The first part of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's The HIdden Treasure of Area Zero DLC has arrive, and The Teal Mask brings with it brand new the Kitakami region. Players have been treated to a new extra-special Kitakami Pokédex to complete in the Teal Mask DLC, with 100 carrying over from Paldea, and 100 new entries. Most of these are returning species from previous seasons, but there are eight new faces, albeit with four of them taking inspiration from existing Pokémon.
One of these Pokémon is the Bloodmoon Ursaluna, a frightening new take on the Ursaring evolution that was introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Players can get their hands on the Bloodmoon Ursaluna by taking on a side-mission outside of The Teal Mask's main story, and they get a powerful Pokémon at the end of it.
What Is Bloodmoon Ursaluna?
The Bloodmoon Ursaluna is a special variant of the Ursaring evolution that fans will have met in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. However, this bear is aesthetically terrifying to behold.
Bloodmoon Ursaluna is believed to have traveled across the sea to Kitakami many years ago, having originally come from the ancient Hisui region. This is a nice tie-in to the Legends Arceus region which is so-often kept separate from the mainline games despite being the foundations of Sinnoh, while also building Bloodmoon Ursaluna up as a Pokémon of legend.
Perrin Is The Guide To Ursaluna
To initiate the search for Bloodmoon Ursaluna, players needn't look any farther than Mossui Town, which is where they can find Perrin. Perrin has a bubbly and infectious personality but has had her issues as a professional photographer, as she seeks to get her spark back by finding out if the legends about the Bloodmoon Ursaluna are true.
Before players can go anywhere with Perrin, they need to prove themselves to her by registering three quarters of the Kitakami Pokédex, only coming back to speak to her when they have 150 of the 200 entries filled out. This may seem like a daunting task, but catching Pokémon while progressing through the main story of The Teal Mask makes this a lot easier, not to mention that many players will already have 100 of these entries completed thanks to their Paldean adventures.
Players Get Snapping Photos Before Facing Ursaluna
Upon completing 150 entries of the Kitakami Pokédex, Perrin deems the player committed and capable enough to accompany her on her quest to find Bloodmoon Ursaluna. This adventure takes them to the Timeless Woods, where Perrin sets the player a task to prepare them for meeting Ursaluna.
Players must wander and explore the woods and take clear and unimpeded photos of ten different Pokémon before returning to Perrin's camp and planning the next move. The Timeless Woods are home to many different species of Pokémon, from Sudowoodo and Hoothoot to Spinarak, Toedscruel, and Pachirisu.
Defeating The Titan Ursaluna Is A Tough Test
After getting a feel for the woods and returning to Perrin, she and the player venture forth to face Bloodmoon Ursaluna. Perrin and her Hisuian Growlithe quickly realize they are outmatched and flee to the side to take photos, as the player engages the Bloodmoon Ursaluna. Ursaluna is treated as a Titan Pokémon and is a seriously tough foe that will decimate any Trainers who don't give it the respect it deserves.
Considering how tough the fight can be, it can seem anti-climactic that it is a scripted catch at the end, as the game wants players to get their very own Bloodmoon Ursaluna. There is only one, and it is thus shiny-locked. Defeating and catching Bloodmoon Ursaluna signals the end of this mini-adventure with Perrin, and she bids the player farewell with her gratitude and a Hisuian Growlithe.
Bloodmoon Ursaluna Is Built For Competitive Pokémon
While the Bloodmoon variant of Ursaluna is still a Ground/Normal type, it is still different in its ability, stats, and moves - not forgetting its scary design. Unlike the ordinary Ursaluna that has Guts, Bulletproof, or Unnerve as its ability options, Bloodmoon Ursaluna has Mind's Eye. Mind's Eye is a new signature ability that not only allows Ursaluna to hit Ghost-type Pokémon with Normal- or Fighting-type moves, but it also prevents a foe from lowering its accuracy and even ignores changes to the opponent's evasion. Bloodmoon Ursaluna is heavily geared towards Defense and Special Attack, while the standard form favors Attack and HP
HP | 113 |
Attack | 70 |
Defense | 120 |
Special Attack | 135 |
Special Defense | 65 |
Speed | 52 |
Base Stat Total | 555 |
As for its moves, Bloodmoon Ursaluna has Moonlight and Moonblast as new moves at its disposal, as well as its signature move Blood Moon. Blood Moon is Special Normal-type move that shoots a laser-like beam when powered by the full moon, and hits for 140 power with 100% accuracy. Blood Moon's drawbacks are that it can't be used in successive turns, settling somewhere between Hyper Beam and Gigaton Hammer, but it also is incapable of hitting for super-effective damage due to it being a Normal-type move. Bloodmoon Ursaluna's navigation around accuracy drops could well make it a formidable force to take into competitive battling, especially as it can hit Ghost types while not taking their STAB offense in return.
Meeting Perrin, tracking the Bloodmoon Ursaluna, and having that enjoyable link to the Hisui region of Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a fun side-quest to take players to see more of the Kitakami region outside where they went during the main story. Fans are ultimately left wanting more of Perrin and her Hisuian Growlithe, but are grateful for this fun aside nonetheless. Other than the all-important battle itself, the side-quest is easy enough to complete, and at the end of it all, players will have themselves a powerful Bloodmoon Ursaluna to take into future battles and adventures.