SM132

←	SM131 : The Battlefield of Truth and Love!

Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Strategy!

SM132

EP1071

ジュナイパーを攻略せよ！
Overcome Junaiper!

First broadcast

Japan	July 28, 2019
United States	November 30, 2019

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

No additional credits are available at this time.
Animation	Team Kato
Screenplay	面出明美 Akemi Omode
Storyboard	樋口香里 Kaori Higuchi
Assistant director	小柴純弥 Junya Koshiba
Animation directors	酒井裕未 Hiromi Sakai
Animation directors	柳原好貴 Yoshitaka Yanagihara

Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Strategy! (Japanese: ジュナイパーを攻略せよ！ Overcome Junaiper!) is the 132nd episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, and the 1,071st episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on July 28, 2019 and in the United States on November 30, 2019.

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

Blurb

Rowlet is determined to battle Decidueye in Ash’s Alola Pokémon League quarterfinals match against Hau, but first it needs some additional training. And just in the nick of time, Toucannon and its flock arrive to teach Rowlet a new move! Meanwhile, at Manalo Stadium, Gladion and his Lycanroc defeat James and Mareanie…and then Ash is up next! Rowlet enters the battlefield dressed in a Decidueye costume, which ends up becoming a decoy against the real Decidueye’s Sinister Arrow Raid attack! With Rowlet still standing, how will the rest of the match play out?

Plot

Wingull arrives at Melemele Island and informs Toucannon's flock that Rowlet is competing in a tough match against a Decidueye, prompting Toucannon, Trumbeak, and several Pikipek to leave for Manalo Stadium. Meanwhile, Ash is already training with Pikachu and Rowlet, who is hoping to overcome Hau's Decidueye. Though Ash's friends advise Torracat's Fire attacks would be more effective against Decidueye, Ash is insistent on choosing Rowlet and declares that he has no secret plan in mind. Kiawe quickly supports the tactic after seeing Rowlet's enthusiasm, though the others have their doubts. Ash decides to keep training with Rowlet while everyone else goes to watch Gladion's match.

James facing Gladion

While fuming over her loss against James in the previous round, Jessie demands he win or else before handing him the Z-Power Ring to ensure his victory. Soon, James and Gladion enter the battlefield as Caster introduces the latter to the audience. James calls out Mareanie for a pep talk; Mareanie agrees to do her best and fulfill James's personal goal of battling the Masked Royal. After Hapu calls for the second round match to begin, James makes the first move, but Gladion's Lycanroc easily evades the oncoming Sludge Bomb.

Meanwhile, Rowlet falls asleep again during Ash's training session. Rotom suggests Rowlet should learn a new move for a counter-strategy. Rowlet soon wakes up as its foster family arrives to lend a hand. After Rowlet informs Toucannon of its concerns for its upcoming match, Toucannon shows its Feather Dance technique. Rotom adds that the move would be ideal against Hau's Decidueye, as Feather Dance weakens an opponent's attack. With that, Ash and Rowlet begin to try to master Feather Dance.

Elsewhere, Mareanie manages to stand up, though she is exhausted. As Lycanroc increases its attack power with Swords Dance, James decides to use a Z-Move and performs Black Hole Eclipse with Mareanie. Gladion counters with his own Z-Move, Continental Crush, with Lycanroc hurling a giant boulder directly at Mareanie's black hole. In the crowd, Nanu recalls how Ash used the same strategy during their grand trial match. The two Z-Moves cancel each other out, and Gladion has Lycanroc follow up with Stone Edge, winning the round. A dejected James walks backstage and is confronted by Jessie, though instead of receiving a scolding, she rewards his efforts with a can of Komala Coffee. Meowth adds that they will just think of another way to conquer Alola, and Jessie declares that Team Rocket only looks to the future. James is greatly relieved, as is Mareanie, who goes on to poison him in admiration.

Ash facing Hau

Later, Rotom interrupts Ash's training session to inform him that Gladion won his match and that his match is about to begin. The Trumbeak and Pikipek return in time to deliver Rowlet a special gift, a Decidueye-styled cloak meant to encourage it to win. The flock leaves, while Ash returns to the stadium. Backstage, Hau declares his hopes to defeat Ash and prove himself as a strong Trainer. Ash shares his sentiments, also admitting that he wants to win the entire Manalo Conference. The two are called over to the battlefield; Hau runs off first, while Ash takes a moment to call out his Pokémon from their Poké Balls so they can cheer him and Rowlet on. Ash's friends are relieved to see Ash made it to his match, though they are concerned about how his training went. Meanwhile, Toucannon's flock perches themselves on the stadium rooftop to watch the battle.

Nanu begins the match, and Hau orders Decidueye to use Razor Leaf. Rowlet dodges it before launching Seed Bomb, though Decidueye batters the Everstone away with Leaf Blade. Ash decides to use his Z-Move early, but Decidueye simply flies upwards and evades Bloom Doom. Hau reveals he did his research and calls Ash's tactic predictable. Decidueye then shoots a Spirit Shackle arrow, pinning Rowlet to the battlefield and allowing Hau to use his own Z-Move, Sinister Arrow Raid. The attack hits its target, but Rowlet is revealed to have used its cloak as a makeshift substitute. Seeing as the match is yet to be won, Hau confidently declares that his next move won't miss.

Major events

Ash's Rowlet begins to learn Feather Dance with the help of its foster family.
Gladion defeats James, advancing to the semifinals.
Ash begins his second round battle against Hau.
Hau is revealed to have obtained a Decidium Z.

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

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

Ash
Lana
Kiawe
Lillie
Sophocles
Mallow
Jessie
James
Professor Kukui/the Masked Royal (the Masked Royal in a fantasy)
Professor Burnet
Gladion
Hala
Olivia
Nanu
Hapu
Lusamine
Wicke
Faba
Hau
Caster
Trainers
Crowd

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Wingull (US and international), Pikipek (Japan)

Trivia

Poké Problem: Who was Rowlet's special training partner in today's episode?
- Host: Rotom
- Choices: Decidueye, Faba, Toucannon, Tapu Bulu
- Answer: Toucannon
The English dub title of this episode is a pun on the saying "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".
Nanu and Hala narrate the preview for the next episode.

Errors

Dub edits

The Japanese texts depicting Bloom Doom and Sinister Arrow Raid's names are edited out in the dub.

In other languages

Language		Title
Chinese	Cantonese	攻下狙射樹梟吧
Chinese	Mandarin	攻下狙射樹梟吧！
Danish		Imitation Er Den Bedste Strategi!
Dutch		Imitatie is de grootste vorm van strategie!
Finnish		Matkiminen on taktiikan vilpittömin muoto!
German		Nachahmung ist die schönste Strategie!
Hebrew		!חיקוי הוא האסטרטגיה הטובה ביותר
Italian		L'imitazione è la più sincera delle strategie!
Korean		모크나이퍼를 공략하라!
Polish		Imitacja to skuteczna strategia!
Brazilian Portuguese		Imitação é a forma mais sincera de estratégia!
Russian		Лучшая стратегия – имитация!
Latin American Spanish		Admiración por Decidueye: ¡Estrategia de imitación!
Turkish		Taklit en samimi stratejidir!