Pokemon Sun And Moon's Next Freebie Is An Ultra-Rare Shiny

With Pokemon UltraSun and UltraMoon on the horizon, it's been a little while since we last heard from the original Sun and Moon. If there was ever a time to return to those games, that time is definitely now, as Nintendo has announced a new mystery gift promotion that will run for the next month. Trust me, the Pokemon being given away in this promotion is one that you won't want to miss.

From today until August 14, Pokemon Sun and Moon players can receive a free Tapu Koko over the Nintendo Network. Tapu Koko, as Sun and Moon players already know, is one of the legendary island guardians found in the game. The fact that Tapu Koko is a legendary Pokemon means that there's only one of them in the game, but there are more reasons beyond its legendary status for you to pick this up.

There's also the fact that this Tapu Koko is shiny – an ultra-rare color change that most casual players never even see as they play the game. Tapu Koko is normally a "shiny locked" Pokemon, which means that it can't be encountered in shiny form in Sun and Moon, making this giveaway even more important for Pokemon collectors.

So, how do you get it? The process is simple. From Sun or Moon's main menu, select "mystery gift," then select "receive," and then finally select "get via internet" and tap "yes." Your 3DS will take a few minutes to search for a mystery gift, and then Tapu Koko will be delivered to your game. Visit the person waiting by the nurse's counter in any Pokemon Center to get your Pokemon and save your game afterward.

This Tapu Koko will be delivered at level 60 and will have a full roster of moves when you first meet it: Nature's Madness, Agility, Electro Ball, and Discharge. Nintendo will end this promotion on August 14, so you've got precisely one month to pick yours up. Perhaps we'll see more of the island guardians get special mystery gift releases as we head toward UltraSun and UltraMoon? We'll see, so stay tuned.