Recaps

After earning the Normal-class Trainer title, Zhang Cheng accepted a League mission to catch three Wooper in Magnolia Forest. There, he reunited with the Machop he had met during an earlier training trip, now evolved into Machoke, and brought it along to help search for Wooper.

• Ye Tian defeated the examiner’s Gloom with Butterfree’s Aerial Ace and Psybeam, while Zhang Cheng completed his own battle; both registered as Normal-class Trainers.
• Zhang Cheng returned home and decided to spend winter break improving his Pokémon by taking League missions.
• Zhang Cheng accepted a Gold Rank mission to catch three Wooper for a reward of 200,000 Pokémon Coins and traveled to Magnolia Town.
• Zhang Cheng went to the waterfall area where he had previously met a training Machop and found it had evolved into Machoke.
• Machoke eagerly asked to battle Zhang Cheng’s Pokémon, but Zhang Cheng explained that he was on a mission.
• Poliwhirl indicated that Machoke could join the mission, and Machoke agreed to accompany Zhang Cheng to the river to search for Wooper.

Zhang Cheng caught a Wooper, then faced its furious mother, Quagsire. He and his five Pokémon began a coordinated attack, but the battle was still underway.

• Zhang Cheng weakened a Level 16 Wooper with Poliwhirl, Pidgeotto, and Machoke, then caught him after Poliwhirl put him to sleep.
• A Level 25 Quagsire arrived with two Wooper and attacked Zhang Cheng, apparently enraged that he had captured her child.
• Zhang Cheng checked Quagsire's stats and decided his Pokémon could defeat her despite her Water Absorb ability.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwhirl, Pidgeotto, Flaaffy, Marshtomp, and Machoke to attack Quagsire together.

Zhang Cheng and his Pokémon defeated Quagsire and caught the three Wooper traveling with it. He turned in his mission in Magnolia Town, collected his reward, and prepared to visit Machoke again the next morning.

• Zhang Cheng's Pokémon weakened Quagsire with coordinated attacks, and Poliwhirl used Mind Reader to make Hypnosis Wave put Quagsire to sleep.
• Poliwhirl, Flaaffy, Pidgeotto, Marshtomp, and Machop attacked the sleeping Quagsire until it fainted.
• Zhang Cheng's Pokémon stopped the two fleeing Wooper, and Zhang Cheng caught both of them, along with the first Wooper Poliwhirl had knocked unconscious.
• Zhang Cheng had Poliwhirl heal Quagsire, said goodbye to Machoke, and returned to Magnolia Town.
• Zhang Cheng turned in his mission for 250,000 Pokémon Coins, bought Fighting-type Pokéblocks for Machoke, and returned to the inn.

Zhang Cheng brought Fighting-type Energy Pokéblocks to Machoke and arranged a battle between Machoke and Poliwhirl. Poliwhirl gained the upper hand with Rain Dance and a freezing Ice Beam, then struck the immobilized Machoke with a powerful Waterfall.

• Zhang Cheng and his Pokémon greeted Machoke at the waterfall and gave him Fighting-type Energy Pokéblocks, which he accepted.
• Zhang Cheng chose Poliwhirl to battle Machoke and checked Machoke’s stats before the fight began.
• Poliwhirl summoned rain, and he and Machoke exchanged powerful attacks, each taking significant damage.
• Poliwhirl blocked Machoke’s Bullet Punch with Protect, then used Body Slam and dodged Machoke’s Karate Chop.
• Poliwhirl’s Ice Beam froze Machoke, and Zhang Cheng ordered a full-power Waterfall that shattered the ice and sent Machoke flying.

Zhang Cheng teamed up with Xiao Wei to take a Platinum Rank mission to clear Mankey from Magnolia Forest and defeat their Primeape. After preparing and meeting early, they set off into the forest to find the group.

• Zhang Cheng’s Pokémon gained levels through training, and Marshtomp learned Mud Bomb while Flaaffy learned Take Down.
• Zhang Cheng met Xiao Wei at the Mission Hall and agreed to split the reward for a mission to clear over twenty Mankey and defeat a Primeape.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei compared their Pokémon’s strength and agreed to meet at Magnolia Forest the next morning.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei set out into Magnolia Forest, following the League’s directions toward the Mankey gathering place.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei entered Mankey territory, where their Pokémon defeated two level 16 attackers and drew a larger troop. They began fighting the troop’s reinforcements before its leader, Primeape, arrived.

• Zhang Cheng checked the stats of Xiao Wei’s Ninjask, Cloyster, and Weepinbell, noting their abilities and moves.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei reached the Mankey territory and followed Zhang Cheng’s plan to draw the territorial Pokémon out.
• Two Mankey ambushed them, but Marshtomp’s Wide Guard blocked their attack; Poliwhirl and Ninjask then knocked both out.
• About ten more Mankey appeared, and Zhang Cheng urged Xiao Wei to defeat them before Primeape arrived.
• Xiao Wei ordered Ninjask to use Gust, Cloyster to use Spike Cannon, and Weepinbell to use Sleep Powder; Ninjask knocked out Mankey while Cloyster badly injured another.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei defeated a troop of Mankey using their Pokémon’s attacks and coordinated defenses. They then prepared to continue searching for a level 28 Primeape, which they planned to overwhelm together.

• Zhang Cheng warned Xiao Wei that the Mankey likely had Vital Spirit, so Weepinbell’s Sleep Powder would not work.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s Pokémon battled the Mankey, with Marshtomp blocking their attacks while Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto knocked several out.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei agreed to divide the remaining Mankey between them and finish the fight quickly.
• Xiao Wei’s Ninjask, Cloyster, and Weepinbell took down more Mankey, and Weepinbell defeated one after enduring its Fury Swipes.
• After the group of Mankey was defeated, Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei decided to search farther into the area for the level 28 Primeape.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei encountered a level 29 Primeape carrying a Lum Berry and battled it with their Pokémon. After a critical hit triggered Primeape’s Anger Point and their attacks badly poisoned it, Primeape knocked Cloyster out with Cross Chop.

• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei continued through Mankey territory until Primeape attacked Marshtomp’s Wide Guard.
• Zhang Cheng checked Primeape’s data and discovered its Lum Berry and Anger Point ability.
• Poliwhirl blocked Primeape’s Karate Chop while Xiao Wei and Zhang Cheng’s Pokémon struck Primeape with a barrage of attacks.
• Weepinbell landed a critical hit, activating Primeape’s Anger Point, and Marshtomp poisoned it with Toxic.
• Primeape’s Cross Chop shattered Cloyster’s Protect and knocked Cloyster out.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei ordered their Pokémon to overwhelm Primeape after it knocked out Cloyster, Poliwhirl, Weepinbell, and Marshtomp. Pidgeotto and Ninjask finally brought Primeape down, and the poison inside it depleted its HP as it collapsed.

• Primeape knocked out Cloyster and attacked Poliwhirl as Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei ordered their Pokémon to abandon defense and attack.
• Poliwhirl struck Primeape with Waterfall before Primeape knocked it out, and Pidgeotto, Weepinbell, and Marshtomp continued attacking.
• Primeape knocked out Weepinbell with Karate Chop while poison gradually drained its HP.
• Pidgeotto used Hurricane and Ninjask used Fury Cutter to knock Primeape to the ground, but Primeape stood back up.
• The poison flared up again, depleted Primeape's HP, and caused it to faint.

After defeating Primeape, Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei rested and continued their mission to clear out the remaining Mankey. They defeated the last group at their cave, confirmed it was empty, and headed back to Magnolia Town.

• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei rested after Primeape's defeat and treated their injured Pokémon, leaving Pidgeotto and Ninjask fit to battle.
• Three Mankey ambushed Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei, but Pidgeotto blocked their Fury Swipes while Ninjask and Pidgeotto knocked them out.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei tracked the remaining Mankey to their cave, where five Mankey attacked them.
• Pidgeotto's Hurricane knocked out three Mankey, and Ninjask's Gust finished off the other two.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei checked the cave for any remaining Mankey, then left for Magnolia Town to turn in their mission.

After completing a League mission with Xiao Wei, Zhang Cheng trained his Pokémon for nearly half a month and prepared for a Double Battle tournament with Xiao Wei. They planned to register and spend the two days before the tournament practicing teamwork.

• Xiao Wei and Zhang Cheng turned in their mission, split the one-million-coin reward, and exchanged contact details after their Pokémon recovered.
• Zhang Cheng trained his Pokémon at the waterfall and in Magnolia Forest, helping them level up and learn new moves.
• Xiao Wei invited Zhang Cheng to team up for a Double Battle tournament with a one-million-coin championship prize, and Zhang Cheng agreed.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei discussed the tournament rules and expected number of entrants, then agreed to register and train their Pokémon together.
• Zhang Cheng returned to Magnolia Forest to train, while Xiao Wei went to the Pokémon Mission Center to take on missions.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei trained their Pokémon for a Double Battle tournament, then drew number 6 and learned they would face brothers Fang Jin and Fang Yin. After watching several poorly coordinated teams compete, Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei took their positions for their opening match.

• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei chose Poliwhirl and Cloyster as their leads, with Pidgeotto and Ninjask as their second Pokémon, and trained together for two days.
• Zhang Cheng fed his Pokémon Pokéblocks and rested with them before the tournament.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei met at Magnolia Town's crowded main square, where 64 Trainers had entered the tournament as 32 teams.
• Xiao Wei drew number 6 for their team, and the matchup screen showed they would face brothers Fang Jin and Fang Yin.
• Zhang Cheng watched the early matches and noticed that most teams lacked coordination and many contestants' Pokémon were underleveled.
• After the number 5 match ended, Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei took their positions across from Fang Jin and Fang Yin.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei began a Double Battle against brothers Fang Jin and Fang Yin, whose Noctowl and Ariados used disruptive tactics while Zhang Cheng's side prepared a rainy-weather assault. The opening attacks were underway, with Noctowl confronting Cloyster and Ariados defending against Poliwhirl.

• The Referee explained the Double Battle rules, and Zhang Cheng, Xiao Wei, Fang Jin, and Fang Yin sent out their Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng scanned Noctowl and Ariados, learning Noctowl had Insomnia and Ariados had Protect and Toxic Spikes.
• Fang Jin had Ariados scatter Toxic Spikes, while Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwhirl to create rain with Rain Dance.
• Fang Yin had Noctowl use Double Team, but Cloyster's Skill Link-powered Spike Cannon struck the real Noctowl and dispelled her copies.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei ordered Waterfall and Water Pulse, and Fang Yin answered Cloyster's attack with Noctowl's Extrasensory.
• Fang Jin ordered Ariados to use Protect against Poliwhirl's Waterfall.

Fang Yin used Fang Jin's advice to have Noctowl evade Cloyster's attacks with Double Team, while Cloyster resorted to Spike Cannon. Fang Jin then ordered Ariados to attack Poliwhirl, and Zhang Cheng had Poliwhirl use Protect, leaving the battle ongoing.

• Poliwhirl's Waterfall struck Ariados's barrier, while Cloyster's Rain-boosted Water Pulse took half of Noctowl's HP.
• Fang Jin told Fang Yin to use Double Team to stall Cloyster and create a chance for Noctowl to use Hypnosis.
• Fang Yin had Noctowl use Double Team repeatedly, allowing it to evade Cloyster's Water Pulse twice.
• Xiao Wei switched Cloyster to Spike Cannon, but Noctowl's Double Team limited each attack to one spike hitting the real Pokémon.
• Fang Jin ordered Ariados to use Poison Jab on Poliwhirl, and Zhang Cheng responded by having Poliwhirl use Protect.

Zhang Cheng’s Poliwhirl defeated Fang Jin’s Ariados while Xiao Wei’s Cloyster knocked out Fang Yin’s Noctowl. Fang Yin sent out Lickitung, who began battling Cloyster as the fight continued.

• Poliwhirl used Waterfall to damage Ariados, while Cloyster’s Spike Cannon steadily wore down Noctowl.
• Fang Yin ordered Noctowl to use Extrasensory, but Cloyster’s Water Pulse knocked Noctowl out; Fang Yin sent out Lickitung.
• Poliwhirl put Ariados to sleep with Hypnosis, restored the rain with Rain Dance, and knocked Ariados out with Wake-Up Slap.
• Zhang Cheng checked Lickitung’s stats and judged that Cloyster could handle him.
• Lickitung attacked Cloyster with Lick, but Cloyster’s Spike Cannon struck his tongue and forced him to pull it back.

Zhang Cheng’s Poliwhirl battled Fang Jin’s Pinsir and was knocked out by Close Combat, leaving Pidgeotto to face Pinsir. Meanwhile, Fang Yin’s Lickitung and Xiao Wei’s Cloyster continued their close battle, with both attacks striking at once.

• Fang Jin sent out Pinsir, and Zhang Cheng scanned him, discovering his strong Close Combat move.
• Pinsir and Poliwhirl traded attacks, then Pinsir broke through Poliwhirl’s Ice Beam with Close Combat and knocked him out.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Poliwhirl and sent out Pidgeotto, while Fang Jin worried about the Flying-type matchup.
• Fang Yin ordered Lickitung to use Rock Slide as Xiao Wei ordered Cloyster to use Water Pulse; the rocks and water rings hit at the same time.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei defeated Fang Jin and Fang Yin in their first-round match after Pinsir’s Rock Slide badly injured Ninjask, but Pidgeotto and Ninjask overwhelmed Pinsir. After the match, the teams became friends, and Zhang Cheng took his Pokémon to the Pokémon Center before the next round.

• Cloyster knocked out Fang Yin’s Lickitung, leaving Fang Jin’s Pinsir as his team’s last Pokémon.
• Xiao Wei sent out Ninjask to support Zhang Cheng’s Pidgeotto, but Pinsir’s Rock Slide struck Ninjask and buried it beneath rubble.
• Pidgeotto’s Hurricane badly injured Pinsir, and Ninjask escaped the rubble and healed some of its injuries with Leech Life.
• Fang Jin surrendered before Pidgeotto could finish Pinsir with Air Slash, and the referee declared Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei the winners.
• Zhang Cheng, Xiao Wei, Fang Jin, and Fang Yin became friends after the match, and Zhang Cheng went to the Pokémon Center to treat his Pokémon.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei began the second round of the tournament against Zhou Bai and Lin Yun. After learning their opponents’ Pokémon, Zhang Cheng changed their plan and decided to focus on defeating Exeggutor without using rain.

• Zhang Cheng waited for Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto to recover, then returned to the inn and rested with his Pokémon.
• The next morning, Zhang Cheng met Xiao Wei at the square, and Xiao Wei drew lot number one for their team.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s second-round opponents were Zhou Bai and Lin Yun, who sent out Exeggutor and Starmie.
• Zhang Cheng scanned Exeggutor and Starmie and judged Exeggutor the greater threat to their team.
• Zhang Cheng told Xiao Wei to avoid bringing out rain and focus their attacks on Exeggutor, and Xiao Wei agreed.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s Poliwhirl and Cloyster battled Zhou Bai and Lin Yun’s Exeggutor and Starmie, with both sides concentrating attacks on a single Pokémon. After Lin Yun used Starmie to shield Exeggutor from the Ice-type attacks, Zhang Cheng decided to switch Pokémon.

• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei attacked Exeggutor with Ice Beam and Aurora Beam, while Zhou Bai and Lin Yun targeted Poliwhirl with Bullet Seed and Swift.
• Lin Yun ordered Starmie to use Surf as Zhou Bai had Exeggutor use Synthesis, but Poliwhirl blocked Surf with Protect and Cloyster interrupted Exeggutor’s healing with Aurora Beam.
• Lin Yun proposed using Starmie to shield Exeggutor so he could attack, and Zhou Bai agreed.
• Exeggutor struck Poliwhirl with Bullet Seed while Poliwhirl and Cloyster attacked Exeggutor with Ice Beam and Aurora Beam; Starmie took the Ice-type attacks in Exeggutor’s place.
• Zhang Cheng realized Starmie resisted his team’s Water- and Ice-type moves and told Xiao Wei they should switch Pokémon.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s Pidgeotto and Ninjask defeated Lin Yun’s weakened Starmie by focusing their attacks on it. Lin Yun sent out Nidorina next, leaving the battle still underway.

• Zhang Cheng recalled Poliwhirl and sent out Pidgeotto, while Xiao Wei chose Ninjask and Zhou Bai recalled Exeggutor for Forretress.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei ordered Pidgeotto and Ninjask to attack Starmie as Lin Yun targeted Pidgeotto with Psywave.
• Forretress failed to reach Starmie in time, and Pidgeotto and Ninjask’s attacks left Starmie badly weakened.
• Lin Yun ordered Starmie to use Surf, but Pidgeotto’s Thief stole its Mystic Water before the attack landed.
• Ninjask struck Starmie with Fury Cutter and knocked it out, prompting Lin Yun to send out Nidorina.

Xiao Wei and Zhang Cheng focused their attacks on Nidorina and Pidgeotto, leaving both Pokémon badly hurt as the battle shifted under Poliwhirl’s Rain Dance. Zhou Bai sent out his weakened Exeggutor to counter the Water-types, but Cloyster’s Aurora Beam knocked it out, and Poliwhirl was left injured by Exeggutor’s Bullet Seed.

• Xiao Wei ordered Ninjask to use Gust on Nidorina while Zhang Cheng had Pidgeotto use Hurricane.
• Lin Yun had Nidorina poison Pidgeotto with Toxic, and Zhou Bai ordered Forretress to hit it with Flash Cannon; Zhang Cheng then recalled the badly hurt Pidgeotto and sent out Poliwhirl.
• Zhang Cheng had Poliwhirl summon Rainy Weather, and Xiao Wei recalled Ninjask and sent Cloyster back into battle.
• Zhou Bai recalled Forretress and sent out his weakened Exeggutor, prompting Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei to attack it with Ice Beam and Aurora Beam.
• Nidorina blocked Poliwhirl’s Ice Beam for Exeggutor, but Cloyster’s Aurora Beam knocked Exeggutor out; Exeggutor’s Bullet Seed also injured Poliwhirl, and Zhou Bai recalled Exeggutor.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei tried to eliminate Lin Yun and Zhou Bai's weakened Nidorina, while Forretress protected it and Nidorina knocked out Poliwhirl. Pidgeotto returned to the battle badly poisoned, and Zhang Cheng urged Xiao Wei to defeat Nidorina before Pidgeotto succumbed.

• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei targeted Nidorina with Poliwhirl's Bubble Beam and Cloyster's Water Pulse, but Zhou Bai sent Forretress to block both attacks.
• Lin Yun ordered Nidorina to hit Poliwhirl with Venoshock, leaving Poliwhirl at critical HP.
• Zhang Cheng told Poliwhirl to use Endeavor on Forretress, but Zhou Bai blocked it with Protect.
• Lin Yun's Nidorina knocked Poliwhirl out with Double Kick, then Xiao Wei's Cloyster badly damaged Nidorina with Spike Cannon.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Poliwhirl and sent out Pidgeotto, whose severe poison immediately took effect.
• Zhang Cheng warned Xiao Wei that they had to defeat Nidorina before Pidgeotto went down.

Lin Yun and Zhou Bai’s team struggled against Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s strategy of using Cloyster to keep Nidorina from attacking while Pidgeotto wore down Forretress. Lin Yun finally ordered Nidorina to use Venoshock on Pidgeotto, and Xiao Wei sent Cloyster’s Water Pulse at Nidorina in response.

• Lin Yun ordered Nidorina to use Venoshock on badly poisoned Pidgeotto, but Pidgeotto blocked it with Protect.
• Xiao Wei attacked Nidorina with Cloyster’s Spike Cannon, but Forretress took all five spikes for her.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei agreed to have Pidgeotto attack Forretress while Cloyster watched Nidorina and threatened to strike if she attacked.
• Pidgeotto hit Forretress with Hurricane and Air Slash as Forretress continued protecting Nidorina.
• Lin Yun ordered Nidorina to use Venoshock on Pidgeotto, and Xiao Wei immediately ordered Cloyster to hit Nidorina with Water Pulse.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei defeated Zhou Bai and Lin Yun in a close Pokémon battle, leaving Cloyster as the last Pokémon standing. The Referee declared them winners and advanced them to tomorrow’s third round.

• Nidorina knocked Pidgeotto out with Venoshock, but Cloyster’s Water Pulse then defeated Nidorina.
• Forretress used Pin Missile, and Cloyster countered with Spike Cannon, landing one spike after the other attacks canceled out.
• Forretress fired Flash Cannon, but Cloyster blocked it with Protect and confused Forretress with Supersonic.
• Forretress hurt itself while confused, then fell to Cloyster’s Aurora Beam.
• The Referee declared Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei the winners and advanced them to tomorrow’s third round.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei advanced to the quarterfinals and faced local Trainers Wei Shi and An Feng, whose Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon were vulnerable to their Rain Team. The battle began with Waterfall heavily damaging Graveler, and Cloyster followed up with Water Pulse as Dugtrio moved to help.

• Zhang Cheng rested and cared for his Pokémon before heading to the battlefield the next morning with Xiao Wei.
• Xiao Wei drew the first match and identified their opponents, Wei Shi and An Feng, as local Trainers who favored Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon.
• Both teams sent out their Pokémon, with Xiao Wei choosing Cloyster and Poliwhirl against Graveler and Dugtrio.
• Zhang Cheng scanned Graveler and Dugtrio, learning their levels, abilities, moves, and other details.
• Graveler attacked Poliwhirl with Mega Punch, but Poliwhirl countered with Waterfall and lost less health than Graveler.
• Cloyster launched Water Pulse at the badly hurt Graveler, while An Feng ordered Dugtrio to use Headbutt to help him.