Recaps

Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian met in the National University Tournament grand final, with both determined to win their long-awaited rematch. They sent out Ampharos and Lucario, and Ye Tian Mega Evolved Lucario before Zhang Cheng opened the battle with Thunder.

• Ye Tian told Lu Luan he was completely confident he would win the final.
• Bai Yuling visited Zhang Cheng, encouraged him, and shared that she had once narrowly lost the tournament final herself.
• Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian entered the arena, exchanged words about their rematch, and began the final.
• Ye Tian chose Lucario while Zhang Cheng sent out Ampharos, whose typing could exploit Ye Tian's apparent lack of Ground-type Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to inspect Lucario and noticed its Metal Coat was suited to attacking his Flying-type Pokémon.
• Ye Tian Mega Evolved Lucario, and Zhang Cheng ordered Ampharos to use Thunder.

Ye Tian’s Mega Lucario and Zhang Cheng’s Ampharos exchanged boosted attacks in battle. Ampharos was left with about a fifth of its HP as Mega Lucario launched an Aura Sphere.

• Zhang Cheng’s Ampharos fired a Thunder Dragon, but Mega Lucario’s Aura Sphere overpowered it and took about a fifth of Ampharos’s HP.
• Ye Tian had Mega Lucario use Swords Dance while Zhang Cheng charged Ampharos with Charge.
• Zhang Cheng’s Charge-boosted Zap Cannon overwhelmed Mega Lucario’s Close Combat, taking three-fifths of its HP and paralyzing it.
• Mega Lucario charged again with Close Combat as Ampharos’s Thunderbolt weakened the attack but failed to stop it.
• Mega Lucario’s Close Combat sent Ampharos flying and left it with about a fifth of its HP, then Ye Tian ordered another Aura Sphere.

Zhang Cheng used Ampharos to wear down Mega Lucario with Thunder and repeated paralysis, but Mega Lucario knocked Ampharos out after healing itself. Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwrath, which defeated Mega Lucario with a powerful Dynamic Punch, leaving Ye Tian at a disadvantage.

• Ampharos protected itself from Mega Lucario’s Aura Spheres, then struck it with Thunder when paralysis interrupted its attack.
• Mega Lucario overcame the paralysis and used Heal Pulse to recover to three-quarters HP.
• Ampharos paralyzed Mega Lucario again, but Mega Lucario hit Ampharos with Aura Sphere and knocked it out.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwrath, which met Mega Lucario’s Close Combat with Dynamic Punch.
• Poliwrath’s Dynamic Punch sent Mega Lucario flying and knocked it out, and Ye Tian recalled Lucario.

Zhang Cheng used Poliwrath to put Ye Tian’s Heracross to sleep, build up its strength with Bulk Up, and badly injure Heracross with Waterfall. Heracross launched a boosted Reversal, and Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to defend with Protect.

• Ye Tian sent out Heracross and boosted its Attack with Swords Dance as Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath use Mind Reader.
• Poliwrath landed Hypnosis on Heracross, putting it to sleep, then used Bulk Up three times while Heracross slept.
• Heracross woke and struck Poliwrath with Brick Break, but Poliwrath endured the hit and countered with Waterfall, badly injuring Heracross.
• Ye Tian ordered Heracross to use the increasingly powerful Reversal, and Zhang Cheng told Poliwrath to use Protect.

Zhang Cheng's Poliwrath defeated Ye Tian's Heracross by exploiting confusion, leaving Ye Tian at a severe disadvantage. Ye Tian sent out his powerful Butterfree, and the battle continued with Butterfree's Rage Powder blocked by Poliwrath's Protect.

• Poliwrath shattered Heracross's attack with Dynamic Punch, leaving Heracross confused and badly weakened.
• Poliwrath used Submission to defeat Heracross, and Ye Tian recalled him.
• Ye Tian sent out his Level 69 Butterfree, prompting Zhang Cheng to consider her accurate Sleep Powder a major threat.
• Butterfree scattered Rage Powder toward Poliwrath, but Poliwrath blocked it with Protect.

Ye Tian’s Butterfree defeated Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath after putting it to sleep, building up three Quiver Dance boosts, and countering its Endeavor with Protect. Both Trainers had lost two Pokémon, and the battle was left evenly matched as the next confrontation approached.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to use Rain Dance, but Butterfree’s Sleep Powder put it to sleep before Swift Swim could help it dodge.
• While Poliwrath slept, Ye Tian had Butterfree use Quiver Dance three times, boosting its Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
• Butterfree’s boosted Air Slash broke through Poliwrath’s Protect and reduced it to critical HP.
• Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath use Endeavor, but Ye Tian anticipated the move and Butterfree blocked it with Protect.
• Ye Tian ordered Bug Bite, and Butterfree depleted Poliwrath’s remaining HP, forcing Zhang Cheng to recall it.

Zhang Cheng used Kingdra to counter Ye Tian’s Butterfree, clearing its Quiver Dance boosts and defeating it with a series of attacks. With Butterfree knocked out, the battle moved on with Zhang Cheng’s Kingdra still standing.

• Ye Tian ordered Butterfree to use Bug Buzz, and Zhang Cheng had Kingdra use Clear Smog to erase Butterfree’s stat boosts while taking heavy damage.
• Butterfree tried to put Kingdra to sleep, but Kingdra blocked Sleep Powder with Protect and struck back with a rain-boosted Hydro Pump.
• After the rain ended, Butterfree tried Sleep Powder again, but Kingdra washed it away with Surf and swept Butterfree into the wave.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Kingdra to use Dragon Pulse, which hit before Butterfree could form a Protect barrier and knocked it out.

Ye Tian sent Tyrantrum against Zhang Cheng’s Kingdra, and the two Pokémon knocked each other out. Zhang Cheng then sent out Swampert, whose attacks left Tyrantrum badly weakened.

• Ye Tian sent out Tyrantrum, and Zhang Cheng used his Detection System to check its details and Strong Jaw ability.
• Tyrantrum struck Kingdra with Dragon Claw after Kingdra’s Dragon Pulse cut his HP in half, knocking Kingdra out.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Kingdra and sent out Swampert to exploit Tyrantrum’s weakness to Ground-type moves.
• Tyrantrum’s Dragon Tail failed to break through Swampert’s Wide Guard.
• Swampert hit Tyrantrum with a Mud Bomb, which exploded when Tyrantrum tried to slice it apart, leaving Tyrantrum with only a quarter of his HP.

Zhang Cheng’s Swampert defeated Ye Tian’s Tyrantrum but was left badly weakened, and Ye Tian sent out Hydreigon. Hydreigon’s Dark Pulse overwhelmed Swampert, leaving Zhang Cheng to face the formidable Pokémon with his next choice.

• Tyrantrum injured Swampert with Dragon Claw, but Swampert drove it back with Mud Shot.
• Swampert’s Hydro Cannon knocked out Tyrantrum while Tyrantrum’s Rock Slide left Swampert in poor condition.
• Ye Tian sent out his Level 69 Hydreigon, and Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to inspect its abilities and moves.
• Swampert attacked Hydreigon with Surf, but Hydreigon’s Dark Pulse shattered the waves and knocked Swampert out.

Zhang Cheng's Togekiss fought Ye Tian's Hydreigon in the Pokémon battle, but Hydreigon defeated it with Head Smash despite taking heavy damage from Fairy-type attacks. Zhang Cheng sent out Diancie and Mega Evolved it for the final showdown, while Ye Tian remained confident as his last Pokémon entered the battlefield.

• Zhang Cheng sent out Togekiss to face Ye Tian's Hydreigon, and their Thunderbolt and Moonblast attacks badly damaged both Pokémon.
• Ye Tian ordered Hydreigon to use Head Smash, and Zhang Cheng had Togekiss counter with Dazzling Gleam.
• Hydreigon endured the Fairy-type light and struck Togekiss with Head Smash, knocking it out despite suffering heavy recoil.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Togekiss and sent out Diancie as his final Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng used an Evolution Crystal to Mega Evolve Diancie for the championship showdown.

Ye Tian sent out Aegislash as his final Pokémon to counter Zhang Cheng’s Mega Diancie, and the two began their deciding one-on-one battle. Mega Diancie launched Light of Ruin against Aegislash’s Iron Head, leaving their clash unresolved.

• Hydreigon’s Iron Tail failed to break Mega Diancie’s Protect, and Mega Diancie’s Moonblast knocked Hydreigon out.
• Ye Tian revealed Aegislash as his final Pokémon, and Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to inspect its stats and Stance Change ability.
• Aegislash charged at Mega Diancie with Iron Head while it prepared Light of Ruin.
• Mega Diancie formed an Eternal Flower infused with the aura of death as the two attacks were about to collide.

Zhang Cheng used Mega Diancie's speed and Aegislash's exposed defenses to gain an advantage in the National Tournament final, but Ye Tian restored Aegislash to full health with Rest. The battle continued with Aegislash asleep behind King's Shield.

• Mega Diancie's Light of Ruin damaged Aegislash, but Aegislash struck back with a Steel-type attack that cost Mega Diancie two-fifths of its HP.
• Ye Tian realized Zhang Cheng knew about Aegislash's Ability, and Zhang Cheng argued that Mega Diancie's superior base stats outweighed Aegislash's type advantage.
• Mega Diancie used Heal Pulse to recover fully, but Aegislash's Hydro Cannon then cut its HP in half.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Diamond Storm while Aegislash was still in Attack Forme, leaving it with only a quarter of its HP after the hit.
• Ye Tian had Aegislash use Rest, and it recovered to full health while asleep behind its shield.

Zhang Cheng used Mega Diancie’s Skill Swap and Heal Block to defeat Ye Tian’s Aegislash and win the National Tournament. Afterward, Liao Wu and Bai Yuling congratulated him, and Bai Yuling recalled that she had once lost to a powerful Steel-type Pokémon.

• Zhang Cheng had Mega Diancie use Skill Swap to replace Aegislash’s Stance Change with Clear Body, leaving it unable to switch to Attack Forme.
• Mega Diancie struck the sleeping Aegislash with Earth Power, then blocked its Gyro Ball with Protect and hit it with Earth Power again.
• Ye Tian ordered Aegislash to use Rest, but Zhang Cheng’s Heal Block prevented it from recovering its HP.
• Mega Diancie finished Aegislash with another Earth Power, and the referee declared Zhang Cheng the National Tournament champion.
• Liao Wu congratulated Zhang Cheng, and Bai Yuling praised his victory and recalled her own loss to a powerful Steel-type Pokémon.

Ye Tian was arrested by League officers but escaped with help from a masked man, prompting suspicion that he had ties to the R Organization. Zhang Cheng returned to training at Modu University, determined to become a Champion-level Trainer before graduation.

• League officers arrested Ye Tian at Kyoto University's lodgings, despite Xiao Lie demanding an explanation.
• A Salamence killed the officers, and a masked man rescued Ye Tian by teleporting them away with Alakazam.
• Bai Yuling told Zhang Cheng that Aegislash had only been found on Ghost Island, which the R Organization controlled, and Zhang Cheng could not reach Ye Tian by phone.
• Zhang Cheng asked Bai Yuling about his father and the R Organization, but she said she would tell him when he became a Champion-level Trainer.
• After returning to Modu University, Zhang Cheng began training his Pokémon to reach level 71 and prepare for the Challenge Tower.

Zhang Cheng went to the Challenge Tower to take the Champion-level Trainer assessment and began a six-on-six battle against examiner Chen Shan. After Poliwrath countered Abomasnow’s attacks and blocked Sheer Cold, Zhang Cheng ordered a Submission as hail continued to wear Poliwrath down.

• Zhang Cheng rode Pidgeot to the Challenge Tower and registered for his Champion-level assessment with examiner Chen Shan.
• Chen Shan and Zhang Cheng began their six-on-six battle, sending out Abomasnow and Poliwrath.
• Abomasnow summoned hail and attacked with Razor Leaf, but Poliwrath broke through the leaves with Dynamic Punch, badly damaging Abomasnow and confusing him.
• Chen Shan ordered Abomasnow to use Sheer Cold, but Poliwrath blocked it with Protect.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to use Submission while the hail continued damaging him.

Chen Shan's Froslass defeated Zhang Cheng's Poliwrath with Will-O-Wisp and Hex, then faced Ampharos. Ampharos struck Froslass with Zap Cannon after she emerged from the hail, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Chen Shan's Abomasnow hurt itself while confused and was knocked out by Poliwrath's Submission.
• Chen Shan sent out Froslass, who burned Poliwrath with Will-O-Wisp and evaded its Hydro Pump using Snow Cloak.
• Froslass used Hex against the burned Poliwrath, and the combined damage from Hex, the burn, and hail knocked it out.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Ampharos, which used Charge as Froslass burned it with Will-O-Wisp.
• Froslass disappeared into the hail and reappeared beside Ampharos to attack with Hex, but Ampharos hit her with Zap Cannon.

Chen Shan and Zhang Cheng traded Pokémon in a battle shaped by Chen Shan’s snowy-weather strategy. After Froslass and Ampharos knocked each other out, Walrein and Swampert began fighting in the hail, and Swampert raised Wide Guard against Walrein’s Blizzard.

• Chen Shan used Froslass’s Destiny Bond to make Ampharos lose the ability to battle when Froslass was defeated by its Thunder.
• Chen Shan sent out Walrein while Zhang Cheng chose Swampert, and Zhang Cheng’s Detection System revealed Walrein’s Ice Body ability and Leftovers.
• Walrein used Hail to renew the storm, damaging Swampert while restoring Walrein’s HP through Ice Body and Leftovers.
• Swampert struck Walrein with Mud Bomb, and Walrein retaliated with a Blizzard that was perfectly accurate in the hail.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert to use Wide Guard as Walrein’s Blizzard swept toward it.

Zhang Cheng’s Swampert defeated Chen Shan’s Walrein by combining Aqua Ring’s recovery with Toxic and a defensive strategy. Chen Shan acknowledged Zhang Cheng as a formidable challenger, but the six-on-six battle continued with Zhang Cheng holding an advantage.

• Walrein broke through Swampert’s Wide Barrier with Blizzard, so Zhang Cheng had Swampert use Aqua Ring to recover its HP.
• Swampert overpowered Walrein’s Waterfall and struck it, then poisoned it with Toxic while it was down.
• Walrein tried to finish Swampert with Blizzard, but Swampert used Protect and Wide Guard to withstand its attacks as Aqua Ring restored its HP.
• As the poison grew stronger and Walrein’s Leftovers could no longer keep pace, Walrein lost all its HP and Chen Shan recalled it.
• Chen Shan praised Zhang Cheng’s strength and said a six-on-six battle advantage could last to the end if no tactical mistakes were made.

Chen Shan sent out Venusaur against Zhang Cheng’s Swampert, then used Leech Seed to pressure the opposing team. Zhang Cheng switched to Pidgeot, which critically wounded Venusaur with Air Slash and then charged with Brave Bird as both Trainers tried to protect their Pokémon.

• Chen Shan sent out Venusaur, and she trapped Swampert with Leech Seed.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Swampert and sent out Pidgeot, which attacked Venusaur with Air Slash while Venusaur countered with Sludge Bomb.
• Pidgeot’s critical Air Slash took most of Venusaur’s HP, and Leech Seed continued draining Pidgeot.
• Chen Shan ordered Venusaur to use Toxic, but Zhang Cheng had Pidgeot block it with Protect.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeot to attack with Brave Bird, and Chen Shan told Venusaur to use Protect.

Venusaur poisoned Pidgeot before being defeated, but Chen Shan’s Aggron then knocked out the badly poisoned Pidgeot with Head Smash. Zhang Cheng sent out Swampert to face Aggron and exploit its weakness to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks.

• Venusaur broke Pidgeot’s charge by poisoning it with Toxic, but Pidgeot defeated Venusaur with Quick Attack.
• Chen Shan sent out Aggron as his fifth Pokémon and told Zhang Cheng that defeating his last two Pokémon would earn the Champion-level Trainer title.
• Aggron used Head Smash to break through Pidgeot’s Protect and knock it out without taking recoil damage.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Pidgeot and sent out Swampert to battle Aggron.

Chen Shan Mega Evolved Aggron into pure Steel-type Mega Aggron, prompting Zhang Cheng to Mega Evolve Swampert to counter it. Mega Swampert won their close-range clash, and Zhang Cheng ordered it to follow up with Mud Bomb.

• Chen Shan Mega Evolved Aggron, changing it into a pure Steel type that reduced Swampert's type advantage.
• Chen Shan ordered Mega Aggron to use Iron Tail, which broke through Swampert's Wide Guard and took a quarter of its HP.
• Zhang Cheng Mega Evolved Swampert after seeing Mega Aggron's offensive power and deciding to deal with it before Diancie.
• Chen Shan and Zhang Cheng ordered Mega Aggron and Mega Swampert to clash with Iron Head and Drill Run, and Mega Swampert overpowered its opponent.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Mega Swampert to use Mud Bomb after judging that physical attacks were not especially effective against Mega Aggron.

Zhang Cheng’s Mega Swampert overwhelmed Chen Shan’s Mega Aggron with Ground-type attacks and defensive moves. After Mega Aggron exhausted its strength trying to use Endeavor, Zhang Cheng ordered Mega Swampert to finish it with Mud Shot.

• Mega Aggron used Metal Burst to reflect damage from Mega Swampert’s Mud Bomb, but the attack only reduced Mega Swampert’s HP to two-thirds.
• Zhang Cheng had Mega Swampert use Mud Shot, while Chen Shan ordered Mega Aggron to break through the mud with Dragon Claw.
• Mega Swampert restored its HP with Aqua Ring and blocked Mega Aggron’s Toxic with Wide Guard.
• Mega Swampert struck Mega Aggron with a full-power Mud Bomb, leaving it with only a quarter of its HP.
• Chen Shan ordered Mega Aggron to use Endeavor, but Mega Swampert blocked its charge with Protect, leaving Mega Aggron exhausted.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Mega Swampert to use Mud Shot and knock Mega Aggron out.

Zhang Cheng defeated Chen Shan's Mega Aggron and faced Chen Shan's final Pokémon, the legendary Articuno, in his assessment for Champion-level Trainer. Articuno and Mega Swampert exchanged powerful attacks, and the battle continued as Articuno moved to evade Toxic.

• Mega Swampert overwhelmed Mega Aggron with a barrage of mud, defeating it before it could use Protect.
• Chen Shan recalled Aggron and sent out his final Pokémon, Articuno, while Zhang Cheng examined her data with the Detection System.
• Chen Shan ordered Articuno to use Blizzard, and Zhang Cheng countered with Mega Swampert's Rock Slide; both Pokémon took heavy damage.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Mega Swampert to use Toxic, but Chen Shan commanded Articuno to dodge with Fly and attack.

Zhang Cheng’s Mega Swampert fell to Articuno, leaving Diancie to face Chen Shan’s restored Articuno. Diancie’s Diamond Storm badly wounded Articuno, but Articuno successfully used Mind Reader before taking the attack.

• Articuno froze Mega Swampert before it could fire Hydro Cannon, knocking it out and forcing Zhang Cheng to recall Swampert.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Diancie, while Chen Shan used Roost to restore Articuno to full health.
• Diancie’s Power Gem nearly broke Articuno’s Protect barrier, but Articuno held firm with Chen Shan’s encouragement.
• Zhang Cheng revealed Power Gem as a feint and ordered Diamond Storm after Articuno had used Protect.
• Chen Shan ordered Articuno to use Mind Reader; it succeeded before Diamond Storm struck and left Articuno badly wounded.

Zhang Cheng defeated Chen Shan’s Articuno and earned Champion-level Trainer certification. With graduation three days away, he returned to Modu University and reflected on how his life had separated from Ye Tian’s.

• Chen Shan ordered Articuno to use Mind Reader-backed Sheer Cold, but Zhang Cheng’s Diancie blocked it with Protect and then Wide Guard.
• Zhang Cheng commanded Diancie to use Rock Tomb, knocking out Articuno and winning the assessment battle.
• Chen Shan congratulated Zhang Cheng, who registered and officially became a Champion-level Trainer.
• After his Pokémon recovered, Zhang Cheng returned to Modu University on Pidgeot and thought about his upcoming graduation and his estrangement from Ye Tian.
• Zhang Cheng hoped he and Ye Tian would not become enemies, then went to the cafeteria to ease his stress with a meal.