Recaps

The top eight contestants drew their quarterfinal matchups, and Dawn faced Sawyer in the opening battle. Sawyer’s Slaking used Truant to exploit Hyper Beam’s recovery, but Dawn had Flygon build up Dragon Dance boosts and defeat it with Dragon Rush.

• Louis defeated Ferrothorn with Garchomp’s Draco Meteor, completing the top eight lineup.
• The contestants drew the quarterfinal matchups: Dawn faced Sawyer, Barry faced Xiaoye, Alain faced Louis, and Ash faced Trip.
• Sawyer sent out Slaking against Dawn’s Flygon and opened with Hyper Beam, using Truant’s rest period to avoid the move’s recovery drawback.
• Dawn saw through Sawyer’s plan to lure Flygon into attacking Slaking during its rest and used Dragon Dance instead.
• Dawn had Flygon withstand Slaking’s second Hyper Beam, boost its stats three times, and knock Slaking out with Dragon Rush.

Dawn and Sawyer’s battle continued as Slurpuff knocked out Flygon with Belly Drum-boosted Play Rough, while Volcarona Xiaohong and Clawitzer then took each other down. After halftime, Dawn opened the second half by sending out Lopunny.

• Sawyer used Slurpuff’s Belly Drum-boosted Play Rough to knock out Dawn’s Flygon, then Slurpuff fell to Xiaohong’s Fiery Dance.
• Xiaohong and Sawyer’s Clawitzer traded attacks until their collision left both unable to battle, ending the first half with Sawyer down three Pokémon.
• During the ten-minute break, Xiaoyun bought drinks while Barry, Zoey, and Ash discussed the battle and combination moves.
• Dawn sent out Lopunny when the second half began.

Dawn’s Mega Lopunny defeated Sawyer’s Aegislash, then fell to Salamence after a fierce exchange. Dawn sent out Floette, Eternal Flower, to face the weakened Salamence, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Dawn Mega Evolved Lopunny and used its Fighting-type attacks and agility to defeat Sawyer’s Aegislash.
• Sawyer sent out Salamence, which weakened Lopunny with Draco Meteor, Dragon Claw, and Air Slash.
• Lopunny counterattacked Salamence with Jump Kick and Ice Beam, but Salamence’s Dragon Rush knocked it unconscious.
• Dawn sent out Floette, Eternal Flower, to battle the weakened Salamence.

Dawn defeated Sawyer in their battle after Floette took down Salamence and Piplup overwhelmed Mega Sceptile. Sawyer was left comforting his devastated Sceptile while Dawn praised Piplup for the win.

• Dawn's Floette defeated Sawyer's Salamence with Petal Dance, leaving Sawyer with only Sceptile.
• Sawyer Mega Evolved Sceptile, and Dawn sent out Piplup despite its apparent type disadvantage.
• Piplup dodged Sceptile's attacks and shattered its Leaf Blades in a Secret Sword clash.
• Dawn and Piplup used a Water-type Z-Move to cut through Sceptile's Frenzy Plant, and Sceptile lost its will to battle.
• The referee declared Dawn the winner, and Sawyer rushed to comfort Sceptile while Dawn thanked Piplup.

Barry defeated Xiaoye’s Flareon with Heracross through a clever feint, but Xiaoye fought back with Mega Lucario Z Form and knocked out Barry’s Staraptor. The battle continued as Lucario’s aura-powered attacks pressured Barry’s Empoleon.

• Barry’s Heracross defeated Xiaoye’s Flareon after dodging Flare Blitz with Aerial Ace and striking with Megahorn.
• Xiaoye sent out his final Pokémon, Lucario, and Mega Evolved him into the unusual Z Form.
• Lucario used Aura Armor to break through Staraptor’s Hurricane, then threw an aura spear that knocked Staraptor out.
• Barry sent out Empoleon, whose Steel Wing stopped Lucario’s Aura Sphere after it pierced Hydro Pump.
• Lucario formed two aura clubs with Bone Rush and drove Empoleon backward in a close-range exchange.

Xiaoye lost to Barry when Lucario ran out of Aura, and Alain defeated Louis with Mega Charizard X. Ash then began his quarterfinal against Trip, whose Unfezant was quickly knocked out by Talonflame.

• Lucario exhausted its Aura during Meteor Mash, and Barry's Empoleon defeated it with Wave Crash, winning the match.
• Alain Mega Evolved Charizard and defeated Louis's Mega Garchomp, advancing as the winner.
• Ash was called to battle Trip and arrived late after getting lost, then apologized before the match began.
• Ash sent out Talonflame against Trip's Unfezant, which taunted its opponent before the battle started.
• Talonflame used Aerial Ace and Brave Bird to defeat Unfezant, winning the opening round of Ash and Trip's match.

Ash's Pokémon battled Trip's team, with Talonflame, Noivern, and Goodra each falling before Goodra defeated Vanilluxe with Endure. After halftime, Greninja entered the match against Conkeldurr, and Ash prepared to change tactics as their battle continued.

• Talonflame defeated Trip's Unfezant but lost to Jellicent, while Noivern was frozen and knocked out by Vanilluxe's Sheer Cold.
• Goodra endured Vanilluxe's attacks and defeated it, but Trip's Conkeldurr then overwhelmed Goodra and won, bringing Ash's losses to three at halftime.
• After the break, Ash and Trip acknowledged each other's growth, and Ash sent Greninja out against Conkeldurr.
• Greninja dodged Conkeldurr's Stone Edge and struck it with Aerial Ace, but Conkeldurr countered with Hammer Arm and left Greninja staggering.
• Ash decided Greninja could not keep trading blows and told it to use a different move.

Ash awakened Greninja’s Bond Phenomenon, and Greninja defeated Trip’s Conkeldurr and Jellicent with overwhelming speed. Against Trip’s Mega Abomasnow, Greninja created a golden Water Shuriken and won a third knockout, leaving Trip with only two Pokémon.

• Ash and Greninja activated the Bond Phenomenon, transforming Greninja into Bond Greninja.
• Greninja defeated Trip’s Conkeldurr with Aerial Ace and a powerful Water Shuriken.
• Greninja avoided Jellicent’s Destiny Bond and knocked it out with another Water Shuriken.
• Trip Mega Evolved Abomasnow, which battled Greninja with Blizzard, Razor Leaf, Ice Beam, Wood Hammer, and Leaf Storm.
• Ash had Greninja unleash a golden Water Shuriken that broke through Leaf Storm and knocked out Mega Abomasnow.

Ash defeated Trip in the quarterfinals after Greninja took down three of Trip’s Pokémon and Pikachu beat Serperior with a Thunderbolt-powered Electro Ball. The semifinals were set, with Ash facing Alain and Dawn facing Barry.

• Greninja defeated three of Trip’s Pokémon but reached his limit, so Ash recalled him and sent out Pikachu against Trip’s final Pokémon, Serperior.
• Pikachu endured Serperior’s Glare and traded attacks with him, but Leaf Storm overwhelmed Pikachu and left him badly hurt.
• Ash urged Pikachu to keep fighting, and Pikachu clashed with Serperior using Volt Tackle before Trip ordered another Leaf Storm.
• Ash had Pikachu use Thunderbolt to propel Electro Ball through Leaf Storm and into Serperior, knocking him out and winning the battle.
• Ash and Trip congratulated each other after the match, and the semifinal pairings were announced: Dawn versus Barry and Ash versus Alain.

Xiaoyun and the others celebrated reaching the semifinals at Restaurant Le Nah before Ash and Alain faced off in the Kalos League semifinals. The battle began with Alain sending out Tyranitar and its Sand Stream stirring up a sandstorm across the field.

• Barry hosted a lively semifinal celebration at Restaurant Le Nah, where he toasted Dawn and challenged everyone to an eating contest with Ash.
• Xiaoyun spoke with Alain about Lysandre, while Alain helped Mairin and quietly enjoyed the warm atmosphere of the dinner.
• At the tournament venue, Diantha, Siebold, and Malva discussed Ash and Alain, while Barry, Zoey, and Xiaoyun watched from the stands.
• Trip watched the semifinal with complicated feelings, and a red-haired man secretly observed from the venue's highest shadows, eager to see the power of bonds.
• The referee announced a six-on-six battle between Ash and Alain, and Alain opened with Tyranitar, whose Sand Stream raised a sandstorm over the battlefield.

Ash’s newly evolved Garchomp defeated Alain’s Tyranitar and then Bisharp, winning both battles with creative attacks. Garchomp celebrated with Ash after securing its second victory.

• Ash sent Gabite against Alain’s Tyranitar and used Dig, Dragon Claw, Draco Meteor, and Dragon Rush to defeat it.
• Gabite evolved into Garchomp after winning, while Ash and Alain prepared to continue the battle.
• Garchomp struggled against Bisharp’s speed and technique, but Ash told it to bite Bisharp’s Iron Head.
• Ash ordered Garchomp to use Draco Meteor while it held Bisharp in its jaws, knocking Bisharp out and winning the battle.
• Ash ran over and lifted Garchomp into the air to celebrate.

Ash’s Garchomp fell to Alain’s Weavile, and Torterra entered the battle with Frenzy Plant before losing after Ash used Rock Climb. The match left Ash down another Pokémon, while Zoey wondered why he relied so often on Rock Climb.

• Alain sent out Weavile, which defeated Ash’s exhausted Garchomp with Ice Punch.
• Ash sent out Torterra, whose Frenzy Plant vines battered Weavile and limited its movement.
• Alain changed tactics, and Weavile’s Icicle Crash and Ice Beam injured Torterra as it maintained its attack.
• Ash ordered Torterra to use Rock Climb, but Weavile countered its charge with Ice Punch and then struck again from above.
• Weavile froze Torterra and won, while Xiaoyun said Ash could have done better by keeping his distance with Frenzy Plant.
• Zoey recalled that Ash had used Rock Climb in every match since Torterra learned it and wondered why he liked the move so much.

Ash’s Torkoal defeated Alain’s Weavile, and after halftime Noivern beat Unfezant before falling to Metagross. Ash sent out Donphan to face Metagross, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Ash recalled Torterra and sent out Torkoal, which endured Weavile’s attacks and defeated it with Burn Up.
• During the halftime break, Ash’s friends discussed his lead and Alain’s remaining Pokémon, including Charizard.
• After the break, Ash’s Noivern used Acrobatics, Boomburst, and Dragon Pulse to defeat Alain’s Unfezant.
• Alain sent out Metagross, which blocked Noivern’s Boomburst with Light Screen and knocked it out with repeated Flash Cannons.
• Ash sent out Donphan to face Metagross.

Ash’s Donphan weakened Alain’s Metagross before Torkoal defeated it, but Alain’s Charizard then knocked Torkoal out. Ash sent out his veteran Charizard instead of Greninja, and the two Charizard began a fierce battle that left Ash’s Charizard overpowering Alain’s.

• Donphan used Earthquake, Rock Tomb, Rollout, High Horsepower, and other attacks against Alain’s airborne Metagross before both Pokémon were badly injured and Donphan was knocked out.
• Ash sent Torkoal back into battle, and it defeated the weakened Metagross with Burn Up.
• Alain sent out Charizard, which beat Torkoal with Flamethrower and Dragon Claw.
• Ash chose his veteran Charizard instead of Greninja or Pikachu, surprising the spectators and Alain.
• Ash’s Charizard and Alain’s Charizard traded Flamethrower and Dragon Claw attacks, and Ash’s Charizard’s forceful fighting style began to overpower Alain’s.

Ash's Charizard defeated Alain's Charizard in a brutal Mega Evolution battle, securing Ash a place in the final. Alain accepted the loss and left with Mairin, while Barry realized he might face Ash if he beat Dawn.

• Alain and Ash Mega Evolved their Charizard into Mega Charizard X and began an intense close-range battle.
• Ash's Charizard overpowered Alain's Charizard, and Ash explained that his Charizard had survived brutal struggles in Charizard Valley.
• Ash's Charizard used Seismic Toss to slam Alain's Charizard into the battlefield, and the referee declared Ash the winner.
• Alain accepted the defeat and went with Mairin to get food, saying it was an honor to battle Ash.
• Barry anticipated facing Ash in the final, but Zoey and Dawn reminded him that he still had to beat Dawn first.

Dawn faced Barry in the Lumiose Conference semifinals, using Braviary and Pachirisu to defeat his first two Pokémon. Barry sent out Chesnaught and Mega Evolved it, leaving the battle poised to continue.

• Barry received a tepid welcome, while Dawn’s entrance as the newly crowned Kalos Queen drew an enormous crowd and cheers.
• Barry sent out Skarmory, but Dawn’s Braviary defeated it with repeated Esper Wings and cleared the Spikes with Defog.
• Barry’s Magnezone used Magnetic Field Manipulation to make Thunder Wave home in on Braviary and paralyze it.
• Dawn switched Braviary for Pachirisu, which absorbed Magnezone’s Zap Cannon and knocked it out with Thunder.
• Barry sent out Chesnaught and began Mega Evolution.

Dawn and Barry continued their fierce battle, with Dawn taking the lead after Samurott defeated Mega Chesnaught and Altaria knocked out Heracross. Barry struck back with Hitmonlee, whose Blaze Kick brought Altaria down as the second half continued.

• Barry Mega Evolved Chesnaught, which knocked out Dawn's Pachirisu and Mamoswine before Samurott defeated it with Sacred Sword.
• After the halftime break, Barry sent out Heracross against Dawn's Altaria.
• Dawn used a direct-fire Draco Meteor to defeat Heracross with a barrage of meteors.
• Barry sent out Hitmonlee, which burned Altaria's Cotton Guard with Blaze Kick and then defeated it with another Blaze Kick.

Dawn defeated Barry in the semifinal after Mega Gengar used Intangibility to evade Empoleon’s Z-Move and counter with Thunderbolt, securing her place in the final against Ash. Barry accepted the loss as an honorable defeat, though he privately mourned the championship he had nearly won.

• After Altaria was knocked out, Dawn sent Braviary against Barry’s Hitmonlee, and the two Pokémon took each other down with Brave Bird and Reversal.
• Dawn sent out Gengar and Mega Evolved it, while Barry brought out Empoleon; Gengar dodged Empoleon’s attacks by sinking into its shadow and struck back with Shadow Ball.
• Empoleon used Swords Dance, deflected Gengar’s Thunderbolt with Steel Wing, and battled Gengar’s combined Shadow Ball and Dark Pulse against Barry’s Corkscrew Crash Z-Move.
• As Empoleon’s Z-Move appeared to overwhelm Gengar, Gengar used Intangibility to let the attack pass through, then struck Empoleon with Thunderbolt and won the semifinal for Dawn.
• Dawn and Barry rejoined their friends, where Xiaoyun praised Dawn and offered to treat her to a feast, while Barry insisted he had suffered an honorable defeat.
• Ash looked forward to facing Dawn in the final the next day, and Serena said the match would be even more exciting.

The Elite Four gathered to oversee security for the Lumiose Conference final, where Ash faced newly crowned Kalos Queen Dawn before a fiercely partisan crowd. The battle began with Ash's Typhlosion and Dawn's Xiaohong taking the field.

• Wikstrom joined Diantha, Drasna, Siebold, and Malva in the VIP room, where Diantha emphasized the need for strong security and Malva assured her the plan was ready.
• Ash and Dawn entered the stadium as the crowd cheered for Greninja and Dawn, while Barry envied their support and Serena quietly wished Ash luck.
• The referee announced the start of the final, and Ash and Dawn simultaneously sent out their first Pokémon.
• Ash sent out his newly evolved Typhlosion, while Dawn sent out Xiaohong, one of the Volcarona brothers.

Ash and Dawn’s first battle ended in a draw after Typhlosion and Xiaohong knocked each other out. They sent out Tauros and Lopunny for the next match, but Dawn’s question about Ash’s thirty Tauros left him unable to identify which one he had chosen before the referee urged them to begin.

• Ash’s Typhlosion and Dawn’s Xiaohong traded powerful Fire-type attacks, and Typhlosion used Aerial Ace to dodge Flare Blitz and strike Xiaohong from behind.
• Dawn’s Xiaohong trapped Typhlosion in a Hurricane, but Typhlosion countered with Burn Up, and their final clash knocked both Pokémon out.
• Ash and Dawn recalled their Pokémon and sent out Tauros and Lopunny for the second battle.
• Dawn asked Ash whether he knew which of his thirty Tauros he had sent out, and Ash could not answer as the crowd reacted.
• The referee told Ash and Dawn to start battling, and Tauros turned to face Lopunny, determined to win.

Dawn’s Mega Lopunny defeated Ash’s Tauros, then exchanged a final High Jump Kick with Krookodile that knocked both Pokémon out. With both trainers down one Pokémon, Ash and Dawn prepared to continue their battle.

• Dawn Mega Evolved Lopunny and used High Jump Kick to overpower Ash’s Tauros, then froze the ground to send it sliding into a finishing Jump Kick.
• The referee declared Tauros unable to battle, and Ash sent out Krookodile.
• Krookodile emerged from Dig to hit Lopunny, then traded Dragon Claw and Jump Kick attacks with it.
• Ash’s Krookodile dodged Lopunny’s Focus Punch with Aerial Ace and struck its throat, then launched a Dragon Claw at the fallen Lopunny.
• Lopunny caught Krookodile’s arm with its ears and landed a point-blank High Jump Kick, leaving both Pokémon unable to battle.

Ash’s Gliscor used aerial techniques learned from Master McCann to overcome Dawn’s Flygon and win their Pokémon battle. Dawn’s Flygon was knocked out, leaving Ash’s side victorious in the match.

• Ash sent out Gliscor while Dawn sent out Flygon, and the two exchanged Stone Edge, Dragon Pulse, X-Scissor, and Dragon Claw.
• Ash ordered Gliscor to use Giga Impact, and Flygon’s Boomburst could not stop the attack from landing.
• Dawn tried to exploit Giga Impact’s recoil, but Gliscor spun through the air to dissipate the force and escape.
• Dawn commanded Flygon to use Draco Meteor, and Gliscor sensed the airflow to dodge the falling meteors.
• Ash sent Gliscor behind Flygon and ordered a point-blank X-Scissor, knocking Flygon out and giving Gliscor the win.

Ash and Dawn’s battle reached its climax as Greninja defeated Diancie with a Golden Water Shuriken that shattered Diancie’s Sacred Diamond. Both Pokémon were unable to continue, leaving Ash and Dawn with one Pokémon each.

• Dawn sent out Blue-Gray, whose King's Shield blocked Gliscor’s Fire Fang before Sacred Sword defeated Gliscor’s X-Scissor.
• Ash sent out Greninja, who entered the Bond Phenomenon and defeated Blue-Gray after breaking through King's Shield with Double Team and Iai Slash.
• Dawn sent out Diancie, who Mega Evolved and used Diamond Storm and Moonblast against Greninja’s attacks.
• Greninja’s Golden Water Shuriken shattered Diancie’s Sacred Diamond and knocked Diancie out of the battle.
• Greninja exhausted its strength and reverted from the Bond Phenomenon, leaving Ash and Dawn with their final Pokémon.

Dawn and Ash faced off in the tournament final with Piplup and Pikachu, whose fierce battle ended in Ash’s victory. Piplup finally fell after Pikachu called down lightning, leaving Ash as the tournament winner.

• Dawn sent out Piplup, and Ash chose Pikachu for the final battle.
• Piplup used Iron Head to withstand Pikachu’s electric attacks, then clashed with Pikachu’s Iron Tail as the battle intensified.
• Pikachu and Piplup traded attacks until a Whirlpool and Thunderbolt combination exploded, leaving both Pokémon exhausted.
• Dawn unleashed Piplup’s Z-Move Hydro Vortex-Secret Sword Slash, while Ash combined Pikachu’s Iron Tail with Electro Ball.
• Ash directed Pikachu to connect its Electro Ball to the storm clouds and call down a powerful lightning strike.
• Piplup collapsed after the strike, and the referee declared Ash the winner because Dawn’s six Pokémon were unable to battle.

Ash won his first Pokémon League championship after defeating Dawn, while Malva trapped Diantha and the Elite Four in a sealed room. At Prism Tower, Lysandre and Team Flare transformed the Cocoon of Destruction using Zygarde Core data, creating a monstrous new creature above Lumiose City.

• Ash celebrated his championship victory with Pikachu as friends and family across the regions watched and congratulated him.
• Malva sealed Diantha, Drasna, Siebold, and Wikstrom inside the VIP room, then told them to wait while she watched Prism Tower.
• Lysandre ordered Team Flare to begin its operation using the Cocoon of Destruction and Zygarde Core data.
• Xerosic activated the machinery, shattering the containment chamber and releasing a surge of energy around the Cocoon of Destruction.
• The Cocoon of Destruction transformed into a fifteen-meter stone monster with a cobra body, mismatched wings, and dark red flame eyes, and its cry rang over Lumiose City.