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| Season | Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope (Horizons Season 3) · The eighteen Tera Types arc (HZ124–HZ132) |
| Episode | Horizons Season 3, episode 38 · English episode 1351 · Japanese episode 1360 · Bulbapedia code HZ127 |
| English title | The Training Royale! |
| Japanese title | 大特訓！それぞれの想い Daitokkun! Sorezore no Omoi — “Hyper Training! Everyone’s Respective Feelings” |
| First aired (Japan) | 13 February 2026 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 18 September 2026 · Netflix |
| Screenplay | Michihiro Tsuchiya |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Aioraito (Iolite) – Eve · Nete mo Samete mo (Asleep or Awake) – Polkadot Stingray |
| English opening | Evolving Again – Haven Paschall |
| Previous episode | Strong Bonds, Can’t Lose! (HZ126) |
| Next episode | Dot and Quaxwell Step it Up! (HZ128) |
Plot episodeTraining battles at the LeagueLiko and Ann draw
The Training Royale! is the 38th episode of Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope, the third season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1351st episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1360, Bulbapedia code HZ127). It first aired in Japan on 13 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
At the Pokémon League, the young Tacklers hold four training battles: Liko’s Armarouge draws with Ann’s Samurott, which earns Ann a place among the eighteen Tera Types, while Roy loses to Nemona, Ult to Hassel and Dot to Penny — a defeat that shakes Dot’s confidence. Ann arrives unexpectedly, having followed the news about the group, and wants to help Liko however she can. Iono suggests the Pokémon League as a training venue, where Geeta lends them battle rooms and referees with Hassel and Larry, and Hassel, seeing Ult’s Dragonite, decides to face the boy himself. Dot faces Penny with Iono refereeing, wanting Quaxwell to win after his loss to Arboliva; Ann asks Liko to fight more seriously than ever, to learn whether she is good enough to stand beside her at Laqua; Roy and Nemona use only Lucario and Pawmot, with Larry refereeing and Captain Pikachu on his head. Hassel’s Baxcalibur peppers Dragonite with Ice Shard, and Ult’s Dragon Rushes keep missing until Hyper Beam and Blizzard explode in mid-field.
Liko Terastallizes Armarouge into the Fire type for the first time and Ann’s Samurott becomes a Ground type; the two exchange blows until Armarouge, cornered, uses Clear Smog as a smokescreen to strike from behind just as Samurott lands Drill Run, and both are knocked out for a draw. Liko assures Ann that she is skilled enough to be an ally. Roy Mega Evolves Lucario and Nemona Terastallizes Pawmot into the Fighting type; Pawmot dodges every attack while charging Focus Punch and lands a Terastallized blow to win, and Roy promises to do better without noticing Lucario’s thoughtful expression. Dragonite’s attempts to evade by flying only shrink its space, a Blizzard freezes it, and Baxcalibur’s Glaive Rush wins; Ult does not understand Hassel’s advice afterwards.
Penny’s Vaporeon dodges Air Cutter with Trailblaze, Quaxwell escapes Whirlpool, and Water Absorb turns Liquidation into healing. Dot switches to evasion, but Muddy Water and Whirlpool keep coming, and she realises that Quaxwell is holding back to protect Tinkaton and Gholdengo, who were splashed on the sidelines. Penny notices too and orders Vaporeon to target them; Quaxwell takes the hit and falls to Trailblaze, and Penny wins. When Dot angrily confronts her, Penny apologises for fighting unfairly but says this is exactly what the Explorers would do, leaving Dot speechless. That evening Dot tells her friends that she will support them rather than battle, insisting that a supporter is just as important; Liko and Roy are worried, and behind the door Iono has heard everything. Every Pokémon on Liko’s team has now Terastallized at least once, and special matchup cards for the four battles were posted on social media before the episode aired.
Major Events
- Training battles at the Pokémon League. Liko’s Armarouge, Terastallized into the Fire type for the first time, draws with Ann’s Tera Ground Samurott, and Ann joins the eighteen
- Nemona beats Roy, Hassel beats Ult and Penny beats Dot
- Dot decides to step back as a supporter
- Matchup cards for the four battles were posted before broadcast
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Michihiro Tsuchiya.
- 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.