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| Season | Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope (Horizons Season 3) · Friede returns arc (HZ120–HZ123) |
| Episode | Horizons Season 3, episode 33 · English episode 1346 · Japanese episode 1355 · Bulbapedia code HZ122 |
| English title | Roy vs. Friede: Wings of Fire! |
| Japanese title | 灼熱の翼！ロイVSフリード Shakunetsu no Tsubasa! Roi tai Furīdo — “Wings of Blazing Heat! Roy VS Friede” |
| First aired (Japan) | 19 December 2025 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 26 June 2026 · Netflix |
| Screenplay | Kureha Matsuzawa |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Aioraito (Iolite) – Eve · Nete mo Samete mo (Asleep or Awake) – Polkadot Stingray |
| English opening | Evolving Again – Haven Paschall |
| Previous episode | The Catcher in the Sky (HZ121) |
| Next episode | Mochi Mayhem! (HZ123) |
Plot episodeRoy beats FriedeRoy becomes commander
Roy vs. Friede: Wings of Fire! is the 33rd episode of Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope, the third season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1346th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1355, Bulbapedia code HZ122). It first aired in Japan on 19 December 2025 and in the United States on 26 June 2026. It falls within the season’s Friede returns stretch (EP120–EP123).
Released on Netflix in the US on Friday 26 June 2026 with the rest of Part 3; BBC iPlayer had premiered it in the UK on 25 May 2026.
Synopsis
Friede explains what he learned in space about Laquium’s meteoric origin, then pretends to disband the team to test Roy’s resolve, and Roy’s Skeledirge defeats Friede’s Charizard with the newly learned Torch Song, earning Roy recognition as the Rising Volt Tacklers’ new commander. During his checkup, Friede is stunned to hear that the team disbanded and relieved that Roy brought everyone back together. Over tea he recalls being carried back to Laqua with Charizard after falling from the ship, noticing that Mount Pericarp’s crater looked like a meteor impact, and concluding that Laquium had never been fully purified. Steven Stone of Devon Corporation confirmed his suspicion that it came from space, so Friede trained at the Mossdeep Space Center, where he befriended a Starmie that longed to reach space, nicknamed it Instructor Starmie, caught it and Mega Evolved it with a Mega Ring and Starminite before leaving his message and reaching orbit.
Friede explains that, long ago, a meteor containing components similar to Laqua’s soil struck Mount Pericarp and reacted to produce Laquium, echoing Lucius’s words; such an event would need an enormous meteor and astronomical luck, and Laquium’s threat to the ecosystem is what drew White Zygarde and the Black Rayquaza. Dot shares the museum data revealing that the Explorers plan to mass-produce Strong Spheres from the Laquium Core, the original meteor still buried beneath Laqua, and Liko explains Briar’s eighteen-Tera-Type theory. The team resolves to rescue the Six Heroes, gather strong Pokémon and stop the spheres’ launch. When Ult says Roy’s job is done now that Friede is back and Roy offers to hand the leadership back, Friede insists that Roy founded the current team — and, seeing his wavering resolve, abruptly declares the team disbanded unless Roy proves himself in battle.
In an open field Skeledirge and Charizard trade Flamethrowers, Charizard’s Air Slash lands repeatedly, and the bulkier Skeledirge cannot dodge Dragon Claw until Charizard itself urges it to keep fighting. Roy fights without doubt; Skeledirge bites Charizard’s tail and throws it, then sings with Roy, and its fiery bird turns into a microphone for Torch Song, which knocks Charizard down with multiple hits. Friede Terastallizes Charizard into the Dark type and lands a super effective Tera Blast; Roy Terastallizes Skeledirge, which dodges a second Tera Blast, lands another Torch Song and wins the final Flamethrower clash. Friede acknowledges Roy’s resolve, and Liko realises that the team has fulfilled Skeledirge’s dream from its Fuecoco days. At sunset, Friede leaves for the space centre and Devon to analyse his data, entrusting the airship to Cap and giving Roy a briefcase holding something for the Black Rayquaza; he then Mega Evolves Charizard into Mega Charizard Y and departs. Steven appears in flashback; a Japan-only bonus short, Mega Evolution Showdown, replaced the end segment.
Major Events
- Roy vs. Friede. Friede recounts his year with Steven Stone at Devon, at the Mossdeep Space Center and in space, and explains Laquium’s meteoric origin
- The Laquium Core lies beneath Laqua
- Skeledirge learns Torch Song and beats Friede’s Tera Dark Charizard
- Friede names Roy commander, gives him a meteorite for the Black Rayquaza and leaves on Mega Charizard Y
- A Japan-only bonus short followed the broadcast
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Kureha Matsuzawa.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Rising Volt Tacklers storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- The Japan-only bonus short Mega Evolution Showdown “Mega Charizard Y VS Mega Starmie”, which followed the Japanese broadcast, is not included in any non-Japanese release
- Ludlow’s line after Charizard Terastallizes is rewritten: in Japanese, Charizard Terastallized to dodge a super effective hit; in English, by Terastallizing it is no longer immune to Ground-type moves
Part of our Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.