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| Season | Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope (Horizons Season 3) · The final battle at Laqua arc (HZ133–HZ136) |
| Episode | Horizons Season 3, episode 47 · English episode 1360 · Japanese episode 1369 · Bulbapedia code HZ136 |
| English title | Stellar Finale |
| Japanese title | ステラ・フィナーレ Sutera Fināre — “Stellar Finale” |
| First aired (Japan) | 1 May 2026 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 18 September 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 Core Awakens (HZ135) |
Plot episodeSeason finaleMega Rayquaza and Mega Zygarde
Stellar Finale is the 47th episode of Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope, the third season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1360th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1369, Bulbapedia code HZ136). It first aired in Japan on 1 May 2026 and in the United States on 18 September 2026. It falls within the season’s The final battle at Laqua stretch (EP133–EP136).
The season finale, released on Netflix in the US on Friday 18 September 2026 as the last episode 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. The English Pokémon Horizons: Season 4—Wonders Ahead follows on Netflix from 27 February 2027.
Synopsis
In the season finale, Roy’s Black Rayquaza and Amethio’s White Zygarde Mega Evolve to break the Laquium Core’s defences, Pagogo erases the Core for good, Liko defeats Spinel, and the Legendary Pokémon stay behind in Laqua as the Rising Volt Tacklers’ name is finally cleared. Learning that Spinel has vanished inside the Core, Hamber joins the fight as his final duty for the Explorers, followed by Diana and the three admins. Encouraged, Roy speaks to Rayquaza of his promise to Lucius; with Lucius’s spirit unseen beside him, his Mega Ring responds and Rayquaza becomes Mega Rayquaza. Amethio tells Zygarde of Gibeon’s last words urging him to walk his own path, Gibeon’s spirit takes his hand, and his Key Stone reacts with Zygarde’s Zygardite to create Mega Zygarde — the first time a Legendary needs both a Mega Stone and a Key Stone. Friede, Ult, Nemona and Ann destroy the Core’s flower-like buds, Zygarde’s Nihil Light breaks through, and Rayquaza’s Dragon Ascent combined with Skeledirge’s Torch Song damages it further.
The Core releases a final cloud of mist, but Meowscarada resists it through sheer will and helps everyone recover. With Rystal’s spirit beside her, Liko has Pagogo take its Stellar Form and Terastallize all eighteen representatives; resonating with its friends, Pagogo surrounds the entire Core in a barrier and rises into the sky with it as the crystal tower collapses. Spinel emerges from the rubble and orders Umbreon to fight; when she refuses his crystal, he shatters it and forces Laquium on her, driving her feral. Liko and Meowscarada battle them and quickly gain the upper hand, and when Spinel scoffs that invisible bonds cannot matter, Liko says they can be felt, and that he must love Umbreon too. Remembering how she evolved from an Eevee through their friendship, Spinel still orders an attack, but Magical Leaf defeats Umbreon and frees her, just as Pagogo lowers its barrier: the Laquium Core is gone. Umbreon knocks Spinel’s Poké Ball away, shattering it, and runs off; Hamber orders all Explorers to evacuate.
At sunset the Brave Olivine collects everyone, and wild Pokémon begin returning to the badly damaged Laqua. Pagogo, Zygarde and the Six Heroes want to stay and protect it, and Liko, Roy and Amethio accept their wish, releasing them; Zygarde disperses into its Cells, Rayquaza soars away, and Liko tearfully promises to return as the spirits of Lucius, Rystal and Gibeon watch the ship leave. In the following days Trainers reunite with abandoned Pokémon, influencers such as Stunner Fisk and Litten Smitten help restore the Tacklers’ image, Spinel’s lies are exposed, and Strong Spheres are recalled and destroyed. Cervantis returns as Exceed’s director and assigns Friede and Yanga to study Laquium, Amethio mends his relationship with his father, Diana and Hamber travel together, Coral and Sidian remain celebrities, and Chalce returns to teaching at her renovated school; Indi and Rubina’s fates are not shown. Umbreon visits a broken Spinel in prison by moonlight, then disappears. Hailed as heroes again, the Rising Volt Tacklers sail towards new horizons, and a preview of Wonder Voyage closes the season.
Major Events
- Stellar Finale. Mega Rayquaza and Mega Zygarde, the first Legendary Mega Evolutions in the TV series
- Pagogo erases the Laquium Core
- Liko beats Spinel, whose Umbreon leaves him
- Liko, Roy and Amethio release Pagogo, Rayquaza and Zygarde
- The Strong Spheres are recalled and Spinel is arrested
- The end of the Rising Again arc and of the Laquium storyline
- Ends with a preview of Wonder Voyage
Trivia
- The English title plays on “Terapagos’s Stellar Form, which erases the Laquium Core in the finale”.
- The screenplay is by Kureha Matsuzawa.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Rising Volt Tacklers storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- Asleep or Awake plays over the credits
- The episode ends with a preview of Wonder Voyage
Part of our Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.