HZ044: Difference between revisions

This article is about an episode of the Pokémon anime that has not been dubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names.

HZ044

HZ044   EP1276 レックウザ捕獲計画 A Plan to Capture Rayquaza

First broadcast Japan March 22, 2024 United States

English themes Opening Ending

Japanese themes Opening ハロ Ending RVR〜ライジングボルテッカーズラップ〜[フリードVer.PART2]

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 松澤くれは Kureha Matsuzawa Storyboard 髙木啓明 Hiroaki Takagi Assistant director 髙木啓明 Hiroaki Takagi Animation directors 忍田雄介 Yusuke Oshida 倉員千晶 Chiaki Kurakazu 大西雅也 Masaya Ōnishi 岡昭彦 Akihiko Oka 大川義史 Yoshifumi Ōkawa Additional credits

Preview thread on BMGf Closed Original review thread on BMGf

(Japanese: レックウザ捕獲計画 A Plan to Capture Rayquaza) is the 44th episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,276th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on March 22, 2024.

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

Plot

Friede goes to the island with the suspicious tower to check out what the Explorers are up too. He finds the tower and sees Spinel's Magneton and Beheeyem circling it. He then spots Spinel going inside and records it on his Rotom Phone. Friede heads back to the Brave Olivine and shows his findings to the Rising Volt Tacklers. He also shows them Spinel, who Liko and Roy recognize as the man who stole Liko's pendant. Liko heard from Coral that they were going to summon the Black Rayquaza. Friede thinks that Captain Pikachu can destroy the machine if the Explorers are using one while Dot puts together a shutdown program. Friede's ready to charge in any time, but the ship would be easy to spot, as would arriving on Charizard, so he instead has Ludlow get a boat ready. Liko and Roy offer to help Friede, who has everyone else wait on the ship and be ready to take off at a moment's notice.

The group arrives at the island on a boat, Friede telling them not to make a sound. A group of Pokémon fly overhead, Fuecoco getting scared by a Vespiquen prompting Roy to keep him quiet. Friede urges everyone on, and they all silence Cap when he gives the command. The group eventually arrives at the tower. Friede goes up to the door first, surprised and confused to find that it's open. He has Ludlow look after the kids as he enters the tower. He and Cap look around before the door suddenly shuts behind them, trapping them inside to Liko's dismay. Friede tells Spinel that the others missed out on his trap. Spinel appears, and Friede remembers his voice from his assault in the Levincia alleyway. The former explains that this tower was made to hold Friede, who tells the kids that this is the wrong place. Ludlow tells them to stay calm and leave Friede to his battle. Liko takes a breath to retort before going with the group to search for the right tower.

At a lighthouse, Chalce uses soundwaves from a speaker to summon Rayquaza. Coral has a hard time believing it will work. She wonders where Amethio is, and Chalce says that it was Spinel's idea that the four of them finish the mission without him. Coral remarks on Spinel hating Amethio being pampered before Sidian tells her to get back to her post. Spinel reveals to Friede that the device they are using is a resonance generator made for the purpose of recreating the same energy output Terapagos emits when calling to Rayquaza. Friede wonders if they can even beat Rayquaza if they summon it, and Spinel says that three other admins are already there to subdue it, saying that he is using them to catching it without a fight. Friede is about to send out his Charizard to face Spinel's Umbreon, but its flight and Terastal state won't do good in such a confined space. Cap offers to battle, which Spinel scoffs at just like Amethio did before. Spinel starts by having Umbreon use Snarl. Cap takes the hit and uses Double Team and Thunder Punch, which Umbreon blocks with Reflect. Cap uses Double Team again, and Umbreon responds by wiping all the clones out with Quick Attack. Cap meets Umbreon head on with Thunder Punch, but the Moonlight Pokémon gets behind him and lands a hit with Foul Play. Friede wonders what their next move will be, seeing the cracked wall by the door and getting an idea.

Liko, Roy and Ludlow don't find anything on the island, thinking they should search Levincia instead. Terapagos turns Liko's attention to a nearby lighthouse, Liko and Roy sensing the Black Rayquaza's presence from above. The clouds part, and sunlight pours down as Rayquaza descends and lets out a mighty roar. Elsewhere, Iono does a video before spotting Rayquaza in the distance. The group heads to the lighthouse on their boat, Ludlow sending out his Quagsire and speed them up with Hydro Pump. Chalce sees that Rayquaza has let its guard down, just like Spinel predicted, having Coral and Sidian move in to attack. Glalie and Garganacl uses Blizzard and Salt Cure. Chalce joins in too, commanding Medicham to use Psybeam. The group arrives at the lighthouse, spotting the generator they used to lure in Rayquaza. Liko and Roy notify the others about the device. Dot finishes the shutdown program, but says that she'll have to connect it to the machine directly. As Murdock offers to help, Dot looks at her Pokémon saying that she'll go. The group is shocked by this, Murdock protesting against Dot's decision. However, Dot says that if Liko and Roy can fight out there, then so can she. The others agree and head to the lighthouse.

Back in the other tower, Cap uses Thunder Punch, which Umbreon repeatedly intercepts with Foul Play and throws Cap against the wall. Friede, ready to execute his plan, commands Cap to use Volt Tackle. Umbreon uses Reflect, and Cap responds by turning around and bouncing off the barrier, which provides enough force to break through the wall. Spinel is surprised by this, as Friede escapes on his Charizard and heads for the lighthouse. Meanwhile, Spinel thinks Friede is worth studying.

With Rayquaza covered in ice and salt from Coral and Sidian's attack, Chalce pulls out an Ultra Ball to catch it. Liko and Roy confront her, only to be challenged by Sidian. The Brave Olivine arrives on the scene, and Roy has Fuecoco use Stomping Tantrum. Sprigatito uses Quick Attack to distract Sidian and Garganacl as Chalce gets ready to throw the Ultra Ball at Rayquaza. However, Roy has Wattrel use Spark to knock it away. Medicham retaliates with Psybeam, which blows Wattrel out of the air as Roy catches it and recalls it back into its Poké Ball. Coral and Glalie strike next, but Friede stops them with Charizard's Flamethrower. Murdock positions the ship above the lighthouse, Dot in her Nidothing suit jumping down to face Chalce. She has Quaxly and Tinkatink keep Medicham busy while she comes out of the Nidothing suit and plugs her Rotom Phone into the generator, shutting it down with the program. Dot retreats and praises her Pokémon, Roy and Liko praising her as well.

Rayquaza breaks out of the ice and salt. Chalce commands Medicham to use Zen Headbutt on the Sky High Pokémon. To Liko and Roy's dismay, Rayquaza uses Draco Meteor, which hits Medicham, wreaks havoc on the area, and destroys the Explorers' resonance generator. The meteors fall near the ship as well, forcing Murdock to pull out for now. Coral recklessly charges towards Rayquaza against Chalce's protest, leaping off Glalie as it flies into its Dragon Pulse using Self-Destruct. The violent explosion is enough to send Rayquaza reeling back into the Brave Olivine, damaging it to everyone's horror.

Major events

• Friede meets Spinel in person for the first time and has another battle against him.
• The Explorers begin their operation to capture the Black Rayquaza.
• The Rising Volt Tacklers confront the Explorers to stop their plan.
• The Brave Olivine suffers major damage when the Black Rayquaza is sent crashing into it.

For a list of all major events in the anime, please see the history page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Vivillon (Fancy Pattern)

Characters

Humans

• Liko
• Roy
• Friede
• Mollie
• Orla
• Ludlow
• Murdock
• Dot
• Iono
• Spinel
• Coral
• Sidian
• Chalce

Pokémon

• Sprigatito (Liko's)
• Rotom (Liko's; Rotom Phone)
• Fuecoco (Roy's)
• Wattrel (Roy's)
• Charizard (Friede's)
• Pikachu (Friede's; Captain Pikachu)
• Rotom (Friede's; Rotom Phone)
• Chansey (Mollie's)
• Quagsire (Ludlow's)
• Rotom (Murdock's; Rotom Phone)
• Quaxly (Dot's)
• Tinkatink (Dot's)
• Rotom (Dot's; Rotom Phone)
• Bellibolt (Iono's)
• Magneton (Spinel's)
• Umbreon (Spinel's)
• Beheeyem (Spinel's)
• Glalie (Coral's)
• Rotom (Coral's; Rotom Phone)
• Garganacl (Sidian's)
• Rotom (Sidian's; Rotom Phone)
• Medicham (Chalce's)
• Rotom (Chalce's; Rotom Phone)
• Rayquaza (Lucius's; Black Rayquaza)
• Arboliva (Lucius's; giant; flashback)
• Pawmi (Rising Volt Tacklers')
• Shuckle (Rising Volt Tacklers')
• Snorunt (Rising Volt Tacklers')
• Noctowl (Rising Volt Tacklers')
• Carkol (Rising Volt Tacklers')
• Slugma (Rising Volt Tacklers')
• Muk (Rising Volt Tacklers'; Alolan form)
• Nosepass (Rising Volt Tacklers')
• Polteageist (Rising Volt Tacklers')
• Maushold (Rising Volt Tacklers'; Family of Four)
• Terapagos (anime; Normal Form)
• Combee (multiple)
• Vespiquen
• Vivillon (Fancy Pattern; multiple; debut)
• Flabébé (White Flower; ×2)
• Floette (White Flower; multiple)
• Finizen (multiple)

Trivia

• Professor Friede's Pokémon Seminar: "How does Medicham develop its Psychic powers?"
  • Choices: Muscle training, yoga, battles
  • Answer: Yoga
• The first eyecatch features Spinel and his Umbreon, and the second features Chalce and her Medicham.

Errors

Dub edits

In other languages

This anime-related article is a stub. You can help Bulbapedia by expanding it.

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