HZ033

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Pokémon Horizons: The Series

HZ034 : Respective Departures →

Roar of the Black Rayquaza

HZ033   EP1265 咆吼の黒いレックウザ The Roaring Black Rayquaza

First broadcast Japan December 15, 2023 United States August 9, 2024

English themes Opening Becoming Me Ending

Japanese themes Opening ハロ Ending RVR〜ライジングボルテッカーズラップ〜[モリーVer.PART2]

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 佐藤大 Dai Satō Storyboard 中田誠 Makoto Nakata Assistant director 中田誠 Makoto Nakata Animation directors 忍田雄介 Yusuke Oshida 服部奈津美 Natsumi Hattori 中矢利子 Toshiko Nakaya 倉員千晶 Chiaki Kurakazu 加藤健二 Kenji Katō Additional credits

Preview thread on BMGf Closed Original review thread on BMGf Dub review thread on BMGf

Roar of the Black Rayquaza (Japanese: 咆吼の黒いレックウザ The Roaring Black Rayquaza) is the 33rd episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,265th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on December 15, 2023, in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2024, and in the United States on August 9, 2024.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Blurb

The black Rayquaza has appeared, and Roy wants to battle it! But suddenly, Amethio swoops in on Corviknight and declares his intent to catch the Legendary Pokémon. Rayquaza fights back, and Amethio retreats after his Ceruledge suffers a harsh defeat. Roy pleads with Rayquaza to battle him next, so it unleashes an overwhelming Draco Meteor move. Liko is nearly hit by the attack, but Terapagos protects her by taking on a new form and using a powerful move of its own. It then changes back to its usual form, and Rayquaza flies away. Later, as Diana and Friede talk about the day’s events, Diana says she’s come to a decision…

Plot

As the Explorers' submarine travels through the ocean, Zirc and Onia see something on the radar, which Amethio immediately knows is the Black Rayquaza. He has the two grunts remain on standby while he heads out on his Corviknight to confront the Legendary Pokémon.

Meanwhile, Liko and the group are shocked to see Rayquaza itself flying over them. Roy runs over and immediately starts calling out to it, wanting to engage it in a battle. Friede wonders if the Six Heroes called out to it. Diana and Terapagos are amazed by the Sky High Pokémon's presence, with Liko hoping they will get through to it. Rayquaza finally notices the group when the Six Heroes' Ancient Poké Balls start glowing. On the Brave Olivine, the other Rising Volt Tacklers are a bit worried about Rayquaza possibly attacking everyone again.

Just then, Amethio arrives and confronts Rayquaza, holding out an Ultra Ball and declaring that he will catch it. Rayquaza uses Dragon Pulse, but Amethio flies his Corviknight out of the way. He sends out Ceruledge and has it use Psycho Cut with Corviknight's Air Slash, but Rayquaza's mighty roar deflects it and causes waves to crash into the rocks surrounding it. As Diana shields Liko, Roy and Friede see Amethio on another rock. Rayquaza glares at Amethio, who has Ceruledge ride Corviknight towards the Sky High Pokémon for a more up close and personal approach. After Ceruledge launches Psycho Cut, Amethio has Corviknight avoid Rayquaza's Dragon Pulse. Seeing how Rayquaza's attacks are getting closer, Friede and Charizard shield Roy. Roy wants to help Rayquaza against Amethio, and Friede desperately tries to hold him back. Murdock tells Friede that its time to retreat, and he drags a frantic Roy to the ship. Diana tells Liko to get back too, but she wants to reason with Rayquaza. Diana protests, seeing how Rayquaza is too riled up at the moment.

Continuing to dodge Rayquaza's attacks, Ceruledge leaps off Corviknight using Bitter Blade, striking it on the head. However, Rayquaza shakes it off, smacking Ceruledge down with its claw before finishing it off with a barrage of Dragon Pulses. With that, Rayquaza turns its attention to the ship. Roy breaks out of Friede's grasp and challenges Rayquaza to a battle. Looking at Terapagos, Rayquaza unleashes Draco Meteor, which Charizard and Arcanine try to block with Flamethrower. One of the meteors lands near Liko, knocking her down. Terapagos sees Liko and Roy in danger, crying for Rayquaza to stop, but to no avail. A meteor hurdles towards Roy, but Liko pushes him out of the way. Just as Liko is about to get hit by the meteor, Terapagos intervenes, saving Liko and transforming into its Terastal Form. Terapagos uses Tera Starstorm to counter Rayquaza's Draco Meteor, leaving everyone speechless. Terapagos turns back to its Normal Form, passing out as Liko tends to it. Rayquaza then flies off, to Roy and Amethio's dismay. Friede finds it odd that the Explorers weren't after them this time. After he reassures Roy, they head back to the ship. Liko briefly notices her grandmother looking out before she heads back too.

Liko takes Terapagos to Mollie, where she states how exhausted it must be from using up all its energy trying to protect Liko. Meanwhile, Roy is feeling downhearted that he and Rayquaza finally met again after all that time ago, but it wouldn't even look at him. Friede has a talk with Diana about Terapagos's Terastal Form being the Pokémon depicted in Lucius's journal. They acknowledge that Rayquaza left immediately after Terapagos turned back from that state, like it had no interest at all, as if Rayquaza was testing Terapagos. Friede believes that meeting three of the Six Heroes must have been awakening Terapagos's power, which may be incomplete at the moment. Diana says that only Kleavor and Entei remain, getting Friede pumped for a goal to strive for, as well as feeling thankful for fulfilling his dream as a professor by traveling with unknown Pokémon. Diana feels the same about picking up where she left off thirty years ago. Entrusting Liko to Friede, Diana feels it best she tackles this mystery in her own way. She then brings up her old friend, Hamber, who is with the Explorers. This made her want look into them herself. Friede wants to help out with that, but Diana refuses. The sun rises over the sea, and Diana suggests searching for the remaining Six Heroes before Laqua, while she investigates the Explorers and why they are after Terapagos. Diana tells Friede to keep this all to himself, but he nonetheless asks Diana to keep in touch if anything goes wrong. However, seeing how Diana doesn't use a Rotom Phone, she has her Squawkabilly deliver messages instead.

In the infirmary, Liko is still feeling worried about Terapagos. Diana then comes through the door, asking her if she has a minute. They head out to the wing deck, where Roy is still feeling down about yesterday. Diana proposes that the two of them battle her together, having noticed that they've both had a lot on their minds from their most recent encounter with Rayquaza and wants to get their spirits back up. Friede acts as the referee as Dot watches on her Rotom Phone, recording the match for Liko and Roy to use as reference as Ludlow remarks her curiosity. Diana tells the kids that they must land a single hit on her Arcanine to win. Sprigatito uses Leafage, but Arcanine avoids it with Extreme Speed, which hits Sprigatito hard. Fuecoco follows up with Flamethrower, but it gets overpowered by Arcanine's own Flamethrower. Friede is impressed by Diana, who commands Arcanine to use Sunny Day to power up its Fire-type moves. Roy doesn't let that stop him, having Fuecoco use Stomping Tantrum. After Arcanine dodges it, the Legendary Pokémon uses Flamethrower to counter Sprigatito's Leafage. Liko and Roy are left in awe by Diana's strength, but looking at Sprigatito and Fuecoco powered up from Sunny Day, they decide to fight on. Liko tells Roy that they finish this their way, and Roy starts singing with Fuecoco. Liko commands Sprigatito to use Leafage again, and Arcanine avoids it with Extreme Speed just like before. However, Fuecoco and Sprigatito slide under Arcanine before it can land the attack. The two strike back with Leafage and Flamethrower. Arcanine deflects Leafage with Flamethrower and tries to overpower Fuecoco's own Flamethrower. However, this distracts it from Sprigatito, who sneaks up behind it and lands a hit with Scratch.

Liko and Roy celebrate their victory, and Diana praises them both as does Friede. Diana says that no matter how big or strong the foe, there is always a way to fight back. Knowing there is so much more they can do together, Liko and Roy want to grow stronger as trainers. Liko acknowledges that her grandmother has taught her so much even though there's still a lot she doesn't understand. Mollie then contacts Liko to tell her that Terapagos is awake. The group goes to the infirmary to see it eating a whole plate of Berries. Liko has no idea what lies behind the mystery of Rayquaza, Lucius or Laqua, but that's exactly what makes it so exciting to her. She resolves to find out, together with Sprigatito and the Rising Volt Tacklers.

Back at the Explorers base, Amethio goes to Hamber and tells him that Rayquaza got away. Hamber understands what Amethio wants now, and he is quick to agree that he wants to get stronger.

Major events

• Amethio battles the Black Rayquaza and is defeated.
• Terapagos transforms into its Terastal Form for the first time on-screen and is revealed to know Tera Starstorm and have Tera Shift as its Ability.
• Diana reveals to Friede that she intends to travel alone again.
• Liko and Roy have a training battle with Diana, which ends after they complete their objective of trying to land a single hit.
• Amethio returns to the Explorers' base and requests to train with Hamber.

For a list of all major events in the animated series, please see the history page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Terapagos (Terastal Form)

Characters

Humans

• Liko
• Roy
• Friede
• Mollie
• Orla
• Ludlow
• Murdock
• Amethio
• Hamber
• Onia
• Zirc
• Diana

Pokémon

• Sprigatito (Liko's)
• Hatenna (Liko's)
• Rotom (Liko's; Rotom Phone)
• Fuecoco (Roy's)
• Charizard (Friede's)
• Pikachu (Friede's; Captain Pikachu)
• Elekid (Orla's)
• Rockruff (Murdock's)
• Quaxly (Dot's)
• Rotom (Dot's; Rotom Phone)
• Ceruledge (Amethio's)
• Corviknight (Amethio's)
• Rayquaza (Lucius's; Black Rayquaza)
• Arcanine (Diana's)
• Squawkabilly (Diana's; Yellow Plumage)
• Noctowl (Rising Volt Tacklers')
• Terapagos (anime; Normal and Terastal Form)
• Shellder (×2)
• Starmie
• Mantyke
• Mantine
• Horsea (×3)
• Seadra
• Wishiwashi (Solo Form; multiple)
• Huntail (×2)

Trivia

• This was the first episode to air after The Indigo Disk expansion was released for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
  • This episode also marks the debut of Terapagos's Terastal Form and the move Tera Starstorm, two elements introduced in The Indigo Disk.
• The first eyecatch features Amethio and his Ceruledge, and the second features Diana and her Arcanine.
• This is the final episode to feature The Brilliant Terapagos Expedition as a bonus segment instead of Professor Friede's Pokémon Seminar.

In other languages

Language		Title
Dutch		De brul van de zwarte Rayquaza
Finnish		Mustan Rayquazan karjaisu
Norwegian		Brølet til den sorte Rayquaza
Polish		Ryk czarnego Rayquazy!
Brazilian Portuguese		O rugido do Rayquaza preto
Spanish		El rugido del Rayquaza negro
Latin American Spanish		El rugido del Rayquaza negro
Swedish		Vrålet från den svarta Rayquaza

← HZ032 : Lapras's Feelings for its Friends

Pokémon Horizons: The Series

HZ034 : Respective Departures →

This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.