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| Season | Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope (Horizons Season 3) · The eighteen Tera Types arc (HZ124–HZ132) |
| Episode | Horizons Season 3, episode 40 · English episode 1353 · Japanese episode 1362 · Bulbapedia code HZ129 |
| English title | Destiny of the Black Rayquaza |
| Japanese title | 黒いレックウザ、決着の時 Kuroi Rekkūza, Ketchaku no Toki — “The Black Rayquaza, Time for the Showdown” |
| First aired (Japan) | 27 February 2026 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 18 September 2026 · Netflix |
| Screenplay | Kimiko Ueno |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Aioraito (Iolite) – Eve · Nete mo Samete mo (Asleep or Awake) – Polkadot Stingray |
| English opening | Evolving Again – Haven Paschall |
| Previous episode | Dot and Quaxwell Step it Up! (HZ128) |
| Next episode | Hamber’s Moonlight Battle (HZ130) |
Plot episodeRoy catches the Black RayquazaUlt is Sault’s son
Destiny of the Black Rayquaza is the 40th episode of Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope, the third season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1353rd episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1362, Bulbapedia code HZ129). It first aired in Japan on 27 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 Dragon’s Den, Friede’s meteorite restores the Black Rayquaza’s strength, it Terastallizes into the Dragon type to test Roy and Ult in a ferocious battle, and Roy finally catches it before it flies off to gather the remaining Six Heroes. Team Dragon Rampage welcomes Liko, Roy and Ult back, saying the Black Rayquaza is recovering well, but they question why the pushy Ult has a Dragonite. When Ult says he has had it and its Dusk Ball for as long as he can remember, they call him a wannabe of Sault, a famous underground explorer of the Dragon Tamer clan who also keeps a Dragonite in a Dusk Ball. Liko concludes that Sault must be Ult’s father; the gang insists that is impossible unless he has the heart-shaped mole Sault’s son has on his backside, and Ult turns red denying it while Sableye points at his rear. Stunned to learn that Ult belongs to their clan, the gang leads the group into the shrine, where Roy opens Friede’s briefcase to find a raw meteorite — Rayquaza’s favourite food.
The energised Rayquaza communicates with Pagogo, which takes its Terastal Form and Terastallizes Rayquaza into the Dragon type so it can test Roy and Ult seriously. Dragon Tail forces Dragonite out and drags Sableye in, and Rayquaza’s roar cancels Power Gem and Electro Ball. Sableye deliberately falls from Kilowattrel’s back to land Confuse Ray, and Kilowattrel lands a Supercell Slam, but Draco Meteor knocks out both. Roy and Ult Mega Evolve Lucario and Dragonite; Mega Dragonite draws Rayquaza’s Dragon Pulses while Mega Lucario lands Close Combat, Hyper Beam and Flash Cannon hit together, and Lucario’s Close Combat shields the recharging Dragonite from falling meteors before Twister flings meteors back at Rayquaza. Rayquaza climbs high and strikes both with Dragon Ascent; Lucario is slammed into a rock face and defeated by a follow-up Dragon Pulse.
Roy sends out Skeledirge, whose Disarming Voice is overpowered by Rayquaza’s roar; Torch Song lands, and Dragonite saves Skeledirge from a falling boulder with its last strength. Roy Terastallizes Skeledirge, which struggles against an airborne opponent until Roy has it aim Disarming Voice at the dent Lucario left in the cliff, bouncing the sound back at Rayquaza with greater power. Skeledirge endures a second Dragon Ascent by planting itself with Stomping Tantrum and, with Roy’s voice behind it, a Tera-boosted Flamethrower brings Rayquaza down. Rayquaza looks Roy in the eye and nods, and Roy catches it, fulfilling the dream he has chased since leaving his home island; a tearful Ult admits they suit each other. Pagogo shows Rayquaza a vision of the remaining Six Heroes, and Rayquaza flies off to gather them. The episode aired on the 30th anniversary of Red and Green and gives the Heroes’ sixth Tera Type, Dragon; Roy is the first main character to use two battle techniques in one episode.
Major Events
- Roy catches the Black Rayquaza. Team Dragon Rampage reveal that Ult is the son of Sault of the Dragon Tamer clan
- Friede’s meteorite restores Rayquaza, which Pagogo Terastallizes into the Dragon type
- Roy and Ult beat it and Roy catches it
- Rayquaza leaves to gather the Six Heroes
- Aired on the 30th anniversary of Pokémon Red and Green
- Roy is the first main character to use two battle techniques in one episode
Captures and evolutions
Rayquaza#0384 · Roy · the Black Rayquaza, after he and Ult beat it at the Dragon’s Den
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Kimiko Ueno.
- 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.