting correctly with other abilities and status effects.
Video Camera Bug: Addressed a minor but annoying issue where the game would occasionally freeze when using the in-game camera. Why You Might Still Need It
If you are playing Ultra Sun today on original hardware (3DS), this update is essential for Online Features. Without Version 1.2, you cannot access: Link Battles: Challenging friends online. Wonder Trades/GTS: Trading Pokémon globally.
Battle Tree: Certain data syncing for the endgame challenge. Fun Fact: The "Secret" Data
While Nintendo's official patch notes were brief, data miners often look at these updates to see if new "Mythical" Pokémon data (like Zeraora) was being tweaked in the backend. Update 1.2 didn't add new Pokémon, but it stabilized the data for the Ultra Beasts and legendaries already in the game to ensure smooth animations during Z-Move sequences.
Are you looking to troubleshoot a specific issue with the update, or are you hunting for hidden details in the game's code?
What’s Actually in the Box?
Unlike the massive content drops we see in Pokémon Scarlet/Violet or Sword/Shield DLC today, Update 1.2 is purely a maintenance patch. There are no new Ultra Beasts, no Episode RR epilogue, and no shiny Necrozma giveaway. The official patch notes—buried deep in Nintendo’s support archives—boil down to three cryptic lines:
- Stability improvements for online battles.
- Adjustments to Pokémon HOME connectivity (pre-launch backend).
- Fix for the “Z-Crystal duplication” glitch.
But as any Alolan veteran knows, the real changes were felt in the trenches of the Battle Spot.