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| Season | Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures (Season 21) · Ula’ula Island & Nanu’s grand trial arc (SM073–SM077) |
| Episode | Season 21, episode 32 · English episode 1010 · Japanese episode 1016 · Bulbapedia code SM076 |
| English title | A Battle Hand-Off! |
| Japanese title | スーパー決戦！ピカチュウVSミミッキュ！！ Sūpā Kessen! Pikachū VS Mimikkyu!! — “Super Decisive Battle! Pikachu VS Mimikkyu!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 24 May 2018 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 27 October 2018 · Disney XD |
| Screenplay | Jun’ichi Fujisaku |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Mirai Konekushon (Future Connection) – ЯeaL · Jarī Bōi Jarī Gāru (Twerp, Twerpette) – Taiiku Okazaki |
| English opening | Under the Alolan Moon – Haven Paschall and Ben Dixon |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Krookodile (US) |
| Previous episode | Some Kind of Laziness! (SM075) |
| Next episode | Guiding an Awakening! (SM077) |
Plot episodePikachu learns ElectrowebThrifty Megamart
A Battle Hand-Off! is the 32nd episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures, the twenty-first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1010th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1016, Bulbapedia code SM076). It first aired in Japan on 24 May 2018 and in the United States on 27 October 2018. It falls within the season’s Ula’ula Island & Nanu’s grand trial stretch (EP73–EP77).
Synopsis
To earn his grand trial, Ash must win a battle at the abandoned Thrifty Megamart, where his opponent turns out to be Jessie’s Mimikyu—and Pikachu survives Let’s Snuggle Forever by learning Electroweb. Jessie announces that she and Mimikyu have mastered their Z-Move and shows Matori the Z-Power Ring, while back at the den Bewear keeps listening to the trio’s recorded decoys. Outside Acerola’s house, Ash trains Lycanroc and Pikachu; Pikachu’s Electro Ball splits strangely, and mud on Lycanroc’s face no longer angers it. Team Rocket ask Nanu where Ash is, and Nanu vaguely points them to the Megamart; when Ash then demands his trial, Nanu agrees on one condition—that Ash first defeat the Trainers and Mimikyu waiting at the Megamart, with Acerola as judge—and goes back to relaxing with a smirk.
At the dark, deserted store, Team Rocket are frightened by glowing eyes that turn out to be Jessie’s own Mimikyu, Poipole pushes shopping carts at Pikachu, and Ash realises that his opponents are Team Rocket. Acerola announces that she will judge, the trio bow to her authority, and Ash accepts. Back on Melemele, Professor Kukui teaches the class about Mimikyu, while Bewear finds the decoys broken and smashes out of the den in search of the trio. Pikachu’s Iron Tail only triggers Mimikyu’s Disguise, and Mimikyu answers with Play Rough, Shadow Claw and Wood Hammer, knocking an Electro Ball back; a second Electro Ball splits and hits Team Rocket. When Bewear bursts in to carry the trio away, Mimikyu’s glare makes her let them finish the battle, which rages across the shelves.
As Pikachu tires, Jessie, James, Meowth and Wobbuffet strike the Z-pose together, and Mimikyu drapes its cloth over Pikachu and pummels it with Let’s Snuggle Forever, leaving even Team Rocket shaken. But Pikachu stands up: it had unknowingly shielded itself with Electroweb, its first new move in years. Ash has Pikachu trap Mimikyu in another Electroweb, his Electrium Z changes into a Pikashunium Z once again, and wearing Ash’s cap, Pikachu fires 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, blasting a hole through the roof. Mimikyu faints, and Acerola declares Ash the winner. Bewear gently lifts the unconscious Mimikyu, drops Team Rocket into a shopping cart and leaps out through the broken ceiling. Nanu arrives irritated by the result, but he keeps his promise and agrees to hold Ash’s grand trial.
Major Events
- The Thrifty Megamart. Nanu’s condition: Ash must beat the “Trainers” at the abandoned Thrifty Megamart, who are Team Rocket
- Jessie’s Mimikyu uses Let’s Snuggle Forever
- Pikachu learns Electroweb, its first new move in 338 episodes and its last ever, and wins with 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt
- Pikachu’s last use of Electro Ball
- Nanu grants the grand trial
- The first non-grand trial with no Totem and no Z-Crystal
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Jun’ichi Fujisaku.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Alola storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- The Japanese captions naming Let’s Snuggle Forever and 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt are erased
- Japanese version: Future Connection and, per Bulbapedia, Team Rocket’s Team Song inserts
Part of our Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon – Ultra Adventures guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.