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| Season | Pokémon the Series: XYZ (Season 19) · The Lumiose Conference arc (XY123–XY131) |
| Episode | Season 19, episode 37 · English episode 925 · Japanese episode 930 · Bulbapedia code XY130 |
| English title | Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted! |
| Japanese title | 決勝戦！サトシ対アラン！！ Kesshōsen! Satoshi Tai Aran!! — “The Finals! Satoshi VS Alan!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 11 August 2016 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 29 October 2016 · Cartoon Network |
| Screenplay | Shinzō Fujita |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | XY&Z – Satoshi (Rica Matsumoto) · Pikachū no Uta (Pikachu’s Song) – Pikachu (Ikue Ōtani) |
| English opening | Stand Tall – Ben Dixon and The Sad Truth |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Metagross (US) |
| Previous episode | Kalos League Passion with a Certain Flare! (XY129) |
| Next episode | Down to the Fiery Finish! (XY131) |
Plot episodeLeague final, part 1Ash vs Alain
Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted! is the 37th episode of Pokémon the Series: XYZ, the nineteenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 925th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 930, Bulbapedia code XY130). It first aired in Japan on 11 August 2016 and in the United States on 29 October 2016. It falls within the season’s The Lumiose Conference stretch (EP123–EP131).
Synopsis
The six-on-six Kalos League final between Ash and Alain begins, and the two trade knockouts until the score stands level at three apiece and Pikachu goes up against Alain’s Charizard. With Mairin cheering for Alain, the battle opens on a field of water and rock: Alain’s Tyranitar summons a sandstorm with Sand Stream, but Pikachu splashes the stream with Iron Tail, clearing the sand and soaking Tyranitar so that Thunderbolt hits harder. Pikachu bats Tyranitar’s Stone Edge shards back with Iron Tail and, after being swung around by Crunch, knocks it out with Electro Ball. Diantha and Professor Sycamore praise Ash’s growth, while Team Rocket, working for Malva, plan to steal the finalists’ Pokémon afterwards. Noivern then faces Weavile, whose Protect and Night Slash dodge Supersonic; Noivern finds the real Weavile among its Double Team, but Ice Beam and Night Slash send it into the water, knocked out.
Hawlucha comforts Noivern and steps in. Weavile lures it into the water and freezes the stream with Ice Beam, but Hawlucha uses the ice to soften Night Slash, then flies in, hurls Weavile onto the field and knocks it out with a Flying Press that shatters the ice. Alain’s Bisharp paralyses Hawlucha with Thunder Wave, and after its High Jump Kick misses, a single Guillotine knocks it out. In the stands, Serena, Clemont and Sawyer remark on the trust between Ash and his Pokémon, Tierno and Trevor marvel at Alain’s strength, and Alain admits that battling Ash is so much fun that he loses track of time. Talonflame and Alain’s Unfezant put on an aerial display, clashing with Steel Wing, Flame Charge and Sky Attack, until Brave Bird and Sky Attack collide and both fall, leaving three Pokémon on each side.
During the field change, Clemont reminds Tierno, Trevor and Shauna that Ash has never beaten Alain, but Serena insists he has grown since their last battle. Ash encourages Alain to enjoy the match, and Mairin realises she has never seen Alain smile before. On a grassy field, Pikachu faces Metagross, which uses Agility to dodge Thunderbolt and batters Pikachu with Metal Claw, Rock Slide and Meteor Mash. Pikachu leaps onto Metagross’s back and holds on through its thrashing, firing a point-blank Thunderbolt, and when Metagross throws it into the air, Pikachu comes down with an Iron Tail to the head that knocks Metagross out. Ash takes the lead again, to James’s delight and his partners’ annoyance. Alain then sends out Charizard, and Pikachu’s Quick Attack and super-effective Thunderbolt bring the mighty Fire type to its knees as the final reaches its climax.
Major Events
- League final, part 1. Ash leads after Pikachu beats Tyranitar and Metagross, until Alain sends out Charizard
- Talonflame and Unfezant knock each other out
- The last official battles of Talonflame, Hawlucha and Noivern
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Shinzō Fujita.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kalos storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- The announcer’s description of Guillotine as a one-hit knockout becomes a “powerful move”
Part of our Pokémon the Series: XYZ guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.