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| Season | Pokémon: BW Adventures in Unova and Beyond (Season 16) · The Vertress Conference arc (BW103–BW108) |
| Episode | Season 16, episode 7 · English episode 757 · Japanese episode 762 · Bulbapedia code BW104 |
| English title | Mission: Defeat Your Rival! |
| Japanese title | 熱闘！ライバルバトルを勝ちぬけ！！ Nettō! Raibaru Batoru o Kachinuke!! — “Fierce Fighting! Win Out in the Rival Battle!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 29 November 2012 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 16 March 2013 · Cartoon Network |
| Screenplay | Junki Takegami |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Yajirushi ni Natte! (Be an Arrow!) – Rica Matsumoto · Mite Mite☆Kotchitchi (Look Look☆Here) – Momoiro Clover Z |
| English opening | It’s Always You and Me (Version 1) – Neal Coomer & Kathryn Raio |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Vaporeon (US) |
| Previous episode | Curtain Up, Unova League! (BW103) |
| Next episode | Lost at the League! (BW105) |
Plot episodeVertress Conference, part 2Ash beats Trip
Mission: Defeat Your Rival! is the 7th episode of Pokémon: BW Adventures in Unova and Beyond, the sixteenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 757th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 762, Bulbapedia code BW104). It first aired in Japan on 29 November 2012 and in the United States on 16 March 2013. It falls within the season’s The Vertress Conference stretch (EP103–EP108).
Synopsis
Ash finally defeats Trip when Pikachu overcomes Serperior, and Cameron beats Bianca to advance in the Vertress Conference. Serperior batters Pikachu with Energy Ball and Dragon Tail and absorbs Thunderbolt through its tail, planted in the field, while Ash fears his whole Unova journey will mean nothing if he loses again.
Pikachu cushions a slam with Iron Tail, then combines Iron Tail and Electro Ball against Dragon Tail; when the smoke clears, Serperior has fainted. At the Pokémon Center the rivals shake hands, and Trip leaves to train until he can challenge Champion Alder. That night a hot-tub splash fight with Cameron’s Riolu ends with Pikachu’s Thunderbolt accidentally knocking out Oshawott.
The next day Cameron’s Samurott beats Bianca’s Escavalier with a double Razor Shell, but Emboar’s Attract and Hammer Arm take Samurott down despite the type disadvantage. Cameron’s Riolu answers with Circle Throw, Force Palm and a copied Flamethrower before Vacuum Wave knocks Emboar out, and Bianca tearfully concedes as Ash vows to beat Cameron when their turn comes.
Major Events
- Ash beats Trip. Pikachu’s Iron Tail and Electro Ball beat Serperior, Ash’s first and only win over Trip
- The rivals make peace and Trip leaves
- Virgil, Bianca and Cameron win their first-round battles
- Cameron’s Riolu beats Bianca’s Emboar in the second round
- Followed in Japan by the first Episode N teaser
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Junki Takegami.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Unova storyline.
Part of our Pokémon: BW Adventures in Unova and Beyond guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.