Recaps

Steven defeated Volkner with Mega Metagross, then won the three-way match when Kentaro’s Ursaring refused to battle. The next group’s lineup appeared as Alain, Blaziken Mask, and Skyla.

• Mega Metagross’s psychic drill pierced Electivire’s Thunder Punch and knocked Electivire unconscious, giving Steven the victory over Volkner.
• Steven asked Kentaro whether he wanted to continue, and Kentaro accepted despite being terrified of fighting Mega Metagross.
• Kentaro ordered Ursaring to battle, but Ursaring played dead and refused to get up.
• The referee declared Steven the winner after Ursaring lost the will to battle.
• Volkner accepted his loss, while Flint tried to cheer him up by offering to buy him a meal.
• The tournament screen revealed the next group’s battle lineup: Alain versus Blaziken Mask versus Skyla.

Skyla’s Swanna was eliminated after Alain and Meyer’s Mega-Evolved Pokémon briefly teamed up, and Alain defeated Meyer in the ensuing battle. The next matchup paired Barry against Norman and Wikstrom, leaving Barry terrified as he prepared to compete.

• Skyla opened with Rain Dance and sent Swanna’s Hurricane at Alain’s Charizard and Meyer’s Blaziken, but both trainers Mega Evolved and charged through the attack.
• Meyer’s Blaziken struck Swanna with Blaze Kick, and Alain’s Charizard finished it with Flamethrower, eliminating Skyla.
• Alain’s Mega Charizard X and Meyer’s Mega Blaziken fought fiercely until Charizard’s Blast Burn met Blaziken’s Flare Blitz in a massive explosion.
• Blaziken fell and reverted to its normal form, so the referee declared Alain the winner and advanced him to the next round.
• The next group was announced as Barry versus Norman versus Wikstrom, and Barry asked Xiaoyun if he could withdraw.

Barry and Wikstrom teamed up against Norman’s Slaking, but its overwhelming power eliminated Barry and left Wikstrom fighting alone. Wikstrom exploited Slaking’s Truant downtime and nearly wore it down, but Norman used Rest to restore Slaking’s health and prolong the battle.

• Barry and Wikstrom secretly agreed to work together, then sent Chesnaught and Scizor to attack Norman’s Slaking.
• Slaking blocked their opening attacks, slammed the two Pokémon together, and countered their follow-up strikes with enough force to send them flying.
• Barry and Wikstrom Mega Evolved Chesnaught and Scizor and coordinated another assault, but Slaking’s Earthquake disrupted them and its Giga Impact knocked Chesnaught out, eliminating Barry.
• Wikstrom boosted Scizor’s Attack with Swords Dance during Slaking’s Truant downtime, then used Bullet Punch to deflect Stone Edge and Metal Claw to meet Hammer Arm.
• Wikstrom’s Scizor battered Slaking with Fury Cutter during its downtime, but Wikstrom withdrew Scizor to avoid a possible Counter.
• Norman had Slaking use Rest, and its injuries rapidly healed while Wikstrom watched his progress vanish.

Norman defeated Wikstrom and advanced, then Dawn, May, and Cameron began a three-way tournament battle. Dawn and May focused on their rivalry, but after Cameron attacked with Hydreigon, they teamed up, Mega Evolved Lopunny and Blaziken, and eliminated him.

• Norman's Slaking woke up and defeated Wikstrom's Scizor with a point-blank Hyper Beam, giving Norman the win.
• Dawn, May, and Cameron entered the next group match, but Dawn and May immediately focused on battling each other.
• Cameron tried to join the fight with Hydreigon's Draco Meteor, grazing Dawn's Lopunny and May's Blaziken.
• Dawn and May accused Cameron of interrupting their battle, then Mega Evolved Lopunny and Blaziken to attack Hydreigon together.
• Mega Lopunny and Mega Blaziken broke through Hydreigon's Dragon Pulse and struck it with Jump Kick and Flare Blitz, knocking it out and eliminating Cameron.

Dawn defeated May in their one-on-one battle and advanced, then Paul, Lucian, and Roxie began a three-way match. Paul and Lucian teamed up to damage Roxie's Toxtricity, which answered with a battlefield-wide sonic attack.

• Dawn used Lopunny's ears to trap Blaziken and land a High Jump Kick, winning the battle and advancing to the next round.
• Paul, Lucian, and Roxie entered the field and sent out Metagross, Bronzong, and Toxtricity, respectively.
• Roxie opened with Toxtricity's Overdrive and Boomburst, while Paul and Lucian countered its sound attacks and struck back.
• Lucian aimed Bronzong's Gyro Ball at Toxtricity as Paul used Psychic to pin it down, and their combined attack sent it rolling across the field.
• Roxie urged the injured Toxtricity to unleash Overdrive and Boomburst together in a final attack covering the battlefield.

Roxie was eliminated after Taunting Lucian’s Bronzong, leaving Paul and Lucian to fight for a place in the next round. Paul Mega Evolved Metagross to survive Lucian’s combination attack, defeated Bronzong, and left the arena determined to grow stronger.

• Roxie’s Toxtricity fell after its final Taunt, eliminating Roxie and leaving Paul and Lucian as the last contestants.
• Paul and Lucian traded attacks as Bronzong used Future Sight to set up a follow-up Flash Cannon against the damaged Metagross.
• Paul Mega Evolved Metagross, using the evolution’s brief invulnerability to avoid Future Sight and Flash Cannon.
• Mega Metagross struck Bronzong with Zen Headbutt, and Lucian conceded when Bronzong could no longer continue battling.
• Paul won and advanced to the next round, then told himself that he still was not strong enough against tougher opponents.

Diantha, Flint, and Aci began their battle, but the match quickly became a fierce duel between Diantha’s Gardevoir and Flint’s Infernape. Flint pressed the attack with Flame Charge and Thunder Punch, while Aci and his Venusaur watched from the sidelines.

• Diantha entered to roaring cheers, and she and Flint traded teasing remarks before Flint declared that Trainers should strive to close the gap in strength.
• Flint sent out Infernape, Diantha chose Gardevoir, and Aci brought out Venusaur, which shrank away from the two powerful Pokémon.
• Flint opened with Mach Punch, but Gardevoir used Teleport to evade and reappeared elsewhere on the field.
• Gardevoir used Dazzling Gleam, and Infernape charged through the light with Fire Punch before clashing with Gardevoir’s Moonblast.
• Both Pokémon were driven back by the explosion, and Flint ordered Infernape to attack with Flame Charge followed by Thunder Punch.

Flint pushed Diantha and Gardevoir to their limits with Infernape, but Mega Evolution and a Z-Move still left Infernape unable to battle. Aci then tried to exploit Gardevoir’s injuries, only for Diantha to defeat his Venusaur and advance.

• Flint drove Infernape into a relentless assault, but Diantha used Future Sight to create an opening and Gardevoir turned the exchange in her favor.
• Diantha Mega Evolved Gardevoir and activated Misty Terrain, prompting Flint to unleash the Fighting-type Z-Move All-Out Pummeling.
• Gardevoir’s Protect shattered under the Z-Move, and its Dazzling Gleam clashed with Infernape’s attack; Infernape collapsed, leaving Flint defeated.
• Aci ordered Venusaur to attack the badly injured Gardevoir with Solar Beam before the referee announced the result.
• Diantha had Gardevoir answer with Moonblast, which overwhelmed Solar Beam and knocked Venusaur out, securing her advance to the next round.

Tobias overwhelmed Miura and Yumi with Darkrai in a rapid three-way battle, revealing the Legendary Pokémon Man’s strength to the tournament. After advancing, Tobias silently challenged Xiaoyun with his gaze, while Lucian remained unsure whether he could defeat Darkrai.

• Cynthia recognized Tobias and told Diantha that he challenged the traditional trainer system.
• Miura and Yumi sent out Espeon and Umbreon, then faced Tobias’s Darkrai.
• Miura and Yumi tried Calm Mind and attacked, but Darkrai used Dark Void to put both Pokémon to sleep and win instantly.
• Tobias looked toward Xiaoyun from the competitors' passage, and Xiaoyun realized Tobias had targeted him for a future battle.
• Flint asked Lucian whether he could defeat Tobias’s Darkrai, and Lucian said he would need to battle it to know.

After waiting through several days of tournament battles, Xiaoyun finally entered Group Fifteen, where he faced Gym Leaders Liza, Tate, and Gardenia. He sent out Aerodactyl instead of the Sceptile Gardenia hoped to see, and Aerodactyl began furiously insulting her as the match started.

• Xiaoyun saw familiar trainers advance through the tournament before Group Fifteen's matchups were announced.
• Gardenia excitedly approached Xiaoyun to ask about his Sceptile, while Dawn grew jealous and had to be restrained by Zoey, Barry, Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont.
• Xiaoyun persuaded Gardenia to return to her position by promising she could spend ten minutes with Sceptile after the match.
• The referee began the battle, and Liza and Tate sent out Lunatone and Solrock while Gardenia sent out Roserade.
• Xiaoyun chose Aerodactyl, which became offended when Gardenia complained that it was not Sceptile and launched into a stream of insults.

Xiaoyun and Aerodactyl overwhelmed Liza, Tate, and Gardenia in a three-on-one battle after revealing Aerodactyl’s Bond Phenomenon and devastating power. Gardenia forfeited, Xiaoyun won, and he left before showing her Sceptile as promised.

• Liza and Tate opened with Reflect and Sandstorm, but Aerodactyl’s Stone Edge and evasive moves kept them from gaining control.
• Gardenia joined the fight, and Roserade’s Weather Ball hit Aerodactyl, prompting Xiaoyun to order Aerodactyl to target Roserade.
• Lunatone and Solrock stopped Aerodactyl’s dive with Psychic, while Roserade landed Magical Leaf and Leaf Storm; Aerodactyl then used Taunt to interrupt the twins’ Calm Mind.
• Xiaoyun activated Bond Phenomenon, transforming Aerodactyl, which unleashed Gaia Energy Cannon and knocked Lunatone unconscious.
• Aerodactyl stopped Solrock’s Explosion with Thunder Bagua, leaving Solrock unconscious, and Gardenia forfeited as Xiaoyun claimed victory.
• Xiaoyun acknowledged the Gym Leaders and walked away without showing Gardenia Sceptile, while Dawn cheered for him from the stands.

After the first-round winners were decided, the audience revived Elesa, Flint, Lucian, and Barry, then random draws matched them against Siebold, Korrina, Ayaka, and Xiaoyun. The next morning, Flint and Lucian faced Siebold and Korrina in the first four-way battle, where both pairs formed temporary alliances as the match began.

• Caitlin's Gothitelle won the final three-way battle, completing the list of eighteen advancing Trainers.
• Diantha announced that audience votes would revive four losers and that four advancing Trainers would be randomly drawn to face them in two four-way battles.
• The audience selected Elesa, Flint, Lucian, and Barry for revival, while Siebold, Korrina, Ayaka, and Xiaoyun were drawn as their opponents.
• Diantha's random shuffle placed Flint, Lucian, Korrina, and Siebold in the first group, and Barry, Elesa, Ayaka, and Xiaoyun in the second.
• The next morning, Flint and Lucian faced Siebold and Korrina in the first four-way battle, and the two pairs formed temporary alliances as the match began.

Flint and Lucian defeated Korrina and Siebold in a four-way battle, with Lucian ultimately beating Flint to win the match. Lucian looked toward the entrance as the next group of contestants prepared to enter.

• Flint and Lucian coordinated attacks with Magmortar and Medicham, forcing Siebold and Korrina to Mega Evolve Blastoise and Lucario.
• Lucian Mega Evolved Medicham and defeated Mega Lucario with Force Palm and Counter, eliminating Korrina.
• Flint used Inferno Overdrive to badly damage Mega Blastoise, and Lucian finished it with High Jump Kick, eliminating Siebold.
• Lucian's Mega Medicham defeated Flint's weakened Magmortar, making Lucian the winner of the four-way free-for-all.
• Flint congratulated Lucian and urged him not to embarrass Sinnoh as the next four contestants approached.

Barry and Ayaka teamed up against Xiaoyun and Elesa in a four-Pokémon battle. After Luxray and Zebstrika overwhelmed Absol, Barry unleashed Empoleon’s Steel-type Z-Move against their combined lightning attack, leaving the collision hidden in smoke.

• Barry hid behind Ayaka and complained that Xiaoyun’s smile meant he was about to be targeted, while Ayaka accepted that they would fight as a team.
• Ayaka Mega Evolved Absol as Xiaoyun’s Luxray opened with Thunder; Barry used Empoleon’s Steel Wing and the ground to channel the lightning away.
• Absol and Zebstrika traded Razor Wind, Wild Charge, Night Slash, Dark Pulse, and Thunderbolt, but Luxray and Zebstrika then battered Absol with Iron Tail and Flame Charge.
• Elesa and Xiaoyun coordinated Zebstrika’s Thunder with Luxray’s Iron Tail to create the powerful combination move Thundering Might.
• Barry used Empoleon’s Steel-type Z-Move, Corkscrew Crash, and sent Empoleon spinning into the lightning pillar as the battlefield disappeared in smoke.

The round-of-16 matchups were drawn, and Ash faced Lucian in the opening battle. Ash’s Staraptor fought Lucian’s Gallade but was defeated, leaving Ash behind in the three-on-three match.

• Ayaka and Barry’s Pokémon defeated Elesa’s Zebstrika, but Xiaoyun’s Luxray remained standing and won the four-way battle.
• Diantha’s draw paired Ash with Lucian, Paul with Alain, Xiaoyun with Long Yu, and Dawn with Wallace.
• The next morning, Ash and Lucian began their round-of-16 battle with Staraptor and Gallade.
• Gallade overwhelmed Staraptor with rapid Psychic- and Fighting-type attacks, and the referee declared Staraptor unable to battle.

Ash’s Annihilape defeated Lucian’s Gallade and Girafarig before Bronzong knocked it out, leaving Pikachu to face Lucian’s final Pokémon. Pikachu broke through Bronzong’s Future Sight with Volt Tackle, and the chapter ended as the attack struck in a blinding explosion.

• Ash sent out Annihilape, which defeated Lucian’s Gallade with Rage Fist.
• Annihilape overcame Girafarig by grabbing and slamming it, but Lucian’s Bronzong defeated the battered Pokémon.
• Ash sent out Pikachu, which dodged Bronzong’s attacks and knocked it back with an Iron Tail and Electro Ball combination.
• Ash ordered Pikachu to use Volt Tackle, and Pikachu forced its way through Bronzong’s Future Sight before slamming into it.

Ash defeated Lucian with Pikachu, and the stadium turned to Paul’s match against Alain. Paul and Alain traded sharp challenges before sending out Torterra and Tyranitar to begin their battle.

• Ash caught Pikachu after its attack defeated Bronzong, and the referee declared Ash the winner.
• Lucian congratulated Ash, while the crowd and other spectators reacted to Pikachu’s victory.
• The screen announced Paul versus Alain as the next match, and spectators discussed the two Trainers’ strengths.
• Paul and Alain met on the field, where Paul declared that he would claim victory over the Trainer called the strongest below the Elite Four.
• Alain sent out Tyranitar, whose Sand Stream created a sandstorm, and Paul answered with Torterra.

Paul’s Torterra defeated Alain’s Tyranitar through a defensive battle of attrition, and Paul’s Mega Aggron then turned Alain’s Metagross’s Hyper Beam back on it. Metagross lay scorched and defeated as the battle continued.

• Paul’s Torterra endured Tyranitar’s attacks with Curse, Leech Seed, and Synthesis before knocking it out with Wood Hammer.
• Alain sent out Metagross, while Paul chose Aggron as his second Pokémon.
• Paul Mega Evolved Aggron after testing Metagross’s strength with Metal Burst.
• Mega Aggron blocked Metagross’s attacks and charged it with Heavy Slam, then endured Hyper Beam.
• Paul’s Mega Aggron used Metal Burst to reflect Hyper Beam, leaving Metagross scorched and lying on the ground.

Paul defeated Alain after Electivire overwhelmed Mega Charizard X, and the next tournament match was set between Xiaoyun and Long Yu. Before their battle began, Long Yu reflected on his old loss to Tobias and Xiaoyun offered to avenge him.

• Alain sent out Charizard, Mega Evolved it, and defeated Paul's Aggron after a grueling exchange.
• Paul's Electivire activated Motor Drive with Thunder, then used Electric Terrain and Rising Voltage to overcome Charizard's speed and attacks.
• Electivire evaded most of Charizard's Blast Burn and knocked it out with a powered-up Thunder Punch, giving Paul the victory.
• Paul apologized for his earlier behavior, and Alain accepted before preparing to begin a new journey.
• Xiaoyun and Long Yu met for their scheduled match, discussed Long Yu's past defeat by Tobias, and Xiaoyun offered to take revenge for him.

Xiaoyun defeated Long Yu’s Salamence and Kommo-o with Dragonite and Hydreigon, taking a two-to-one lead in their top-16 battle. Long Yu sent out his final Pokémon, the unfamiliar Paldean Pseudo-Legendary Baxcalibur, leaving Xiaoyun and the spectators stunned.

• Long Yu opened with Salamence, but Xiaoyun’s Dragonite outmaneuvered it and knocked it out with Dragon Rush after a fierce aerial exchange.
• Long Yu sent out Kommo-o, which boosted its stats and defeated Dragonite with Clanging Scales and Boomburst.
• Xiaoyun sent out Hydreigon and suppressed Kommo-o with ranged attacks, then answered its Z-Move with Devastating Drake to win the clash and knock it out.
• Long Yu revealed his final Pokémon, a species unfamiliar to Xiaoyun and the spectators.
• Rotom identified the Pokémon as Baxcalibur, a Dragon- and Ice-type Pseudo-Legendary from the Paldea region.

Xiaoyun faced Long Yu’s newly Mega Evolved Baxcalibur and won their battle with Kingambit, earning a chance to continue toward a showdown with Tobias. Long Yu left to resume his journey, still aiming to reach his goal.

• Long Yu revealed that he had discovered the Paldea region and Mega Evolved Baxcalibur, while Xiaoyun asked whether its enormous sword was heavy.
• Mega Baxcalibur defeated Xiaoyun’s Hydreigon with Glaive Rush, tying the battle at two Pokémon apiece.
• Xiaoyun sent out Kingambit, which blocked Baxcalibur’s Glaive Rush and knocked it down with Iron Head.
• Long Yu freed Baxcalibur with Outrage, but Kingambit combined Iron Head and Kowtow Cleave in a Three Sword Style attack to defeat it.
• Xiaoyun won the battle, and Long Yu left to continue pursuing his goal of fighting Tobias.

Steven defeated Caitlin in their battle, quickly overpowering all three of her Pokémon with Metagross and Mega Metagross. After thanking her for the match, he left Caitlin furious at his merciless treatment of her Pokémon and his lack of gentleness.

• Caitlin sent out Reuniclus, but Steven's Metagross defeated it with consecutive Meteor Mash attacks before it could recover.
• Caitlin sent out Sigilyph, and Steven Mega Evolved Metagross, whose powerful Psychic overwhelmed Sigilyph.
• Caitlin's Gothitelle used Protect, Psychic, Future Sight, and Shadow Ball, but Mega Metagross countered its attacks and battered it with Bullet Punch.
• Steven finished Gothitelle with Meteor Mash, and the referee declared him the winner.
• Steven thanked Caitlin for the match, while Caitlin glared at him and left, muttering that he was a dense rock obsessive who would never find a girlfriend.

Pheobe and Norman fought a Hoenn showdown, with Norman’s weather tactics and Spinda’s tricks overcoming Pheobe’s early advantage. Their final Pokémon, Mega Sableye and Slaking, battled with the outcome still undecided as Slaking attacked in its sleep.

• Pheobe sent out Mismagius against Norman’s Castform, whose weather-based attacks forced Mismagius to use Pain Split and take Castform down with it.
• Norman’s Spinda confused Pheobe’s second Mismagius with Teeter Dance and knocked it out with a point-blank Shadow Ball.
• Pheobe’s Banette and Norman’s Spinda both fell after Spinda used Encore and Teeter Dance, tying the match at 2-2.
• Norman sent out Slaking, while Pheobe Mega Evolved Sableye and burned Slaking before striking it with Power Gem.
• Slaking’s Thunder damaged Mega Sableye, but Norman used Rest to heal Slaking, then had it use Sleep Talk to unleash another Thunder.

Norman defeated Pheobe in a lengthy battle of attrition, and Diantha then defeated Sidney in a fierce three-on-three match. Sidney accepted his loss cheerfully and left looking forward to battling Diantha again.

• Norman's Slaking wore down Pheobe's Mega Sableye with Sleep Talk until Sableye collapsed, giving Norman the win.
• On the third day, Diantha faced Hoenn Elite Four member Sidney, whose aggressive style reflected his past as a biker.
• Diantha's Goodra defeated Sidney's Mightyena, then her Gardevoir knocked out Cacturne to put her ahead two to zero.
• Sidney and Diantha Mega Evolved Sharpedo and Gardevoir, and Gardevoir defeated Sharpedo with a point-blank Moonblast to secure Diantha's victory.
• Sidney congratulated Diantha, accepted his defeat without resentment, and left saying he hoped they would battle again.

Iris faced Tobias in the tournament and overcame his Darkrai with Mega Dragonite after Excadrill and Haxorus were defeated. Tobias then sent out Regice, which exploited Dragonite’s Ice weakness and secured the victory, leaving Iris eliminated.

• Iris opened the battle with Excadrill, but Tobias’s Darkrai put it to sleep with Dark Void and defeated it with Dream Eater.
• Iris’s Haxorus pressured Darkrai with Outrage, but Tobias caught it during its recovery with Dark Void and finished it with Dream Eater.
• After Ash encouraged her from the stands, Iris sent out Dragonite and Mega Evolved it.
• Mega Dragonite defeated Darkrai with Blizzard and Dragon Rush, giving Iris her first knockout against Tobias.
• Tobias sent out Regice, whose Sheer Cold froze Mega Dragonite and won the match.