SM143

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Sun & Moon series

SM144 : From Z to Shining Z! →

Fiery Surprises!

SM143   EP1082 決着！ガオガエンVSニャヒート！！ Conclusion! Gaogaen VS Nyaheat!!

First broadcast Japan October 13, 2019 United States February 15, 2020

English themes Opening The Challenge of Life Ending

Japanese themes Opening キミの冒険 Ending タイプ：ワイルド

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka Storyboard 浅田裕二 Yūji Asada Assistant director 浅田裕二 Yūji Asada Animation directors 岩根雅明 Masaaki Iwane 志村泉 Izumi Shimura No additional credits are available at this time.

Screenshots on Filb.de Preview thread on BMGf Closed Original review thread on BMGf Dub review thread on BMGf

Fiery Surprises! (Japanese: 決着！ガオガエンVSニャヒート！！ Conclusion! Gaogaen VS Nyaheat!!) is the 143rd episode of the Sun & Moon series, and the 1,082nd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on October 13, 2019 and in the United States on February 15, 2020.

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

Blurb

With three Pokémon left on each side during the Alola Pokémon League’s exhibition match, Ash’s Naganadel is up against Professor Kukui’s Lucario. A strategic Dragon Pulse lands another win for Ash—and the first-ever battle victory for Naganadel!

Then, it’s Torracat’s rematch with Incineroar. The flames burn hotter than ever, and when the smoke clears, Torracat is on top! Triumphant, it suddenly evolves and becomes an Incineroar itself! But all the excitement leaves it too exhausted to continue.

Just as Professor Kukui is about to send out his final Pokémon, Tapu Koko appears—and decides that it wants to battle Ash instead! Just how will Ash approach this history-making matchup?

Plot

The Full Battle between Ash and Professor Kukui continues as Lucario foils Naganadel's X-Scissor with Close Combat. Naganadel retaliates with Sludge Bomb, but this fails to affect Lucario due to its immunity to Poison-type attacks. Lucario uses Dragon Pulse, which Naganadel dodges. It reappears behind Lucario to land a surprise Thunderbolt, but Lucario manages to brace itself and emerges unscathed. Lucario then goes in for another Close Combat, but the shoe is on the other foot this time; Naganadel foils Lucario's attack with X-Scissor. Kukui has Lucario use Extreme Speed, dodging Naganadel's X-Scissors before coming in from above and hurtling its opponent onto the ground. As the dust settles, Naganadel gets up, and both it and Lucario are commanded by their Trainers to use Dragon Pulse, resulting in a massive explosion. Naganadel then charges in, and Lucario prepares to use Close Combat, as Ash commands Naganadel to use another X-Scissor. While Lucario holds back Naganadel's main stinger, Naganadel aims its other two stingers at it and lets out a powerful Dragon Pulse, launching Lucario back. Lucario tries to recover, but it succumbs to its damage and falls in defeat. Naganadel is thrilled with its battle debut victory, spinning around in celebration. Professor Kukui recalls Lucario and commends Ash for using his earlier strategy to defeat Melmetal against him. Ash then recalls Naganadel.

The two opponents decide to resume their fiery clash, sending out Torracat and Incineroar. Torracat's bell is still flaring from absorbing Incineroar's Blast Burn from their earlier clash. Both sides slowly prowl around one another, exchanging intense stares as they size each other up. The rivalry flares again as Torracat and Incineroar approach with Flame Charge and Darkest Lariat respectively. Torracat manages to knock Incineroar off balance, before rebounding to land a direct Flame Charge on it. Ash then orders Torracat to use Fire Fang, but Incineroar's Throat Chop overpowers it.

Kukui, anticipating increasingly heated clashes, has Incineroar use Bulk Up, raising both its power and endurance. It then blocks Torracat's Fire Blast with its bare hands before crushing the flames with its brute strength. Torracat leaps into action with Flame Charge, first striking Incineroar in the chest before going for an attack from above, and then behind to knock Incineroar onto the ground. Following the triple hit, Torracat rushes in for a Fire Fang, only to grabbed by Incineroar. As Torracat attempts to paw at its opponent, Incineroar hits him with a Throat Chop. Torracat picks itself up and erupts into flames, and Incineroar does the same. Torracat then scores a direct hit with Revenge, knocking Incineroar to its knees.

The heat swells as Incineroar gets up causing both sides to glow with a vibrant red hue. Both Ash and Kukui equip their Z-Rings with their Firium Zs, setting the battlefield alight with a double Inferno Overdrive. As the fireball continues to swirl, Torracat and Incineroar are ordered to rush inside. A massive explosion occurs as Incineroar's Throat Chop and Torracat's Revenge collide. Both sides remain standing, breathing heavily from their exhaustive efforts. Torracat wills itself to resist collapsing, though Incineroar is overwhelmed and collapses knocked out. Torracat commemorates the victory over its long-time rival with a mighty roar as it evolves into an Incineroar, surprising everyone. Ash rushes to officially congratulate his newly-evolved Pokémon, only to notice Incineroar is frozen in position; it turns out that the evolution process used up the last of its energy, and it has now also fainted. Hala observes carefully before fatefully ruling Ash's Incineroar out of the match as well.

Ash and Kukui each recall their Incineroar and Kukui congratulates Ash, but reminds him the battle isn't over yet as he still has one Pokémon left. As he prepares his Poké Ball to send out his final team member, Tapu Koko suddenly arrives in Manalo Stadium. The guardian deity slaps away Kukui's Poké Ball, and Ash realizes it came here to battle them. Tapu Koko agrees, so Kukui allows for the surprising addition to let it be his final Pokémon against Ash. The crowd erupts into cheers as the already intense Full Battle becomes an unprecedented spectacle of power. Pikachu is prepared to take on his Electric rival, though Ash instead calls on Naganadel for assistance. As Naganadel prepares for battle, Tapu Koko's Ability transforms the battlefield into an Electric Terrain.

Major events

• Ash continues his exhibition match with Professor Kukui.
• Ash's Naganadel uses X-Scissor for the first time and is revealed to have learned Sludge Bomb and Dragon Pulse.
• Ash's Torracat evolves into Incineroar.
• Tapu Koko takes over as Kukui's final Pokémon in the match.

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Ash's Incineroar

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

• Ash
• Lana
• Kiawe
• Lillie
• Sophocles
• Mallow
• Professor Oak
• Delia
• Professor Kukui
• Professor Burnet
• Gladion
• Lusamine
• Wicke
• Faba
• Hala
• Olivia
• Nanu
• Hapu
• Hau
• Caster
• Crowd

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Lucario

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Rotom (Rotom Pokédex)
• Torracat (Ash's; evolves)
• Incineroar (Ash's; newly evolved)
• Naganadel (Ash's)
• Melmetal (Ash's; flashback)
• Primarina (Lana's)
• Eevee (Lana's; Sandy)
• Charizard (Kiawe's; Ride Pokémon)
• Turtonator (Kiawe's)
• Marowak (Kiawe's; Alolan)
• Vulpix (Lillie's; Alolan; Snowy)
• Togedemaru (Sophocles's)
• Vikavolt (Sophocles's)
• Tsareena (Mallow's)
• Mr. Mime (Delia's; Mimey)
• Incineroar (Professor Kukui's)
• Lucario (Professor Kukui's)
• Umbreon (Gladion's)
• Decidueye (Hau's)
• Politoed (Trainer's)
• Psyduck (Trainer's)
• Espeon (Trainer's)
• Cyndaquil (Trainer's)
• Tapu Koko (anime)
• Shaymin (anime)

Trivia

• Poké Problem: How will the battle between Lucario and Naganadel end in today's episode?
  • Host: Mallow
  • Choices: Lucario wins, a draw, Naganadel wins, it never ends
  • Answer: Naganadel wins
• Ash-Greninja Appears! is used as an insert song when Ash and Professor Kukui use Inferno Overdrive with Torracat and Incineroar, respectively.
• This episode marks the first time in the anime that a Pokémon has fainted just after its evolution.
• The ending animation is updated to include Ash's Incineroar.
• Professor Kukui, Ash, and Hala narrate the preview for the next episode.
• Ash and Professor Kukui read the Who's That Pokémon? segment in the English dub.

Errors

• In the English dub, when Ash and Professor Kukui command Torracat and Incineroar to use Flame Charge and Darkest Lariat, respectively, Ash mistakenly calls out "Night Charge".

Dub edits

• The Japanese texts depicting Inferno Overdrive's names are edited out in the dub.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		決戰！熾焰咆哮虎VS炎熱喵！！
Korean		결판! 어흥염VS냐오히트!!

← SM142 : A Full Battle Bounty!

Sun & Moon series

SM144 : From Z to Shining Z! →

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