This article is about an episode of the Pokémon animated series that has not been dubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names.
(Japanese: リベンジマッチ！ルカリオの挑戦！！The Revenge Match! Lucario's Challenge!!) is the 132nd episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,364th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on March 20, 2026.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
At her ancient castle in Galar, Diana receives an unexpected visit from her granddaughter Liko and the rest of the Rising Volt Tacklers. The group notices how the castle is back together again. Friede apologizes for the damages he unintentionally caused, but Diana says it's okay, as the Explorers are really the ones to blame for that, though Hamber was actually the one who funded the reconstruction, giving all of the castle's wild Pokémon a place to live in again. Diana's Pecharunt offers Friede some of its mochi, but the children hurriedly tell him not to eat it, knowing what would happen if he did. With Pecharunt's appearance, Liko gets to their main reason for coming: to hopefully get Pecharunt to represent the final Tera Type they need to erase Laquium. Diana agrees to help, and Pagogo shares some of its Terastal energy with Pecharunt, revealing, to the group's delight, that its Tera Type is indeed Poison, the last type they need. While Orla performs some maintenance on the Brave Olivine, the group accepts Diana's offer to stay at the castle for a bit, with Roy planning to do some training to hopefully master his Lucario's new Mega Evolution. He addresses Friede, but notices that he's gone silent, until he starts doing the mochi dance, revealing to the exasperated children that he had eaten the mochi despite their warning.
Later, on one of the castle's towers, Roy and Lucario attempt to use the new Mega Evolution while their friends watch, but like before, Roy's Mega Ring remains unresponsive. The group is confused why it isn't working, as Roy has never had trouble Mega Evolving Lucario before. Roy, though, echoing the words of Master Mayonnaise, simply states that their aura usage simply isn't good enough yet, and they just have to get better. Noticing how on edge Lucario is, Roy decides to spend some time with it while the others go tour around the castle. Left alone with Lucario, Cap, and his other Pokémon, Roy wonders what he should do with Lucario, until he sees his other Pokémon relaxing and decides to invite Lucario to do the same. At first, Lucario is dissatisfied with the idea of just sitting still, but with some encouragement from Roy, it starts to calm down. Roy reminisces how Lucario used to be the battle-hardened "Yellow Flash", until they had bonded, achieved Mega Evolution, and become partners, after which Lucario became Roy's first Pokémon to volunteer whenever it's been time to battle. He acknowledges Lucario's discipline and straightforwardness, but also points out how even Skeledirge is relaxing. Not used to relaxation, Lucario needs some guidance to sit down without being stiff. Deciding it's time for his favorite pastime, Roy and his Pokémon start singing, with Lucario gradually joining in and actually finding itself enjoying the experience. Seeing Lucario smiling and relaxing, Roy invites it to better itself alongside him rather than rushing ahead by himself. Noises from the courtyard attract their attention, and they see Ult and his Mega Sableye training with Diana and Master Mayonnaise. Rejoining his friends, Roy learns that Ult is training to better the use of its gem shield to stop incoming attacks. Once the training concludes, Ult tells Roy how he's practicing multiple different fighting styles, since there's no telling what they'll be fighting at Laqua. The idea of different fighting styles catches Roy's attention, just as Master Mayonnaise declares that it's Roy's turn now and asks everyone to help him in setting up the stage for them.
By nightfall, the castle courtyard has been transformed into a wrestling arena, with the ring in the middle, Murdock acting as the commentator, Friede as the analyst, Diana as the guest commentator, the Pokémon and the children as the audience, Captain Pikachu as the referee, and Roy, Lucario, Master Mayonnaise, and Hawlucha as the fighting teams. The two Fighting-type Pokémon enter the ring, and Tinkaton rings the bell to officially start the rematch. Master Mayonnaise Mega Evolves Hawlucha right off the bat, while Lucario makes the first move with Metal Claw. Predictably, the attack fails to even flinch Hawlucha, who counters with Encore. Lucario almost starts rushing in, but Roy reminds it to stay relaxed. The Aura Pokémon does so, assuming a more relaxed yet not completely slack fighting pose. Roy tells Lucario to not rush and just use its aura as it sees fit. Nodding to this, Lucario drops its fighting pose altogether and starts waiting for an incoming attack instead, effectively rendering Encore useless. Hawlucha attacks with Acrobatics, but Lucario fluidly dodges or counters all the incoming blows. Nemona explains to Liko that Lucario is focusing aura on its limbs to defend against attacks and to gain brief but explosive bursts of power, being able to completely focus on directing its aura while Roy handles the job of predicting and warning Lucario about Hawlucha's incoming attacks. Roy and Lucario are feeling more in sync by the moment, until Roy tells Lucario to use Metal Claw. The attack ends up being perfectly timed and hits Hawlucha hard. While still able to get back up, Hawlucha shows clear signs of the hit's effectiveness afterwards. Friede comments on how the attack being launched at the exact moment it was commanded shows how in sync Roy and Lucario are.
Roy, too, can feel how in tune he and Lucario are, to the point of outright feeling one with his Pokémon. Both he and Lucario sense the time is right, and Roy's Mega Ring finally reacts with the Lucarionite Z, triggering the long-awaited new Mega Evolution and turning Lucario into Mega Lucario Z. Hawlucha attacks with Acrobatics again, but Mega Lucario Z dodges all of its blows with incredible agility and swiftness, preventing Hawlucha from utilizing any of the wrestling moves it specializes in. Lucario eventually counterattacks with Metal Claw, sending Hawlucha flying, and follows up with a flurry of blows from a new move that slams Hawlucha back down and which Diana identifies as Aerial Ace. Master Mayonnaise intends to stop Roy's momentum and has Hawlucha charge in. Roy has Lucario counterattack with Aerial Ace, and his Pokémon starts attacking Hawlucha with such a fast and nimble flurry of blows that it seems to become invisible. Knowing that even Hawlucha's sturdy defenses could end up being overwhelmed by such a relentless assault, Master Mayonnaise has Hawlucha gain some distance. The Wrestling Pokémon leaps out of the ring and climbs on top of a tower, from which it jumps down while using Flying Press. Lucario attempts to intercept the attack with Flash Cannon, but even while falling, Hawlucha is able to avoid the attack, forcing Lucario to physically defend itself as the Flying Press hits. Hawlucha follows up by beating its wings, creating a gust of wind that sends Lucario skyward. The Fighting/Flying type jumps up, throws Lucario back down, and aims for a finishing blow with another Flying Press. At the last moment, Roy tells Lucario to use Aerial Ace. Using the move, Lucario catches Hawlucha from mid-fall, slams it against a corner pole, and strikes it from above with an elbow drop. Hawlucha reverts to normal, with Captain Pikachu judging it unable to battle. Tinkaton excitedly rings the bell to signal the conclusion of the match, and Roy and his other Pokémon rush into the ring to congratulate Lucario. Despite losing, Master Mayonnaise still smiles while looking at Roy and Lucario, happy to have witnessed their progress.
The next day, both Roy and Ult thank Master Mayonnaise for his help, and he encourages them to keep striving forward. Wanting to continue spreading the word on Mega Evolution, he stays behind while everyone else boards the Brave Olivine and takes off towards Laqua, the children's eyes filled with resolve as they fly towards the rising sun in the horizon.
Due to Roy's Lucario being Shiny, this is the first Mega Nidothing's Mega Mega! Mega Evolution segment where the extra scene features both the regular and Shiny colorations of the subject Pokémon.
For the initial airing of this episode, the Mega Nidothing's Mega Mega! Mega Evolution segment was replaced by a special trailer for the upcoming episodes, which was later uploaded to the Japanese Pokémon YouTube channel.
Matchup banner featuring Master Mayonnaise's Mega Hawlucha
Errors
The first few lines of Mega Lucario Z's description in the Mega Nidothing's Mega Mega! Mega Evolution segment are lifted from the previous episode about Mega Hawlucha, which don't match Mega Lucario Z.
Matchup banner featuring Roy's Mega Lucario Z
Matchup banner featuring Master Mayonnaise's Mega Hawlucha
