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| Season | Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope (Horizons Season 3) · The Six Heroes unleashed arc (HZ109–HZ111) |
| Episode | Horizons Season 3, episode 22 · English episode 1335 · Japanese episode 1344 · Bulbapedia code HZ111 |
| English title | Better, Farther, Stronger! |
| Japanese title | 強く、高みを目指して Tsuyoku, Takami o Mezashite — “Get Stronger, Aim Higher” |
| First aired (Japan) | 19 September 2025 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 20 March 2026 · Netflix |
| Screenplay | Kureha Matsuzawa |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | GET BACK – Yuzu · Ready Go – ME:I |
| English opening | Evolving Again – Haven Paschall |
| Previous episode | The Six Heroes Unleashed! (HZ110) |
| Next episode | Mega Evolution – Roy (HZ112) |
Plot episodeThe Six Heroes takenEnd of Mega Voltage
Better, Farther, Stronger! is the 22nd episode of Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope, the third season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1335th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1344, Bulbapedia code HZ111). It first aired in Japan on 19 September 2025 and in the United States on 20 March 2026. It falls within the season’s The Six Heroes unleashed stretch (EP109–EP111).
Released on Netflix in the US on Friday 20 March 2026 with the rest of Part 2; BBC iPlayer had premiered it in the UK on 27 February 2026.
Synopsis
Amethio arrives with his grandfather’s White Zygarde to help against the Laquium-crazed Six Heroes, but even together they are defeated and the Explorers escape with the Heroes — leaving the young Tacklers to resolve to train at Blueberry Academy in Unova. Gouging Fire tramples Captain Pikachu, who was shielding a despairing Ult, along with Sableye, and the other Pokémon fall one by one until only Charcadet, Lucario and Mega Dragonite remain. Amethio drops in on Corviknight with the White Zygarde in its 10% Forme, leaves Corviknight and Zygarde to face Coral’s Glalie and Sidian’s Garganacl, and sends out Ceruledge against the Heroes. At Liko’s request, Ceruledge’s Bitter Blade activates Charcadet’s Flash Fire, Roy Mega Evolves Lucario, and Charcadet traps Arboliva in a super effective Fire Spin. Ceruledge saves Charcadet from Kleavor, and Charcadet clings to Gouging Fire as it did with Arcanine, turning Burning Bulwark into more Flash Fire power for a stronger Ember.
Roy recalls the Steelix battle and has Mega Dragonite fly towards Mega Lucario so that, when both leap aside, Galarian Moltres and Lapras collide. But Arboliva breaks free and strikes the two Mega Pokémon, Gouging Fire tramples Charcadet, Kleavor knocks out Ceruledge, and Glalie and Garganacl defeat Corviknight and Zygarde. With every Pokémon down, Liko begs the Six Heroes to stop — and to her surprise they do, as the Laquium crystals break off their bodies and they collapse from exhaustion. Pleased with the result, Spinel orders a retreat, and the children can only watch as the Heroes are carried away. Dot arrives with Hamber and Cervantis, and both men react to Amethio as Liko and Roy once did. Amethio apologises for not being strong enough, Cervantis apologises for the trouble his side has caused, and Dot hands the former director a flash drive of data on the spheres’ harmful effects.
Cervantis warns that Spinel could counter with his own data and begins apologising again, until Amethio angrily asks whether he will really let things be: he too once gave up, until he was reminded to walk his own path — to defeat Spinel, rid the world of Laquium and gather his grandfather’s Zygarde Cells. Chastened, Cervantis asks to help, father and son reconcile with a handshake, and Amethio leaves with Cervantis and Hamber, promising that they will meet again while their goals are shared. Ult refuses to return to the ship after such a defeat and wants to train; Charcadet and Crocalor share his determination, but no one knows where to start. Briar calls, excited that her book is finished, and invites them to Blueberry Academy to discuss Pagogo; Dot notes its battle-focused curriculum, and the group decides to go. In a room holding the five captured Heroes, Spinel declares the next stage begun, believing Pagogo no longer a threat. This is the last episode of the Mega Voltage arc; its title likely references Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.”
Major Events
- End of Mega Voltage. Amethio arrives with White Zygarde in its 10% Forme
- The Tacklers and Amethio lose to the Six Heroes, and the Explorers keep them
- Amethio and Cervantis reconcile
- Briar invites the team to Blueberry Academy, where Ann is an exchange student
- The last episode of the Mega Voltage arc and of Netflix’s Part 2
Trivia
- The English title plays on Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”.
- The screenplay is by Kureha Matsuzawa.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Rising Volt Tacklers storyline.
Part of our Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.