Recaps

Xinhai left Petalburg and trained in Dewford, where Charmeleon and Fraxure evolved into Charizard and Haxorus. In Lavaridge, he lost a battle to Flannery but arranged special training for Charizard and Blaziken, and Blaziken reached Gym level before passing Flame Feather’s test.

• Xinhai completed his training in Petalburg, said goodbye to May, and traveled by ship to Dewford Town.
• Xinhai trained at Dewford Gym, battled Mentor Gaoshan, and later helped Charmeleon evolve into Charizard and Fraxure into Haxorus.
• Xinhai flew Charizard to Lavaridge Town and met Flannery, who arranged for Old Fire to train Charizard and Flame Feather to train Blaziken for two weeks.
• Xinhai trained at Lavaridge Gym and battled Flannery, but the heated arena helped her team defeat his four to six.
• Xinhai visited Charizard and Blaziken during their training, then continued Gym battles and focused practice while distributing twenty Evolution Stones to his companions.
• On the twelfth afternoon, Blaziken fought Flame Feather on the clan’s rocky platform and passed its test after reaching Gym level.

Xinhai finished special training at Mauville Gym, strengthening his Pokémon through battles against Electric-type opponents. After leaving the Gym, he found a Manectric caring for young Pokémon at an abandoned power station and planted Berry seedlings there before sharing a meal with his companions.

• Blaziken found her own path through training, and Xinhai left Lavaridge Town after completing the final days of training with Flannery.
• Xinhai flew to Mauville City with Charizard and began special training at Mauville Gym under Mentor Uehara.
• Xinhai won a six-on-six battle against Uehara, with Gardevoir the only one of his Pokémon still able to fight.
• Xinhai used Mauville Gym’s equipment and battles to help Alolan Golem awaken its Electric energy and prepare his team to face Electric-type opponents.
• Blaziken learned to read opponents and counterattack, while Xinhai’s team improved through repeated battles against Gym-level Pokémon.
• Xinhai finished training at Mauville Gym, then visited an abandoned power station and found a Manectric caring for Electrike, Minun, and Pichu.
• Xinhai bought and planted twenty-five Berry seedlings at the power station with help from his Pokémon.
• Xinhai grilled food by a river with his companions, and Eevee tried grilling a sweet potato.

Xinhai trained Charizard and his team at Fortree and Mossdeep before traveling to Sootopolis for his final Gym training. Wallace defeated Xinhai in a six-on-six battle, but the match gave Xinhai’s Milotic a new way to train with Aqua Ring.

• Xinhai spent three days camping by the river with his companions, then flew Charizard to Fortree City for special training.
• At Fortree Gym, Charizard lost to Sato’s Altaria, and Xinhai began two weeks of Flying-type training under Sato and Pidgeot.
• Xinhai trained his team through Gym battles, and Beedrill defeated Haruki Inoue’s Pidgeot after learning to use airflow in battle.
• Xinhai left Fortree, camped in the forest, and flew with Charizard along the coast to Mossdeep City.
• Xinhai trained for two weeks at Mossdeep Gym, where Gardevoir and Eevee reached Gym level and Beedrill reached Elite level.
• Xinhai flew to Sootopolis City, where Wallace welcomed him and showed him the Water-type Training Annex.
• Wallace defeated Xinhai six to four in a six-on-six battle, then warned him that reaching the tournament’s top eight would be difficult.
• Xinhai studied Wallace’s Milotic using Aqua Ring to hover, and his own Milotic managed to keep its Aqua Ring spinning steadily above the pool.