Ash

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ash (original: 智太郎)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Pallet Town; travels across multiple regions as a Pokémon Trainer
Occupation/Role	Pokémon Trainer; Gary's childhood friend and rival
Status	Active 681
First Appearance	Awakening 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Pikachu — Level 42	120	Gary identifies that Pikachu's strength has reset from its former Elite Four Candidate level after entering a new region.
Pikachu — Elite Four Candidate, Level 69	292	By the Battle Pyramid match against Gary, Pikachu has regained Elite Four Candidate-level strength.
Mega Charizard Y	315	Ash successfully Mega Evolves Charizard on his first attempt using a Key Stone and Charizardite Y supplied by Gary.

Background

Ash grew up in Pallet Town alongside Gary. During the Silver Conference, he defeats Gary in battle, an achievement he continues to remember proudly even after Gary becomes far stronger 1 193.

Ash's ambition is to become a Pokémon Master. His rivalry with Gary is central to that goal: he repeatedly seeks rematches, while Gary challenges him to improve rather than settle for past victories 17 293.

After clearing Kanto's Battle Frontier by defeating Brandon, Ash is offered the title of Frontier Brain Candidate. He declines because he wants to continue travelling and meeting new Pokémon 290.

In Sinnoh, Ash reunites with Pikachu at Professor Rowan's Research Institute, receives a Pokédex, and begins travelling with Dawn after Gary chooses to continue his journey with Rosa and Hilda 298.

Personality

Ash is intensely battle-focused, impulsive, and easily excited by a new challenge. He can become so focused on a Gym battle that he overlooks friends who have arrived beside him 352.

His competitiveness is matched by deep concern for his Pokémon. He forfeits a battle against Gary when Pikachu is badly injured, prioritizing its recovery over the match result 120. After another defeat, Ash recognizes that reckless strategies have held his team back and resolves to develop as a Trainer 293.

Despite frequent arguments and taunting, Ash respects Gary's strength and seeks to surpass him rather than resent him. He is similarly determined when facing formidable opponents such as Brandon, Team Galactic, and Team Plasma 290 525 678.

Abilities & Skills

Pokémon Battling

Ash is an experienced regional competitor whose battle style emphasizes momentum, unconventional tactics, and trust in his Pokémon.

• Defeats Brandon's Dusclops, Ninjask, Solrock, and Regice in a four-on-four battle to clear the Battle Frontier 290.
• Reaches the Lily of the Valley Conference semifinals, where he faces Gary in a six-on-six match 525.
• Uses Ash's Charizard, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Pikachu in his Battle Pyramid victory 290.
• His tactical weakness is a tendency to overlook type matchups and push his Pokémon too aggressively, which Gary repeatedly criticizes 293 680.

Mega Evolution

Ash can Mega Evolve his Charizard into Mega Charizard Y.

• Receives a Key Stone and Charizardite Y from Gary 314.
• Successfully Mega Evolves Charizard on his first attempt due to their strong bond 315.
• Mega Charizard Y later battles Gary's Mega Tyranitar during the Aspertia Tournament 681.

Bond with Pokémon

Ash's strongest quality as a Trainer is his commitment to his partners.

• Pikachu is his primary partner and remains at his side through every region 298 554.
• He recalls or forfeits with Pokémon when their condition becomes dangerous, including Charizard and Pikachu 120 316.
• His long and difficult relationship with Charizard develops into a bond strong enough for Mega Evolution 315 317.

Notable Pokémon

• Pikachu — Ash's longtime partner. Its strength resets to Level 42 after entering a new region, later returns to Elite Four Candidate level, and temporarily loses the ability to use Electric-type moves after absorbing Zekrom's energy 120 292 554.
• Charizard — Ash's Fire-type powerhouse and Mega Evolution partner; becomes Mega Charizard Y 315.
• Torkoal — Battles Gary's Electabuzz but faints after suffering from motion sickness caused by prolonged Rapid Spin 120.
• Sceptile — Uses Razor Leaf, Energy Ball, and Substitute against Gary's Aggron in the Lily of the Valley Conference 527.
• Infernape — Fights Gary's Gardevoir in its Super Blaze state during the Lily of the Valley Conference semifinals 526.
• Snivy — Faces Gary's Lucario in the Aspertia Tournament preliminary round 594.
• Oshawott and Unfezant — Used against Gary's Lucario and Garchomp during the Aspertia Tournament 680.
• Floatzel — Leads Ash's Lily of the Valley Conference semifinal battle against Gary's Alolan Ninetales 525.

Equipment / Items

• Pokédex — Given to Ash by Professor Rowan after he arrives in Sinnoh 298.
• Key Stone — Given to him by Gary for Charizard's Mega Evolution 314.
• Charizardite Y — Charizard's Mega Stone, also provided by Gary 314.

Relationships

• Gary Oak — Childhood friend, primary rival, and occasional mentor. Ash defeated Gary during the Silver Conference, but later losses motivate Ash to refine his strategies and continue pursuing him 1 293.
• Pikachu — Ash's closest Pokémon partner. Their reunion at Professor Rowan's institute highlights their unusually strong bond 298.
• Charizard — A powerful partner whose relationship with Ash matures through hardship into the bond needed for Mega Evolution 315 317.
• Brock — Travelling companion who provides practical support, battle knowledge, and care for injured Pokémon 120 298.
• Dawn — Sinnoh travelling companion introduced to Ash by Gary; she joins Ash to learn and grow as a Trainer 298.
• Max — Hoenn companion. Ash supports and protects Max after Jirachi chooses him as its seven-day partner 92.
• Rosa and Hilda — Friends and frequent travelling allies through Gary's group; they observe and comment on Ash's battles with Gary 293 352.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Silver Conference Rivalry

Ash defeats Gary in their Silver Conference battle, giving him an early victory over his Pallet Town rival. Gary's subsequent awakening and determination to surpass Ash establish their long-running competitive dynamic 1.

Hoenn Journey

Ash travels through Hoenn while continuing to challenge Gary. In one battle, Gary's Shiny Metagross withstands Pikachu's Iron Tail after repeated Iron Defense boosts and defeats Pikachu with Meteor Mash and Flash Cannon 15. Ash later loses a three-on-three challenge to Gary after Torkoal falls to Electabuzz and he forfeits to protect Pikachu 120.

Battle Frontier

Ash finally defeats Brandon and earns the Symbol of Bravery, clearing the Battle Frontier. His victory earns him an offer to become a Frontier Brain Candidate, which he rejects in favor of continued travel 290.

The next day, Ash challenges Gary but is defeated by Blastoise and Umbreon. Gary's guidance afterward helps Ash recognize that he must improve as a strategist for the sake of his Pokémon 291 292 293.

Sinnoh Journey

After reuniting with Pikachu in Sinnoh, Ash travels with Dawn and continues competing in Gyms, Contests, and League events 298 408. Gary provides Ash with the materials for Charizard's Mega Evolution, enabling Mega Charizard Y's debut 314 315.

During the crisis at Alamos Town, Ash joins the effort to stop Dialga and Palkia. While Gary, Rayquaza, and Darkrai stall the Legendary Pokémon, Ash's group searches for and plays Oración to calm the conflict 367 368.

Lily of the Valley Conference

Ash reaches the conference semifinals and faces Gary in a six-on-six battle. His Super Blaze Infernape is defeated by Gardevoir, while Pikachu and Sceptile face Tyranitar and Aggron respectively 525 526 527.

Unova Journey and Aspertia Tournament

Ash begins his Unova journey independently while Gary continues with Rosa and Hilda 557. When Pikachu loses its Electric-type moves after absorbing excessive energy from Zekrom's thundercloud, Ash relies on Gary's knowledge and reassurance that Zekrom can resolve the condition 554.

Ash later faces Gary again in the Aspertia Tournament. Lucario defeats Oshawott, Garchomp defeats Unfezant and Pikachu, and Ash answers by sending out Charizard to battle Gary's Mega Tyranitar 680 681.

Notable Quotes

“To become a Pokémon Master, of course!” 17

“I will definitely defeat you in the future, Gary!” 293

Trivia

• Ash's Pokédex cannot identify Gary's Shiny Metagross when it first appears, and Ash does not initially recognize the species 14.
• Ash specifically requests a rematch against Gary's Blastoise because it has repeatedly defeated Charizard 316.
• He is offered a Frontier Brain Candidate position after clearing the Battle Frontier, but chooses travel over the title 290.