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'''Sky High Gym Battle!''' (Japanese: '''ヒワマキジム!大空の戦い!!''' ''{{tt|Hiwamaki|Fortree}} Gym! Battle in the Sky!!'') is the 85th episode of the {{series|Advanced Generation}}, and the 359th episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It first aired in Japan on July 15, 2004 and in the United States on July 9, 2005.
* {{BMGf|5296|Original review thread on BMGf}}
* {{BMGf|8556|Dub review thread on BMGf}}
}}
 
'''Sky High Gym Battle!''' (Japanese: '''ヒワマキジム!大空の戦い!!''' ''{{tt|Hiwamaki|Fortree}} Gym! Battle in the Sky!!'') is the 85th episode of ''[[Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire]]'', and the 359th episode of the [[Pokémon animated series]]. It first aired in Japan on July 15, 2004, and in the United States on July 9, 2005.


{{spoilers}}
{{spoilers}}


==Blurb==
==Blurb==
<!--http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-episodes/07_45-sky-high-gym-battle/-->
<!--https://www.pokemon.com/us/animation/seasons/7/episode-45-sky-high-gym-battle/-->
<i>Ash begins his Gym battle with Winona by sending out Grovyle against her Altaria. Grovyle takes out Altaria with Leaf Blade. Next up is Pelipper, a Water-and-Flying-type so Ash counters with the Electric-type Pikachu. Pelipper uses Steel Wing on the ground, and Pikachu uses Thunderbolt with no effect. Team Rocket arrives to steal Pikachu, but the force of Pikachu's continued Thunderbolt sends them blasting off.
<i>Ash begins his Gym battle with Winona by sending out Grovyle against her Altaria. Grovyle takes out Altaria with Leaf Blade. Next up is Pelipper, a Water-and-Flying-type so Ash counters with the Electric-type Pikachu. Pelipper uses Steel Wing on the ground, and Pikachu uses Thunderbolt with no effect. Team Rocket arrives to steal Pikachu, but the force of Pikachu's continued Thunderbolt sends them blasting off.


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==Plot==
==Plot==
The [[Winona|Fortree City Gym Leader]] and {{Ash}} take their places on an elevated balcony above the battlefield. Before the {{pkmn|battle}} commences, Winona says a type of prayer, asking for strength. It's a three-on-three battle and Winona starts off with {{TP|Winona|Altaria}}, while Ash chooses {{AP|Grovyle}}.
[[Winona]], the [[Fortree City]] [[Gym Leader]], and {{Ash}} take their places on opposing elevated platforms above the battlefield. Before the {{pkmn|battle}} commences, Winona prays to the wind, asking for strength. {{ho|Zachary}} takes his position as referee and explains the rules of the match; a three-on-three battle and only the challenger can make substitutions. Winona calls out her {{TP|Winona|Altaria}}, while Ash chooses {{AP|Grovyle}}. Watching from the sidelines, {{an|May}} examines Altaria on her [[Pokédex]] and {{an|Brock}} warns that Altaria are part {{type|Dragon}}, making for a dangerous opponent. Altaria begins the battle with a {{m|Peck}} that Grovyle counters with {{m|Bullet Seed}}. The {{pkmn|category|Wood Gecko Pokémon}} jumps out of the way but gets Pecked afterward. Winona commands Altaria to Peck Grovyle again, but Ash has Grovyle dodge it by climbing up a totem pole and doing a backflip. Altaria lands a direct hit with its {{m|Dragon Breath}}, but Grovyle doesn't seem too affected by it. Winona again commands Altaria to use the same attack, but Ash gets Grovyle to jump out of the way. Winona is mildly concerned about Grovyle's {{stat|speed}} as it continues to evade Altaria's Dragon Breath. Grovyle attacks with Bullet Seed again and hits Altaria on the back, with no ill effect. Altaria resorts to ascending even higher, but despite the increased altitude, Grovyle rebounds off a pole and slashes Altaria with a {{m|Leaf Blade}}. Grovyle holds the attack, pushing the pair directly into the battlefield. When the dust has settled, Altaria lies unconscious so Grovyle is declares the winner of the round. Ash's friends are impressed, that despite the [[Type#Type effectiveness|type disadvantage]], he managed to pull through. Winona also admits that she was caught off guard by Ash's strategy.
 
{{an|May}}, who is on the sidelines with {{an|Brock}} and [[Max]], checks Altaria's data on the [[Pokédex]]. Altaria begins the battle with a {{m|Peck}} attack, but Grovyle counters with {{m|Bullet Seed}} and then jumps out of the way, but gets pecked afterwards. Winona then commands Altaria to do another Peck, but Ash gets Grovyle to dodge it by climbing up a totem pole and doing a backflip.  
 
Meanwhile, {{TRT}}, are in some kind of tunnel, possibly under the battlefield itself. [[James]], however, doesn't understand why they're trying to get under the battlefield. {{MTR}} attempts to explain and pulls out a pair of dowsing rods. [[Jessie]] and James are confused by the rods, and fantasize about disco dancing with them, but Meowth tells them the rods are used to search for water. Jessie is skeptical but the rods turn and bend and point directly to...another tunnel. Convinced of the rods' usefulness, Jessie and James run off with them down the tunnel.
 
Meanwhile, Winona tells Altaria to use {{m|Dragon Breath}} but Grovyle doesn't seem too affected by it. Winona again commands Altaria to use the same attack, but Ash gets Grovyle to jump out of the way. Winona is concerned (and a little impressed) with Grovyle's {{stat|Speed}}. Grovyle then attacks with Bullet Seed again and hits Altaria on the back, with no ill effect. Altaria flies away.
 
Altaria tries the same move a third time but Grovyle again jumps out of the way and into the air, above Altaria. Ash sees his chance and orders Grovyle to use {{m|Leaf Blade}}. Altaria falls to the ground under the weight of Grovyle's attack. Grovyle is victorious! 
 
Winona recalls Altaria and sends out {{p|Pelipper}}. Ash recalls Grovyle and uses {{AP|Pikachu}}. On the sidelines, Max points out that Pelipper is a hybrid {{2t|Water|Flying}} [[type]]. Brock adds that Pelipper has a 4× weakness against {{t|Electric}} moves, so this should be easy for Ash. Pikachu starts its match against Pelipper by using {{m|Thunderbolt}}. Pelipper counters with {{m|Steel Wing}} and touches the ground. Pelipper is grounded, and electricity doesn't affect it now.  


The Thunderbolt attack discharges into the underground tunnels, including the one Jessie and James are in. The metal rod points up at the spot where Pelipper is grounded. Team Rocket is blasted off again and they land on the battlefield. They plot to catch Pikachu while it's distracted by the battle.
Winona [[recall]]s Altaria and sends out {{p|Pelipper}}. Ash decides to switch out Grovyle and selects {{AP|Pikachu}}. On the sidelines, [[Max]] points out that Pelipper is a hybrid {{2t|Water|Flying}} [[type]] and Brock adds that Pikachu's {{t|Electric}} typing gives him the advantage. Pikachu starts off with a {{m|Thunderbolt}}, but the attack is proving ineffective as Pelipper grounds itself with {{m|Steel Wing}}. The electrical charge instead flows into the subterranean area of the [[Fortree Gym]] and electrocutes {{TRT}}, who is wandering the tunnels aimlessly in search of Pikachu. The trio is subsequently blasted onto the battlefield, and they plot to catch Pikachu while he's distracted by the battle. The trio recites their {{motto}} and rush towards Pikachu. However, the divining rods they're holding again become lightning rods when Pikachu attacks. Jessie, however, is thrilled to see the rods led them directly to a treasure, Pikachu that is, as she and her teammates are sent blasting off into the distance. Pikachu is keeping up his Thunderbolt, but Pelipper remains unaffected. After Pelipper strikes Pikachu with {{m|Quick Attack}}, Brock comes to understand Winona's grounding tactic. Ash changes his strategy and orders Pikachu to use Quick Attack. Pelipper is still grounded and Winona commands it to use {{m|Hydro Pump}}. The force of the attack causes Pelipper to de-ground itself and Ash sees a chance to use a {{m|Thunder}} attack on Pelipper. Both {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} are [[fainting|knocked out]].  


They state their modified {{motto}} and run for Pikachu. The dowsing rods they're holding again become lightning rods when Pikachu attacks. Jessie seems happy about that property of the rods. Winona orders Pelipper to use {{m|Quick Attack}}. Brock understands; the Steel Wing attack is grounding Pelipper, nullifying Pikachu's electrical attacks. Ash changes his strategy and orders Pikachu to use Quick Attack.
Winona informs Ash that the day's perfect conditions have heightened the power of her Flying Pokémon before summoning her {{p|Swellow}}, an {{shiny|alternate color}} Pokémon, as her final Pokémon, while Ash chooses Grovyle again. Ash commands Grovyle to use Leaf Blade, though Swellow is seemingly unscathed by the swipe. Swellow is ordered to use {{m|Aerial Ace}}, a move unfamiliar to Ash. Ash uses the jump-and-Leaf-Blade combo again as a counter move, but Swellow dodges it. Instead, Swellow lands its mark and carries Grovyle into the sky before tossing it directly into the battlefield to win the round.  


Pelipper is still grounded and Winona commands it to use {{m|Hydro Pump}}. The force of the attack causes Pelipper to de-ground itself and Ash sees a chance to use a {{m|Thunder}} attack on Pelipper. Both {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} are [[fainting|knocked out]].
Ash chooses his own {{AP|Swellow}} to battle. Winona is impressed by Ash's bold choice, so the two elevate their battle platforms to incredible heights for a real sky battle. The increased altitude brings a new challenge to match; unpredictable wind currents. Ash tells his Swellow to use {{m|Wing Attack}} and Brock thinks that this is a bad idea. Winona's Swellow strikes first, causing Ash's Swellow to lose control of its flying as it begins to descend towards the field below. Winona orders her Swellow to repeatedly Peck Ash's Swellow. She proceeds to call for a {{m|Hyper Beam}}, which Ash's Swellow dodges. However, she orders this attack a second time and it lands a direct hit. Ash tells Swellow to counter with {{m|Quick Attack}} but Winona's Swellow is faster, allowing it to dodge and counter it with Aerial Ace. The battle becomes an aerial chase between the two Swallow Pokémon. Ash gets some inspiration when he sees the dust being stirred on the ground by Swellow's rapidly changing direction in mid-air close to the ground. As Winona orders another Hyper Beam, Ash orders Swellow to use Quick Attack and rush towards the ground. Winona calls for Swellow to use Aerial Ace while Ash commands his Swellow to use Wing Attack on the ground, whipping up a dust cloud that reveals where Winona's Swellow is coming from. This allows Ash's Swellow to launch a direct hit with another Wing Attack, knocking its opponent out. With that, Zachary officially calls the match and declares Ash as the winner. Winona presents the {{Badge|Feather}} to Ash against a beautiful sunset background, admitting that the battle truly showcased the trust between Ash and his Pokémon.
 
Winona makes a speech in between battles, telling Ash and the others of her love for the sky. Winona then chooses {{p|Swellow}}, an {{shiny|alternate color}} Pokémon, as her final Pokémon, while Ash chooses Grovyle again. Ash commands Grovyle to use Leaf Blade. But Swellow is seemingly unscathed. Swellow is then ordered to use {{m|Aerial Ace}}. Ash uses the jump-and-Leaf-Blade combo again as a counter-move, but Swellow dodges it. Grovyle is hit and is pinned down from the sky, knocking it out.
 
Ash then chooses his own {{AP|Swellow}} to battle. This battle, Swellow vs Swellow, takes the two Pokémon higher into the sky. Ash tells his Swellow to use {{m|Wing Attack}} and Brock thinks that this is a bad idea. Winona orders an attack and Ash's Swellow is hit. It's apparent that when using Wing Attack, Swellow cannot actively stay in the air (i.e., hovering and unable to control movement). Winona orders her Swellow to repeatedly Peck Ash's Swellow. Then she orders a {{m|Hyper Beam}} attack, which Ash's Swellow dodges. However, she orders this attack a second time and it's a direct hit.  
 
Ash tells Swellow to dodge and counter with {{m|Quick Attack}} but Winona's Swellow is faster and dodges this attack, countering with Aerial Ace. The battle becomes an aerial chase between the two Swallow Pokémon. Ash gets some inspiration when he sees the dust being stirred on the ground by Swellow's rapidly changing direction in midair close to the ground. Winona orders another Hyper Beam. Ash orders Swellow to use Quick Attack and rush towards the ground. Winona orders Swellow to use Aerial Ace. Ash commands his Swellow to use Wing Attack on the ground. The dust cloud that develops makes Winona's Swellow visible thus allowing Ash's Swellow to launch a direct hit with another Wing Attack. Winona's Swellow is knocked out, and Ash wins.
 
Max, Brock, and May comment on Ash's strategy. Winona presents the {{Badge|Feather}} to Ash against a beautiful sunset background.


==Major events==
==Major events==
* {{Ash}} has his Gym match with [[Winona]] and wins, earning the {{badge|Feather}}.
[[File:Ash Feather Badge.png|thumb|220px|Ash holding the Feather Badge]]
* {{Ash}} has his [[Gym]] battle with [[Winona]] and wins, earning the {{badge|Feather}}.
{{animeevents}}
{{animeevents}}


===Debuts===
===Debuts===
* {{p|Altaria}} ({{OP|Winona|Altaria}})
====Pokémon debuts====
* [[Winona's Altaria]]
 
==Characters==
==Characters==
===Humans===
===Humans===
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* This episode was the final one to air before the Japanese debut of ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''.
* This was the last episode to air before [[M07]] debuted in Japanese theaters.
* Due to [[Megumi Hayashibara]]'s maternity leave, [[Akiko Hiramatsu]] takes over the voice of [[Jessie]], a change that will last for the next eight episodes.
* Due to [[Megumi Hayashibara]]'s maternity leave, [[Akiko Hiramatsu]] takes over the voice of [[Jessie]], a change that will last for the next eight episodes. Hayashibara's other role, [[Brock's Mudkip]], is taken over by [[Natsuki Yoshihara]].
* Team Rocket makes a reference to ''[[EP142|A Shadow of a Drought]]'', ''[[EP181|A Ghost of a Chance]]'', and ''[[EP182|From Ghost to Ghost]]'' when they had used the divining rods/[[Dowsing Machine|itemfinder]] previously.
* All of the choices in the [[Pokémon Trainer's Choice]] segment would be correct, as {{p|Baltoy}} is weak to {{t|Ice}}, {{t|Water}}, {{t|Grass}}, and {{t|Bug}}, which are the featured types of the segment. {{p|Ledian}} could be considered to be the best choice since it would be unaffected by Baltoy's {{type|Ground}} attacks.
* All choices of the Trainer's Choice would be correct as Baltoy is weak to {{t|Ice}}, {{t|Water}}, {{t|Grass}}, and {{t|Bug}} which are the types of the choice respectively. Ledian could be considered to be the best choice since it would be unaffected by Baltoy's Ground-type attacks.
* Music from ''[[M05|Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias]]'' is used in this episode.


===Errors===
===Errors===
[[File:AG085 error.png|thumb|200px|Grovyle's erroneous fang]]
* When {{AP|Grovyle}} is facing off against {{TP|Winona|Altaria}}, {{Ash}} tells Grovyle to "jump and use dodge", rather than to "jump and dodge".
* When Grovyle is facing off against Altaria, Ash tells Grovyle to "jump and use dodge", rather than to "jump and dodge".
** Similarly, Ash tells {{AP|Swellow}} to "use {{m|Quick Attack}} and after that use dive", rather than "use Quick Attack and dive".
* During the second round of the battle, Pelipper uses Steel Wing as a ground to render Pikachu's attack ineffective. In the real world, electricity is only dangerous when the target is grounded and not the other way round (this is a consistent error about electricity in the Pokémon universe). Brock also describes the technique as protecting Pelipper "like a lightning rod". Lightning rods act by ''diverting'' electricity into the rod and away from the building, not by acting as a ground for the building.
* During the second round of the battle, {{p|Pelipper}} uses {{m|Steel Wing}} as a ground to render {{AP|Pikachu}}'s attack ineffective. In the real world, electricity is only dangerous when the target is grounded and not the other way round. This is a consistent error about electricity in the Pokémon universe. {{an|Brock}} also describes the technique as protecting Pelipper "like a lightning rod". Lightning rods act by ''diverting'' electricity into the rod and away from a building, not by acting as a ground for the building.
* When {{Ash}} goes to pick up his {{AP|Pikachu}} from the battlefield, in the background his platform is still raised.
* When Pikachu falls down after getting hit by Pelipper's Quick Attack, part of his tail is missing.
* When [[Winona]] sends out her {{Shiny}} {{p|Swellow}}, sparkles do not come out of Swellow's Poké Ball.
* When Ash goes to pick up Pikachu, his platform is still raised in the background.
* When [[Winona]] sends out her {{Shiny}} {{p|Swellow}}, sparkles do not come out of Swellow's {{i|Poké Ball}}.
* In the scene where Winona's Swellow dodges {{AP|Grovyle}}'s {{m|Leaf Blade}}, Grovyle appears to have a fang.
* In the scene where Winona's Swellow dodges {{AP|Grovyle}}'s {{m|Leaf Blade}}, Grovyle appears to have a fang.
* In the scene right before [[Ash's Swellow]] hits the ground with {{m|Wing Attack}}, the white aura covering its wings disappear for a split second.
* In the scene right before Ash's Swellow hits the ground with {{m|Wing Attack}}, the white aura covering its wings disappears for a split-second.
* When Team Rocket performs their motto, Jessie's hair end appears to be by her leg, instead of behind James.
* In the Hindi MarvelHQ [[dub]], Brock incorrectly claims that Wing Attack causes some damage to the user if used against a {{type|Flying}} Pokémon.
 
<gallery>
AG085 error 2.png|Pikachu's tail error
AG085 error.png|Grovyle's erroneous fang
</gallery>


===Dub edits===
===Dub edits===
====[[Pokémon Trainer's Choice]]====
* In the original Japanese version, {{MTR}} says that he had said "dowsing machine", not "dancing machine". In the English dub, Meowth says that he had said the trio will dance to the treasure, not to the disco.
* Question: Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle {{p|Baltoy}}?
 
* Choices: {{p|Lapras}}, {{p|Meganium}}, {{p|Ledian}}
====Pokémon Trainer's Choice====
* Answer: OK, Trainers! If you chose {{p|Lapras}}, you were right!
* Question: Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Baltoy?
* Choices: Lapras, {{p|Meganium}}, Ledian
* Answer: OK, Trainers! If you chose Lapras, you were right!


==In other languages==
==In other languages==
{{Epilang|color=9999FF|bordercolor=FF7777
{{Epilang|color=9999FF|bordercolor=FF7777
|zh_cmn={{tt|茵鬱道館!天空之戰!|Yīnyù (Fortree) Gym! Battle in the Sky!}}
|zh_cmn={{tt|茵鬱道館!天空之戰!|Yīnyù (Fortree) Gym! Battle in the Sky!}}
|da={{tt|Styrkecenterdyst i skyerne!|Gym battle in the clouds!}}
|nl={{tt|Hemelhoog gymgevecht!|Sky High Gym Battle!}}
|nl={{tt|Hemelhoog gymgevecht!|Sky High Gym Battle!}}
|de={{tt|Kampf um den sechsten Orden|Fight for the sixth badge}}
|de={{tt|Kampf um den sechsten Orden|Fight for the sixth badge}}
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|pt_br={{tt|Batalha de Ginásio nas Alturas!|Gym Battle in the Heights!}}
|pt_br={{tt|Batalha de Ginásio nas Alturas!|Gym Battle in the Heights!}}
|pt_eu={{tt|Um Combate nas Alturas!|A Battle in the Heights!}}
|pt_eu={{tt|Um Combate nas Alturas!|A Battle in the Heights!}}
|ru={{tt|Битва на высоте|Battle in the clouds}}
|es_la={{tt|¡Batalla en el cielo azul!|Battle in the blue sky!}}
|es_la={{tt|¡Batalla en el cielo azul!|Battle in the blue sky!}}
|es_eu={{tt|Un combate de gimnasio por todo lo alto|A gym battle high above}}
|es_eu={{tt|Un combate de gimnasio por todo lo alto|A gym battle high above}}
|sv={{tt|Striden i det blå|The battle in the blue}}
|sv={{tt|Striden i det blå!|The battle in the blue!}}
|ko={{tt|검방울 체육관! 하늘에서 펼쳐지는 시합!|Fortree Gym! A Battle in the Sky!}}
|ko={{tt|검방울 체육관! 하늘에서 펼쳐지는 시합!|Fortree Gym! A Battle in the Sky!}}
|hi=स्काय हाइ जिम मुकाबला {{tt|''Sky High Gym Muqabla''|Sky High Gym Battle}} {{tt|*|Hungama dub}}
|hi=स्काय हाइ जिम मुकाबला {{tt|''Sky High Gym Muqabla''|Sky High Gym Battle}} {{tt|*|Hungama dub}}
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nextcode=AG086 |
nextcode=AG086 |
nexttitle=Lights, Camerupt, Action! |
nexttitle=Lights, Camerupt, Action! |
series=Advanced Generation series|
series=Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire|
colorscheme=Hoenn}}
colorscheme=Hoenn}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
{{Project Anime notice}}


[[Category:Advanced Generation series episodes|085]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:0359}}
[[Category:Episodes written by Masashi Sogo|359]]
[[Category:Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire episodes|085]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Hiroaki Shimura|359]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Masashi Sogo]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Norihiko Nagahama|359]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Hiroaki Shimura]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Yumenosuke Tokuda|359]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Norihiko Nagahama]]
[[Category:Episodes in which Ash gets a Badge|359]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Yumenosuke Tokuda]]
[[Category:Episodes with Gym battles|359]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on Ash]]
[[Category:Episodes in which an alternately colored Pokémon appears|359]]
[[Category:Episodes in which Ash gets a Badge]]
[[Category:Episodes with Gym battles]]
[[Category:Episodes in which an alternately colored Pokémon appears]]


[[de:Kampf um den sechsten Orden]]
[[de:Kampf um den sechsten Orden]]
[[es:EP361]]
[[fr:AG085]]
[[fr:AG085]]
[[it:AG085]]
[[it:AG085]]
[[ja:AG編第85話]]
[[ja:AG編第85話]]
[[pl:AG085]]
[[zh:宝可梦 超世代 第85集]]
[[zh:AG085]]

Latest revision as of 05:17, 3 September 2024

AG084 : Who's Flying Now?
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
AG086 : Lights, Camerupt, Action!
Sky High Gym Battle!
AG085.png
AG085   EP359
ヒワマキジム!大空の戦い!!
Hiwamaki Gym! Battle in the Sky!!
First broadcast
Japan July 15, 2004
United States July 9, 2005
English themes
Opening This Dream
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening チャレンジャー!!
Ending いっぱいサマー!!
Credits
Animation Team Ota
Screenplay 十川誠志 Masashi Sogo
Storyboard 誌村宏明 Hiroaki Shimura
Assistant director ながはまのりひこ Norihiko Nagahama
Animation director 徳田夢之介 Yumenosuke Tokuda
Additional credits

Sky High Gym Battle! (Japanese: ヒワマキジム!大空の戦い!! Hiwamaki Gym! Battle in the Sky!!) is the 85th episode of Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, and the 359th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on July 15, 2004, and in the United States on July 9, 2005.

201
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
201

Blurb

Ash begins his Gym battle with Winona by sending out Grovyle against her Altaria. Grovyle takes out Altaria with Leaf Blade. Next up is Pelipper, a Water-and-Flying-type so Ash counters with the Electric-type Pikachu. Pelipper uses Steel Wing on the ground, and Pikachu uses Thunderbolt with no effect. Team Rocket arrives to steal Pikachu, but the force of Pikachu's continued Thunderbolt sends them blasting off.

It turns out that Pelipper is being grounded by its Steel Wing, making the Electric-type attack ineffective. Pelipper uses Hydro Pump, which Pikachu uses as a conduit to shock the other Pokémon. It results in a double KO.

Ash sends out Grovyle again, which is then finished off by Winona's Swellow. Ash counters with his own Swellow. Winona's Pokémon has the advantage since it has more experience battling in mid-air, especially with its Aerial Ace. After taking several hits, Ash has his Swellow use Wing Attack on the ground, which gives his Swellow a chance to counterattack, knocking out Swellow and winning him the Feather Badge.

Plot

Winona, the Fortree City Gym Leader, and Ash take their places on opposing elevated platforms above the battlefield. Before the battle commences, Winona prays to the wind, asking for strength. Zachary takes his position as referee and explains the rules of the match; a three-on-three battle and only the challenger can make substitutions. Winona calls out her Altaria, while Ash chooses Grovyle. Watching from the sidelines, May examines Altaria on her Pokédex and Brock warns that Altaria are part Dragon-type, making for a dangerous opponent. Altaria begins the battle with a Peck that Grovyle counters with Bullet Seed. The Wood Gecko Pokémon jumps out of the way but gets Pecked afterward. Winona commands Altaria to Peck Grovyle again, but Ash has Grovyle dodge it by climbing up a totem pole and doing a backflip. Altaria lands a direct hit with its Dragon Breath, but Grovyle doesn't seem too affected by it. Winona again commands Altaria to use the same attack, but Ash gets Grovyle to jump out of the way. Winona is mildly concerned about Grovyle's speed as it continues to evade Altaria's Dragon Breath. Grovyle attacks with Bullet Seed again and hits Altaria on the back, with no ill effect. Altaria resorts to ascending even higher, but despite the increased altitude, Grovyle rebounds off a pole and slashes Altaria with a Leaf Blade. Grovyle holds the attack, pushing the pair directly into the battlefield. When the dust has settled, Altaria lies unconscious so Grovyle is declares the winner of the round. Ash's friends are impressed, that despite the type disadvantage, he managed to pull through. Winona also admits that she was caught off guard by Ash's strategy.

Winona recalls Altaria and sends out Pelipper. Ash decides to switch out Grovyle and selects Pikachu. On the sidelines, Max points out that Pelipper is a hybrid Water/Flying type and Brock adds that Pikachu's Electric typing gives him the advantage. Pikachu starts off with a Thunderbolt, but the attack is proving ineffective as Pelipper grounds itself with Steel Wing. The electrical charge instead flows into the subterranean area of the Fortree Gym and electrocutes Team Rocket, who is wandering the tunnels aimlessly in search of Pikachu. The trio is subsequently blasted onto the battlefield, and they plot to catch Pikachu while he's distracted by the battle. The trio recites their motto and rush towards Pikachu. However, the divining rods they're holding again become lightning rods when Pikachu attacks. Jessie, however, is thrilled to see the rods led them directly to a treasure, Pikachu that is, as she and her teammates are sent blasting off into the distance. Pikachu is keeping up his Thunderbolt, but Pelipper remains unaffected. After Pelipper strikes Pikachu with Quick Attack, Brock comes to understand Winona's grounding tactic. Ash changes his strategy and orders Pikachu to use Quick Attack. Pelipper is still grounded and Winona commands it to use Hydro Pump. The force of the attack causes Pelipper to de-ground itself and Ash sees a chance to use a Thunder attack on Pelipper. Both Pokémon are knocked out.

Winona informs Ash that the day's perfect conditions have heightened the power of her Flying Pokémon before summoning her Swellow, an alternate color Pokémon, as her final Pokémon, while Ash chooses Grovyle again. Ash commands Grovyle to use Leaf Blade, though Swellow is seemingly unscathed by the swipe. Swellow is ordered to use Aerial Ace, a move unfamiliar to Ash. Ash uses the jump-and-Leaf-Blade combo again as a counter move, but Swellow dodges it. Instead, Swellow lands its mark and carries Grovyle into the sky before tossing it directly into the battlefield to win the round.

Ash chooses his own Swellow to battle. Winona is impressed by Ash's bold choice, so the two elevate their battle platforms to incredible heights for a real sky battle. The increased altitude brings a new challenge to match; unpredictable wind currents. Ash tells his Swellow to use Wing Attack and Brock thinks that this is a bad idea. Winona's Swellow strikes first, causing Ash's Swellow to lose control of its flying as it begins to descend towards the field below. Winona orders her Swellow to repeatedly Peck Ash's Swellow. She proceeds to call for a Hyper Beam, which Ash's Swellow dodges. However, she orders this attack a second time and it lands a direct hit. Ash tells Swellow to counter with Quick Attack but Winona's Swellow is faster, allowing it to dodge and counter it with Aerial Ace. The battle becomes an aerial chase between the two Swallow Pokémon. Ash gets some inspiration when he sees the dust being stirred on the ground by Swellow's rapidly changing direction in mid-air close to the ground. As Winona orders another Hyper Beam, Ash orders Swellow to use Quick Attack and rush towards the ground. Winona calls for Swellow to use Aerial Ace while Ash commands his Swellow to use Wing Attack on the ground, whipping up a dust cloud that reveals where Winona's Swellow is coming from. This allows Ash's Swellow to launch a direct hit with another Wing Attack, knocking its opponent out. With that, Zachary officially calls the match and declares Ash as the winner. Winona presents the Feather Badge to Ash against a beautiful sunset background, admitting that the battle truly showcased the trust between Ash and his Pokémon.

Major events

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Pokémon

Pokémon Trainer's Choice

Pokémon Trainer's Choice: Lapras

Trivia

Errors

  • When Grovyle is facing off against Altaria, Ash tells Grovyle to "jump and use dodge", rather than to "jump and dodge".
    • Similarly, Ash tells Swellow to "use Quick Attack and after that use dive", rather than "use Quick Attack and dive".
  • During the second round of the battle, Pelipper uses Steel Wing as a ground to render Pikachu's attack ineffective. In the real world, electricity is only dangerous when the target is grounded and not the other way round. This is a consistent error about electricity in the Pokémon universe. Brock also describes the technique as protecting Pelipper "like a lightning rod". Lightning rods act by diverting electricity into the rod and away from a building, not by acting as a ground for the building.
  • When Pikachu falls down after getting hit by Pelipper's Quick Attack, part of his tail is missing.
  • When Ash goes to pick up Pikachu, his platform is still raised in the background.
  • When Winona sends out her Shiny Swellow, sparkles do not come out of Swellow's Poké Ball.
  • In the scene where Winona's Swellow dodges Grovyle's Leaf Blade, Grovyle appears to have a fang.
  • In the scene right before Ash's Swellow hits the ground with Wing Attack, the white aura covering its wings disappears for a split-second.
  • In the Hindi MarvelHQ dub, Brock incorrectly claims that Wing Attack causes some damage to the user if used against a Flying-type Pokémon.

Dub edits

  • In the original Japanese version, Meowth says that he had said "dowsing machine", not "dancing machine". In the English dub, Meowth says that he had said the trio will dance to the treasure, not to the disco.

Pokémon Trainer's Choice

  • Question: Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Baltoy?
  • Choices: Lapras, Meganium, Ledian
  • Answer: OK, Trainers! If you chose Lapras, you were right!

In other languages



AG084 : Who's Flying Now?
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
AG086 : Lights, Camerupt, Action!
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