AG131
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At the End of the Fray
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First broadcast
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English themes
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Japanese themes
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Credits
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At the End of the Fray (Japanese: 最後の激闘！優勝への道！！ Conclusion of the Fierce Fighting! The Road to Championship!!) is the 131st episode of Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, and the 405th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It was first broadcast in Japan on June 16, 2005, and in the United States on March 25, 2006.
Blurb
It's the battle between Ash and Tyson to decide who moves on to the final four of the Hoenn League, and Glalie and Sceptile are already out! Tyson's Shiftry is ill-matched against Ash's Torkoal and its fiery attacks, but Tyson sends in Hariyama to beat the heat and defeat Torkoal. Corphish is next, but Hariyama defeats it too!
At the halftime break, Morrison tries to give Ash a pep talk. When the match resumes, Swellow and Hariyama battle until Swellow is the victor. Swellow then goes on to beat Tyson's Donphan, but Tyson has a powerful Metagross waiting! Despite Swellow's determination, Metagross knocks it out—but Swellow did some damage, and Ash sends Grovyle out to hammer on that weak spot. Grovyle still can't stop Metagross but Pikachu finishes the job, so Tyson sends out the ace up his sleeve: his Meowth!
Team Rocket's Meowth cheers its fellow Pokémon on from the stands. Tyson's Meowth can counter Pikachu's Thunderbolt with one of its own, so the battle comes down to Iron Tail vs Iron Tail. Exhausted, both Pokémon finally fall to the ground, and though they get back up, Pikachu cannot continue. Team Rocket's Meowth is delighted, but not for long—Jessie and James have been caught stealing Pokémon by their new boss, who sends all three flying! Tyson goes on to win the Hoenn League and Ash, happy that he battled his best, can now look forward to his next big adventure.
Plot
The explosion from their Ice Beam and Solar Beam knocks out both Glalie and Sceptile instantly. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is presented with a rundown shack as their new boss directs them to remodel the establishment. Jessie walks over to the weak structure and it collapses before her eyes. As Wobbuffet is quick to give his seal of approval, James notices that Meowth is missing.
On the battlefield, Shiftry and Torkoal battle it out. Torkoal continues launching Flamethrower attacks as Shiftry evades Torkoal's attacks. Shiftry responds with a Shadow Ball attack, which collides with its target for a direct hit. Torkoal is blasted backward but recovers from the attack. Torkoal goes for another Flamethrower attack but as Shiftry evades this second round of attacks, Torkoal ascends into the air still firing the Flamethrower, and hits Shiftry for heavy damage. After the dust clears, Shiftry is announced as unable to battle.
Tyson decides to choose Hariyama for his third Pokémon choice. Torkoal begins with another Flamethrower attack as Hariyama blasts forward with an Arm Thrust reflecting the Flamethrower attack. May and Max are surprised that Flamethrower isn't slowing down Hariyama one bit. Brock explains that Hariyama is covered with a special fat that helps to defend against Fire- and Ice-type attacks. When Hariyama is within range, it strikes down with Brick Break, knocking Torkoal unconscious.
Ash selects Corphish as his third Pokémon. Hariyama goes for another Brick Break attack, slamming into the ground, while Corphish manages to evade the attack. Corphish and Hariyama blast forward with their respective Crabhammer and Focus Punch attacks. The combined strength causes an explosion that sends both Corphish and Hariyama backward, but Corphish is the only one left unable to battle. This leaves Ash with only three additional Pokémon, ending the first stage of the battle.
Meowth waits patiently for Tyson to send out his own Meowth. Morrison lectures Ash, telling him that he can't lose to anyone else in the tournament since Ash managed to defeat him. Ash agrees and asks Pikachu if he would assist him in the second half of the grueling battle. Pikachu approves with a nod and a determined cry.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket has come upon the room that holds all the participants' Poké Balls. James also adds that since these are tournament Pokémon, that they must be extraordinarily powerful.
The second half of the battle begins, with the battlefield now changing to rock terrain. Ash calls upon Swellow for his fourth Pokémon selection and Tyson chooses Hariyama. Swellow thrusts forward with a Peck, but Hariyama grasps Swellow and prevents it from moving. Hariyama rotates into the air and slams Swellow down in a Seismic Toss. After a few moments, Swellow recovers and continues on the attack. Hariyama charges for a Focus Punch while Swellow counterattacks with Aerial Ace. Focus Punch hits the illusion and Swellow's Aerial Ace strikes Hariyama. The surprise attack knocks Hariyama out.
Tyson chooses Donphan for his fourth Pokémon. Donphan begins by creating a Sandstorm, but Swellow manages to clear the Sandstorm with its wings just as Donphan hits a boulder and propels itself skyward, hitting Swellow with Rollout. Donphan goes into another Rollout attack hitting Swellow multiple times, each strike more powerful than the last. As Donphan goes for one last Rollout attack, Swellow manages to halt Donphan by catching it by the ears with its legs. Swellow lifts Donphan and chucks it towards the ground. Donphan crashes and is declared unable to battle. Swellow seals an impressive victory, leaving Tyson with only two more available Pokémon.
A solitary Poké Ball rotates from Tyson's hand, as Metagross is called upon by Tyson. Metagross begins the battle with a Psychic attack, freezing Swellow in place. Swellow manages to break free of the Psychic attack and lunges forward at blinding speed with a Quick Attack. As the two forces clash, Swellow is thrust backward taking the full damage from its own attack. Metagross continues with a Hyper Beam, taking Swellow out of the match.
Ash does not hesitate in this competition and chooses Grovyle for his fifth Pokémon. Grovyle is eager to battle and closes in on Metagross while using Bullet Seed. While Grovyle continues its barrage, Metagross launches a Hyper Beam attack. Grovyle evades the attack and responds with another Bullet Seed barrage, taking advantage of Hyper Beam's immobilization effect. Grovyle launches forward for a Leaf Blade attack, but Metagross manages to recover and counterattack with a Meteor Mash, rendering the Wood Gecko Pokémon unable to battle.
With that, Ash selects Pikachu as his sixth and final Pokémon. Pikachu bolts forward with a Thunderbolt attack hitting directly, but with little effect. Metagross retaliates with a Psychic blast, but Pikachu manages to avoid the psychokinetic waves and use Iron Tail. Afterward, he grabs onto Metagross's body and delivers an electrifying Thunder from a very close range, knocking Metagross out of the competition. This leaves both Tyson and Ash with only one Pokémon each. Tyson calls upon Meowth as his final Pokémon. Team Rocket's Meowth cheers for Tyson's Meowth, despite having been shunned by it the previous night. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is stealing the participants' Poké Balls; their employer smashes through the door and reacts with uncontrollable anger when he sees what they're doing, while they are shocked at seeing him.
Pikachu begins the final match-up with Thunderbolt, which Meowth matches with its own Thunderbolt. Pikachu follows up with a Thunder attack, which Meowth also counters with a Thunderbolt. Following the clash of both attacks, the stadium fills with electrical energy. Ash decides to take the battle into close range with a Quick Attack, which Meowth dodges by using Double Team. The two Pokémon clash with Iron Tail attacks, evenly matched. The two clash once more with Meowth's Slash and Pikachu's Quick Attack. Pikachu launches a devastating Thunder attack as Meowth once more defends against the attack with a Thunderbolt. Pikachu thrusts forward with Iron Tail as Meowth counterattacks with its own Iron Tail. Both attacks hit directly, and as both sides take heavy damage, both Pokémon struggle to continue the battle, both panting for air. After a tense standoff, Pikachu collapses to the ground and Tyson is declared the victor. Both Trainers meet in the middle of the battlefield and congratulate each other. Morrison managed to become emotionally attached to the battle as much as Ash.
Team Rocket flees from their employer as Meowth shouts out from the sidelines. Jessie and James are surprised to reunite with Meowth, but this enables the boss to catch up with them and launch Team Rocket through the air with one powerful punch.
The Hoenn Championship finally concludes, revealing Tyson as the winner and is awarded the Ever Grande Championship Trophy. May is surprised that Tyson managed to claim first place but attributes it to their gourmet dining. Brock regains a sense of battle pride and grows interested in participating in battling once more. Morrison is eager to inform Ash that at the next tournament, he will finally defeat him.
Major events
- Ash continues his Full Battle against Tyson in the quarterfinals and ultimately loses, finishing in the Top 8.
- Tyson moves on to the semifinals and wins, advancing to the final round.
- Tyson defeats his opponent in the finals and wins the Ever Grande Conference.
- The Ever Grande Conference ends.
- 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: Mawile
- Pikachu (Ash's)
- Meowth (Team Rocket)
- Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
- Swellow (Ash's)
- Grovyle (Ash's)
- Corphish (Ash's)
- Torkoal (Ash's)
- Glalie (Ash's)
- Meowth (Tyson's)
- Metagross (Tyson's)
- Sceptile (Tyson's)
- Donphan (Tyson's)
- Shiftry (Tyson's)
- Hariyama (Tyson's)
Trivia
- This episode concludes the seven-part Ever Grande Conference arc.
- The episode's English dub title comes from the phrase "At the end of the day".
- Team Rocket doesn't recite the motto in this episode.
- This episode marks a rare instance of Psychic being displayed as an offensive move rather than as a move used to control others.
- This episode marks the last time to date in which Ash has used Glalie in an onscreen battle.
- Pokémon Symphonic Medley is used as background music from the end of the battle between Pikachu and Meowth to the closing ceremony.
- GLORY DAY ~That Shining Day~ is used as background music from the closing ceremony to the end of the episode.
Errors
- As the dust cloud from Torkoal's Flamethrower smashing Shiftry into the ground dissipates, Shiftry is missing for a split-second before the next shot.
- Hariyama tries to hit Corphish with Brick Break using its left hand, but after Corphish dodges, Hariyama appears as if it used the move with its right hand.
- When Hariyama catches Swellow's Peck, the tip of Swellow's left tail feather is missing.
- When Swellow catches Donphan's Rollout, Donphan's tusk is pointing in the wrong direction.
- When Metagross uses Meteor Mash, the crack on its forehead left by Swellow's Quick Attack is missing.
- Both times that Pikachu's Thunder and Meowth's Thunderbolt collide, the commentator refers to both moves as Thunderbolts.
- When Meowth prepares to counter Pikachu's Quick Attack with Slash, its mouth disappears for a split-second.
- In the English dub:
- Brock says that, because of Hariyama's Thick Fat Ability, Ice and Fire attacks "don't even do half the damage they normally would", but in the games, damage is halved.
- Brock incorrectly refers to Metagross's Hyper Beam as Solar Beam.
- During the first ten minutes of the Italian dub, all voices and audio effects (except the Italian voice actors' voices) are lower than normal in volume. This problem is later solved.
Swellow's tail feather error
Donphan's tusk error
Meowth's mouth error
Dub edits
Pokémon Trainer's Choice
- Question: Trainers, which of these Pokémon does not evolve?
- Choices: Baltoy, Mawile, Aron
- Answer: OK, Trainers! If you chose Mawile, you were right!
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
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| Mandarin Chinese | 最後的激戰！通往優勝之路！！ | |
 Danish
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En afgørende dyst | |
 Dutch
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Aan het eind van de Strijd! | |
 Finnish
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Lorun loppu | |
 French
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Un match décisif | |
 German
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Und der Gewinner ist? | |
 Hebrew
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בסופו של קרב | |
 Hindi
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कौन जीतेगा Hoenn लीग चैंपियनशिप? Kaun jeetega Hoenn League Championship?* | |
 Italian
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Lotta per il podio | |
 Korean
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마지막 대결! 우승을 향한 길! | |
 Norwegian
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Ved kampens slutt | |
| Portuguese |  Brazil
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No Fim da Luta |
 Portugal
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No Fim do Combate | |
 Russian
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Конец битвы | |
| Spanish |  Latin America
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Al final del combate |
 Spain
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El final del campeonato | |
 Swedish
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Upplösningen!* | |
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This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |
