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Odd Pokémon Out! (Japanese: ジュプトルVSトロピウス！草原の決闘!! Juptile vs. Tropius! Grassland Duel!!) is the 161st episode of the Advanced Generation series, and the 435th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on January 26, 2006 and in the United States on October 28, 2006.

While traveling, Ash's Grovyle unexpectedly gets caught up in a battle with a wild Tropius and gets injured in the process. While he's in the Pokémon Center, he sees Nurse Joy's Meganium and falls for her.

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

Synopsis

Ash and his friends are headed to Chrysanthemum Island so May can enter the Pokémon Contest for her elusive third ribbon. However, there is no direct ferry service, so they’re heading to Camomile Island to get on the connecting ship. They find the place full of Pokémon roaming the grassy plains. Ash, May and Brock bring out their Pokémon.

A green grass ball bounces to Donphan as a bunch of baby Rhyhorn approach, but are scared of Donphan. Donphan picks up the ball and tries to play, but the Rhyhorn flee. Bigger Rhyhorn step up to defend the young. Donphan drops the ball and runs back to Ash and the group. They notice the stampede and also run away. Nurse Joy pulls up in a Jeep and sends out her Meganium, which uses Growl to calm the Rhyhorn. While May checks her Pokédex, Brock is as usual attracted to Nurse Joy as Max pulls him back. As everyone checks the Pokémon, Ash notices Grovyle is missing. Pikachu points to where Grovyle is, near a large tree and facing off against a Tropius. Ash checks his Pokédex as Joy points out that Tropius is protecting the tree as its territory.

Grovyle charges, but Tropius swats Grovyle away with Steel Wing before using Gust to pin Grovyle down, following up with Razor Leaf. Joy calls Meganium to stop Tropius with Razor Leaf. The attack works as Tropius ceases hostility when Meganium confronts it. Nurse Joy points out that it has happened before and that Tropius will not attack Meganium. Meanwhile, Grovyle was critically hurt from the attack as the group heads back to the Pokémon Center. Team Rocket watches nearby, wanting to steal Tropius. Jessie and James decide to let Meowth talk to Tropius and coerce it to come along. As Tropius eats fruit off the tree, Meowth approaches with a megaphone. Meowth asks Tropius about what it wants. Meowth tells Jessie and James that Tropius wants Meganium as Meowth points out the attraction. Team Rocket remembers how Meganium has healing powers and also decide to take Meganium.

At the center, Meganium uses its powers to heal Grovyle. Grovyle wakes up and notices Meganium, instantly attracted, the twig in its mouth sprouting a flower. Brock points out how Grovyle is embarrassed because it lost to Tropius, but Ash is indifferent to the attraction. The group leaves the room to let Grovyle rest, but Grovyle is already up. Meanwhile, Team Rocket approaches the center in a mecha, using a mechanical arm to crash through and take Meganium. Nurse Joy alerts the group as Team Rocket recites their motto. Mime Jr. constantly interrupts Meowth throughout the motto, making him angry. Team Rocket leaves with Meganium as Ash and co follow. Meanwhile, Grovyle goes back to the tree to face off with Tropius once again.

The wind blows as Grovyle and Tropius face off. Tropius uses Gust once again, stalling Grovyle. It charges with Steel Wing and uses Razor Leaf to knock Grovyle down before attacking again with Razor Leaf. Grovyle blocks the attack, noticing the flower in its mouth and relating it to Megainum. Grovyle uses this as inspiration to speed up the tree and hit Tropius from above with Bullet Seed before following with Leaf Blade, putting Tropius down. Grovyle notices Team Rocket’s mecha approaching with Meganium in tow. They put Meganium down as it runs forward, Grovyle seemingly happy. However, Meganium runs past Grovyle to tend to Tropius. Meganium heals Tropius and the two appear truly together, upsetting Grovyle. The flower in its mouth wilts as Grovyle sinks to its knees.

The Jeep arrives and Ash notices Grovyle on its knees as Ash confronts Team Rocket, thinking they did something, but they reveal information about the second battle between Grovyle and Tropius. Ash thinks Grovyle lost again, but they point out that Grovyle won the battle but lost Meganium’s love. Ash is as usual oblivious. Meowth activates the mecha and takes both Meganium and Tropius away. Grovyle notices Meganium struggling and stands back up, clearly angry as it begins to glow, evolving into Sceptile.

Ash checks his Pokédex as Sceptile rushes towards the mecha. Jessie and James send out Seviper and Cacnea. Meowth launches them directly at Sceptile, sending all three back to the group. Ash orders Sceptile to fire Bullet Seed, but the attack fails, Sceptile unable to fire any seeds. Ash orders Leaf Blade, but the attack also fails to function. Seviper and Cacnea attack with Poison Tail and Needle Arm, Sceptile taking the attacks and knocking it down. The mecha is about to stomp Sceptile, but Pikachu uses Thunderbolt on one of the legs, blowing out the knee and dropping the mecha, releasing the Grass Pokémon. Nurse Joy hugs the Grass Pokémon as Team Rocket calls their balloon in. The attempt to run, but Meganium and Tropius step forward to attack together. Meganium uses Razor Leaf while Tropius uses Gust to amplify the attack, destroying the balloon and sending Team Rocket flying.

Everyone notes how close the grass Pokémon are as they decide to live together at the Pokémon Center. Ash is concerned about his Sceptile being unable to attack, but Joy knows that Sceptile will get over it and grow. Ash and co. board the ship to head off to May's next contest.

Major events

• Ash's Grovyle evolves into Sceptile.
• Sceptile is unable to use attacks due to the shock of rejection.

Debuts

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• May
• Brock
• Max
• Jessie
• James
• Nurse Joy
• Giovanni (fantasy)

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Mime Jr. (James's)
• Donphan (Ash's)
• Swellow (Ash's)
• Grovyle (Ash's; evolves)
• Sceptile (Ash's; newly evolved)
• Corphish (Ash's)
• Combusken (May's)
• Munchlax (May's)
• Squirtle (May's)
• Eevee (May's)
• Forretress (Brock's)
• Marshtomp (Brock's)
• Bonsly (Brock's)
• Seviper (Jessie's)
• Cacnea (James's)
• Meganium (Nurse Joy's) (Seiyū: 西村ちなみ Chinami Nishimura*)
• Tropius (Seiyū: 小西克幸 Katsuyuki Konishi*)
• Nidoran♀
• Nidoran♂
• Nidoking
• Ponyta
• Rapidash
• Rhyhorn
• Girafarig
• Wingull

* No official credit was given for this character.

Trivia

• The voice of James's Mime Jr. was provided by Tomoe Hanba (半場友恵) due to its regular actress, Ikue Ohtani, being on maternity leave. Ohtani also provides the voice of Ash's Pikachu, but it is assumed Pikachu's voice was supplied by clips from the much more abundant amount of previous episodes.
• OK! was played during the battle between Ash's Sceptile and Team Rocket.
• Meganium, Grovyle, Sceptile, and Tropius are all in the Monster Egg Group, meaning that the attractions expressed in this episode are consistent with egg groups. Meganium and Tropius are also in the Plant egg group.

Errors

When Razor Leaf is sent on Team Rocket's balloon, Seviper's body disappears.

Dub edits

• Referring to Sceptile, Ash says "...he won" and "he lost..." which wasn't present in the Japanese version. In fact, Sceptile's gender has yet to be confirmed in the anime.

In other languages

• French: Duel amoureux
• Italian: Rivali in amore
• Latin American Spanish: La evolución de Grovyle

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