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| Season | Pokémon the Series: XYZ (Season 19) · Mastering the bond & the Iceberg Badge arc (XY114–XY122) |
| Episode | Season 19, episode 29 · English episode 917 · Japanese episode 922 · Bulbapedia code XY122 |
| English title | A Real Icebreaker! |
| Japanese title | サトシゲッコウガVSメガユキノオー！発動巨大水手裏剣！！ Satoshi-Gekkouga Tai Mega Yukinoō! Hatsudō Kyodai Mizu Shuriken!! — “Satoshi Gekkouga VS Mega Yukinooh! Unleash the Giant Water Shuriken!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 2 June 2016 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 3 September 2016 · Cartoon Network |
| Screenplay | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | XY&Z – Satoshi (Rica Matsumoto) · Puni-chan no Uta (Puni-chan’s Song) – Eureka (Mariya Ise) |
| English opening | Stand Tall – Ben Dixon and The Sad Truth |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Avalugg (US) |
| Previous episode | Seeing the Forest for the Trees! (XY121) |
| Next episode | A Diamond in the Rough! (XY123) |
Plot episodeIceberg BadgeAsh’s last Gym battle
A Real Icebreaker! is the 29th episode of Pokémon the Series: XYZ, the nineteenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 917th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 922, Bulbapedia code XY122). It first aired in Japan on 2 June 2016 and in the United States on 3 September 2016. It falls within the season’s Mastering the bond & the Iceberg Badge stretch (EP114–EP122).
Synopsis
Ash returns to the Snowbelle Gym for a rematch with Wulfric and, fighting in harmony with Greninja, defeats the Leader’s Mega Abomasnow to win the Iceberg Badge and qualify for the Kalos League. Wulfric skips the explanation of the rules, saying Ash learned them last time, and opens with Bergmite against Pikachu. Bergmite skates across the ice to dodge Electro Ball, its Icy Wind numbs Pikachu’s legs and lowers his Speed, and Sharpen encases it in hard ice before it slams Pikachu with Rapid Spin. Ash tells Pikachu to run laps around the field to warm up and melt the ice, and Pikachu breaks through Rapid Spin with Quick Attack and wins with Iron Tail. Against Avalugg, Pikachu traps a Gyro Ball in a hole dug with Iron Tail, but Stone Edge’s spires catch him and knock him out.
Wulfric notices a new spark in Talonflame’s eyes. It dodges Stone Edge, rams Avalugg with Flame Charge and Steel Wing, recovers from a free fall after Avalanche, and defeats Avalugg with a second blazing Flame Charge. Wulfric’s last Pokémon, Abomasnow, summons hail with Snow Warning, intercepts Flame Charge with Ice Shard and knocks Talonflame out with Wood Hammer. Greninja opens with Aerial Ace and Water Shuriken and blocks Energy Ball with Cut; when a Wood Hammer comes, it encases itself in ice for protection, then breaks free and transforms into Ash-Greninja. Its Cut now takes the form of water blades, and it raises a giant Water Shuriken on its back. Cornered, Wulfric reveals a Key Stone in his locket and Mega Evolves Abomasnow.
Mega Abomasnow’s Ice Punch freezes and shatters a Water Shuriken, Ice Shard strikes Ash-Greninja, and Wood Hammer scatters its Double Team, but this time Ash and Greninja stay calm and in sync. When Ice Punch freezes Greninja’s water blades, Ash has it skate across the field on them, dodging both Wood Hammer and Ice Shard. A giant Water Shuriken fired at Mega Abomasnow’s feet distracts Wulfric, and a flurry of Aerial Aces wins the battle. Greninja reverts, and Ash calls out all his Pokémon to celebrate as Serena, Clemont and Bonnie cheer. Wulfric presents the Iceberg Badge, Ash’s eighth, which qualifies him for the Kalos League in Lumiose City, ending a run of losses that began with Alain. That night, outside the Pokémon Center, Ash vows to train even harder for the competition ahead, and the group prepares to head for Lumiose City.
Major Events
- Iceberg Badge. In the rematch Pikachu beats Bergmite, Talonflame beats Avalugg and Ash-Greninja beats Wulfric’s Mega Abomasnow for Ash’s eighth Kalos Badge
- Ash qualifies for the Lumiose Conference
- The last official Gym battle of Ash’s career
- The last XY episode without Team Rocket
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kalos storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- An XY&Z remix; the dub uses Stand Tall
Part of our Pokémon the Series: XYZ guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.