Recaps

Xia You's Snowman Snorlax and Hisuian Zoroark drew widespread attention as they swept him into the Round of 16, where the tournament's strongest competitors began battling at the Main Venue. Ash opened his match against Koharu with Noctowl, but Shuckle's defenses and counterattack put him in serious trouble.

• Xia You used Snowman Snorlax and Hisuian Zoroark to defeat three opponents apiece and advance to the Round of 16, baffling spectators who could find no data on Hisuian Zoroark.
• The Round of 16 pairings were released, with Ash set to battle Koharu, Barry set to face Paul, and Tobias continuing to dominate with Darkrai.
• The final sixteen began battling at the Main Venue, where Ash's first match was against Koharu in a three-on-three contest.
• Ash sent out his Shiny Noctowl against Koharu's Shuckle, which withdrew into its shell and withstood Noctowl's Brave Bird.
• Koharu had Shuckle use Power Trick, then Gyro Ball to break Noctowl's Air Slash and nearly knock it out.

Ash overcame Koharu’s Trick Room strategy and advanced to the Quarterfinals, while Paul defeated Barry three to zero. After the second match, Xia You prepared to take the field for his own battle.

• Ash switched among Noctowl, Donphan, and Gible as Shuckle withstood his early attacks, until Gible caught Shuckle in its mouth and defeated it with Draco Meteor.
• Ash recalled Gible when Lickilicky suppressed it, then used Noctowl to defeat Lickilicky with Air Slash and Extrasensory.
• Koharu sent out his ace, Dusknoir, and used Trick Room to knock out Noctowl and Donphan before Ash sent in his last Pokémon, Gible.
• Gible caught Dusknoir’s fist in its mouth and used Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, and Ash’s commands to defeat Koharu and secure Ash’s place in the Quarterfinals.
• Paul defeated Barry three to zero in the next match, and Xia You prepared to battle.

Xia You advanced to the Lily of the Valley Conference Quarterfinals, where analysts ranked Tobias first and Xia You second, while Ash was ranked last. As Charles Goodshow manipulated the matchups to keep Xia You away from Tobias, Ash and Paul began their six-on-six quarterfinal battle, with Ash’s Infernape defeating Paul’s Aggron to take the first point.

• Xia You defeated his red-haired opponent three to zero with an unfamiliar black, tree-frog-like Pokémon, and Tobias also advanced after sweeping his opponent with Darkrai.
• The Quarterfinalists were announced, with analysts naming Tobias the favorite, Xia You second, Paul next, and Ash eighth; Ash protested the ranking to Xia You and their friends.
• Charles Goodshow admitted to manipulating the matchups so Tobias, Xia You, Paul, and Ash would avoid one another until later rounds.
• Ash and Paul began their six-on-six quarterfinal match, and Pikachu traded attacks with Paul’s Aggron before Ash switched it out for Infernape.
• Infernape defeated Paul’s Aggron and gave Ash the first point, after which Paul sent out Gastrodon.

Ash and Paul’s Lily of the Valley Conference battle swung back and forth as Paul’s Drapion defeated three of Ash’s Pokémon before Infernape knocked out Ninjask. Paul sent out Froslass against Ash’s Pikachu, while Xia You reflected that Ash had reached the level Xia You had possessed at the Indigo Conference.

• Ash recalled Infernape and sent out Staraptor, but Gastrodon trapped it with Body Slam and forced Ash to switch it out.
• Ash sent out Buizel, which knocked out Gastrodon with Ice Punch, giving Paul his second loss.
• Paul’s Drapion defeated Staraptor, Buizel, and Torterra before Ash sent out Gliscor.
• Paul switched Drapion for Ninjask, which poisoned and pressured Gliscor before Infernape knocked it out with Mach Punch.
• Paul sent out Froslass, and Ash recalled Infernape and switched Pikachu in.
• Xia You compared Ash’s strength and switching tactics to his own level at the Indigo Conference.

Ash defeated Paul in the Lily of the Valley Conference quarterfinals, securing a place in the top four after Infernape overcame Electivire. Xia You spotted Cogita in the audience, then watched Tobias’s Darkrai defeat all six of its opponent’s Pokémon as he awaited his own match.

• Paul sent out Electivire, which defeated Gliscor and Pikachu before facing Ash’s last Pokémon, Infernape.
• Xia You spotted Cogita in the spectator stands and was reassured that she had arrived safely.
• Infernape’s Blaze-powered Flamethrower and final attacks overwhelmed Electivire, and Ash won the battle against Paul.
• Ash celebrated with his companions and told Xia You he had made the top four first; Xia You promised to win his own match and warned Ash he might face him in the semifinals.
• Tobias’s Darkrai defeated all six of its opponent’s Pokémon, and Xia You, Ash, and their companions watched from the Rest Room.

Xia You defeated his opponent in the final quarterfinal battle and advanced to the semifinals, while Monferno evolved during the match. The next day's pairings set Xia You against the remaining competitor and Ash against Tobias, leaving open the possibility of Xia You and Ash meeting in the final.

• Cogita told Xia You that she had traveled to nearby cities, visited Alamos Town, and brought Darkrai out, and he agreed she could keep Darkrai for now.
• Cynthia warned Xia You that Tobias had several Legendary Pokémon, but Xia You said he had prepared for Tobias and had the situation under control.
• Xia You defeated his quarterfinal opponent with six wins, and Monferno evolved after defeating the final Pokémon.
• The organizers paired Ash with Tobias and Xia You with the other semifinalist, with Xia You's battle scheduled to begin first the next morning.

Xia You defeated his semifinal opponent and advanced to the finals, while Ash began his battle against Tobias and struggled against Tobias’s Darkrai. Ash’s Sceptile finally defeated Darkrai, leaving the battle’s outcome unresolved.

• Xia You defeated his opponent, advanced to the finals, and encouraged Ash before his match against Tobias.
• Xia You told May, Dawn, and Brock that Ash would probably lose to Tobias, whose Darkrai had not yet been defeated in the conference.
• Ash sent out Heracross, which used Sleep Talk to land a super-effective Megahorn on Darkrai before Darkrai defeated it with Dream Eater.
• Tobias’s Darkrai knocked out Ash’s Torkoal and Gible, putting Ash three Pokémon behind.
• Ash’s Sceptile endured Darkrai’s attacks, woke from Dark Void, and defeated Darkrai with a double Leaf Blade.

Ash was eliminated from the Lily of the Valley Conference after Pikachu and Latios knocked each other out, leaving Xia You to face Tobias in the final. The championship battle began with Tobias sending out Darkrai and Xia You answering with Charizard.

• Ash sent out Pikachu as his last Pokémon, and Pikachu fought Latios to a double knockout.
• Ash finished the conference in the Top Four after defeating two of Tobias's Pokémon, and the announcer confirmed Xia You would face Tobias in the final.
• Xia You received congratulations from his friends, then visited Cogita at her hotel room that evening.
• The next morning, Xia You and Tobias entered the packed arena for the Lily of the Valley Conference final.
• Tobias opened the final with Darkrai, and Xia You sent out Charizard to face it.

Xia You’s Charizard overwhelmed Tobias’s Darkrai without Mega Evolving, defeating it in a one-sided opening battle. As the crowd celebrated the upset, Tobias had to choose his next Pokémon.

• Tobias ordered Darkrai to attack with Dark Void, but Charizard countered with flames and charged forward.
• Charizard struck Darkrai with Dragon Claw, then repeatedly outmaneuvered it and drove it onto the defensive.
• Tobias tried to conceal Darkrai in black mist and counter with Dark Pulse, but Charizard dispelled the mist and overpowered its attack.
• Charizard hit Darkrai with Flamethrower and finished it with Flare Blitz, leaving it unable to battle.
• The referee declared Charizard the winner, and the crowd cheered as the announcer asked what Tobias would send out next.

Xia You’s Charizard defeated Tobias’s Darkrai, and his giant Red Gyarados overwhelmed Tobias’s Latios with its fearsome presence and powerful attacks. Tobias recalled Latios and sent out Thundurus, while Xia You kept Gyarados in the battle and ordered it to attack.

• Xia You recalled Charizard after it defeated Darkrai, and he and Tobias each sent out their next Pokémon.
• Xia You released his giant Red Gyarados, whose brutal roar and imposing presence frightened Tobias’s Latios.
• Tobias ordered Latios to attack, but Gyarados countered its moves and struck it down with Aqua Tail.
• Tobias recalled Latios when fear kept it from fighting effectively, then sent out Thundurus.
• Xia You kept Red Gyarados in the battle and ordered it to show its power.

Xia You’s Red Gyarados defeated Tobias’s Thundurus despite enduring powerful Electric-type attacks, leaving Tobias shaken. Tobias sent out Heatran next, and Xia You answered with Crystal Steelix.

• Tobias ordered Thundurus to attack Red Gyarados with Thunder, but Gyarados withstood its Electric attacks and wounded Thundurus with Crunch.
• Xia You ordered Red Gyarados to finish the battle, and it struck Thundurus with its tail before crushing it with Thrash until it lost consciousness.
• Tobias recalled Thundurus as the stadium applauded, while Xia You recalled Red Gyarados and prepared his third Pokémon.
• Tobias sent out Heatran, and Xia You responded by bringing out his Crystal Steelix.

Xia You's Crystal Steelix defeated Tobias's Heatran in a battle that revealed Steelix was a Steel- and Rock-type rather than Steel- and Ground-type. After Tobias lost his third Pokémon, he wondered whether his Legendary lineup could challenge Xia You at all.

• Crystal Steelix appeared, and Tobias ordered Heatran to attack with Magma Storm.
• Crystal Steelix evaded the flames by burrowing, then struck Heatran from below and knocked it back with its tail.
• Tobias tried to use Earth Power, but Xia You had Crystal Steelix interrupt the move with Stone Edge.
• Crystal Steelix withstood Heatran's close-range attack, countered with Dragon Breath and its tail, and trapped Heatran in a crushing coil.
• Tobias recognized that Crystal Steelix resisted fire because it was Steel- and Rock-type, but Heatran could not escape and was choked unconscious.
• The referee declared Crystal Steelix the winner, and Tobias wondered if his Legendary Pokémon were powerless against Xia You.

Xia You sent out his Gardevoir, his trusted ace, and it defeated Tobias’s Latios with precise dodging and powerful Psychic- and Fairy-type moves. Tobias had lost four Pokémon, leaving Xia You two wins away from the Lily of the Valley Conference championship.

• Xia You and Tobias returned from the break, and Xia You sent out Gardevoir as Tobias brought Latios back into battle.
• Gardevoir blocked Latios’s opening Dragon-type attack with Confusion and evaded its Luster Purge using Future Sight.
• Xia You ordered Gardevoir to use Disarming Voice, disrupting Latios, then followed with Moonblast to knock it out.
• The referee declared Gardevoir the winner, giving Xia You his fourth victory over Tobias.
• May and Dawn celebrated as Xia You recalled Gardevoir, while Tobias stared at Latios and reconsidered Gardevoir’s strength.

Xia You’s Gengar toyed with Tobias’s Regice before defeating it, leaving Tobias with only one Pokémon remaining and his confidence shattered. Xia You declared that the joke was over and that the real show was just beginning.

• Tobias sent out Regice as his fifth Pokémon, hoping to salvage some dignity against Xia You.
• Xia You sent out Gengar, who dodged Regice’s Ice Beam and Blizzard, then surprised it with a Shadow Ball and reflected another Ice Beam.
• Tobias ordered Regice to use Sheer Cold, but Gengar met the attack head-on and remained unharmed.
• Xia You told Gengar to end the battle, and Gengar knocked out the exhausted Regice with a Shadow Ball before Tobias could recall it.
• Xia You told Tobias that Legendary Pokémon were not invincible and that the real show was only beginning.

Xia You used Dialga’s Time Power to restore Tobias’s five defeated Pokémon and challenged him to fight all six Pokémon again against a single Pokémon of Xia You’s choice. The League approved the unprecedented rematch, and Tobias accepted as Darkrai returned to the field unharmed.

• Xia You revealed a crystal orb containing Dialga’s Time Power and explained that he could restore Tobias’s defeated Pokémon.
• Xia You proposed fighting Tobias’s entire team with one Pokémon, and the referee sought approval from the Pokémon League.
• John intercepted the approval request and authorized the rematch without informing Charles Goodshow.
• Tobias accepted Xia You’s challenge, and Xia You crushed the orb to restore the five defeated Pokémon.
• The announcer informed the crowd that the battle would begin again, while Charles Goodshow realized he could no longer stop it.
• Tobias released Darkrai and saw that Xia You had truly restored it to full health.

Xia You revealed Mewtwo as his trump card against Tobias, introducing the unknown Pokémon to the world in the tournament final. Mewtwo effortlessly injured Darkrai with one attack, and Tobias launched a boosted Dark Pulse as the battle continued.

• Xia You declined to change the field before revealing his Pokémon.
• Mewtwo emerged from a Great Ball, baffling the crowd and their Pokédexes; Ash recognized it, and Brock explained that Team Rocket had created it using Mew as a model.
• Xia You told Mewtwo that battling Tobias would let the world recognize it as his Pokémon, and Mewtwo accepted its first official battle.
• Tobias ordered Darkrai to use Dark Pulse, but Mewtwo blocked it with an invisible barrier and struck Darkrai with a close-range Aura Sphere.
• Tobias told Darkrai to use Nasty Plot, then ordered a full-power Dark Pulse against Mewtwo.

Mewtwo overwhelmed Tobias’s team in the tournament final, defeating Darkrai, Regice, Heatran, Thundurus, Latios, and finally Cresselia without taking damage. Tobias’s last Pokémon fell after briefly challenging Mewtwo, leaving Xia You’s victory assured.

• Mewtwo caught Darkrai’s enhanced Dark Pulse with one hand, then knocked Darkrai out after a tracking Aura Sphere and a sudden strike from behind.
• Tobias sent out Regice, but Mewtwo endured its attacks and defeated it with Psystrike.
• Heatran, Thundurus, and Latios each faced Mewtwo in turn and were quickly defeated by its attacks and superior power.
• Tobias released Cresselia as his final Pokémon, while Xia You remarked that it would be their last battle.
• Cresselia maneuvered and found chances to attack, but Mewtwo pierced her psychic defenses and defeated her in one stroke.

Xia You won the Lily of the Valley Conference, and Mewtwo's victory drew attention from the Pokémon League and Team Rocket. After celebrating, Xia You planned to travel to Unova while Ash and the others made separate plans for their journeys.

• The referee declared Xia You the winner after Mewtwo defeated Tobias's Cresselia, and Tobias left the field in silence.
• Charles Goodshow presented Xia You with the conference trophy, and Cynthia gave him the Champion Badge.
• Giovanni rejected Matori's suggestions to retrieve Mewtwo or attack Xia You, deciding to leave them alone.
• Xia You returned to the Rest Room, celebrated with his friends, and answered calls from people curious about Mewtwo.
• Xia You said he would go straight to Unova, while Ash and Brock planned to return to Kanto and Dawn and May chose not to travel with Ash.
• Cheryl said she would continue traveling with Xia You, and Ash resolved to face Unova with Pikachu by his side.

After winning the Lily of the Valley Conference, Xia You said goodbye to his friends and prepared to travel to Unova with Dawn, Cheryl, and Cogita. Cynthia secretly planned to follow him there, while Xia You left Sinnoh behind aboard a ship.

• Cynthia congratulated Xia You, told him President Charles Goodshow was retiring, and learned that Xia You planned to go to Unova; she secretly resolved to follow him there.
• Xia You encountered the Team Rocket Trio, accepted their congratulations, and told them he would see them in Unova.
• Xia You celebrated with Cheryl and Cogita, and Cogita decided to travel to Unova with him.
• Ash, Brock, and May said goodbye to Xia You, while Dawn chose to continue traveling with him after getting her mother's approval.
• Xia You reunited with Dawn, Cheryl, and Cogita, then boarded a ship for Unova as his Sinnoh journey ended.

Xia You and his companions arrived in Unova and registered for the Pokémon League in Castelia City. A Pokémon World Championships representative invited Xia You to join the first tournament as a Masters Eight member, but Xia You chose to earn his place by climbing the rankings.

• Xia You and Dawn practiced Pokémon battles aboard their ship while Cheryl and Cogita relaxed as the group sailed to Unova.
• Xia You, Cheryl, Cogita, and Dawn disembarked in Castelia City, where Dawn marveled at how different Unova felt from Sinnoh.
• Xia You registered for the Vertress Conference at a Castelia City Pokémon Center, and Nurse Joy discovered his four Conference victories.
• A Pokémon World Championships staff member invited Xia You to enter the first tournament and offered him an immediate place among the Masters Eight.
• Xia You accepted the invitation to compete but declined the direct Masters Eight spot, saying he wanted to earn his ranking through battles.

Xia You registered for the Pokémon World Championships, accepted a Rotom Pokédex, and reunited with Cheryl, Dawn, and Cogita in Castelia City. After Cogita set off on her own, Xia You proposed challenging the city's Gym, surprising Dawn.

• Xia You declined direct entry to the Masters Eight and registered for the Pokémon World Championships, whose competitors climbed through four ranked classes.
• Xia You accepted a trained Rotom that merged with his Pokédex to identify Pokémon and search for opponents.
• Xia You met Cheryl, Dawn, and Cogita at Castelia City's shopping street, where the women had bought him gifts.
• After lunch, Cogita said goodbye and left to explore Unova at her own pace, while Cheryl and Dawn wished her a safe journey.
• Dawn suggested beginning their Unova journey, and Xia You proposed challenging Castelia City's Gym before catching any local Pokémon.

Xia You arrived in Castelia City with Dawn and Cheryl and challenged Burgh, the city’s Bug-type Gym Leader, to a six-on-six battle. Burgh sent out Leavanny first, and the battle began.

• Xia You decided to focus on strengthening his existing Pokémon rather than catching new ones and headed for Castelia Gym with Dawn and Cheryl.
• Dawn and Xia You joked about Ash’s progress in Unova and whether he would catch up with them.
• Burgh recognized Xia You from the Lily of the Valley Conference finals and asked him about Mewtwo before Dawn redirected the conversation to the Gym challenge.
• Xia You and Burgh agreed to a full six-on-six battle so Burgh could test his team against a Champion and Xia You could train his Pokémon.
• Burgh sent out Leavanny as the battle’s first Pokémon, and Rotom’s Pokédex identified her as a Bug- and Grass-type.

Xia You defeated Burgh in a six-Pokémon Gym battle, earning his first Unova badge. After leaving Castelia Gym with Cheryl and Dawn, he decided to stay overnight and explore the city.

• Xia You sent out Scizor, which swiftly defeated Burgh’s Leavanny, Vespiquen, Crustle, and Heracross before he switched it out.
• Xia You sent out Milotic, which defeated Leavanny, Accelgor, and Durant to finish the Gym battle.
• Burgh conceded defeat and gave Xia You the Insect Badge, then invited him to his art exhibition with three tickets.
• Xia You left Castelia Gym with Cheryl and Dawn and decided they would stay the night and explore the city.
• Dawn suggested trying Castelia’s distinctive ice cream, and Xia You agreed to find a hotel first.

Xia You, Cheryl, and Dawn toured Castelia City before setting out toward Nacrene City for an upcoming Pokémon Contest. After Xia You contacted Caitlin, Cynthia arrived in Unova, leaving Caitlin worried that Cynthia had come to keep her away from him; meanwhile, Dawn defended Xia You when three Trainers challenged and insulted him.

• Xia You, Cheryl, and Dawn visited Burgh’s exhibition, shared dinner and dessert, and returned to their hotel, where Dawn overheard Xia You and Cheryl next door and barely slept.
• Xia You spoke with Shelly and Courtney, then called Caitlin to let her know he had arrived in Unova.
• Cynthia unexpectedly visited Caitlin, and Caitlin wondered whether Cynthia had come to keep watch over her because of Xia You.
• Xia You, Cheryl, and Dawn left their hotel and headed east toward Nacrene City to attend an upcoming Pokémon Contest.
• Three Trainers challenged Xia You in a city park and insulted him when he refused, so Dawn sent out her Pokémon to teach them a lesson.

Xia You, Dawn, and Cheryl left Castelia City and headed for Skyarrow Bridge, where a Gothitelle used psychic power to send them back to the riverbank. Xia You stopped Mewtwo from retaliating and looked around as the fog began to clear.

• Dawn and Xia You teamed up in Double Battles and defeated the challengers who had gathered around them.
• Xia You, Dawn, and Cheryl left Castelia City and traveled east through the wilderness toward Skyarrow Town.
• Dawn and Cheryl said they had no plans to catch new Pokémon for now, while Xia You declined to catch the local Pokémon.
• Xia You, Dawn, and Cheryl crossed the riverbank town and stepped onto Skyarrow Bridge, where thick fog rapidly surrounded them.
• Gengar and Mewtwo sensed a hostile Pokémon, and a Gothitelle appeared and said it would not let them cross.
• Gothitelle used its psychic power to return the group to the riverbank, and Xia You stopped Mewtwo from attacking as the fog began to disperse.