Recaps

Dawn battled the Masked Royal, using Piplup’s Secret Sword and a newly created Water-type Z-Move before losing by a narrow margin. The tournament then shifted to Marshal and Bruno’s Fighting-type showdown, where Hitmonchan won the opening round and Machamp entered to face Conkeldurr.

• Dawn’s Volcarona lost to the Masked Royal’s Incineroar after their Flare Blitz clash, so she sent out Piplup.
• Piplup used Ice Storm, Mist, and Secret Sword to challenge Incineroar, then Dawn unleashed their newly created Z-Move, Phantom Water Surging Waves Secret Sword Slash.
• The Masked Royal’s Incineroar met Piplup’s Z-Move with Malicious Moonsault, and both Pokémon fell; the referee declared the Masked Royal the winner.
• Freddy O'Martian introduced Marshal and Bruno for their round-of-32 match, and Throh faced Bruno’s Hitmonchan.
• Hitmonchan defeated Throh with two Dynamic Punches, prompting Marshal to send out Conkeldurr and Bruno to answer with Machamp.

Bruno defeated Marshal and Norman defeated Roxie as the tournament’s strongest competitors put Unova under pressure. Xiaoyun began his two-on-two battle against Long Yu, whose Dynamax Evolution of Duraludon left the match poised to continue.

• Bruno’s Machamp overwhelmed Marshal’s Conkeldurr with Quadruple Dynamic Punch and won their battle.
• Norman’s Linoone used Quick Feet and Double-Edge to defeat Roxie’s Scolipede and Garbodor.
• Xiaoyun faced Long Yu, who sent out Dracozolt; Dracozolt’s powerful opening Bolt Beak injured Bisharp before Long Yu exploited that injury to defeat it.
• Xiaoyun sent out Aerodactyl, which evaded Dracozolt’s attack and knocked it out with Iron Tail and Hyper Beam.
• Long Yu sent out Duraludon and used Dynamax Evolution, transforming it into Gigantamax-Duraludon.

Xiaoyun defeated Long Yu’s Dynamaxed Duraludon with Bond Aerodactyl, then Paul began his round-of-32 battle against Volkner. Their Electivire fought to a draw, leaving Paul and Volkner ready to send out their next Pokémon.

• Xiaoyun’s Bond Aerodactyl broke through Duraludon’s G-Max Depletion with Gaia Energy Cannon and won the battle for Xiaoyun.
• Long Yu praised Xiaoyun’s strength, said he would continue traveling, and challenged him to battle again someday.
• Paul faced Sunyshore Gym Leader Volkner in the tournament’s final round-of-32 match and sent out Electivire against Volkner’s Electivire.
• Paul’s Electivire activated Motor Drive with Thunder, then used its speed and Ice Punch to pressure Volkner’s Electivire.
• Volkner’s Electivire bound Paul’s Electivire with its tails and landed a full-power Focus Punch, but both Pokémon collapsed and the first round ended in a draw.
• Paul and Volkner recalled their fainted Electivire and prepared to send out their next Pokémon.

Paul defeated Volkner’s Luxray with Mega Aggron and advanced to the top 16 as the round of 32 ended. The next day, Xiaoyun learned that his first opponent in the round of 16 would be Lorelei, the Kanto Elite Four’s Ice-type specialist.

• Paul and Volkner battled, with Luxray using Fire Fang to exploit Aggron’s weakness before Paul countered with Metal Burst.
• Mega Aggron’s Metal Burst knocked Luxray out, giving Paul the victory.
• Alder announced that the round of 32 had concluded and the top 16 would compete the next day.
• Ash, Paul, and Xiaoyun reflected on the coming battles and prepared to keep fighting for the championship.
• Freddy O'Martian revealed Xiaoyun’s first round-of-16 matchup: Lorelei.

The round of sixteen began with Xiaoyun facing Kanto Elite Four member Lorelei. Their opening Pokémon battled to a double knockout, leaving the contest tied as both Trainers prepared to send out their next Pokémon.

• Lorelei told Bruno that Xiaoyun had defeated Cynthia, prompting Bruno to reassess his opponent’s strength.
• The tournament matchups were announced, and Dawn, Zoey, May, and their companions gathered in the stands to watch.
• Norman rebuked Max for dismissing Elite Four Trainer Malva before her battle against him.
• Xiaoyun and Lorelei sent out Volcarona and Jynx, and Lorelei used Perish Song while Jynx copied Volcarona’s Flame Body Ability with Role Play.
• Xiaoyun’s Volcarona and Lorelei’s Jynx both collapsed when Perish Song took effect, resulting in a double knockout.

Xiaoyun’s Floatzel defeated Lorelei’s Cloyster with the newly mastered Dragon Hail Frame, tying their match before Infernape faced Lorelei’s Lapras. Lapras froze Infernape beneath ice, leaving the spectators uncertain of the outcome as Paul insisted the battle had only just begun.

• Xiaoyun sent out Floatzel against Lorelei’s Cloyster, and Floatzel used Torrent to clear Cloyster’s Icicle Spear despite being at full health.
• Floatzel’s Ice Saber and Liquidation failed to break through Cloyster’s shell, while Cloyster’s Ice Spinner and Blizzard battered Floatzel.
• Floatzel formed temporary ice wings in the Blizzard and used Dragon Hail Frame to freeze Cloyster, winning the round as it collapsed from exhaustion.
• Lorelei sent out Lapras, and Xiaoyun chose Infernape; their Fire Spin and Surf clashed before Lapras added Blizzard and Infernape countered with Flare Blitz.
• Lapras endured the clash, struck Infernape with Avalanche, then used Sheer Cold to freeze it beneath thick ice as the spectators wondered whether it could continue battling.

Xiaoyun defeated Lorelei after Infernape survived Sheer Cold and unleashed its Bond Form’s Flame Dome, advancing to the quarterfinals. Paul then began his round-of-16 match against the Masked Royal, whose Incineroar struck Gyarados with Malicious Moonsault and left it badly hurt.

• Infernape emerged in Bond Form, shattered Lapras’s Protect, and knocked it unconscious with Flame Dome.
• The referee declared Xiaoyun the winner, and Lorelei teased him before offering him her Elite Four position, which he politely declined.
• Paul entered his match against the Masked Royal, and both trainers sent out Gyarados and Incineroar.
• Paul used Rain Dance, then traded attacks with the Masked Royal as Gyarados and Incineroar both took damage.
• The Masked Royal unleashed Incineroar’s Malicious Moonsault, which broke through Gyarados’s Waterfall and sent it crashing into the edge of the battlefield.

Paul lost to Kukui in a grueling battle after Electivire fell to Venusaur and Torterra tied with it. Bruno then defeated Shauntal when she forfeited against his enormous Steelix, advancing to the quarterfinals.

• Paul's Electivire used Thunder to weaken Incineroar, but Incineroar countered with Reversal and knocked Electivire down before both Pokémon were defeated in a final clash.
• Kukui sent out Venusaur, which swallowed Electivire and blasted it away with Solar Beam.
• Paul's Torterra and Kukui's Venusaur fought for nearly half an hour before their Solar Beam and Frenzy Plant attacks knocked both Pokémon out, ending Paul's tournament run.
• Bruno's Hitmonlee defeated Shauntal's Cofagrigus, then used Destiny Bond to take Chandelure down with it.
• Bruno's enormous Steelix overpowered Shauntal's Golurk, and Shauntal forfeited after Steelix used Magnet Rise, sending Bruno to the quarterfinals.

Mustard’s Urshifu overwhelmed Siebold’s first two Pokémon, but Mega Blastoise forced Mustard to withdraw his exhausted Rapid Strike Urshifu and send out a fresh Urshifu in another form. The new Urshifu charged Mega Blastoise with Wicked Blow as Siebold tried to counter with Aura Sphere.

• Siebold’s Greninja fell to Mustard’s Urshifu after Surging Strikes landed three precise blows.
• Mustard’s Urshifu redirected Clawitzer’s Water Pulse, broke through its attacks, and defeated it with Close Combat.
• Siebold Mega Evolved Blastoise and used ranged attacks to wear down Urshifu, prompting Mustard to recall it.
• Mustard sent out another Urshifu, which endured Mega Blastoise’s Dragon Pulse and charged with Wicked Blow.
• Siebold ordered Mega Blastoise to fire Aura Sphere, but Urshifu’s Wicked Blow struck as the attack left the cannon.

Mustard defeated Siebold before Sabrina forfeited her match against Caitlin, and Ash began his battle with Champion Alder. Snorlax lost to Alder’s Bouffalant, and Ash sent out Primeape, who had recently returned to him.

• Mustard defeated Siebold with his Urshifu, while Xiaoyun reflected on the strength of Galar’s hidden talents.
• Sabrina evolved Kadabra into Alakazam, then forfeited against Caitlin and left with Gengar.
• Ash faced Alder and used Snorlax, who stopped Bouffalant’s charge and landed a Hyper Beam, but was knocked out after Alder’s Bouffalant used Cotton Guard, Megahorn, and Head Charge.
• Ash sent out Primeape, and Misty told Xiaoyun she had pressured Anthony to return Primeape to Ash.

Ash battled Alder in a fierce match, and Primeape evolved into Annihilape before both Pokémon were knocked out. Ash’s Pikachu also tied with Bouffalant, but Alder won because he still had one Pokémon remaining.

• Alder sent out Escavalier, and Primeape fought it with Rage Fist until the move’s growing power helped Primeape evolve into Annihilape.
• Annihilape defeated Escavalier with Seismic Toss, but poison and exhaustion caused both Pokémon to become unable to battle.
• Ash sent out Pikachu against Alder’s returning Bouffalant, and their attacks ended with both Pokémon unable to battle.
• The referee declared Alder the winner because he still had one Pokémon remaining.

After Ash’s tournament run ended, the quarterfinal matchups were announced, setting Xiaoyun against the Masked Man. On the rest day, Xiaoyun trained against Paul and Barry, preparing for his match while Paul reflected on Infernape’s bond with Xiaoyun.

• Ash comforted Pikachu after their draw with Alder, and Alder praised Ash’s effort and encouraged him to keep traveling.
• The quarterfinal bracket paired Norman with Wikstrom, Alder with Caitlin, Bruno with Mustard, and the Masked Man with Xiaoyun.
• Xiaoyun worried about facing the Masked Man and considered the likely semifinal opponents, while Mustard wondered whether Xiaoyun might meet him there.
• Xiaoyun and Paul trained with Bloodmoon Bear and Infernape, and Blood Moon defeated Infernape after Paul failed to awaken its Blaze without their former bond.
• Barry demanded a training battle, but Paul defeated his Empoleon with Electivire, leaving Barry scorched and resentful.

Norman defeated Wikstrom in the championship quarterfinal, winning with Castform before Exploud beat Wikstrom’s Mega Scizor. Norman advanced to the next round, where Alder expected to face him if he won his own match.

• Wikstrom opened with Aegislash, but Norman’s Castform used Fire- and Electric-type attacks to defeat it.
• Wikstrom sent out Probopass, and Norman changed the weather with Rain Dance; Castform and Probopass knocked each other out with Thunder and Zap Cannon.
• Norman’s Exploud battled Wikstrom’s Mega Scizor, which threw Exploud and struck it with X-Scissor.
• Exploud answered with Boomburst, ending Mega Evolution and knocking Scizor out; Norman advanced after Wikstrom ran out of Pokémon.
• Wikstrom congratulated Norman and offered him a friendly handshake, while Norman reflected on how strong he had become.

Alder defeated Caitlin in the second quarterfinal after she deliberately held back, then Mustard beat Bruno in a hard-fought third quarterfinal. Mustard advanced, while Bruno accepted the loss and took his mentor’s advice to keep pursuing the Fighting path.

• Alder sent out Volcarona, which quickly defeated Caitlin’s Reuniclus after boosting with Quiver Dance.
• Caitlin battled on with Beheeyem and Gothitelle, but Gothitelle fell to Volcarona’s Flare Blitz; Alder advanced after Caitlin had secretly withdrawn her support at the decisive moment.
• Bruno’s Hitmonchan and Mustard’s Rapid Strike Style Urshifu knocked each other out, leaving Bruno to send out Machamp against Mustard’s Single Strike Style Urshifu.
• Mustard’s Urshifu endured Machamp’s attacks, broke free with Iron Head, and overwhelmed it with Close Combat.
• Machamp and Urshifu clashed with Counter and Wicked Blow, but Machamp collapsed first, giving Mustard the victory.
• Bruno accepted his defeat, and Mustard encouraged him to treat it as a stepping stone on his continuing Fighting path.

Xiaoyun defeated Kukui’s Empoleon with Floatzel, then sent out Bloodmoon Bear to face Incineroar. As their battle intensified, Xiaoyun and Bloodmoon Bear activated the Bond Phenomenon, unveiling Bloodmoon Bear’s Champion Stage Bond Form.

• Xiaoyun’s Floatzel used Torrent Mode and Rain Dance to turn the battle against Kukui’s Empoleon, then defeated it with Flying Raijin.
• Kukui sent out Incineroar, and Xiaoyun recalled Floatzel and chose Bloodmoon Bear to fight it.
• Bloodmoon Bear attacked with Earth Power and Moonblast, but Incineroar dodged and struck it with Darkest Lariat.
• Xiaoyun used the Power of Overcoming to connect with Bloodmoon Bear and trigger their Bond Phenomenon.
• Bloodmoon Bear transformed into a nearly three-meter-tall Bond Form with Ground and Dark types, Mind’s Eye, and Champion Stage strength.

Xiaoyun defeated the Masked Man's Incineroar with Bond Bloodmoon Bear, then faced Tapu Koko, Alola's guardian deity. Zeraora countered Tapu Koko's Electric attacks and gained the upper hand, but Tapu Koko restored Kukui's Z-Ring and gave him a mysterious golden Z-Crystal.

• Xiaoyun's Bond Bloodmoon Bear unleashed Cero and Blood Moon Slash to defeat the Masked Man's Incineroar, putting him one win from advancing.
• The Masked Man sent out Tapu Koko, which attacked Rotom during the interval until Kukui and the referee stopped it.
• Xiaoyun recalled Bloodmoon Bear and sent out his final Pokémon, Zeraora, whose Volt Absorb Ability made Tapu Koko's lightning ineffective.
• Zeraora dodged Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam and struck it with Thunder Punch, Discharge, and Plasma Fists, leaving Tapu Koko struggling.
• Tapu Koko restored Kukui's Z-Ring with a natural halo and gave him a golden Z-Crystal that Kukui recognized as possibly the legendary Tapu Z.

Xiaoyun defeated Tapu Koko with Zeraora and advanced to the tournament semifinals, where he was set to face Mustard. That night, Mew and Mewtwo visited him, and Mew asked him to become a guardian of the Tree of Beginning after the tournament.

• Kukui used Tapu Koko’s legendary Z-Move, Guardian of Alola, against Xiaoyun’s Zeraora and Gigavolt Havoc.
• The clash knocked out both Pokémon, and the referee declared Xiaoyun the winner of the final quarterfinal.
• Xiaoyun joined Alder, Norman, and Mustard in the semifinals and learned that Mustard would be his next opponent.
• Mewtwo arrived at Xiaoyun’s room with Mew, who asked Xiaoyun to become a guardian of the Tree of Beginning.
• Xiaoyun agreed to visit the Tree of Beginning after the tournament, while Mew secretly decided to sneak along to watch the semifinals.

Norman battled Alder in the tournament semifinals, defeating Escavalier with Spinda and Swellow before Volcarona knocked out Swellow. With the match going badly, Norman sent out his final Pokémon, a giant, sleepy-looking Pokémon that prepared to face Volcarona.

• Norman and Alder exchanged pleasantries before sending out Spinda and Escavalier to begin their semifinal battle.
• Norman had Spinda poison itself and use Facade to hit Escavalier hard, but bad poison weakened Spinda until Escavalier knocked it out.
• Norman sent out Swellow, whose Flame Orb activated its Guts; Swellow used Brave Bird to defeat Escavalier and even the score.
• Alder sent out Volcarona, which countered Swellow's Double Team and defeated it with a combination of attacks, putting Norman behind.
• Norman reflected that Champions and their Pokémon were difficult to defeat, then sent out his final Pokémon, an enormous, sleepy-looking Pokémon with a fierce gleam in its eyes.

Alder defeated Norman in the first semifinal with Volcarona’s Blazing Flame Sky Soar, securing a place in the final. The second semifinal began between Xiaoyun and Mustard, and their opening Pokémon, Metagross and Kommo-o, clashed until Metagross revealed a meteor attack aimed at Mustard.

• Alder’s Volcarona overwhelmed Norman’s Slaking with Blazing Flame Sky Soar, making Alder the first finalist.
• Norman accepted that his strength still fell short of Champion level after his defeat.
• Xiaoyun and Mustard began the second semifinal by sending out Metagross and Kommo-o.
• Mustard boosted Kommo-o with Clangorous Soulblaze, then used its sound-based attacks to batter Metagross.
• Metagross recovered from Kommo-o’s attack and summoned a flaming meteor that plunged toward the arena.
• Alder stopped Marshal from intervening, judging that Mustard and the experts in the stadium could handle the meteor.

Mustard’s Kommo-o and Xiaoyun’s Metagross knocked each other out in a mutual Explosion, leaving the match tied. Mew then joined Xiaoyun’s side and transformed into Urshifu and Zekrom as it battled Mustard’s Rapid Strike Style Urshifu.

• Mustard’s Kommo-o halted and shattered Metagross’s meteor, then used Clanging Scales to stop Metagross’s Hammer Arm charge.
• Metagross ignored Xiaoyun’s warning and used Explosion, knocking out both itself and Kommo-o.
• Mustard sent out Rapid Strike Style Urshifu, but Mew entered the field and Xiaoyun declared that it would battle for him.
• Mew dodged Urshifu’s attacks with Teleport, transformed into Urshifu, and matched its punches and Surging Strikes.
• Mustard boosted Urshifu with Bulk Up and prepared Focus Punch while Mew transformed into Zekrom.
• Mustard ordered Urshifu to unleash a full-power Focus Punch against Zekrom.

Xiaoyun’s Mew defeated Mustard’s first Urshifu, then Xiaoyun’s Bond Form Sceptile fought Mustard’s Single Strike Style Urshifu to a simultaneous knockout after both Trainers unleashed their strongest attacks. With Mustard’s Pokémon all unable to battle, Xiaoyun advanced from the semifinal.

• Mew transformed into Zekrom and defeated Mustard’s Urshifu with Bolt Strike before putting it to sleep with Hypnosis.
• Mustard sent out a second Urshifu, and Mew left the battlefield to visit Mewtwo while Xiaoyun chose Sceptile to fight.
• Sceptile entered Bond Form and battled Single Strike Style Urshifu evenly as Xiaoyun and Mustard traded commands.
• Mustard Dynamaxed Urshifu, whose powerful attacks pushed Sceptile to its limit.
• Xiaoyun linked with Darkrai and used Move-Fusion to restore Sceptile’s strength, then ordered Divine Departure against Urshifu’s G-Max One Blow.
• Divine Departure cleaved through Urshifu’s attack and knocked it out, while Sceptile also collapsed; the referee declared both unable to battle and announced Xiaoyun’s semifinal victory.

After drawing with Mustard in the semifinals, Xiaoyun prepared to face Alder in the Driftveil Tournament final, a six-on-six battle. The final began with Luxray battling Alder’s Accelgor, and Xiaoyun sent Luxray charging toward it with Wild Charge.

• Xiaoyun and Mustard’s semifinal ended in a draw, and Mustard invited Xiaoyun to visit Galar someday.
• The tournament’s final between Xiaoyun and Alder was scheduled for the next evening, and Cynthia encouraged Xiaoyun while promising good news if he won.
• At the Driftveil Tournament final, Alder sent out Accelgor and Xiaoyun chose Luxray.
• Accelgor used Agility, Water Shuriken, Double Team, and Focus Blast, while Luxray dodged with Quick Attack and countered with Thunder Fang and Discharge.
• Luxray’s Thunder Wave only grazed Accelgor, but the brief pause let Xiaoyun order Wild Charge.

Xiaoyun and Alder traded Pokémon in their battle, with Accelgor defeating Luxray before Torterra evened the score. Suicune then defeated Alder’s Volcarona with Absolute Freezing Air, leaving Xiaoyun ahead in the match.

• Accelgor used Final Gambit and Water Shuriken to knock out Luxray, giving Alder the first round.
• Torterra interrupted Accelgor’s Recover with Earthquake and defeated it with Frenzy Plant, tying the battle.
• Volcarona defeated Torterra with Heat Wave and an intensified Fire Spin.
• Xiaoyun sent out Suicune, which stopped Volcarona’s Hurricane with Psychic and countered its Fire Spin with Surf.
• Volcarona boosted itself with Quiver Dance and attacked with Flare Blitz, but Suicune froze it with the combined move Absolute Freezing Air, winning the round.

Xiaoyun’s Mismagius defeated Alder’s Conkeldurr but fell to Bouffalant, leaving Darkrai to take over the battle. Darkrai defeated Bouffalant and Escavalier, putting Xiaoyun in control of the match.

• Xiaoyun sent Mismagius against Alder’s Conkeldurr, using Illusion Space and Dream Eater to drain its stamina before Alder recalled it.
• Alder sent out Bouffalant, which dodged Mismagius’s Will-O-Wisp and knocked it out with Megahorn.
• Xiaoyun summoned Darkrai, whose Dark Void and Dark Pulse put Bouffalant to sleep before Foul Play turned its charge against it.
• Alder used Bouffalant’s Sleep Talk to launch High Horsepower and Head Charge, but Darkrai’s Shadow Mode made it immune to Head Charge, and Thunder knocked Bouffalant out.
• Alder sent out Escavalier, but Darkrai shattered its X-Scissor with Shadow Claw and froze it with Ice Beam.

Xiaoyun’s Darkrai defeated Alder’s Pokémon in succession, but Alder summoned Reshiram and turned the finals into a clash of legendary dragons. Xiaoyun sent out Kyurem, which transformed into Black Kyurem and defeated Reshiram, leaving the match—and the chapter—on Kyurem’s victory.

• Darkrai defeated Alder’s Conkeldurr, extending its winning streak to three matches.
• Alder summoned Reshiram, which overpowered Darkrai with Fusion Flare and forced Xiaoyun to respond.
• Xiaoyun sent out Kyurem, and the legendary dragons began battling with fire and ice.
• Kyurem transformed into Black Kyurem and overwhelmed Reshiram with lightning and ice attacks.
• Black Kyurem knocked Reshiram unconscious, and the referee declared Kyurem the winner.