‘Pokémon Sun And Moon’ News: Alolan Rattata, Raticate Explained — Exclusive To ‘Pokémon Moon’ Only?

Just recently, two new “Pokémon Sun and Moon” teaser trailers featuring the Alola forms for first-generation Pokémon Rattata and Raticate were released. While the teaser clips did not reveal the specifics about the new Alola forms, their descriptions on the official “Pokémon Sun and Moon” website explain how they came to be and hint at where they can be found.

According to the U.S. website for the Nintendo 3DS-exclusive video games, both Alolan Rattata and Alolan Raticate are Dark/Normal-type Pokémon with Gluttony/Hustle Ability. Both pocket monsters are also nocturnal, since Rattata was forced to modify its circadian rhythm and environmental preference in its decision to avoid its mortal enemy, Yungoos.

When Rattata finally found its own place in the Alola region, its form changed as an adaptation mechanism toward the different environment it is inhabiting. When Alolan Rattata evolves, it turns into Alolan Raticate. What’s interesting is the latter is described as the boss of the former, per the official description for Alolan Rattata.

Alolan Rattata and Alolan Raticate thrive in urban areas in the Alola region, and this may have strongly affected the evolved form’s diet. The U.S. Pokédex says Alolan Raticate’s high-calorie diet has led it to become hefty. As a matter of fact, while Alolan Rattata only weighs 8.4 lbs., Alolan Raticate is quite heavy at 56.2 lbs. Aside from the high-calorie diet, Alolan Raticate has become chunky because of its laziness; it prefers to just stay at home and indulge in food, while Alolan Rattata does the work of stocking food in their nest.

Both pre-evolved and evolved forms prefer to eat fresh food, like fresh fruits and high-class ingredients. Because of its gourmet quality, Alolan Raticate is even hired by first-class restaurants just to taste new dishes and identify which ingredients are fresh. Alolan Rattata is also described as a gourmet, but it may not be as skilled as its evolved form.

Now, the reason why both Alolan Rattata and Alolan Raticate are believed to be exclusively found in “Pokémon Moon” is because the U.S. Pokédex says that Alolan Raticate is the Totem Pokémon on Melemele Island’s Verdant Cavern in “Pokémon Moon.” The Pokédex also says that Alolan Raticate summons its pre-evolved form to help it whenever someone takes on the trial the former is tasked to handle.

In addition, it is also specified in the “Pokémon Sun and Moon” website that for “Pokémon Sun” players, they will have to deal with Gumshoos, the evolved form of Yungoos, because it is the Totem Pokémon counterpart of Alolan Raticate for the trials in Verdant Cavern in “Pokémon Sun.”

Truth enough, in the latest teaser trailer uploaded on The Official Pokémon Channel on YouTube, it is shown there how the two Totem Pokémon handle the trials. The teaser clip also mentions how “Pokémon Sun” and “Pokémon Moon” are set apart by a 12-hour time difference. And this is enough confirmation on how the Alola forms for Rattata and Raticate are exclusively found in “Pokémon Moon.”

“Pokémon Sun” and “Pokémon Moon” are scheduled to release on Nov. 18. Both titles are going to be exclusive for the Nintendo 3DS family portable game systems.