 |
|
| Season | Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope (Horizons Season 3) · The eighteen Tera Types arc (HZ124–HZ132) |
| Episode | Horizons Season 3, episode 37 · English episode 1350 · Japanese episode 1359 · Bulbapedia code HZ126 |
| English title | Strong Bonds, Can’t Lose! |
| Japanese title | 負けられないバトル！試される絆！！ Makerarenai Batoru! Tamesareru Kizuna!! — “A Battle You Can’t Afford to Lose! The Bond That’s Put to the Test!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 6 February 2026 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 18 September 2026 · Netflix |
| Screenplay | Naruki Nagakawa |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Aioraito (Iolite) – Eve · Nete mo Samete mo (Asleep or Awake) – Polkadot Stingray |
| English opening | Evolving Again – Haven Paschall |
| Previous episode | Battle for the Six Heroes! (HZ125) |
| Next episode | The Training Royale! (HZ127) |
Plot episodeStrong Sphere banLiko beats Dash
Strong Bonds, Can’t Lose! is the 37th episode of Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope, the third season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1350th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1359, Bulbapedia code HZ126). It first aired in Japan on 6 February 2026 and in the United States on 18 September 2026. It falls within the season’s The eighteen Tera Types stretch (EP124–EP132).
Released on Netflix in the US on Friday 18 September 2026 with the rest of Part 4; BBC iPlayer had premiered it in the UK on 20 July 2026 and ABC iview released it in Australia on 4 September 2026.
Synopsis
Back at Naranja Academy, the Tacklers persuade the school to ban Strong Spheres, and Liko’s battle with Dash shows the sphere turning Dash’s Swanna against her — after which Nemona and Penny volunteer as two of the eighteen Tera Types. Exceed asks Iono to promote the Strong Sphere on her channel, unaware that the Tacklers are hiding right beside her; with her help the Brave Olivine lies low in Levincia’s dockyard. Penny arranges a meeting at Naranja Academy, where Jacq presents his analysis of the museum data. Geeta and Clavell find it useful but cannot act on it directly: it came from the poorly regarded Tacklers and was obtained by hacking, and people respond to emotion more than logic. As a compromise, Clavell bans Strong Spheres at Naranja Academy. Meanwhile Dash, discouraged at falling behind her friends, finds a thank-you Strong Sphere from Exceed in her room, sees the ban notice, overhears the Tacklers celebrating it, and challenges Liko to a battle with the ban at stake.
In front of the students, Swanna’s Water Gun misses and Meowscarada’s Magical Leaf lands; Swanna dives with Wing Attack into Acrobatics, then uses Feather Dance to coat Meowscarada with feathers. A distracted Meowscarada is almost hit, but Flower Trick stops Swanna, and to Niko and Rob’s surprise Dash keeps pace. Meowscarada’s Quick Attack lets it dodge everything and shake off the feathers before Flower Trick damages Swanna. Realising her friends are watching, Dash says she only wants to win so things can go back to how they were, and despite Liko’s objection uses the Strong Sphere. Swanna’s new power amazes her, but it keeps injuring itself with Wing Attack and refuses to respond when she tries to recall it. Liko has Meowscarada hold it still with its stem once Flower Trick has weakened it, and when the effect wears off, Dash tearfully apologises to Swanna.
Dash admits she used the sphere because she was afraid of being left behind by Niko and Rob; she tries to leave in shame, but Liko convinces her to stay, and the three friends share their feelings, regretting that they did not talk sooner. Dash promises never to use a Strong Sphere again, and her friends suggest she try Tera Training once more. In the cafeteria the Tacklers conclude that other Trainers will keep using the spheres despite the ban, so the Laquium Core itself must be destroyed. Ult suggests flying over Mount Pericarp, Roy points out that the ship cannot handle the altitude, and Orla reveals that she has been improving the “Brave Olivine: Infinite Rising” ever since Laqua. The young members decide to search for Pokémon of the eighteen Tera Types, and Nemona and Penny volunteer, realising happily that they have grown stronger too — Pawmot covering Fighting and Sylveon Fairy, alongside the Grass, Psychic, Fire, Electric, Flying, Water and Steel types of the Tacklers’ own Pokémon.
Major Events
- The Strong Sphere ban. Jacq presents the museum data and Naranja Academy bans Strong Spheres
- Liko beats Dash’s Strong Sphere Swanna
- Nemona (Fighting) and Penny (Fairy) join the eighteen Tera Types
- Orla has been improving the Brave Olivine: Infinite Rising
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Naruki Nagakawa.
- 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.