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| Season | Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series (Season 25) · The Masters Eight: quarterfinals arc (JN115–JN120) |
| Episode | Season 25, episode 26 · English episode 1196 · Japanese episode 1202 · Bulbapedia code JN116 |
| English title | Pride of a Champion! |
| Japanese title | チャンピオンの誇り！ワタルVSカルネ！！ Chanpion no Hokori! Wataru tai Karune!! — “Champions’ Pride! Wataru VS Carne!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 8 July 2022 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 24 February 2023 · Netflix |
| Screenplay | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Wan, Tsū, Surī (One, Two, Three) – Satoshi & Go (Rica Matsumoto and Daiki Yamashita) · Batsugun Taipu (Supereffective Type) – Pokémon Music Club |
| English opening | With You – Echosmith |
| Previous episode | Curtain Up! Fight the Fights! (JN115) |
| Next episode | The Fiery Road to Mastership! (JN117) |
Plot episodeDiantha vs LanceIris vs Cynthia
Pride of a Champion! is the 26th episode of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, the twenty-fifth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1196th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1202, Bulbapedia code JN116). It first aired in Japan on 8 July 2022 and in the United States on 24 February 2023. It falls within the season’s The Masters Eight: quarterfinals stretch (EP115–EP120).
Released on Netflix in the US on 24 February 2023 with the second part (JN103–JN117); Teletoon had premiered it in Canada on 3 December 2022.
Synopsis
Kalos Champion Diantha defeats Lance in the second match of the Masters Eight Tournament, finishing his Dynamaxed Dragonite with her Mega Gardevoir, before Iris and Cynthia begin their battle. In the stands, Ash tells the amazed Hop that he once battled Diantha, while on their radio show Jessie refuses to admit that Diantha is a better actress than she is. Both Champions speak of carrying their regions’ hopes. Lance’s Dragonite opens with Hyper Beam, which Aurorus’s Light Screen heavily weakens, and while Dragonite recharges, Blizzard hits it hard. Dragonite endures and replies with a super-effective Body Press, and Aurorus adds Reflect for a second layer of protection. Watching from the locker room, Alain notes that such screens are only temporary. Twister and Rock Slide hit at the same moment, but only Aurorus faints, giving Lance the first knockout.
Diantha’s Gourgeist, which delights Jessie, a former owner of one, faces Lance’s red Gyarados. Trick-or-Treat adds the Ghost type to Gyarados, leaving it weak to Ghost moves, and while Aqua Tail pushes Gourgeist back even through Reflect, Shadow Sneak hits hard. Gyarados’s Dragon Pulse connects just as Light Screen fades, but Gourgeist dodges Ice Fang with Phantom Force, and although Gyarados lands a second Dragon Pulse, the Phantom Force has already knocked it out. Lance’s Hydreigon ignores another Trick-or-Treat, and its Dark Pulse makes Gourgeist flinch, leaving it open to a second Dark Pulse that knocks it out, to Jessie’s dismay. Diantha then Mega Evolves her ace, Gardevoir, whose Psychic disperses Flash Cannon and whose Moonblast engulfs Hydreigon, leaving each Champion with one Pokémon.
Lance Dynamaxes Dragonite, and Alain warns that the time limit could prove decisive. Moonblast breaks through Max Hailstorm, whose hail then wears down both Pokémon, and Max Strike engulfs Gardevoir, but it still fires Shadow Ball, which Max Wyrmwind dissipates. Diantha and Ash both suspect that Lance is keeping Dragonite standing to strike the instant Dynamax ends, and as Dragonite shrinks it fires a Hyper Beam; unconcerned, Diantha has Gardevoir evade and finish the immobile Dragonite with Moonblast. Diantha advances to face Leon in the semifinals, and in her post-battle interview with Team Rocket, Jessie urges her to use Gourgeist next time. Backstage, Lance encourages Ash before leaving, and an excited Iris rushes to the field. As Ash wishes her luck, Iris leads with her first partner, Excadrill, and Cynthia answers with Gastrodon.
Major Events
- Diantha vs Lance. Quarterfinal: Diantha’s Aurorus, Gourgeist and Mega Gardevoir beat Lance’s Dragonite, red Gyarados and Hydreigon, Mega Gardevoir knocking out the Dynamax Dragonite
- Iris and Cynthia’s quarterfinal begins
- Ritchie, Jimmy, Marina, Tierno, Shauna, Trevor and Sawyer return to watch
- Debuts of Jimmy and his Typhlosion, and Marina’s first appearance in person
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto, Galar & beyond storyline.
Part of our Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.