XY119

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Pokémon the Series: XY

XY120 : All Hail the Ice Battlefield! →

A Full-Strength Battle Surprise!

XY119   EP918 ライバル対決！サトシVSショータ！！ Rival Showdown! Satoshi VS Shōta!!

First broadcast Japan May 12, 2016 United States August 13, 2016

English themes Opening Stand Tall Ending

Japanese themes Opening XY&Z Ending プニちゃんのうた

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 藤田伸三 Shinzō Fujita Storyboard 博多正寿 Masatoshi Hakata Assistant director 大和田淳 Jun Ōwada Animation directors 小山知洋 Tomohiro Koyama 緒方厚 Atsushi Ogata Additional credits

Screenshots on Filb.de Preview thread on BMGf Closed Original review thread on BMGf Dub review thread on BMGf

A Full-Strength Battle Surprise! (Japanese: ライバル対決！サトシVSショータ！！ Rival Showdown! Satoshi VS Shōta!!) is the 119th episode of Pokémon the Series: XY, and the 918th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on May 12, 2016 and in the United States on August 13, 2016.

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

Blurb

On their way to Snowbelle City, our heroes run into their friend Sawyer, who’s already won his eighth Gym badge. Ash wants to show off what he’s learned about Greninja, and Sawyer wants to demonstrate how much stronger he’s become, so it’s time for a battle!

After some smart tactics from Sawyer, the battle is down to Greninja and Sceptile—but for some reason, Ash and Greninja can’t seem to connect like they usually do, and Sawyer defeats Ash for the first time! Excited, he decides to come watch Ash’s battle at the Snowbelle Gym.

Meanwhile, the Team Flare scientists continue their experiments as Squishy tries frantically to contact Z2…

Plot

Ash and Greninja are battling a Trainer with a Scizor. After avoiding Scizor's attack with Double Team, Greninja uses Aerial Ace after the Greninja copies are mowed down by Scizor's Bullet Punch, resulting in Scizor being defeated and earning Ash the victory. Ash's opponent is impressed with Greninja's speed and power, to which Ash is thankful and bows. Ash's friends approach him as Serena comments on how she knows he will win his Gym Badge, and Ash mentions how it will be his eighth Gym Badge if he wins. At that moment, a familiar voice calls out to the group as they all turn and notice that it's Sawyer.

Sawyer showing his eight Badges

As Squishy relaxes in the sunlight, Ash and his friends are impressed to learn that Sawyer has managed to obtain all eight of his Kalos Gym Badges, and Ash reveals that he only has seven at the moment and that Sawyer has beaten him to it. Serena asks Sawyer about what type of Gym the Snowbelle Gym is, to which he replies that it is an Ice-type Gym. Clemont mentions how Water-type Pokémon should do well against it, which sets Ash's mind on using Greninja in the Gym battle. Serena comments on how Ash and Greninja will do well in the Gym battle due to them doing so well in the battle against Diantha, which shocks Sawyer as he learns that Ash got to battle the Champion of Kalos. Ash explains that he and Greninja merged completely, which has Sawyer think back to when the same thing happened in their battle, but Ash mentions how it was different than back then. Bonnie tells Sawyer about how Greninja had a giant Water Shuriken on its back, but he soon gets confused as to what she means when she explains further. Ash decides it would be best to just show Sawyer what they mean by offering a battle, to which Sawyer accepts and asks for a three-on-three battle like the one they had last time to see how much stronger he has gotten since then.

Outside a forest, Officer Jenny, along with some of the town's people, prepare to investigate the forest. While making their way through, Manectric hears something, which catches the attention of Officer Jenny, and one of the town's people mentions that it is the same noise they had heard earlier, leading Officer Jenny to wonder what it could be. Just then the noise stops, but suddenly, wild Pokémon jump over a bush and dart past everyone before Jenny tells everyone to run when she notices something approaching them at a rapid pace. Everyone makes it out safely, but the sound of a Skiploom is heard crying out, causing Jenny to go and rescue it. Narrowly escaping with the Pokémon, Jenny makes it away safely, as Manectric sparks electricity towards the roots, and they come to a stop. Back in the forest, Team Flare are continuing with their experiments, having improved the results. Lysandre tells Xerosic to continue with the experiments before he turns his attention to Z2, telling it that they will be using it later down the road. Squishy attempts to contact Z2 to make sure it is safe, but to no avail. Bonnie comes out to tell Squishy that Ash and Sawyer are going to battle, but notices that it seems worried about someone. Noticing this, Bonnie begins to sing to it, which relaxes it.

Ash and Greninja put their Battle Pulse Meter's on, as Sawyer asks what they are, to which Clemont explains that they're used to monitor the emotional synchronization between Ash and Greninja, which is essential to the transformation Greninja goes through. Ash and Sawyer begin their battle as Sawyer sends out his Doublade against Ash's Noivern. Ash starts the battle by having Noivern attack with Acrobatics, but Sawyer goes on the defense and has Doublade use Iron Defense to reduce the damage. As Noivern continues to attack, Clemont reveals that Sawyer's goal is to tire out Noivern by blocking its attacks. Seeing an opportunity to attack, Sawyer commands Doublade to use Slash, sending Noivern crashing to the ground, creating a dust cloud, and then Night Slash. Struggling to find Noivern in the dust cloud after missing its attack, Ash commands Noivern to use Dragon Claw followed up by Acrobatics, which knocks Doublade out, earning Ash his first win of the battle. As Sawyer returns Doublade, he is impressed by how Noivern knew Doublade's position in the dust cloud, and Ash explains that it used sound waves to locate Doublade. Upon learning this information, Sawyer makes a note of the experience. Sawyer sends out his second Pokémon, Clawitzer. Sawyer commands Clawitzer to start off by using Crabhammer, which is avoided by Noivern before it attacks Clawitzer with Boomburst. After Clawitzer takes damage, Sawyer has it use Heal Pulse to heal itself, which is noticed by Clemont as he comments on how its Ability, Mega Launcher, helped it to recover. Ash tells Noivern to use Dragon Claw, but Sawyer orders Clawitzer to use a not only super-effective Dragon Pulse, but having gained a boost in power from Mega Launcher, it deals enough damage to defeat Noivern. Ash sends Hawlucha out as his second Pokémon for the battle.

As Hawlucha dodges Dragon Pulse attacks, he delivers a High Jump Kick in return, which makes direct contact. Sawyer commands Clawitzer to use Dragon Pulse again, but Ash has Hawlucha dodge it before he commands him to go for Clawitzer's claw after realizing how powerful Mega Launcher is. As Hawlucha uses Flying Press, he swoops down to deliver the attack, but Sawyer predicted his strategy and has Clawitzer use Dragon Pulse on the ground to avoid damage. Seeing this, Ash tells Hawlucha to go higher than it and use Flying Press, but Sawyer draws him in and when Hawlucha gets close enough, he has Clawitzer use Ice Beam, dealing super-effective damage and defeating Hawlucha.

Ash is impressed by how much stronger Sawyer has gotten since last time and sends in Greninja, to which Saywer views battling Greninja as great experience and starts off by having Clawitzer use Dragon Pulse, but the attack is soon dodged. After many surprising strategies from Sawyer, Ash becomes unsure as to what to do, contemplating whether to attack or wait to see what Sawyer does and in doing so, increases his pulse. Sawyer commands Clawitzer to use Ice Beam, but Greninja blocks it by using Cut before charging through and striking Clawitzer, defeating it on the spot. Recalling Clawitzer after a hard battle, Sawyer sends out Sceptile before he begins to think about how despite earning all eight Badges, he has never won against Ash. Wanting to show Ash how strong he has become, Sawyer begins by commanding Sceptile to use Leaf Blade, but their attack is countered by Greninja's Aerial Ace. The two release a fury of their own attacks, while continuing to block their opponent's. Sawyer has Sceptile use Bullet Seed, but their attack is countered once again, this time by Water Shuriken, causing an explosion. Going for a close-range attack, Sceptile uses Leaf Blade, only for it to be avoided by Greninja before it uses Double Team, but Sawyer has Sceptile use Leaf Blade again to lure out the real Greninja by destroying its copies. After destroying numerous copies, the real Greninja is found and narrowly avoids the Leaf Blade. With close-range attacks being Greninja's strong point, Ash puts it to use by commanding Greninja to use Cut, but Sawyer has Sceptile back away to avoid the attack, before attacking from a distance using Leaf Storm, which traps Greninja in the cyclone, shocking Ash before it falls to the ground. Serena notices how Sceptile kept its distance instead of going in close like it did previously, leading Clemont to comment on how well Sceptile is both close-range and long-distance. Ash is impressed again by how much stronger Sawyer has become in such a short time, but gets back to the battle by having Greninja use Aerial Ace. Attempting to confuse Sceptile, Greninja disappears and reappears behind Sceptile to deliver its attack, but Sceptile narrowly avoids it and slams Greninja using its tail. Ash decides to battle as one with Greninja as they prepare to merge, but the transformation fails as Clemont comments on the waves separating, leading Ash to wonder how they transformed in the first place. Noticing Ash isn't going to attack, he commands Sceptile to use Leaf Storm, trapping Greninja in the cyclone again before Sceptile uses Leaf Blade to defeat Greninja, earning Sawyer his first victory against Ash, which excites him hugely. Ash makes sure Greninja is alright before he recalls him, telling Sawyer that he has certainly become stronger since last time.

Ash hands Clemont the Battle Pulse Meter, mentioning how he wonders why he and Greninja couldn't transform, which even makes Clemont wonder, but mentions that the pulses didn't overlap once during the battle. Ash decides to drop it as overthinking it wouldn't help and sets his mind back onto reaching Snowbelle City. Sawyer asks if he can join them to Snowbelle City as he wants to watch Ash win his eighth Kalos Gym Badge, which Ash allows him to join them.

As the group continue to travel, they see Snowbelle City up ahead in the distance.

Major events

Ash facing Sawyer

• Ash and his friends meet up with Sawyer again.
• Sawyer is revealed to have earned three more Badges, thus bringing his total to eight and qualifying him for the Kalos League.
• Sawyer's Honedge is revealed to have evolved into Doublade and he is revealed to have obtained a Clawitzer.
• Ash's Noivern is revealed to have learned Dragon Claw.
• Ash has another battle against Sawyer and loses, suffering his first loss to the latter.
  • During the battle, Ash attempts to activate Greninja's Ash-Greninja form, but it fails for the first time.
• Sawyer travels with Ash and his friends as they head towards Snowbelle City.

For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

TV episode debuts

• Clawitzer
• Doublade

Characters

Humans

Pokémon Quiz

• Ash
• Serena
• Clemont
• Bonnie
• Officer Jenny
• Sawyer
• Diantha (flashback)
• Lysandre
• Xerosic
• Team Flare Admins
• Team Flare Grunts
• Trainer
• Woman executive
• Men

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Doublade (US and international)
Pokémon Quiz: Doublade (Japan)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Dedenne (Clemont's)
• Greninja (Ash's; Ash-Greninja; Ash-Greninja in flashback)
• Hawlucha (Ash's)
• Noivern (Ash's)
• Manectric (Officer Jenny's)
• Sceptile (Sawyer's)
• Doublade (Sawyer's)
• Clawitzer (Sawyer's)
• Gardevoir (Diantha's; Mega Gardevoir; flashback)
• Scizor (Trainer's)
• Zygarde (Zygarde Core; Squishy)
• Zygarde (Zygarde Core; Z2)
• Zygarde (Zygarde Cell; multiple)
• Patrat (×3)
• Spinarak (×2)
• Starly (×3)
• Staravia (×3)
• Vivillon (Meadow Pattern; ×2)
• Pachirisu (×4)
• Sentret
• Skiploom

Trivia

The title card segment focuses on Ash for this episode

• Poké TV: "Poké Love TV" focusing on Grovyle and Sceptile.
• Bonnie sings Puni-chan's Song in this episode.
• A small portion of XY&Z is used as an insert song when Ash and Greninja attempt to unlock the Ash-Greninja form during the battle against Sawyer's Sceptile.
• This is the first time Sawyer has won a battle onscreen.
• This episode marks the first appearance of a Spinarak in the anime since its cameo in The Treasure Is All Mine!, 299 episodes earlier.
• This episode's English dub title is shown on the original title card as A Full Strength Battle Surprise!, but is listed on the title card used in the United Kingdom airing, most TV guides, as well as the Pokémon website as A Full-Strength Battle Surprise! with a dash in-between "Full" and "Strength".

Errors

• When Greninja wins the battle against Scizor, the back part of its tongue around its neck is blue instead of pink before it lands to the ground.
• When Doublade uses Night Slash, one of its bodies' eye is on the wrong side of its hilt.
• After Sawyer returns Doublade to its Poké Ball, Greninja is not wearing its Battle Pulse Measure Device on its right wrist when it has its arms crossed.
• As Noivern charges up Dragon Claw before attacking Clawitzer, Noivern's bottom jaw is black instead of purple.
  • This happens again before Ash recalls Noivern.
• Before Greninja jumps into battle against Clawitzer, the inside of its right ear is cream instead of dark blue.
• When Greninja is doing a back-flip while entering the battle against Clawitzer, the outside of its left ear is dark blue instead of cream.
• When Greninja uses Double Team and Sceptile uses Leaf Blade to eliminate the doubles, some of the doubles are missing the star shapes on their legs.
• When Greninja uses its Water Shuriken, the webbing between its fingers disappears for a few frames.
• After Greninja is struck by Leaf Storm, he falls down on the centerline of the field and Sceptile is on Ash's side, but when Greninja gets up, he is on Ash's side and Sceptile is on Sawyer's side.
• When Ash takes out his Pokédex, it is shown to already be open. However, when it is pointed at Sawyer's Doublade and Clawitzer, it is shown to open up again.

• 

  Doublade's misplaced eye

• 

  The coloring error in Noivern's bottom jaw

• 

  One of Greninja's doubles missing the star shape on its leg

In other languages

Language		Title
Czech		Zápasové překvapení plné síly!
Danish		En overraskende kamp for fuld kraft!
Dutch		Een verrassend gevecht op volle sterkte!
Finnish		Täysimittainen otteluyllätys!
European French		Un combat aussi surprenant que puissant !
German		Erwarte das Unerwartete!
Hindi		अ फुल स्ट्रेंथ बैटल सरप्राइज! A Full-Strength Battle Surprise!
Italian		Lotta accesa, finale a sorpresa!
Korean		라이벌 대결! 지우 VS 승태!!
Norwegian		En kampoverraskelse med full styrke!
Polish		Niespodzianka w bitwie pełnej mocy!
Portuguese	Brazil	Batalha surpresa com força total!
	Portugal	Surpresa num combate em plena força!
Russian		Совершенно необычная битва!
Spanish	Latin America	¡Batalla sorpresiva con máxima fuerza!
	Spain	¡Un combate sorpresa a toda potencia!
Swedish		En överraskande strid med full styrka!
Thai		การเผชิญหน้าของคู่แข่ง! ซาโตชิ ปะทะ โชตะ!!
Turkish		Eksiksiz bir maç sürprizi!

← XY118 : Championing a Research Battle!

Pokémon the Series: XY

XY120 : All Hail the Ice Battlefield! →

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