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| Season | Pokémon Journeys: The Series (Season 23) · Monarch Leon & the World Coronation Series arc (JN012–JN018) |
| Episode | Season 23, episode 12 · English episode 1092 · Japanese episode 1098 · Bulbapedia code JN012 |
| English title | Flash of the Titans! |
| Japanese title | ダイマックスバトル！最強王者ダンデ！！ Daimakkusu Batoru! Saikyō Ōja Dande!! — “Daimax Battle! Dande, The Greatest of Them All!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 9 February 2020 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 12 June 2020 · Netflix |
| Screenplay | Shōji Yonemura |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Wan, Tsū, Surī (One, Two, Three) – After the Rain · Pokémon Shiritori (Pikachu → Mew Ver.) – Pokémon Music Club |
| English opening | The Journey Starts Today – Walk off the Earth |
| Who’s That Pokémon? | Charizard (US) · Charizard (Japan) |
| Previous episode | Best Friend…Worst Nightmare! (JN011) |
| Next episode | The Climb to Be the Very Best! (JN013) |
Plot episodeLeon becomes MonarchLeon vs Lance
Flash of the Titans! is the 12th episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, the twenty-third season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1092nd episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1098, Bulbapedia code JN012). It first aired in Japan on 9 February 2020 and in the United States on 12 June 2020. It falls within the season’s Monarch Leon & the World Coronation Series stretch (EP12–EP18).
The last episode of Netflix’s first batch (12 June 2020), ending on the Gigantamax Drednaw cliffhanger that US viewers had to wait three months to see resolved.
Synopsis
Ash and Goh fly to Wyndon to watch the World Coronation Series finals, where Galar Champion Leon defeats Lance in a Dynamax battle to become the Monarch, the world’s strongest Trainer, and Ash resolves to challenge him. Professor Cerise hands the boys tickets, and Ren and Chrysa explain that the World Coronation Series decides the Monarch much as each region’s League crowns its Champion. As their plane enters Galarian airspace the cabin lights fail, and an enormous shape—Eternatus—flies past in the clouds, making Pikachu’s tail spark. In Wyndon the boys gape at the giant stadium. Several rows above them sit Team Rocket, sent by Giovanni with a Rotom Phone of their own to capture Galar’s giant Pokémon. The announcer introduces the two finalists from the Masters Eight: Lance, Kanto Elite Four member, Pokémon World Tournament winner, G-Men agent and Dragon master, and Leon, Galar’s undefeated Champion. The referee, Dan, explains that each side will use one Pokémon.
Leon sends out his Charizard and Lance his Shiny Gyarados. Gyarados’s Hyper Beam overpowers Flamethrower, rocks smashed loose block Air Slash, and Lance lets a Flamethrower land while Gyarados uses Dragon Dance, then strikes back with a super-effective Aqua Tail and a flurry of boosted Ice Fangs. Leon traps Gyarados in Fire Spin and reveals his trump card, Thunder Punch, which breaks through before Gyarados parries the follow-ups with Aqua Tail. Both Trainers then recall their Pokémon: Lance’s Dynamax Band enlarges Gyarados’s Poké Ball and he releases a Dynamaxed Gyarados, while Leon Gigantamaxes Charizard. Max Lightning disrupts Max Geyser, Max Airstream carries Charizard clear of Max Strike, and Leon’s signature G-Max Wildfire breaks through Max Guard and engulfs Gyarados in flames until it faints. Dan declares Leon the winner and the new Monarch.
Lance smiles, explains that his outfit is modelled on the uniform of Galar’s Dragon Gym where he once trained, and raises Leon’s hand to confirm the title. To Goh’s astonishment, Ash announces that he wants to battle Leon. Outside, Team Rocket spot a Drednaw and decide that, being Galarian, it must be able to grow giant. The Rocket Prize Master again dispenses only one ball, and James fears another Wailord, but out pops a tiny Bellsprout, which surprises everyone by hitting Drednaw hard with Power Whip. When a missed whip cracks the ground, red light surrounds Drednaw and it Gigantamaxes; Jessie’s Poké Ball misses, the frightened Bellsprout refuses to fight, and the trio flee into the stadium. Drednaw stretches its long neck after them through the narrow corridors, shaking the whole building and sending the crowd into a panic as the episode ends on a cliffhanger.
Major Events
- Leon becomes Monarch. The World Coronation Series is introduced
- Leon’s Gigantamax Charizard beats Lance’s Dynamax Shiny Gyarados with G-Max Wildfire in the final at Wyndon Stadium, and Leon becomes Monarch
- Ash vows to battle Leon
- Eternatus is glimpsed from the plane
- Lance’s first appearance since AG098, now a member of the Elite Four
- The first time a regional Champion, current or former, loses an official battle on screen
- Team Rocket get a Rotom Phone and go to Galar
- A wild Drednaw Gigantamaxes
Pokémon making their anime debut
Eternatus#0890 · JN012
Trivia
- The English title plays on the film Clash of the Titans, for Leon and Lance’s giant Dynamax battle.
- The screenplay is by Shōji Yonemura.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto, Galar & beyond storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- The Sword and Shield Gym battle theme for Leon vs Lance
Part of our Pokémon Journeys: The Series guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.