Pokemon Sun/Moon/Ultra on Citra – Complete Optimization Guide

Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon are part of Generation 7 of the Pokemon series, and they introduced many new features on the Nintendo 3DS. These games look better and have more effects, which is why they need stronger hardware when running on Citra. Compared to older games like X/Y or Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, Gen 7 games use more system power and need better settings.

This complete guide explains everything in a simple way so you can run Pokemon Gen 7 games smoothly on the Citra emulator. If you are facing lag, shadow problems, or other graphic issues, this guide will show you how to fix them step by step. By the end, you will know why these games need more power, which Citra version works best, and how to adjust settings for smooth and stable gameplay.

Why Gen 7 Games Are More Demanding Than Previous Pokemon Titles?

Pokemon Sun and Moon brought big graphic improvements compared to Generation 6 games. The visuals look better, but these improvements also make the games heavier to run on Citra.

Better Graphics Engine:

Gen 7 uses a stronger 3D engine with improved lighting, shadows, and character models. Because of this, the emulator has to process more graphics in every frame. This means your CPU and GPU need to work harder while playing.

More Detailed Areas:

The Alola region has many different locations with detailed backgrounds, weather effects, and more characters on the screen at the same time. All these things increase the load on your system and make the game more demanding.

Battle Effects:

Z-Moves and new battle animations look impressive, but they also need extra processing power. These special effects make the emulator work harder compared to normal battles in older Pokemon games.

Performance Expectation:

Older games like Pokemon X/Y or Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire can often reach full 60 FPS on mid-range PCs. But Gen 7 games usually run around 40–50 FPS, even on strong systems. This is normal and still feels smooth while playing.

Higher Resource Usage:

Gen 7 games use more RAM and graphics memory than previous Pokemon titles. They also put more pressure on the CPU, especially during battles, cutscenes, and busy areas like Festival Plaza.

The good news is that with the right settings and the correct Citra version, you can still get stable and enjoyable performance. Just remember that getting a constant 60 FPS is not realistic for most PCs, and 40–50 FPS is completely playable.

System Requirements for Pokemon Sun/Moon on Citra:

Before you start changing settings, first make sure your PC is strong enough to run Pokemon Gen 7 games on Citra. Below are the system requirements explained in simple words.

System Requirements Comparison by Game:

Different Gen 7 Pokemon games have slightly different hardware needs. The Ultra versions are a bit heavier than the normal Sun and Moon games. Below is a simple comparison table to help you understand the differences clearly.

Game	Minimum CPU	Recommended CPU	Minimum RAM	GPU Requirement
Pokemon Sun	i5-6600K	i7-8700K	8GB	Integrated graphics is okay
Pokemon Moon	i5-6600K	i7-8700K	8GB	Integrated graphics is okay
Pokemon Ultra Sun	i5-7600K	i7-9700K	12GB	GTX 1050 recommended
Pokemon Ultra Moon	i5-7600K	i7-9700K	12GB	GTX 1050 recommended

Why You MUST Use Citra Canary for Gen 7 Games?

This is one of the most important parts of this guide. If you use the wrong Citra version, you may face crashes, graphic problems, and very bad performance. To run Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon smoothly, choosing the correct version of Citra is extremely important.

The Problem with Citra Nightly:

Citra Nightly is the regular and stable version that most people download first. It works fine for many 3DS games, but it has several problems when running Gen 7 Pokemon titles.

Common Nightly Issues with Gen 7:

• Random crashes during cutscenes, especially during Island Trials
• Black screen problems inside some buildings
• Rare save file corruption issues
• Missing textures during battles
• Festival Plaza connection errors
• Lower FPS and weaker overall performance

These problems happen because the Nightly version does not always include the newest fixes made for Gen 7 games. It updates more slowly, so some important improvements are missing.

Why Citra Canary Is Important?

Citra Canary is the development version of the emulator. It receives updates more often and includes new fixes and improvements before they are added to Nightly. Because of this, Gen 7 Pokemon games run much better on Canary.

Benefits of Using Canary for Gen 7:

• Much better stability with fewer crashes
• Improved shader loading and fewer graphic errors
• Cutscenes run properly without breaking
• Better performance in the Alola region
• Festival Plaza works correctly
• Safer and more stable save file handling

Many users have tested both versions, and most agree that Gen 7 games perform clearly better on Canary. The development team has also mentioned that these games are more optimized on the Canary build.

How to Download and Install Citra Canary?

1. Go to the official Citra website download page.
2. Choose the Canary build for your operating system.
3. Download the latest available version.
4. Extract the downloaded file into a separate folder.
5. Open the Citra executable file. There is no installer; it runs directly.

You can install both Nightly and Canary on the same PC because they use separate folders and settings. However, when playing Pokemon Gen 7 games, always open the Canary version.

Canary vs Nightly Comparison:

Feature	Citra Nightly	Citra Canary
Gen 7 Stability	Poor (frequent crashes)	Excellent
Update Frequency	Monthly	Multiple times per week
Shadow Fix Support	Partial	Full
Battle Performance	Lower FPS	Higher FPS
Cutscene Compatibility	Has issues	Fully fixed
Recommended for Gen 7	No	Yes

Fixing Shadow Glitches with Accurate Multiplication:

One of the most common graphic problems in Pokemon Sun and Moon on Citra is broken shadows. You may see shadows that look blocky, very dark, or completely black in some areas. This makes the game look strange even though it still runs.

Understanding the Shadow Problem:

This shadow issue happens because Gen 7 games use a more advanced system to create shadows. Citra’s default settings sometimes cannot correctly process these shadow calculations. Because of this, the emulator shows visual glitches instead of smooth and natural shadows.

Where You May Notice Shadow Issues:

This problem does not break the game or affect gameplay. However, it makes the graphics look bad and reduces the overall visual experience.

Enabling Accurate Multiplication (The Main Fix):

The good news is that this problem can be fixed with one simple setting. You only need to enable it once, and it will solve the shadow issue completely.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open Citra Canary (make sure you are not using the Nightly version).
2. Click on Emulation at the top of the screen in the menu bar.
3. Choose Configure from the dropdown menu to open settings.
4. Click on the Graphics tab from the left side panel.
5. Scroll down until you find the Advanced section in the graphics settings.
6. Look for the option called Enable Accurate Multiplication.
7. Tick the checkbox to turn it on.
8. Click OK to save your changes and close the window.
9. Restart Citra so the changes fully apply to the game.

Performance Impact:

Many users worry that enabling this setting will reduce FPS. In reality, the performance impact is very small on most systems.

Expected Performance Changes:

The small performance cost is worth it because the game looks much better and more realistic.

If Shadows Still Look Wrong?

In rare cases, shadows may still not look correct even after enabling Accurate Multiplication. If that happens, try these extra steps:

• Update your graphics drivers to the newest version from your GPU manufacturer’s website.
• Double-check that you are using Citra Canary and not the Nightly version.
• Delete the shader cache by going to Emulation > Configure > Graphics and selecting Delete Shader Cache.
• Make sure Hardware Shader is turned on in the Graphics settings.
• Confirm that your graphics card supports OpenGL 4.3 or a newer version.

For most users, simply enabling Accurate Multiplication fixes the shadow problem completely. It is the most important setting for improving graphics in Pokemon Gen 7 games on Citra.

Graphics Optimization for Best Performance:

Now that the shadow issue is fixed, the next step is to adjust your graphics settings for the best mix of smooth FPS and clear visuals. The goal is not just high quality, but stable performance without lag or stuttering during gameplay.

Resolution Scaling:

Resolution scaling increases the original 3DS resolution (400×240) so the game looks sharper on modern monitors. Higher resolution makes the game clearer, but it also requires more GPU power.

Resolution Options Explained:

• 1x Native (400×240): Very blurry but gives the best performance. Only use this on very weak systems.
• 2x Native (800×480): A decent balance between clarity and speed. Best for minimum-spec PCs.
• 3x Native (1200×720): The best option for most users. Looks sharp and runs smoothly.
• 4x Native (1600×960): Very clear image but needs a strong GPU.
• 5x or higher: Too demanding for 3DS games and not recommended.

Recommendation: Start with 3x resolution because it works well for most PCs. If you notice lag, lower it to 2x for better stability. If your FPS stays stable and smooth, you can test 4x resolution.

How to Change Resolution:

• Open Citra and click on Emulation in the top menu.
• Select Configure from the dropdown list to open settings.
• Go to the Graphics section on the left side.
• Find the Resolution dropdown option.
• Choose your preferred resolution multiplier.
• Click Apply or OK and test the game to check performance.

Hardware Shader vs Software Rendering

This setting controls whether Citra uses your GPU or CPU to process graphics.

Hardware Shader (Strongly Recommended):

• It uses your graphics card (GPU) to render the game instead of the CPU.
• It can improve performance by 15–30 FPS compared to software mode.
• It requires OpenGL 4.3 or higher support from your GPU.
• It allows advanced graphic features to work properly in Gen 7 games.

Software Rendering:

• It uses only your CPU to process all graphics tasks.
• It is extremely slow and usually makes games unplayable.
• It should only be used if Hardware Shader causes crashes or errors.

How to Enable Hardware Shader:

• Go to Emulation > Configure > Graphics.
• Find and check the option called Enable Hardware Shader.
• Make sure Enable Software Rendering is unchecked.

Hardware Shader is necessary for playable performance, and it should stay enabled unless your GPU does not support it.

Texture Filtering:

Texture filtering makes rough textures look smoother, but it can slightly reduce FPS depending on the option you choose.

Available Options:

• None: Textures may look pixelated, but this gives the highest possible FPS.
• Anime4K: Uses AI-style upscaling for better visuals, but it has a moderate performance cost.
• Bicubic: Smooths textures nicely with only a small FPS drop, making it a good middle option.
• ScaleForce: Provides the highest texture quality, but it requires a powerful GPU.

Recommendation: Use “None” if you want maximum FPS and stability. Use “Bicubic” if your FPS is already stable and you want slightly smoother textures.

Post-Processing Effects:

Post-processing effects improve visual quality but can lower performance noticeably.

Common Post-Processing Effects:

• Anti-aliasing: Smooths jagged edges around characters and objects.
• Color correction: Adjusts colors to make them look richer or more vibrant.
• Ambient occlusion: Adds realistic shadow depth to objects and environments.
• Screen space reflections: Adds reflective effects on surfaces.

These features can reduce FPS by 5–10 frames on many systems.

Recommendation: Keep all post-processing disabled unless you have a strong PC and stable 50+ FPS during gameplay.

Frame Limit and V-Sync:

These options control game speed and how frames are displayed on your screen.

Frame Limit:

• Keep it at 100% for normal gameplay speed.
• Setting it to 200% or 400% will speed up the game but may cause audio problems.
• Higher limits are only useful for fast-forwarding or grinding.

V-Sync:

• Synchronizes the game’s FPS with your monitor’s refresh rate.
• Reduces screen tearing during movement.
• May cause slight input delay on some systems.

Recommendation: Keep V-Sync disabled for faster and more responsive controls.

Optimal Graphics Settings by System Level:

After changing settings, test the game in different locations like towns, routes, and battles. If FPS drops in certain areas, slightly lower the resolution or disable extra effects until performance becomes stable on your specific system.

CPU and Performance Optimization:

Graphics settings are important, but CPU settings matter even more for Citra performance, especially in Pokemon Gen 7 games. If your CPU is not optimized properly, the game will lag even if your graphics settings are perfect.

Enable CPU JIT (Very Important):

CPU JIT (Just-In-Time compilation) helps Citra translate 3DS instructions much faster so the game runs smoothly.

How to Enable CPU JIT:

• Open Citra and click on Emulation in the top menu.
• Select Configure from the dropdown list.
• Go to the General tab.
• Find the option called CPU JIT.
• Make sure the checkbox is enabled (it is usually enabled by default).

You should never disable CPU JIT because it is essential for good performance.

Performance Impact:

• Enabling CPU JIT can improve FPS by 40–60%.
• Without it, Pokemon Sun/Moon may run extremely slow and become unplayable.
• It is one of the most important settings for smooth emulation.

CPU Clock Speed Adjustment:

This option lets you increase or decrease the speed of the emulated 3DS CPU.

• Default setting is 100%, which matches the original 3DS speed.
• The adjustable range usually goes from 25% up to 400%.

When You Should Adjust It:

• Increase to 110–125% if you want slightly better FPS in heavy areas like towns or battles.
• Decrease to 90–95% if your CPU is overheating or throttling.
• Never go above 150% because it can cause game bugs, audio problems, or timing errors.

How to Change CPU Clock Speed:

• Go to Emulation > Configure > General.
• Find the CPU Clock Speed slider.
• Move the slider to your desired percentage.

Recommendation: Keep it at 100% in most cases. Only increase it slightly if your CPU still has extra power and you want a small FPS boost. Always test the game after changing it.

Audio Settings and Performance:

Audio settings also use CPU power, and sometimes adjusting them can improve performance.

How to Optimize Audio:

• Go to Emulation > Configure > Audio.
• Set Output Type to “Auto” so Citra chooses the best option.
• Disable Enable Audio Stretching if you hear crackling sounds.
• Lower the volume slightly because higher volume can use more processing power.

About Audio Stretching:

• Audio Stretching keeps sound smooth when FPS drops below 100%.
• It uses extra CPU resources.
• If your FPS is stable, you can disable it for a small performance improvement.

Close Background Applications:

Running too many programs in the background can reduce FPS because they use CPU and RAM.

Common Programs That Use Many Resources:

• Web browsers with many open tabs like Chrome or Firefox.
• Discord with hardware acceleration enabled.
• Game launchers like Steam or Epic Games running in the background.
• Streaming or recording software like OBS or Streamlabs.
• Antivirus software doing real-time scanning.

How to Check in Task Manager:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Click on the CPU or Memory column to sort by usage.
• Close programs that are not important and are using high resources.

Freeing up system resources can noticeably improve Citra performance.

Windows-Specific Optimizations:

If you are using Windows, you can adjust some system settings for better performance.

Set Power Plan to High Performance:

• Open Windows Power Settings.
• Choose High Performance instead of Balanced or Power Saver.
• This allows your CPU to run at full speed.

Enable Game Mode:

• Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
• Turn on Game Mode.
• This gives priority to games and emulators.

Check Virtual Memory:

• Go to Settings > System > About > Advanced System Settings.
• Open Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory.
• Make sure it is set to system-managed for stability.

Set Graphics Preference:

• Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics Settings.
• Add the Citra executable file.
• Set it to High Performance so Windows uses your dedicated GPU.

These small changes can help improve overall smoothness.

Monitoring Performance:

Citra has a built-in performance display that helps you understand what is causing lag.

How to Enable Performance Stats:

• Click on View in the top menu.
• Select Show Performance Stats, or press Ctrl + Shift + P.
• FPS and performance details will appear on the screen.

What You Should Check:

• FPS: For Gen 7 games, 40–50 FPS is normal and playable.
• Emulation Speed: It should stay close to 100% for smooth gameplay.
• Frame Time: Lower frame time means smoother performance.

If emulation speed drops below 100%, your CPU is the main problem. If emulation speed is 100% but FPS is still low, your GPU settings may be too high and need to be reduced.

By optimizing CPU settings properly, you can gain much better performance than by changing graphics settings alone.

Battle Performance Optimization:

Pokemon battles are the heaviest and most demanding part of Gen 7 games. Even if your game runs smoothly while walking around towns or routes, you may notice FPS drops during battles. This is completely normal because battles use more effects, animations, and graphics at the same time.

Why Battles Cause Performance Issues?

Battles require more system power compared to normal exploration. Many visual effects and animations happen together, which increases CPU and GPU usage.

Battle-Specific Demands:

• Multiple detailed Pokemon models are shown on the screen at the same time.
• Move animations include complex motion effects and ability triggers.
• Particle effects appear for attacks, weather conditions, and terrain changes.
• Lighting and shadow effects change dynamically during attacks.
• Battle backgrounds also continue rendering behind the action.

Worst Performance Drops Usually Happen During:

• Z-Moves, because they include long and detailed cutscenes with heavy visual effects.
• Double or Triple battles, because more Pokemon models and calculations are active together.
• Totem Pokemon battles, because the oversized models and aura effects require more processing power.
• Weather effects like rain, sandstorm, or hail, because these add constant animated particles.

It is completely normal for FPS to drop by 5–10 frames during intense battles compared to normal walking gameplay.

Special Settings for Better Battle Performance:

You can slightly lower your settings during battles to keep FPS stable.

Battle-Optimized Settings:

• Reduce resolution to 2x Native during battles for better stability.
• Temporarily disable texture filtering to reduce GPU load.
• Turn off all post-processing effects to avoid extra FPS drops.
• Lower internal resolution scaling if battles feel too heavy.

Some advanced users create two separate Citra configurations, one for exploration with higher graphics and one for battles with lower settings. Switching between them can improve both visual quality and performance, but it requires manual changes.

Z-Move Performance Issues:

Z-Moves have long and cinematic animations, which can heavily reduce FPS during their cutscenes.

Z-Move FPS Impact:

• FPS may drop to 30–35 during the full Z-Move animation.
• Longer Z-Move sequences are more demanding on the system.
• You may notice short audio crackling if FPS drops too low.

How to Handle It:

• Z-Move animations cannot be skipped in normal gameplay.
• The FPS drop does not affect damage calculation or move accuracy.
• If lag feels too strong, reduce resolution slightly before important battles.

Totem Pokemon Optimization:

Totem battles are especially heavy in Sun and Moon because the Totem Pokemon are larger and have glowing aura effects.

Why Totem Battles Are Demanding:

• Larger Pokemon models require more GPU power to render properly.
• Aura effects add extra particle animations around the Pokemon.
• Ally Pokemon may be summoned, adding more models to the screen.
• Multiple animations may run at the same time.

Performance Tips for Totem Battles:

• Always save your game before starting the battle.
• Close background programs to free up system resources.
• Lower graphics settings temporarily if FPS drops too much.
• Restart Citra before the battle if performance feels unstable.

General Battle Performance Tips:

Battles stress both CPU and GPU more than exploration, so small preparation steps can help.

Before Important Battles:

• Save your progress in case performance becomes unstable.
• Restart Citra to clear memory and refresh performance.
• Close all unnecessary applications running in the background.
• Make sure your laptop or PC has proper cooling to avoid overheating.

During Battles:

• Avoid resizing the window or switching apps frequently.
• Let shaders load during the first few turns, as slight lag at the start is normal.
• Accept small FPS drops during heavy animations.

After Battles:

• FPS should return to normal once you go back to the overworld.
• If lag continues, restart Citra to reset performance.

Remember that small FPS drops during battles are completely normal and do not mean something is wrong with your setup. Even powerful PCs experience minor slowdowns during the most intense battle scenes in Gen 7 games.

Ultra Sun/Moon: Performance and Improvements:

Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are upgraded versions of the original Sun and Moon games. They include extra story content, more features, and some gameplay improvements. However, their performance on Citra is slightly different compared to the original versions.

Performance Differences vs Original Sun/Moon:

Ultra versions have both positive and negative points when it comes to emulation performance.

Ultra Improvements:

• Some parts of the game code are better optimized, which helps reduce certain slowdowns.
• Cutscenes feel slightly smoother because of improved frame timing.
• Fewer crashes happen in specific locations compared to the original versions.
• They work better with newer Citra updates and fixes.

Ultra Challenges:

• They require slightly stronger hardware compared to the base games.
• New areas include extra visual effects that increase GPU usage.
• Battles may include more particle effects, which can lower FPS.
• The game files are larger and use more RAM during gameplay.

Overall Performance:

Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon usually run about 2–5 FPS lower than original Sun and Moon on the same PC because of better graphics and extra content. However, they often feel smoother due to improved stability and fewer random crashes.

New Features and Their Performance Impact:

Ultra versions include new content that can affect performance in different ways.

Episode RR (Team Rainbow Rocket):

• This is a post-game storyline with many legendary Pokemon battles.
• Performance is similar to normal story battles.
• It does not add any major extra performance problems.

Ultra Wormholes:

• This is a mini-game used to catch legendary Pokemon.
• It needs good CPU power for smooth movement through the wormhole.
• FPS may drop slightly during fast wormhole travel sequences.

New Trial Captains and Totems:

• New Totem battles include stronger effects and larger Pokemon models.
• These fights are slightly more demanding than the original Totem battles.

Mantine Surf:

• This is a surfing mini-game with 3D movement.
• It runs smoothly on most systems and does not heavily affect performance.

Bug Fixes in Ultra Versions:

Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon fixed several problems from the original games. These fixes also help improve performance when using Citra.

Fixed Issues:

• Festival Plaza is more stable and crashes less often.
• Save files are handled more safely, reducing corruption risks.
• NPC movement bugs are reduced, making towns feel smoother.
• Battle Tree performance is more stable during long battles.

Because of these official fixes, Ultra versions often have fewer emulator-related issues.

Recommended Settings for Ultra Versions:

Since Ultra games are slightly heavier, small setting adjustments can help keep performance stable.

Ultra-Optimized Settings:

• Start with 2x resolution, and increase to 3x only if FPS stays stable.
• Set CPU Clock to 100–110% if your system has extra CPU power.
• Have at least 12GB RAM for better stability, compared to 8GB for original versions.
• Expect a larger shader cache file because Ultra versions load more effects.

Setting Comparison:

Setting	Sun/Moon	Ultra Sun/Moon
Recommended Resolution	3x Native	2–3x Native
CPU Clock	100%	100–110%
Hardware Shader	Required	Required
Accurate Multiplication	Required	Required
RAM Usage	3–4GB	4–5GB

Which Version Should You Play on Citra?

The best version depends on your PC performance and what you prefer.

If your PC can handle recommended settings comfortably, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon provide a better overall experience. Even though FPS may be slightly lower, the added content, improvements, and better stability make them worth playing on Citra.

Performance Comparison: All Gen 7 Games

Knowing how each Gen 7 game performs on Citra helps you choose the right version for your PC. Some versions run slightly better, while others offer more content but need a bit more power.

Comprehensive Performance Table:

Game	Average FPS	Stability	Known Issues	Emulation Rating
Pokemon Sun	45–50 FPS	Excellent	Shadow glitches (can be fixed)	9/10
Pokemon Moon	45–50 FPS	Excellent	Shadow glitches (can be fixed)	9/10
Pokemon Ultra Sun	42–48 FPS	Very Good	Slightly more demanding	8.5/10
Pokemon Ultra Moon	42–48 FPS	Very Good	Slightly more demanding	8.5/10

Detailed Game-by-Game Analysis:

Pokemon Sun:

• It gives the best overall performance among all four versions.
• It has fewer visual effects compared to Ultra Sun.
• It is a better choice for lower-end systems.
• Loading times are slightly faster.
• It offers the full original story without extra additions.

Pokemon Moon:

• Performance is almost exactly the same as Pokemon Sun.
• It uses the same game engine and optimization.
• The only major difference is the reversed day and night cycle.
• There is no real FPS difference compared to Sun.

Pokemon Ultra Sun:

• It is about 5–8% more demanding than the original Sun version.
• It includes additional visual effects in new areas.
• The extra content makes the small performance drop worth it.
• It receives better long-term emulator support.

Pokemon Ultra Moon:

• Performance is the same as Ultra Sun.
• It needs the same system settings and optimization.
• It includes the same additional content as Ultra Sun.
• The only difference is the reversed day and night cycle.

Hardware Scaling Across Versions:

Different PCs handle these games differently depending on their specs.

Budget System (i5-6600K, 8GB RAM, Integrated Graphics):

• Sun/Moon: Around 38–45 FPS, which is playable.
• Ultra Sun/Moon: Around 35–42 FPS, with some occasional drops.
• Recommendation: Choose original Sun or Moon for better stability.

Mid-Range System (i7-8700K, 16GB RAM, GTX 1050 Ti):

• Sun/Moon: Around 48–52 FPS, which feels very smooth.
• Ultra Sun/Moon: Around 45–50 FPS, which is still very good.
• Recommendation: Both versions run well, so choose based on content preference.

High-End System (i9-10900K, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060):

• Sun/Moon: Around 50–55 FPS, which is close to maximum performance.
• Ultra Sun/Moon: Around 50–53 FPS, which is excellent.
• Recommendation: Play Ultra versions for the complete experience.

Save File Compatibility:

It is important to know how save files work before choosing a version.

Save Transfer Rules:

• Sun → Ultra Sun: Possible using external tools, but not officially supported.
• Moon → Ultra Moon: Possible using external tools, but not officially supported.
• Sun ↔ Moon: Not possible.
• Ultra Sun ↔ Ultra Moon: Not possible.

Recommendation: Choose your game version carefully before spending many hours playing, because transferring save files between versions is complicated and can cause problems.

Best Version Overall for Citra:

Winner: Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon

Even though Ultra versions may run a few FPS lower, they offer:

• More available Pokemon.
• Expanded story content.
• Better quality-of-life improvements.
• Official bug fixes from the developers.
• Strong modding community support.
• Better long-term choice for emulation.

Exception:

If your PC only meets minimum requirements and every FPS matters, then original Sun or Moon will give slightly better performance while still providing the full main story experience.

Conclusion:

Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon can run smoothly on Citra if you use the correct version and proper settings. In this guide, you learned that using Citra Canary is very important for Gen 7 games, and Nightly version should be avoided. You also learned that enabling Accurate Multiplication fixes shadow problems, and getting 40–50 FPS is normal performance for these games, not 60 FPS. Adjusting graphics settings based on your PC power helps keep gameplay stable, and Ultra versions give more content with only a small performance difference.

Emulation keeps improving over time, so it is a good idea to check for new Citra Canary updates regularly to get better performance and fewer bugs. If you want to learn more, you can check the Citra compatibility list, read detailed system requirement guides, or download the latest Canary build for best results. With the right setup and small adjustments, your journey in the Alola region can feel smooth and enjoyable on Citra, almost like playing on the original 3DS.

Frequently Asked Questions