Recaps

Dawn and Zoey began their long-awaited Grand Festival finals battle, with Dawn gaining the advantage through coordinated attacks from Piplup and Lopunny. Zoey then gambled on a combined assault, charging Gallade’s Sacred Sword with Glameow’s Thunder as the battle continued.

• Ash insisted he would reach the Lily of the Valley Conference finals and win, while Lina reassured Xiaoyun and Shaymin theatrically sought her sympathy.
• Dawn and Zoey exchanged determined promises to give everything in their long-awaited battle, then sent out Piplup and Lopunny against Glameow and Gallade.
• Dawn opened with Piplup’s Whirlpool and Lopunny’s Blizzard, but Gallade shattered the resulting Ice Storm with Sacred Sword.
• Piplup’s Aqua Jet combined with Drill Peck knocked Glameow down, while Lopunny forced Gallade back with Jump Kick and then struck him hard with Return.
• With Dawn ahead on points and both her Pokémon injured, Zoey ordered Gallade to charge Sacred Sword at full power and Glameow to use Thunder.
• Glameow’s lightning wrapped around Gallade’s enormous energy blade, creating a golden, more threatening Sacred Sword.

Dawn defeated Zoey in the Sinnoh Grand Festival final after Lopunny used Healing Wish to protect Piplup, whose Endure counterattack knocked out Glameow and Gallade. After Dawn received the Ribbon Cup, Xiaoyun stayed at Lake Valor with her to train his Pokémon and develop his Power of Overcoming for the Lily of the Valley Conference.

• Zoey’s Gallade shattered Dawn and Lopunny’s Double Ice Beam with its Lightning Sacred Sword, but Lopunny used Healing Wish to protect Piplup.
• Dawn ordered Piplup to unleash Endure, using the energy it had absorbed to knock out Zoey’s Glameow and Gallade before time expired.
• Marian announced Dawn as the Sinnoh Grand Festival champion, and Wallace presented her with the Ribbon Cup.
• Xiaoyun stayed at Lake Valor with Dawn after the festival and planned special training for his Pokémon and his Power of Overcoming.
• Xiaoyun rallied his Pokémon to begin training for the Lily of the Valley Conference.

Xiaoyun and Dawn arrived on Lily of the Valley Island for the Sinnoh League Conference, where Xiaoyun encountered Tobias, the trainer rumored to command Legendary Pokémon. At the opening ceremony, the conference began with Flint set to challenge Cynthia, and Xiaoyun and the other competitors watched in anticipation.

• Xiaoyun and Dawn pushed through the crowds to reach the competitors' village, where Xiaoyun noticed a strange long-haired man and Darkrai warned him to watch out.
• Xiaoyun recognized the silent stranger as Tobias, the so-called Legendary Pokémon Man, then met Barry, Ash, Dawn, and the others at the hotel.
• Paul confirmed that Ash had battled him and proved strong, while Xiaoyun noticed a Key Stone on Ash's glove.
• Barry reported rumors that Tobias had swept through Sinnoh's Gyms using Darkrai, and Ash said he wanted to battle the Legendary Pokémon trainer.
• Xiaoyun and the others attended the opening ceremony, where Charles Goodshow officially began the conference and Moltres's Sacred Fire lit the arena.
• Rhonda announced Flint's challenge to Cynthia, and Xiaoyun and the competitors looked forward to seeing the Champion battle.

Flint challenged Cynthia in a six-on-six opening ceremony battle, but her Milotic defeated three of his Pokémon before Gastrodon took down Rapidash. Flint's Infernape defeated Gastrodon, and Cynthia sent out her ace, Garchomp, to face it.

• Flint and Cynthia began their full battle with Flareon and Milotic, and Milotic defeated Flareon despite taking damage from Flare Blitz.
• Cynthia used Recover to restore Milotic, which then defeated Flint's Camerupt and Magmortar, leaving three of Flint's Pokémon unable to battle.
• Flint sent out Rapidash for the second half, but Cynthia's Gastrodon slowed it with Muddy Water and defeated it with Water Pulse.
• Flint's Infernape defeated Gastrodon with its speed and close-range attacks.
• Cynthia sent out Garchomp, and Flint ordered Infernape to attack with Mach Punch as Garchomp countered with Slash.

Flint sent out his last Pokémon, Houndoom, and revealed Mega Evolution as his trump card against Cynthia’s Garchomp. Mega Houndoom launched a fierce assault, and the battle continued with Garchomp still standing.

• Infernape’s close-range attacks hurt him through Garchomp’s Rough Skin, and Cynthia’s Dragon Rush defeated him after he countered with Flare Blitz.
• Flint sent out Houndoom as his final Pokémon and Mega Evolved him, revealing the trump card he had prepared for Cynthia.
• Mega Houndoom used Sunny Day to strengthen his Fire-type moves, while Cynthia declined to Mega Evolve Garchomp.
• Mega Houndoom struck Garchomp with Flamethrower, Sucker Punch, and Fire Fang, but Garchomp countered with Slash and Dragon Claw.
• Flint ordered Mega Houndoom to use Nasty Plot followed by Inferno.

Cynthia defeated Flint in the Champion challenge match by unveiling a Z-Move, Devastating Drake, after Garchomp endured Mega Houndoom’s Inferno. The Alola Region’s Z-Crystals were introduced as tournament prizes, and the Lily of the Valley Conference began after lunch.

• Mega Houndoom used Inferno while Garchomp answered with Earthquake, leaving both Pokémon battered as the crowd watched their fierce exchange.
• Cynthia revealed her Z-Crystal bracelet and explained the power of Z-Moves, then commanded Garchomp to unleash Devastating Drake.
• Garchomp’s Z-Move overwhelmed Houndoom, which fainted after reverting from Mega Evolution, and Rhonda announced Cynthia as the winner.
• Paul and Xiaoyun reflected on the gulf between themselves and Cynthia, while Tobias wondered whether Cynthia could defeat his Pokémon.
• Rhonda announced that the tournament winner would receive five Z-Crystals from the Aether Foundation, exciting the contestants and prompting Barry to plan a trip to Alola.
• After a two-hour lunch break, the Lily of the Valley Conference officially began.

Xiaoyun faced Xiaoyu from Snowpoint City in the Lily of the Valley Conference preliminaries and used Bloodmoon Bear to knock out her Glaceon and Froslass. Xiaoyu sent out Infernape, and the battle continued as it attacked with Close Combat.

• Xiaoyun and Xiaoyu began their preliminary match, and Xiaoyun sent out Bloodmoon Bear, a newly revealed evolution of Ursaring.
• Bloodmoon Bear defeated Glaceon with Moonblast and Earth Power, knocking it out in one hit.
• Xiaoyu sent out Froslass, which used Hail and Snow Cloak to hide and strike Bloodmoon Bear with Ice Shard.
• Bloodmoon Bear used Mind's Eye to locate Froslass in the snow and knocked it out with Moonblast.
• Xiaoyu revealed Infernape as her final Pokémon, and it struck Bloodmoon Bear with Mach Punch before she ordered Close Combat.

Xiaoyun swept Xiaoyu’s team in the morning preliminary match, then returned to the lounge and learned that Ash and Paul had also won their matches. In the afternoon, Xiaoyun began his second match against Saffron City contestant Xiaoling, whose Alakazam was knocked out by Mismagius; Xiaoling sent out Espeon as the battle continued.

• Xiaoyun ordered Bloodmoon Bear to use Blood Moon, which pierced Infernape’s Fire Blast and knocked it out, giving him a one-against-three victory over Xiaoyu.
• Xiaoyun met the blond boy, Ash, Nando, and Barry in the lounge, where he learned Ash had beaten Nando and Paul had won with Rhyperior.
• Xiaoyun faced Xiaoling, an eighteen-year-old Psychic-type specialist and former apprentice at Sabrina’s Saffron Gym, in the afternoon preliminary match.
• Xiaoling’s Alakazam used Hypnosis on Mismagius, but Mismagius answered with Psybeam and created a Lugia illusion that Xiaoling recognized.
• Mismagius dodged Alakazam’s attacks with Teleport and Phantom Force, then knocked Alakazam unconscious with a close-range strike.
• Xiaoling sent out Espeon after the referee declared Alakazam unable to battle.

Xiaoling’s Espeon used Calm Mind before Baton Passing its boosts to Metagross, but Xiaoyun countered with his own Shiny Metagross. As Xiaoyun Mega Evolved it, Xiaoling launched a massive stone sphere at the stronger opponent.

• Xiaoling’s Espeon used Psychic Terrain and attacked Mismagius, but Mismagius defeated it with Shadow Shotgun.
• Xiaoling had Espeon use Calm Mind three times, then Baton Passed its boosts to Metagross as Dark Pulse struck.
• Xiaoyun recalled Mismagius and sent out his Shiny Metagross, which overpowered Xiaoling’s boosted Metagross with Psychic: Earth Surge Spear.
• Xiaoling’s Metagross dodged the stone spears with Agility and attacked with Psychic Screech, but Xiaoyun’s Metagross blocked it with stone walls.
• Xiaoyun Mega Evolved his Metagross, and Xiaoling’s Metagross gathered rubble into a huge stone sphere and hurled it at Mega Metagross.

Xiaoyun defeated Xiaoling in the second preliminary round with Mega Metagross, then watched Barry, Ash, and Paul advance. In his third-round match, Gible surprised Buck’s Staraptor with Draco Meteor and trapped it in Sand Tomb, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Xiaoyun’s Mega Metagross defeated Xiaoling’s Metagross with Hyper Beam, winning their second-round match.
• Xiaoyun watched Barry sweep his opponent with Empoleon, Ash win with Corphish, Bayleef, and Ambipom, and Paul sweep with Magmortar.
• The following afternoon, Xiaoyun began his third preliminary match against Buck from Nuvema Town, sending out Gible against Staraptor.
• Gible used Dig to evade Staraptor’s Aerial Ace, but Staraptor forced it above ground with Air Slash and then knocked it back with another Aerial Ace.
• Gible struck Staraptor with Draco Meteor and Dragon Pulse, while the resulting damage left Staraptor off balance and grounded.
• Xiaoyun revealed that Gible had used Sand Tomb to trap Staraptor in quicksand as Buck prepared to order Close Combat.

Xiaoyun’s Gible, Skorupi, and Lucario faced Buck’s team in a fierce battle. After Serperior and Skorupi were knocked out, Lucario clashed with Bisharp, and the battle remained unresolved.

• Gible defeated Staraptor by luring it into Sand Tomb, then Serperior replaced Staraptor for Buck.
• Serperior knocked out Gible, but Skorupi poisoned it with Fire Poison and brought it down with Venoshock.
• Buck sent out Bisharp, which swiftly knocked out Skorupi with Sucker Punch and Metal Claw.
• Xiaoyun sent out Lucario, which met Bisharp’s Metal Claw with Bullet Punch.
• Bisharp attacked Lucario from behind with Night Slash, but Lucario blocked it with Bone Rush.

Xiaoyun defeated Buck to advance to the top 32, then began his main-stadium match against Muren from Kalos. Their first Pokémon, Luxio and Sylveon, both took heavy damage in a collision, leaving the opening round unresolved.

• Lucario overwhelmed Buck's Bisharp with the Cloud Staff and a powerful Aura Sphere, securing Xiaoyun's victory and his place in the top 32.
• The preliminaries ended, and Xiaoyun drew the water battlefield and Kalos contestant Muren as his next opponent.
• Muren sent out Sylveon, while Xiaoyun chose Luxio and used Electric Terrain to electrify the water battlefield.
• Luxio's Rising Voltage and Thunder struck Sylveon's Light Screen, but the barrier blocked both attacks.
• Luxio and Sylveon met head-on with Wild Charge and Double-Edge, then both crashed onto separate platforms, badly hurt.

Xiaoyun’s newly evolved Luxray defeated Muren’s Gardevoir after breaking free of its illusions, leaving Muren to send out Florges as his final Pokémon. The battle resumed on a grassy battlefield, where Florges answered Luxray’s Wild Charge with Grass Knot.

• Luxio evolved into Luxray as Xiaoyun prepared to continue fighting Muren’s Gardevoir.
• Luxray and Gardevoir traded attacks, while Xiaoyun realized Gardevoir could use Telepathy to evade and control attacks.
• Muren used Disarming Voice and Misty Terrain to disorient Luxray, but Xiaoyun told it to locate Gardevoir and strike with Wild Charge, knocking Gardevoir out.
• Muren sent out Florges, drawing excited reactions from the audience, and ordered it to create Grassy Terrain.
• Xiaoyun sent Luxray charging at Florges with Wild Charge, and Muren countered with Grass Knot.

Xiaoyun defeated Muren after Spiritomb took down Florges, earning another tournament victory. The next day, Paul defeated Barry in the round of sixteen, while Tobias and Conway considered Xiaoyun and his Spiritomb.

• Xiaoyun sent out Spiritomb after Luxray was knocked out, and Spiritomb faced Muren's Florges.
• Spiritomb used Foul Play, Phantom Force, Will-O-Wisp, and Night Shade to overcome Florges's attacks and defeat Muren's final Pokémon.
• The referee declared Xiaoyun the winner, while Paul judged Spiritomb a top-tier threat and Tobias wondered whether Xiaoyun had other Pokémon.
• Conway noted that his next opponent was Ash as the round of sixteen began the following day.
• Paul's Electivire overpowered Barry's Empoleon, breaking through its Torrent-powered Hydro Cannon with Thunder.
• The referee declared Paul the winner after Empoleon lost consciousness, leaving Barry to call out to his fallen Pokémon.

Xiaoyun faced A Ning in the final Round of 16 match and used Torterra and Floatzel to counter Cacturne and Snorlax. As Torterra's Earthquake slowed Snorlax's Rollout, A Ning ordered Snorlax to charge through the attack.

• Ash defeated Conway after Gible swallowed Dusknoir's Shadow Punch and struck it with a point-blank Draco Meteor, while Tobias's Darkrai swept its opponent's team.
• Xiaoyun and A Ning began their match, and Xiaoyun's Torterra withstood Cacturne's Sucker Punch and Needle Arm.
• Xiaoyun recalled Torterra and sent out Floatzel, whose Rain Dance exposed Cacturne and whose Ice Beam froze it.
• A Ning sent out Snorlax, which used Defense Curl and Rollout to overpower Floatzel despite its Ice Punch.
• Xiaoyun brought Torterra back and used Earthquake to slow Snorlax's Rollout, but A Ning ordered Snorlax to charge forward through the attack.

Xiaoyun’s Torterra knocked out Snorlax, but A Ning’s Mega Gallade defeated Torterra and battled Floatzel after Xiaoyun activated its Torrent Mode. The chapter ended as Floatzel and Gallade clashed in a head-on attack.

• Xiaoyun ordered Torterra to use Stone Edge, knocking Snorlax out and forcing A Ning to send out his final Pokémon, a Shiny Gallade.
• A Ning Mega Evolved Gallade, which overwhelmed Torterra with X-Scissor and Fury Cutter and knocked it out.
• Xiaoyun sent out Floatzel and activated its Torrent Mode, then had it fight Mega Gallade with Ice Saber, Ice Spinner, and Liquidation.
• A Ning ordered Gallade to use Swords Dance and Sacred Sword while Xiaoyun commanded Floatzel to condense water into a javelin with Flying Raijin.
• Floatzel and Gallade charged at each other and collided in a burst of explosions and shock waves.

Xiaoyun defeated A Ning to advance and learned that his quarterfinal opponent would be Paul. Their six-on-six battle began the next day, with Mismagius gaining the early advantage over Paul's Nidoking.

• Xiaoyun's Gallade fell after its Sacred Sword shattered, giving Xiaoyun the win over A Ning and a place in the quarterfinals.
• The announced bracket paired Xiaoyun with Paul in the first quarterfinal, and Barry asked Xiaoyun to avenge his earlier loss to Paul.
• Xiaoyun and Paul began their six-on-six battle on the forest field as friends and family watched from the stands.
• Paul's Nidoking used Flamethrower, then combined Ice Beam and Sludge Wave, but Mismagius countered with Shadow Ball and Will-O-Wisp.
• Mismagius hypnotized Nidoking and began draining its stamina with Dream Eater, prompting Paul to command Sleep Talk.

Xiaoyun and Paul fought a fierce quarterfinal battle as Mismagius defeated Nidoking, Infernape defeated Drapion, and Rhyperior forced Xiaoyun to send out Torterra. The chapter ended with Torterra and Rhyperior’s Earthquakes canceling each other before Rhyperior charged with Drill Run.

• Nidoking suddenly used Thunderbolt to break free of Mismagius’s Dream Eater, but Mismagius answered with Shadow Shotgun and knocked Nidoking out.
• Paul sent out Drapion, who covered the battlefield in Toxic Spikes, but Xiaoyun had Infernape use underground Flare Blitz to burn away the hazards.
• Infernape attacked Drapion with Flamethrower, Mach Punch, and Fire Punch, then escaped Drapion’s tail-pincer grip with a Blaze-powered Flare Blitz that knocked Drapion out.
• Paul sent out Rhyperior, whose Rock Blast struck the exhausted Infernape and sent Xiaoyun to replace him with Torterra.
• Rhyperior and Torterra used Earthquake at the same time, canceling each other’s attacks, and Paul ordered Rhyperior to charge with Drill Run.

Xiaoyun’s Torterra and Paul’s Rhyperior knocked each other out, ending the first half with Paul down three Pokémon to Xiaoyun’s one. In the second half, Aggron defeated Bloodmoon Bear by surviving its Blood Moon with Sturdy and counterattacking, and Xiaoyun sent Metagross back out to face it.

• Torterra and Rhyperior exchanged powerful attacks until they both fell, and the referee ended the first half for a ten-minute break.
• Xiaoyun and Paul opened the second half with Metagross and Aggron, and Aggron’s Roar forced Metagross to switch out for Bloodmoon Bear.
• Bloodmoon Bear and Aggron traded ranged and close-combat attacks, with Aggron provoking Bloodmoon Bear into a fierce brawl.
• Bloodmoon Bear struck Aggron with Blood Moon, but Aggron endured the seemingly lethal hit with Sturdy and knocked Bloodmoon Bear out with Head Smash.
• Xiaoyun sent Metagross back into battle and ordered it to use Flash Cannon.

Paul’s Magmortar and Electivire pushed Xiaoyun’s team hard, defeating Metagross after a drawn-out exchange and setting up Electivire against Infernape. Xiaoyun activated Infernape’s Bond Phenomenon, and the chapter ended with Bond Infernape taking Electivire’s Thunder Punch head-on without much effect.

• Paul used Magmortar’s Sunny Day, Fire Blast, and Flare Blitz against Mega Metagross, burning it before Electivire’s attacks finally knocked it out.
• Xiaoyun sent out Infernape to face Electivire, which recognized its former teammate and focused after Paul’s reminder.
• Paul had Electivire use Thunder on itself to activate Motor Drive and increase its speed.
• Xiaoyun activated Bond Phenomenon with Infernape, whose transformed form overwhelmed the spectators with its power.
• Infernape’s Flamethrower forced Electivire to dodge, and Electivire then charged in with Thunder Punch, which Bond Infernape endured with only a slight sway.

Xiaoyun defeated Paul in the quarterfinals after Infernape overcame Electivire, then prepared to face Ash in the semifinals. The semifinal began on a water field, with Ash sending out Swellow first.

• Electivire battered Infernape with close-range attacks, but Infernape seized its tail and slammed it into the ground before the two Pokémon clashed with powerful lightning and fire attacks.
• Paul urged Electivire to keep fighting with Wild Charge, but Infernape broke through its attack and knocked it out, earning Xiaoyun the quarterfinal victory.
• Paul accepted Infernape's growth and left the battlefield, while Xiaoyun asked Infernape if it was satisfied with the battle.
• That night, Xiaoyun told Dawn he was taking Ash seriously because Ash was unpredictable; Ash had advanced to the semifinals after winning his previous match with five Pokémon.
• The next day, Xiaoyun and Ash began their semifinal Full Battle on a water field, and Ash sent out Swellow as his first Pokémon.

Ash and Xiaoyun battled over the water arena, where Aerodactyl defeated Swellow before Ash’s nimble Snorlax challenged Xiaoyun’s Floatzel. Floatzel gained the advantage with a series of attacks, leaving Snorlax knocked back across the water.

• Ash sent out Swellow, and Xiaoyun answered with Aerodactyl as the two Pokémon competed in a high-speed aerial battle.
• Xiaoyun had Aerodactyl use Supersonic, but Ash’s Swellow pushed through with Brave Bird; Aerodactyl matched the move and knocked Swellow out.
• Ash sent out Snorlax, which dodged Aerodactyl’s attacks by swimming nimbly through the pool.
• Xiaoyun recalled Aerodactyl and sent out Floatzel, whose Surf clashed with Snorlax’s Surf in enormous waves.
• Floatzel activated Torrent Mode and attacked Snorlax with Ice Saber and Ice Spinner, but Snorlax countered with Ice Punch and sent Floatzel flying.
• Floatzel used Liquidation to strike Snorlax and knock it back onto the water’s surface.

Ash sent out Sceptile, which defeated Floatzel before tying with Xiaoyun’s Luxray; after the break, Ash’s Heracross faced Xiaoyun’s Torterra on an ice field. Torterra trapped Heracross in a growing mass of vines and thorns, and Xiaoyun ordered it to use Solar Beam.

• Ash’s Snorlax lost to Xiaoyun’s Floatzel after Flying Raijin swallowed its Hyper Beam and swept it away.
• Ash’s Sceptile defeated Floatzel with repeated Leaf Blade attacks, then fought Xiaoyun’s Luxray to a double knockout.
• After a ten-minute break, Ash sent out Heracross and Xiaoyun sent out Torterra on the replacement ice-field battlefield.
• Heracross’s Pin Missile barely affected Torterra, and Torterra used Curse to strengthen itself at the cost of speed.
• Torterra endured Heracross’s Megahorn, drained its stamina with Mega Drain, and trapped it among vines and thorns with Forest of Thorns.
• Xiaoyun ordered Torterra to use Solar Beam against the trapped Heracross.

Ash’s Pikachu defeated Xiaoyun’s Torterra before losing to Mega Lucario in a fierce battle. With three Pokémon still available to Xiaoyun and only one left for Ash, Ash sent out Charizard.

• Xiaoyun used Torterra’s Solar Beam to ignite the thorns trapping Heracross, knocking Ash’s fourth Pokémon out.
• Ash sent out Pikachu, who defeated Torterra with a series of Iron Tail attacks.
• Xiaoyun sent out Lucario, and both Pokémon traded attacks until Xiaoyun Mega Evolved Lucario.
• Ash’s Pikachu unleashed High-Voltage Thunder Shock, but Mega Lucario defeated him with Heaven-Pillaring Strike, taking heavy damage in the process.
• Ash sent out Charizard as his final Pokémon.

Ash’s Charizard defeated Xiaoyun’s Mega Lucario with Seismic Toss, leaving Xiaoyun with only Sceptile against Ash’s remaining Pokémon. Ash Mega Evolved Charizard into its X form, and Xiaoyun responded by activating Sceptile’s Curse Mark Mode and a strange white light.

• Ash sent out Charizard, which defeated Xiaoyun’s Mega Lucario with Seismic Toss and Fire Spin.
• Xiaoyun recalled Lucario and sent out Sceptile to face Charizard.
• Ash Mega Evolved Charizard into Mega Charizard X.
• Xiaoyun activated Sceptile’s Curse Mark Mode, and Sceptile was enveloped in a strange white light.