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Tactics Theatrics! (Japanese: バトルドーム！炎と水のフュージョン!! Battle Dome! Fusion of Fire and Water is episode 153 of Advanced Generation. It was first broadcast in Japan on November 24, 2005.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Synopsis

Successfully arriving at the Battle Dome, Ash is flooded by many reporters and personnel as Scott briefly interrupts the intruders. A battle is about to commence, a fusion of fire and ice.

A press briefing takes place with various reporters questioning Ash about his upcoming battle in the Battle Dome. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is grooming the Frontier Brain, Tucker, and making battle preparations. Arriving at a inner platform within the Battle Dome, Ash can easily see the battle platform from above. Team Rocket is doing their usual errands with serving the normal concessions and snacks.

The lights dim within the arena as a nearby screen illuminates displaying various information about Ash from Pallet Town. A giant plume of smoke and dust erupts in the arena as Ash makes his appearance. The arena then lightens with various colors of light as Tucker, the Frontier Brain, makes his appearance. Landing majestically atop the adjacent platform, the crowd goes hysterical. Seeing the Frontier Brain of the Battle Dome for the first time gives Max and May thoughts of their father.

The battle about to take place, Tucker displays the coin for defeating him in this battle as he then releases both Arcanine and Swampert in a veil of fire and water. This battle will be a two on two Pokémon battle. Ash analyzes Tucker's choice and then chooses to call upon Swellow and Corphish. The battle quickly goes underway with Swellow launching into a devasting Aerial Ace towards Swampert. Arcanine then rushes towards Swampert and is thrusted into the air reaching a high velocity and collides with Swellow knocking him backwards. Swellow recovers from the attack as Corphish attacks with an array of Bubblebeam. Swampert then jumps in front of Arcanine to shield themselves from the attack with Protect. Brock notes that both Pokémon support each other with Arcanine's speed and Swampert's Defense.

Swellow goes for another attack flying around to reach a high speed with Arcanine running to achieve a equal speed and jumps into the air to defend against Swellow's attack. The two attacks collide thrusting Swellow backwards and forcing Arcanine to the ground unable to stop himself from the fall. Corphish sees the opening and goes for the attack with Swampert launching a Muddy Water attack right behind Arcanine. Just before Arcanine and Corphish make contact, Arcanine dodges Swampert's attack with Corphish taking direct damage and slamming into the nearby wall. With both Arcanine and Swampert as battle ready then ever, will Ash come to defeat Tucker.

Scott goes to explain that Tucker is known for his astonishing battle tactics while both May and Max are surprised. Tucker thanks Ash on his battle spirit and effort but Swampert quickly resumes the battle with Hydro Pump. Both Swellow and Corphish dodge this attack with Corphish thrusting towards Swampert with a devasting Crabhammer. Swampert retaliates with a Focus Punch as both attacks collide in a explosion of light and color. Arcanine then dashs toward Swampert to perform another aerial attack. While Swellow comes forward for the Aerial Ace, Arcanine launches a strategic Flamethrower towards Swellow but the attack is avoided. Arcanine then increases his fire power with Fire Blast.

Meanwhile, Swampert is controlling the nearby water and shaping it with his Water Pulse attack. Swellow dodges Arcanine's first attack and launches towards Arcanine once more with the second attacks making contact creating a gigantic explosion. Corphish goes for an opening as Swampert forces the nearby Water Pulse towards Swellow and Corphish which collides creating a structure formed of water and ice. Arcanine launches a devastating Fire Blast within the structure rotating around creating a fusion of fire and ice.

Both Swellow and Corphish is suspended within this structure as a gigantic explosion taking place between the two forces and both Pokémon are forced towards the ground. Team Rocket is spectating the battle as neither Corphish or Swellow have enough energy to continue the battle. Both Pokémon revive with a fighting spirit greather than ever. Both Arcanine and Swampert launch a Fire Blast and Hydro Pump towards Corphish. Both attacks are diverted by Corphish's Bubblebeam attack. Swellow then thrusts towards Swampert and just as Arcanine goes for the opening, Swellow dodges forcing Arcanine into Swampert for a direct hit. A giant plume of smoke and dust engulfs the arena. Arcanine launches another Fire Blast attack but this is again diverted by another Bubblebeam attack. Visibility is lowered by a great amount of smoke lingering within the arena.

Both Arcanine and Swampert are confused of Swellow's exact location and fly towards Corphish and Swellow. Just as both attacks are to make contact, Swellow floats to the left and flies from the bottom making a direct hit with Corphish's Crabhammer and Swellow's Aerial Ace. Both Arcanine and Swampert are announced as unable to battle.

Most of the female crowd is disappointed with Tucker's loss as Tucker congratulates Ash for his victory with the crowd crying out wildly. Tucker thanks Ash for the honorable battle as Ash then asks for his Battle Symbol. Tucker points to the top of his hat as Ash then pulls it from atop his head and happily displays his newly obtained coin. (Written by: bgt)

Major events

• Ash wins his third Battle Frontier symbol, the Tactics Symbol.

Debuts

• Tucker

Characters

Humans

• Ash Ketchum
• May
• Brock
• Max
• Jessie
• James
• Scott
• Norman (fantasy)
• Tucker (Seiyū: 三宅健太 Kenta Miyake)
• Victor (Seiyū: 武虎 Taketora)
• Female reporter (Seiyū: 西村ちなみ Chinami Nishimura)
• Cameraman
• Male reporter (Seiyū: 石塚運昇 Unshō Ishizuka*)
• Audience
• Child (Seiyū: 大谷育江 Ikue Ohtani*)
• Middle-aged woman (Seiyū: 佐藤智恵 Chie Satō*)

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Swellow (Ash's)
• Corphish (Ash's)
• Arcanine (Tucker's) (Seiyū: 佐藤智恵 Chie Satō)
• Swampert (Tucker's) (Seiyū: 坂口候一 Kōichi Sakaguchi*)

* No official credit was given for this character.

Trivia

• The OP animation changes a fourth time to include Tucker.
• This is the first time in the anime where Aerial Ace is used by a Pokémon that can't fly (whether by the mechanics in the games or not).

Errors

• Early reports stated that the animation directors were 玉川明洋 Akihiro Tamagawa and 岩根雅明 Masaaki Iwane, though the broadcast credits only listed Masaaki Iwane. However, a comment from Iwane confirmed that Tamagawa was also animation director, despite not being credited onscreeen. Additionally, both Akihiro Tamagawa and Masaaki Iwane were credited for 原画 key animation.

Dub edits

In other languages

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This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.