The Pillar of Fire – Pokémon Horizons Season 2, Episode 36

Plot episodeGouging Fire joins LikoBlack Rayquaza appears

The Pillar of Fire is the 36th episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Search for Laqua, the second season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1305th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1314, Bulbapedia code HZ081). It first aired in Japan on 24 January 2025 and in the United States on 26 September 2025. It falls within the season’s Area Zero stretch (EP79–EP82).

Released on Netflix in the US on Friday 26 September 2025 with the rest of Part 4. It had gone on sale in UK digital stores on 5 July 2025, reached Australia’s Stan on 12 July and BBC iPlayer on 17 July 2025, and Cartoon Network Africa showed it on 24 August 2025.

Synopsis · Major Events · Trivia · Dub Changes · All episodes

Synopsis

In Area Zero, the group finds the “Entei” of the Six Heroes, which turns out to be the Paradox Pokémon Gouging Fire; after a hard battle to win back Lucius’s belt, it joins Liko, and Black Rayquaza appears in the sky. After a night in Area Zero, Liko, Roy, Dot and Friede picnic at the spot where Entei was last seen, wondering why it would be there, while Coral and Sidian watch unseen. As they pack up, an Entei that looks somewhat different from the one in Johto appears; Pagogo resonates with it and the Six Heroes on Lucius’s belt react, confirming that it is the one they seek. When Liko holds out the belt and asks it to join them, it hands her its Ancient Poké Ball, then snatches the belt and challenges them to win it back, tucking it into its fur. Crocalor’s Stomping Tantrum is stopped by Burning Bulwark, Quaxwell is burned touching it, and Floragato takes a small burn; Dot realises that the barrier uses too much energy to be sustained, and Friede gives her a Burn Heal for Quaxwell.

The three partners force their opponent to raise Burning Bulwark again and keep their distance until it fades, letting Captain Pikachu land a Thunder Punch that barely hurts it, and when the creature answers with Dragon Pulse, Dot, Friede and Briar realise that it is not Entei but a Paradox Pokémon. Briar explains what Paradox Pokémon are; Roy realises that his hairy “Magneton” was one too, and since such Pokémon have only been recognised in recent years, Lucius and Rystal must have mistaken this one for Entei. Dot deduces that it is a Fire and Dragon type, leaving Stomping Tantrum as their only effective move. While Captain Pikachu’s Double Team distracts it, Quaxwell leaps into the river and learns Aqua Cutter, and when Burning Bulwark fades again Crocalor lands a stronger Stomping Tantrum. Then the Pokémon fires Dragon Pulse into the sky, parting the clouds so that sunlight activates its Protosynthesis Ability, and unleashes Raging Fury, which Briar says looks like a pillar of fire, identifying it from the Scarlet Book as Gouging Fire.

Raging Fury hits all three partners hard, and when Captain Pikachu is cornered, Crocalor saves him with Flame Charge. Even in danger everyone is enjoying the battle, and Dot notices that Gouging Fire becomes confused when its flames die down. As Sidian keeps watch and holds back the eager Coral, the trio Terastallize their partners when Gouging Fire uses Raging Fury again and attack from all sides, and a flurry of Aqua Cutter drives it into the river, dousing its flames. Captain Pikachu’s Thunder Punch lands, the belt falls from Gouging Fire’s fur, and Floragato catches it with a vine; Dot holds it up to show the battle is won. Asked whether they have earned its approval, Gouging Fire shows a vision of Lucius winning its trust after his own hardships and setting off for Laqua with Rystal, then lets itself be recalled into its Ancient Poké Ball. As Roy declares that Black Rayquaza is next, Pagogo and the five heroes resonate again, and the clouds part to reveal Black Rayquaza descending from the sky.

Major Events

• Gouging Fire. Lucius’s Entei is the Paradox Pokémon Gouging Fire
• Quaxwell learns Aqua Cutter
• The trio win back Lucius’s belt, and Gouging Fire joins Liko’s care
• Black Rayquaza appears
• Burn Heal’s anime debut

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Gouging Fire#1020 · HZ081

Captures and evolutions

• Gouging Fire#1020 · Liko’s care · Lucius’s “Entei”, after a battle for his belt

Trivia

• The English title plays on the way Briar describes Gouging Fire’s Raging Fury, which looks like a pillar of fire; the Japanese title’s pun on Gouging Fire (穿つ, “gouge”) is lost.
• The screenplay is by Michihiro Tsuchiya.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Paldea, Kitakami and Johto storyline.

Changes in the English Dub

• The Japanese title’s allusion to Gouging Fire (穿つ ugatsu, “gouge”) is lost in the English title

Part of our Pokémon Horizons: The Search for Laqua guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.