Recaps

Blake hosted Leon, Sonia, and Lulina for breakfast before agreeing to battle Leon. The battle began with Leon’s Thwackey facing Blake’s Dhelmise, which withstood a super-effective Acrobatics after using Iron Defense.

• Dreepy startled Leon by darting toward the fried eggs, and Blake restrained the mischievous Pokémon.
• Leon decided he wanted a Dreepy for his future Ghost-type team and eagerly asked Blake for a battle.
• Blake insisted they eat breakfast first, and Sonia and Lulina joined him and Leon at the table.
• Lulina refereed the three-on-three non-standard battle as Leon sent out Thwackey and Blake chose Dhelmise.
• Leon ordered Thwackey to use Acrobatics, while Blake had Dhelmise use Iron Defense to withstand the attack.

Leon and Blake’s battle continued as Thwackey and Dhelmise traded attacks before Leon switched in Mr. Mime. Mr. Mime defeated Dhelmise with Blizzard, but Dhelmise managed to end the Hail with Sunny Day before collapsing.

• Leon used Thwackey’s Double-Edge to evade Dhelmise’s Bind and break free without taking recoil damage.
• Dhelmise overpowered Thwackey in a head-on clash, then tied with its Protect using Gyro Ball after Thwackey knocked away its Spell Tag.
• Leon used U-turn to recall Thwackey and send out Mr. Mime.
• Blake ordered Dhelmise to interrupt Mr. Mime’s Hail, but Mr. Mime set up the weather and was struck by Iron Head.
• Mr. Mime hit Dhelmise with Blizzard, and Dhelmise used Sunny Day before fainting; Mr. Mime won the exchange.

Blake and Leon continued their battle as Blake’s Haunter used status moves to trap and weaken Leon’s Charmeleon. The chapter ended with Charmeleon preparing a full-power Flamethrower while Haunter tried to evade it and use Hypnosis.

• Blake recalled Dhelmise, and Leon recalled Mr. Mime after the two Trainers praised each other’s Pokémon.
• Blake sent out Haunter, and Leon chose Charmeleon as his next Pokémon.
• Haunter evaded Charmeleon’s Flamethrower by diving into the shadows, then poisoned Charmeleon with Toxic.
• Haunter used Substitute to escape Charmeleon’s Crunch, then weakened it with Curse after Leon told Charmeleon to close its eyes against Confuse Ray.
• Blake used Mean Look to prevent Leon from recalling Charmeleon, and Leon ordered Charmeleon to unleash a full-power Flamethrower.
• Blake ordered Haunter to dodge the Flamethrower and use Hypnosis.

Leon’s Charmeleon evolved into Charizard during his battle with Blake’s Haunter, and Leon conceded the match after Charizard was poisoned and cursed. Blake then sent Dreepy into his first battle against Thwackey, where Dreepy was immediately knocked down.

• Blake ordered Haunter to use Hex on the drowsy, poisoned, and cursed Charmeleon, who broke free of Hypnosis and answered with Overheat.
• Charmeleon and Haunter pushed their attacks to the limit until Charmeleon began evolving, and Haunter redirected Hex to avoid harming him.
• Charmeleon evolved into a towering Charizard, but Toxic weakened him; Blake treated the Toxic and removed the lingering Curse.
• Leon admitted defeat, and Blake proposed a final battle to teach Dreepy about his shortcomings.
• Leon sent Thwackey out against Dreepy, whose delayed Double Team failed to stop Knock Off from knocking him to the ground.

Blake used his battle with Leon to teach Dreepy to follow commands, but Thwackey defeated it after a brief comeback. Leon won the match and asked Blake about Haunter’s tactics.

• Dreepy ignored Blake’s commands and was struck repeatedly by Thwackey, so Blake recalled it and explained why it needed training.
• Dreepy chose to continue battling, and Blake sent it back out with instructions to follow his commands.
• Dreepy landed a Sucker Punch on Thwackey and dodged one attack, but it became overconfident and was knocked down.
• Thwackey defeated Dreepy, and Blake and Leon agreed that Leon had won the match three to two.
• Leon asked Blake about Haunter’s tactics, and Blake agreed to answer.

After their battle, Blake and Leon spent hours discussing Pokémon tactics before Lulina interrupted them for lunch. Meanwhile, Haunter gave Charizard a powerful piece of Charcoal, and Blake revealed his family had a large supply of the rare held item.

• Blake restored his Pokémon and discussed battle tactics with Leon, crediting other trainers' ideas and explaining strategies he had adapted.
• Leon and Blake talked for over three hours until Lulina shouted at them to come eat lunch.
• Haunter gave Charizard a piece of Charcoal, and Charizard released a pillar of flame as its power surged through him.
• Leon recognized the Charcoal as a rare held item and asked Blake about it.
• Blake told Leon his family's Pokémon could make Charcoal and that their warehouse held plenty, even offering him a log.

Leon excitedly handled the Charcoal Blake had given him, and the group discussed Pokémon strength, Blake’s father, and Leon and Sonia’s delayed journey. Leon then confirmed he was ready to face tomorrow’s Gym challenge under high-standard rules.

• Leon got charcoal dust on himself while admiring the Charcoal, then washed up before joining Blake, Sonia, and Lulina for dinner.
• Leon asked why the Charcoal seemed better than others, and Blake explained that its quality could depend on the strength of the Pokémon that made it and the energy it retained.
• Leon became eager to battle an Elite Four-level Pokémon, while Blake said his father was stronger against wild Pokémon than in official battles.
• Lulina asked when Blake’s father would return, and Blake described his uncertain work investigating supernatural incidents and his family’s distance from a similar family in Kanto.
• Leon admitted he and Sonia had only reached the second Gym after a month, and Sonia blamed his poor sense of direction before they argued about her dangerous driving.
• Lulina said Leon’s match was ready for the next day, and Leon accepted the high-standard challenge because Charizard had reached its third stage.

Leon got lost in the Hulbury Gym maze for two hours before winning his high-standard Gym Challenge and earning his second Badge. Afterward, Haisewai praised his potential and discussed Blake’s talent, while Blake, Lulina, and Sonia left to celebrate.

• Leon wandered through the Hulbury Gym maze until staff found him after two hours, having passed the main entrance three times.
• Leon’s Thwackey defeated Haisewai’s Poliwhirl and Slowbro before falling, and his Mr. Mime forced her Dynamaxed Kingler out of its Dynamax state.
• Leon’s Gigantamax Charizard defeated Kingler, earning Leon his second Badge in the high-standard challenge.
• Haisewai congratulated Leon, and Leon admitted that Blake had previously defeated his Charmeleon with Haunter.
• Haisewai decided to speak with James about Blake’s skills, while Lulina insisted Blake carry her and Sonia followed them out after Leon left to change.

Blake and Lulina said goodbye to Leon and Sonia, who gave Blake two possible Fish Fossils before leaving Hulbury. Blake then learned that his parents, James and Louise, had returned to Galar, and rushed to the station to meet them.

• Blake gave Leon and Sonia a PokéNav as a farewell gift.
• Leon and Sonia presented Blake with two ancient stones they had found in the Wild Area, which Blake recognized as possible Fish Fossils.
• Blake and Lulina escorted Leon and Sonia beyond Hulbury, where the friends exchanged farewells and Leon set off hoping to catch a Water-type Pokémon.
• Blake received a call from his father, James, learned that James and Louise had returned to Galar, and hurried with Lulina to Hulbury Station.

Blake reunited with his parents, James and Louise, at Hulbury Station. James explained that Blake would join the team on a ruin expedition in a week, leaving Blake eager to prepare for his first exploration.

• Blake and Lulina met James and Louise at the crowded Hulbury Station, where Louise enthusiastically hugged them and Blake greeted his father.
• James told Blake that the Spell Tag was likely connected to ruins he had been researching and to smugglers who escaped by boat.
• James invited Blake to join the team on a ruin expedition so he could experience the wilderness, and Blake eagerly agreed.
• James explained that the team needed a week to regroup and League approval before the expedition could begin.
• James warned Blake to prepare and stay alert, then the family rode a Corviknight taxi home.

James examined Blake’s Spell Tag and revealed that it was likely made from material connected to Giratina. He told Blake that their next expedition would take them to a temple ruin related to Giratina, at least three thousand years old.

• Blake welcomed James home and told him about his new Pokémon, Dhelmise and Dreepy.
• James assessed Dhelmise and reassured Blake that Dreepy’s rapid growth and frequent shedding were signs of abundant energy.
• Haunter brought James the Spell Tag, whose powerful Ghost-type aura confirmed his suspicions about its ancient origins.
• James explained that the Spell Tag might be connected to Giratina, the legendary god of the Distortion World.
• James revealed that their next expedition would visit a temple ruin related to Giratina and dating back at least three thousand years.

Haunter reunited with Trevenant, Sableye, and Dhelmise, then asked Sableye to recount the group’s expedition. Sableye described a ruin that had been a human sacrificial site, and Trevenant’s interruptions revealed how badly the Pokémon had fought there; the argument ended with Trevenant warning Sableye to prepare for Blake joining the next exploration.

• Haunter greeted Trevenant and Sableye and introduced Dhelmise to them.
• Trevenant examined Dhelmise and judged him capable of protecting Blake.
• Haunter gave Sableye Ghost Gems and asked him to describe the outing.
• Sableye told Haunter and Dhelmise about a hidden ruin full of old corpses that the Trainers believed was a human sacrificial site.
• Sableye claimed the group had defeated the rude local Pokémon, while Trevenant reminded him that Sableye had fled and needed rescuing.
• Trevenant urged Sableye to train because Blake would join the next exploration, and Sableye snapped back at him.

Blake reunited with Sam and Anna for a lively family meal, where their parents teased them about their closeness. After the gathering, Blake told Lulina he was leaving with James and Louise to explore a ruin, and promised to take her to one someday.

• James and Blake welcomed Sam and Anna, who brought seafood dishes for the family meal.
• Louise and Anna teased Blake and Lulina about their growing closeness as the family ate together.
• After lunch, Blake told Lulina he would join James and Louise on a ruin expedition and did not know how long they would be away.
• Lulina asked Blake to take her to a ruin someday, and they sealed the promise with a pinky swear.

Blake prepared to leave with James for the Sinnoh Region to explore ruins, while his Pokémon trained and showed off their progress. Excited about the trip, Blake struggled to sleep until Haunter used Hypnosis on him.

• James checked Blake's packing list, removed unnecessary supplies, and told him to observe and learn during the trip to Sinnoh.
• Blake noticed that Dhelmise had learned Energy Ball from Trevenant, while Haunter still struggled to learn the move.
• Haunter revealed that Dreepy had tried to slack off during training, so Teacher Sableye had caught and disciplined him.
• Blake and his Pokémon celebrated their coming adventure, then returned to bed to rest before departure.
• Unable to sleep from excitement, Blake asked Haunter to use Hypnosis, and soon fell asleep.

Blake arrived in Hoenn with James but was overcome by airsickness after leaving the plane. Outside the airport, Professor Carolina and President Stone Mu Jin waited with their younger relatives to meet James's group.

• Blake vomited beside the airport until Haunter gave him water and James helped him recover with chocolate.
• James picked up the luggage and led Blake out of the airport, where a young man waited with President Stone Mu Jin.
• President Stone warned his son to follow instructions during the archaeological excavation and not act on his own.
• Professor Carolina chastised her granddaughter for lacking field experience and warned her not to rely on battling skills in ruins.
• Gible and Metang briefly confronted each other before their trainers called them off.
• Professor Carolina and President Stone recognized each other and realized they were waiting for Professor James's group.

Blake met Cynthia and Steven at the ruins, where their parents entrusted the teenagers to James’s care. As the adults discussed archaeology, the three teenagers got acquainted and discovered that Blake’s mother Louise had fallen asleep atop her Jellicent.

• Cynthia introduced herself as Professor Carolina’s granddaughter, and Steven introduced himself to Blake.
• Blake, Cynthia, and Steven chatted while their fathers and Professor Carolina exchanged courtesies and arranged the children’s visit.
• Professor Carolina discussed her research on Giratina with James, who said he had discovered clues worth investigating.
• Blake, Cynthia, and Steven joked about their parents’ personalities and noticed Louise was missing.
• Haunter pointed out Louise asleep on Jellicent, and Louise floated over to greet the teenagers.

Blake and Cynthia reunited with Louise and Steven, and Blake and Steven exchanged gifts while discussing their families’ connections to Ghost-type traditions. They agreed to make more charms together after reaching the ruins.

• Louise teased Blake about her age, then hugged Cynthia after Cynthia called her big sister.
• Blake explained that his clan’s ghost-taming skills were related to the Gravekeeper Clan at Mt. Pyre, and he gave Steven a Stability Charm.
• Steven gave Blake a Luxury Ball and explained that it combined the features of different specialized Poké Balls.
• Blake offered to make Steven more charms in exchange for interesting stones, and Steven agreed.

Blake, Steven, Cynthia, and James traveled to Jubilife City before heading to an underground ruin near Mt. Coronet, where James warned the young trainers to follow safety instructions. At the hotel, Steven and Blake introduced their Pokémon, and Steven became fascinated by Blake’s rare Dhelmise and Dreepy.

• Blake explained that ghosts existed but warned Cynthia that they were dangerous and best avoided.
• James described the sunken underground ruin near Mt. Coronet and cautioned everyone not to wander off.
• Steven, Cynthia, and Blake promised to follow the excavation team’s safety instructions, and James said Steven would lead the three young people.
• Stone booked a floor of business suites at a hotel in Jubilife City for the group.
• Blake and Steven released their Pokémon, and Steven admired Blake’s Dhelmise and was surprised to see his Dreepy.

Blake and Steven chatted about raising their Pokémon, comparing the costs and challenges of caring for Steel- and Ghost-types. Their conversation ended when Cynthia announced lunch and warned that Steven had ordered too much.

• Steven and Blake watched Dreepy and discussed how long it had taken Dreepy to hatch and how difficult he had been to raise.
• Steven explained that young Beldum were fragile and described how Aggron groups drove promising Aron away, leaving many wild Aggron malnourished.
• Steven said raising his Aggron had cost around eighty million Pokémon League credits, while Blake estimated that raising Haunter had used over thirty million credits’ worth of materials.
• Blake explained that Dreepy needed few materials for now and that Dhelmise needed gradual replenishment because its absorbed energy was mixed.
• Steven and Blake joked that they had both understated their Pokémon-raising costs before Cynthia called them to lunch and warned Steven about his excessive ordering.

At dinner, Blake and James assessed Cynthia’s shy Spiritomb and concluded that prolonged isolation had caused her autism. They advised Cynthia on creating a comfortable environment to help Spiritomb gradually recover, and Blake gave her Ghost Gems to start.

• Steven stopped Stone from ordering far too much food and told the waitress to arrange individual meals.
• Steven admired Cynthia’s Gible, and Cynthia asked Blake for advice about raising her Spiritomb.
• Spiritomb hid inside her Odd Keystone when she saw Blake, while Blake and James used their Ghost-taming abilities to help her feel safe.
• James and Blake identified Spiritomb’s autism as likely caused by prolonged isolation in ruins or a cave.
• Blake and James advised Cynthia to make a dim, comfortable room with familiar sounds and Ghost Gems, and Blake handed her a handful of the gems.

Blake gave Cynthia Ghost Gems and explained that his family's ability could attract and soothe Ghost-type Pokémon. He joked with Steven about having “money powers,” then met Cynthia's Lucario and ended the meal playfully wrestling with Haunter.

• Blake gave Cynthia Ghost Gems and suggested she keep Spiritomb away from the crowd while she recovered.
• James eased Cynthia's awkwardness by telling her to accept the gems, and Blake recalled Spiritomb before dinner.
• Blake explained that his family's ability was not psychic power, then joked that Steven had money powers.
• Cynthia brought out Lucario, and Steven admired the Pokémon while Blake sensed his energy.
• Cynthia said Lucario sensed a threat from Haunter, and Haunter bit Blake's head after Blake called him playful.

Blake, Cynthia, and Steven entered a three-way Pokémon battle after playful roughhousing at dinner turned into a match. The battle remained undecided as Gible, Metang, and Haunter exchanged moves.

• Haunter's tampering with Gible's and Metang's food sparked roughhousing, and Chairman Stone's encouragement led Blake, Cynthia, and Steven to agree to a free-for-all.
• Blake used Haunter's Haze to disrupt Cynthia's and Steven's opening setup moves, while Steven scanned the field with Metang and Cynthia sent Gible underground with Dig.
• Haunter attacked Metang with Will-O-Wisp, but Metang blocked the flames with a full-body Protect.
• Blake ordered Haunter to use Phantom Force, allowing it to evade Gible's surprise attack from underground.
• Cynthia commanded Gible to use Bulldoze while Steven tried to lift Metang with Magnet Rise, and Haunter attacked Metang but failed to stop it from taking flight.

Blake used Haunter’s Substitute and Phantom Force to deceive Steven and Cynthia, directing their attacks toward Gible while protecting Haunter. As the spectators discussed the young Trainers and their families, the battle continued with Haunter revealed from the shadows.

• Steven had Metang take flight and ordered it to use Zen Headbutt on Haunter.
• Blake ordered Haunter to use Shadow Ball and Gible to attack Metang with Dragon Claw, setting off a three-way clash.
• The dust cleared to reveal that Haunter’s Substitute had taken the hit while Gible had been damaged by its own Dragon Claw.
• Steven and Cynthia realized Haunter had hidden in a shadow, and Blake explained that the trick had targeted Gible rather than Metang.
• Haunter emerged from the shadows as Steven questioned Blake’s tactics, while the spectators praised Blake’s skill and discussed his love of Pokémon.
• The spectators shared stories about Blake, Steven, and Cynthia as the battle continued below.

Blake, Steven, and Cynthia stopped their battle after realizing that an unknown influence had driven them and their Pokémon into an unusually intense fight. Hospital examinations found the teenagers exhausted but exceptionally healthy, while their Pokémon showed conflicting signs of energy depletion and excess, leaving the cause uncertain.

• James halted the bombardment by having Chandelure use Protect, and Blake, Steven, and Cynthia realized they had been fighting unusually recklessly.
• Blake and the others suspected an outside force had affected their judgment, so James and President Stone took them to the hospital for examinations.
• The doctor found the teenagers extremely fatigued but otherwise healthy, while Nurse Joy's reports showed their Pokémon had abnormal energy levels.
• Blake suggested outside energy had influenced them and explained the contradictory readings, and Steven agreed the theory was possible.
• The doctor recommended rest, and Blake, Steven, and Cynthia left the hospital without learning what had caused the strange condition.

Professor Carolina suspected that an ancient site beneath Jubilife City had contributed to the strange incident involving Blake, Cynthia, and Steven, though James doubted it would happen again. The three youths spent the evening playing Pokkén Tournament, where Steven’s overpowered Metagross made him the target of their complaints.

• Professor Carolina told James that the youths’ battle may have triggered an event like the legendary Battle of the Three Gods near an ancient temple site in Jubilife City.
• James reassured Professor Carolina that the incident was unlikely to recur and said he was glad his son was getting along with Steven and Cynthia.
• James and Professor Carolina discussed how few friends their children usually had and agreed that playing together was good for them.
• Blake and Cynthia battled in Pokkén Tournament while Steven watched, and they accused him of winning unfairly with Metagross.
• Cynthia demanded a rematch after Steven sneak-attacked her, but Steven refused.