Recaps

Roy’s Annihilape battled Chuck’s Conkeldurr, whom Annihilape had lost to in an earlier match. Annihilape gained the upper hand with Screech and Rage Fist, but Conkeldurr’s powerful Facade forced them into a contest of strength.

• The referee started the match, and Conkeldurr activated his Flame Orb while Annihilape prepared to avenge his previous loss.
• Conkeldurr used Foresight to make Annihilape vulnerable to his attacks, while Annihilape used Bulk Up to raise his Attack and Defense.
• Conkeldurr drove Annihilape into a corner with Brutal Swing and Brick Break, but Annihilape’s Screech lowered Conkeldurr’s Defense and let Annihilape escape.
• Annihilape struck Conkeldurr with Rage Fist, but Conkeldurr recovered enough to deflect another blow and defend himself.
• Conkeldurr used his boosted Facade to shatter Annihilape’s energy barrier, and Annihilape braced against the stone pillars to stop them from coming down.

Annihilape defeated Conkeldurr in a fierce battle, overcoming confusion by trusting Roy’s instructions. Though nearly unable to continue, Annihilape stood back up with his aura surging, leaving Chuck stunned.

• Conkeldurr drew Annihilape out of the shadows and battered him with his stone pillars and Dynamic Punch, while Annihilape countered with an increasingly powerful Rage Fist.
• As Dynamic Punch confused Annihilape with illusions, Roy told him where to strike, and Annihilape trusted Roy, dodged Conkeldurr’s attack, and landed a heavy Rage Fist.
• Annihilape and Conkeldurr charged at each other, and their final clash shattered Conkeldurr’s pillar and left Conkeldurr unable to battle.
• Roy infused Ghost Power into the nearly collapsed Annihilape, who regained his strength and stood up as Chuck watched in shock.

Roy’s Annihilape and Chuck’s Heracross knocked each other out of the fight, but Heracross gained an Attack boost and began powering up. Roy Mega Evolved Chandelure, leaving Heracross dodging a relentless barrage of attacks.

• Chuck sent out his Moxie Heracross after Conkeldurr was unable to battle.
• Annihilape struck Heracross with a near-maximum-power Rage Fist, but both Pokémon became unable to battle.
• Heracross’s Moxie raised his Attack, and Chuck had him use Swords Dance.
• Roy brought out Chandelure, forcing Heracross to abandon Swords Dance and dodge Flamethrower.
• Roy Mega Evolved Chandelure, who pressured Heracross with repeated attacks until Heracross used Dig to escape underground.

Mega Chandelure defeated Heracross and began preparing to boost its power, forcing Chuck to send out Pangoro. The chapter left Roy facing Chuck’s newly revealed Pokémon in the Arena.

• Mega Chandelure drove Heracross from the ground with its attacks, while Heracross hurled rocks at it and dodged its moves.
• Chuck ordered Heracross to use Throat Chop, and Heracross struck Mega Chandelure but took heavy damage from Flamethrower.
• Heracross tried to use U-turn, but Mega Chandelure hit him with Fire Blast and knocked him out.
• Roy commanded Mega Chandelure to use Nasty Plot as Chuck recalled Heracross and sent out Pangoro.
• Roy scanned Pangoro and discovered that it had the Scrappy ability.

Roy defeated Chuck in their Gym battle, with Mega Chandelure overcoming Pangoro and earning Roy the Strike Badge. Chuck awarded Roy the badge after the referee declared him the winner.

• Chuck ordered Pangoro to strike Mega Chandelure with Bullet Punch and then slam it down with Storm Throw.
• Mega Chandelure used Protect and attacks to fend off Pangoro, while Roy had Pangoro use Double Team and Floral Healing.
• Pangoro combined Double Team with Substitute to approach Mega Chandelure, but Mega Chandelure secretly burned him with Will-O-Wisp.
• Mega Chandelure weakened Pangoro with a barrage of moves, and Pangoro collapsed just short of landing his final punch.
• The referee declared Roy the winner, and Chuck gave him the Strike Badge.

Roy stayed at Chuck's Gym until the Martial Arts Tournament and defeated Chuck in a hand-to-hand bout. Chuck then gathered the Gym's apprentices, intending to use Roy to show them that stronger fighters existed.

• Roy accepted the Strike Badge and told Chuck he had been holding back during their match the previous year.
• Roy announced he would stay at Chuck's Gym until the Martial Arts Tournament, and the two argued about their past trip together.
• Chuck challenged Roy to a hand-to-hand fight, and Roy adapted to Chuck's judo and threw him repeatedly until Chuck admitted defeat.
• Chuck decided to use Roy to teach his restless apprentices a lesson and ordered them to gather everyone from the training ground.
• Dozens of apprentices assembled below the ring as Chuck prepared to address them.

Chuck offered the Cianwood City Gym apprentices five times their usual contribution points if they could force Roy out of a small circle. Roy effortlessly defeated each challenger and left the apprentices furious and eager to try again.

• Chuck drew a small circle around Roy and promised five times the monthly contribution points to anyone who made Roy step outside it.
• Roy kicked out a Taekwondo apprentice, resisted a Judo apprentice's throws, and flung another apprentice away without moving from the circle.
• A massive Sumo apprentice charged Roy, but Roy stopped him, lifted him overhead, spun him around, and tossed him out of the ring.
• Roy taunted the silent apprentices, and the remaining Fighting-type apprentices charged into the ring.

Roy defeated Chuck’s Gym apprentices and then joined Chuck, Rena, and Machamp for a hearty meal at Chuck’s home. The evening ended with Roy teasing Chuck about his weight while Chuck struggled to understand how Roy could eat so much without gaining any.

• Roy threw every Gym apprentice out of the ring without stepping beyond Chuck’s circle, and Chuck rewarded the apprentices with double contribution points.
• Chuck brought Roy to his home, where he introduced him to Rena and Machamp.
• Roy praised Rena’s cooking and ate bucket after bucket of rice, while Machamp joined the meal and Rena explained that she made Pokéblocks for the Gym’s Pokémon.
• Rena remarked that Chuck’s belly had grown flabby, and Roy joked that Chuck should eat less.
• Chuck gave Roy extra bowls of rice as Roy teased him about supposedly gaining weight from drinking water.

Roy taught Chuck's Gym apprentices the Extreme Fighting Technique before Chuck asked him to pick up a special guest from the Galar region for the Martial Arts Tournament. At the harbor, Roy met the guest: the elderly Mustard.

• Roy demonstrated the Extreme Fighting Technique to Chuck's Gym apprentices while Chuck worried about how much food Roy was eating.
• Chuck asked Roy to pick up a special guest for the Martial Arts Tournament, and Roy agreed in exchange for two extra dishes.
• Roy flew with Dragapult to Cianwood City's harbor and waited for the guest among the arriving travelers.
• An elderly man approached Roy unnoticed, and Roy recognized him as Mustard.

Roy escorted Mustard, the former Galar Champion and Damaranch’s invited tournament judge, from the harbor to Cianwood Gym. Mustard tested Roy’s strength and recognized him as Damaranch’s surprise, then asked to test Annihilape once they reached the Gym.

• Roy recognized Mustard as the legendary former Galar Champion, and Mustard claimed he had come only to judge the Martial Arts Tournament.
• Roy released Dragapult to offer Mustard a ride, but Mustard chose to walk and asked Roy about his martial arts training.
• Mustard suddenly pressed down on Roy’s shoulder to test his strength, and Roy struggled to break free.
• Annihilape appeared to defend Roy, but Roy stopped him from attacking; Mustard recognized Roy as Damaranch’s surprise and asked Annihilape to hit him with the punch from the Edge Cup.
• Mustard agreed to continue to Cianwood Gym before testing Annihilape, then asked Roy whether he knew who he was.

Roy let Mustard test Annihilape’s strength, and Mustard overwhelmed him with effortless fighting skill before catching his strongest Rage Fist with one hand. Mustard then released his level 96 Urshifu, leaving Roy and Annihilape facing the pressure of a Champion-level Pokémon.

• Roy showed Mustard around the Cianwood City Gym and took him to the Arena to test Annihilape’s fists.
• Mustard caught Annihilape’s Rage Fist with one hand and challenged him to a battle after learning the move grew stronger with each hit.
• Mustard repeatedly dodged Annihilape’s attacks and kicked him away, even when Annihilape used his shadow to attack from behind.
• Annihilape built Rage Fist to maximum power and struck Mustard with a massive Ghost-type punch, but Mustard caught it with one hand.
• Mustard released his level 96 Urshifu (Single Strike Style), whose power startled Roy and made Annihilape recall Marshadow’s pressure.

Roy sparred with Mustard, a former Galar Champion, and watched Urshifu teach Annihilape the move Wicked Blow. After Mustard agreed to judge the Martial Arts Tournament, Chuck invited him and Damaranch to his home, where Roy ended up sharing a room with Mustard.

• Roy charged Mustard and was repeatedly knocked down, then accepted his hand and praised his strength.
• Urshifu demonstrated Wicked Blow for Annihilape, who watched and considered the move.
• Chuck arrived with Damaranch, recognized Mustard, and eagerly got his training uniform signed.
• Damaranch confirmed Mustard would be a guest at the Martial Arts Tournament, and Mustard revealed to Roy that he was a former Champion and Leon's master.
• Chuck invited Mustard and Damaranch to stay at his home and assigned Mustard to Roy's room, telling Roy to sleep on the floor in Machamp's room.

Roy helped prepare Cianwood City's Gym for the Martial Arts Tournament and registered visiting Trainers while the city filled with competitors. He claimed he would win the tournament, and the reporter dismissed him as joking as she moved on to interview other participants.

• Chuck woke Roy and put him to work at the Gym, while Rena grew comfortable with Mimikyu and Misdreavus helping in the kitchen.
• Roy saw his Pokémon exercising with Mustard and Urshifu before Chuck brought him to the Gym to register and verify tournament participants.
• Roy greeted Bado and Maylene, learned Bruno's dojo apprentices still endured Bruno's punishing training, and registered their information.
• Nobuhiko told Roy that Morty's Gengar had defeated him and his Pokémon in a Gym battle in Ecruteak City.
• A reporter asked Roy who would win the tournament, and Roy said the champion was standing before her; she assumed he was joking and turned to interview other Trainers.

Iono recognized Roy in the Martial Arts Tournament livestream and began streaming the tournament for her audience. At Cianwood Gym, Roy spotted the disguised Gurkinn arriving with Korrina, while Gurkinn sensed someone watching him but could not find them.

• Iono saw Roy on the tournament livestream and told Bellibolt and Mismagius that he was their Pokéblock-sending Master.
• Iono started an early stream, greeted her viewers, and switched her broadcast to the Martial Arts Tournament.
• Roy helped verify tournament challengers at Cianwood Gym and recognized the disguised Gurkinn by his exposed eyebrows.
• Korrina urged Gurkinn to hurry and register for the tournament.
• Gurkinn sensed someone watching him, searched the crowd, and found no one looking his way.

Korrina arrived late to Cianwood City’s Martial Arts Tournament registration after pirates delayed her ship, but Roy helped her register. She and her Lucario were accepted as contestants and were sent to the Pokémon Center for an examination.

• Gurkinn and Korrina hurried to the Cianwood Gym, but registration verification had already ended.
• Roy sent a Gym apprentice to lunch and offered to handle Korrina’s registration.
• Korrina explained that pirates in Hoenn’s waters had delayed her ship, and Roy registered her using her ID Card.
• Korrina registered her Lucario for the Pokémon Martial Arts Tournament, while Gurkinn watched Roy warily.
• Roy told Korrina to get Lucario examined at the Pokémon Center so she could receive her contestant number badge.

Roy took Korrina’s Lucario to the Gym for a checkup and won him over with a delicious Pokéblock. The chapter ended with Lucario eagerly following Roy after his attitude toward him changed completely.

• Korrina left Lucario with Roy and headed to the Pokémon Center with Gurkinn, after Roy pointed out she was going in the wrong direction.
• Maylene’s Lucario clung to Roy for Pokéblocks, while Korrina’s Lucario looked down on his eagerness.
• Roy offered Korrina’s Lucario a Pokéblock, and its irresistible aroma persuaded him to accept it.
• Korrina’s Lucario savored the Pokéblock and understood why Maylene’s Lucario loved Roy’s treats.
• After finishing the last bite, Korrina’s Lucario eagerly went with Roy for his checkup.

Roy befriended Korrina’s Lucario with his Pokéblocks before joining Annihilape in the Martial Arts Tournament at Cianwood City. The preliminaries began, and Korrina’s Lucario defeated Maylene’s Lucario in a staff match.

• Korrina returned from the Pokémon Center and found her Lucario eagerly eating Roy’s Pokéblocks, then thanked Roy and invited him to visit her in Shalour City.
• Chuck teased Roy about bending the tournament rules, but Roy told him that he could not beat him and walked into the Gym.
• The next day, Roy and Annihilape joined the Martial Arts Tournament, where Mustard, Chuck, and President Damaranch judged the Trainers’ matches.
• Roy defeated his first opponent with a knee strike, while Annihilape beat the Cianwood City Gym wrestler’s Hariyama with a throw and chokehold.
• Korrina’s Lucario and Maylene’s Lucario fought with energy staffs, and Korrina’s Lucario won by striking Maylene’s Lucario out of the ring.

Roy continued winning his Martial Arts Tournament matches after Korrina was eliminated, while Iono watched his victories from Paldea. Her livestream then cut out as a crystallized pillar of light erupted from the Great Crater, briefly plunging Levincia and Zapapico into darkness before everything returned to normal.

• Annihilape defeated Korrina's Lucario by catching his baton and flinging him out of the Arena, then claimed his twentieth consecutive victory.
• Bado overpowered Korrina in the Fighting-type Trainers' ring and set her down outside it, ending her tournament run.
• Korrina and Lucario watched Roy defeat his opponents in seconds, including Nobuhiko, who lasted the longest against him.
• Iono cheered for Roy during her livestream and tried to imitate his move by putting Bellibolt in a rear naked choke.
• Iono's Communicator lost its signal, and a boom announced a multicolored crystallized pillar of energy rising from the Great Crater of Paldea.
• The pillar vanished after Levincia and Zapapico lost power, and the cities' electrical systems soon recovered.

After Paldea’s network returned, Iono read a report about an energy eruption in Area Zero but could not resume watching her Master’s livestream. At the Cianwood Gym finals, Roy seized a ring and provoked the other contestants into challenging him.

• Iono read a news report saying an energy eruption had occurred in Area Zero and Professor Turo was investigating.
• Iono learned the Paldea network was still disrupted and went home with Bellibolt and Mismagius instead of watching the livestream.
• President Damaranch announced that the martial artists’ finals would use a points system with ring champions earning triple points and risking their accumulated points.
• Roy understood the new rules and became the first ring champion by entering one of the four rings.
• When no one challenged him, Roy mocked the contestants and claimed the tournament was so easy he could have entered his Ghost-type Pokémon too.

Roy provoked the martial arts contestants into challenging him one after another, building a huge lead in points while exhausting himself. He removed his weighted training shirt to continue fighting, leaving the crowd stunned and Korrina flustered.

• Roy revealed that he specialized in Ghost-type Pokémon and goaded the martial artists into challenging him.
• Roy defeated a series of challengers while the crowd formed a line to fight him, and his score climbed to 106 points.
• Chuck sent some contestants to the other rings, but many remained focused on defeating Roy and claiming his accumulated points.
• As Roy grew tired, he asked the referee for permission to remove his shirt.
• Roy's weighted training shirt cracked the dojo floor when he tossed it aside, stunning the crowd and revealing how heavily he had been training.
• Lucario struggled to fold Roy's shirt in hopes of earning Pokéblocks, while Korrina blushed as she secretly watched Roy fight bare-chested.

Roy dominated the Martial Arts Tournament finals by defending his ring against challenge after challenge, while Annihilape won the Fighting-type Pokémon division. Roy finished as tournament champion with 220 points and stood with Annihilape at the awards ceremony.

• Roy removed his weighted training clothes and knocked a Kanto martial artist out of the ring with a single punch.
• Roy challenged the crowd and defeated successive martial artists, prompting competitors to line up again for a chance at the championship.
• Chuck recognized that Roy had surpassed his own level, while Mustard nearly joined the ring challenges before Damaranch stopped him.
• Annihilape defeated Grapploct in the final by outlasting him, rolling him into a ball, and kicking him out of the ring.
• Roy won the tournament with 220 points, 180 ahead of runner-up Bado, and appeared on the podium beside Annihilape.

Roy and Annihilape received their gold belts after winning the Martial Arts Tournament, and Roy suggested a headline to the reporter that could spark public controversy. In Motostoke, Leon defeated Raihan, while Hop spotted a familiar figure on his Communicator.

• Mustard presented Roy and Annihilape with gold belts, and they fastened the belts around each other's waists.
• A Goldenrod City reporter recognized Roy and interviewed him, and Roy whispered a potentially controversial headline suggestion to her.
• Chuck announced that the Martial Arts Tournament had ended and invited participants to train at the Cianwood City Gym.
• Leon defeated Raihan when Charizard's G-Max Wildfire overwhelmed Duraludon, forcing Raihan to recall his Pokémon.
• Sonia cheered for Leon as Hop stared at his Communicator, where he saw a familiar figure, and Wooloo looked at the screen too.

Leon learned that Mustard had judged the Martial Arts Tournament in Cianwood City and wondered how to persuade him to return to Galar. After the tournament, Roy let Korrina try on his Gold Belt.

• Leon told Raihan he had to serve as a Trial Tower floor master on the 80th floor, then learned from Hop's Communicator that Mustard was judging the tournament in Cianwood City.
• Leon recalled his unsuccessful search for Mustard and admitted to Sonia that he could not force his teacher to return to Galar.
• Raihan dragged Hop away from Leon and Sonia, and Wooloo followed them.
• After winning the tournament, Roy and Annihilape headed backstage, where Korrina and Gurkinn found them.
• Korrina asked to touch Roy's Gold Belt, and Roy let her wear it.

After winning the Martial Arts Tournament, Roy gave Korrina a Pokéblock recipe for Lucario, but she and Gurkinn mistook it for a love letter. Korrina gave Roy a Key Stone before leaving with Gurkinn, who challenged her to complete a hundred-win streak without Mega Evolution.

• Korrina admired the Gold Belt with Lucario, while Gurkinn urged her to leave the Gym.
• Roy gave Korrina a note, and Gurkinn snatched it, assuming it was a love letter.
• Gurkinn read the note and discovered it was Roy's recipe for Pokéblocks tailored to Lucario's tastes.
• Korrina thanked Roy for the recipe and gave him a Key Stone before leaving with Gurkinn.
• Korrina vowed to win the Gold Belt next time, and Gurkinn told her to complete a hundred-win streak without Mega Evolution.

Roy comforted Maylene after her early elimination from the Martial Arts Tournament and encouraged her to keep striving. After fighting Mustard again and showing how much he had improved, Roy left Cianwood City to meet Cynthia and Professor Carolina in Goldenrod City.

• Roy gave Maylene his Gold Belt and told her that her perseverance made her a champion in her own right, restoring her confidence.
• Roy learned that Damaranch had left Cianwood City and that Mustard planned to stay before visiting Bruno in the Kanto Region.
• Mustard invited Roy to fight again, and Roy nearly knocked him down before ultimately losing.
• Roy gave Mustard Pokéblocks, then gathered Misdreavus and Mimikyu and left Cianwood City on Dragapult.
• Roy declined Chuck's invitation to stay and help clean the Gym because he needed to meet Cynthia and Professor Carolina in Goldenrod City.