The Pokémon Paradise of Laqua! (Japanese: 到着！楽園ラクアArrival! The Paradise of Laqua) is the 85th episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,317th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on February 21, 2025, in Australia on July 12, 2025, in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2025, and in the United States on September 26, 2025.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Blurb
Liko, Roy, Dot, and Friede have made their way up Mount Pericarp with the help of the Six Heroes! Clouds cover the landscape, but the black Rayquaza blows them away, revealing a lush green ecosystem. The Rising Volt Tacklers marvel at the variety of Pokémon—even Legendary Pokémon—that live here in harmony. The group camps overnight, sharing memories of their adventures together so far, and in the morning they set out again to look for signs of Lucius. Suddenly, they encounter a mysterious barrier—could this be the one that Terapagos created a hundred years back?
Plot
Starting off from where the last episode ended, the Rising Volt Tacklers admire the scenery at the "place where heaven and earth meet" on Mount Pericarp. Just then, Pagogo calls out to the Black Rayquaza, which descended upon the group and dissipated the clouds in the crater, revealing a land full of greenery. Afterwards, Rayquaza enters its Ancient Poké Ball to rest and the group enters the crater.
When they enter the crater, the group finds many Berries that are not only huge but also unfamiliar to them. While the Pokémon happily eat the Berries, Liko, Roy, Dot, and Friede change out of their winter outfits, expressing surprise at the place being warm despite the altitude they're at. Friede suggests they move on further and the younger members agree. Entering a clearing, the group find a lot of Pokémon at peace regardless of their nature. A Bidoof approaches and Pagogo immediately gets along with it, which causes Pokémon in the area to welcome the newcomers as well. The scene before them astounds everyone as they not only see Pokémon in rare groups but also Legendary Pokémon freely roaming about. While Liko, Roy, and Dot agree Laqua lives up to its name as a paradise, Liko notices Friede seemingly bothered. He explains his suspicions behind the environment being the way it is now. Sunlight and temperature may have a part in it but Friede believes another factor is at play to bring in the Pokémon, at which Liko assumes is the Laquium. Friede says even if Laquium is involved, there are no traces of it nor the events of a hundred years prior, especially since Rystal mentioned the Laqua was on the verge of collapsing in the past. As they question their location, Pagogo calls out to the group, wanting to go further into the forest. They oblige and move in deeper.
As they walk, Dot grows tired but is still eager to progress, Liko and Roy following suit in their enthusiasm. They find another clearing, and Friede says they will stop for the day, disappointing the younger members until he points out it is sunset, surprising them. After pitching up their tents for the night, Liko, Roy, and Dot admire the stars above them and reminisce their adventure together, from the people they met to the growth of all their Pokémon. At that moment, Roy and Dot notice Liko looking down, and she reveals her worry of having to say goodbye to Pagogo now that they're at Laqua, remembering the goal was to bring Pagogo there in the first place. However, she is quickly cheered by her friends and decides to look forward to the future together with them no matter what it brings. Friede comes out of his tent to tell the kids to sleep, all while everyone is unaware of the Beheeyem watching them from above. The following morning, after leaving some of their stuff at the new established base camp, they walk deeper into the forest. Roy and Crocalor enthusiastically lead until the latter bumped into a rock hill that looks off to Friede. Captain Pikachu uses Thunder Punch on it, revealing something hidden underneath. Using an analysis program, Friede concludes the wall contains Terastal energy, and is thereby the barrier Pagogo had put up a hundred years ago. Realizing they need to get past the barrier, Friede suggests Pagogo, and Liko as its partner, try to bring down the barrier. She agrees to try and Pagogo transforms into its Terastal Form. Pagogo successfully removes the barrier, but overexerts itself in the process, causing Liko to recall it into its Poké Ball. Friede tells Liko, Roy, and Dot to stay behind while he surveys the path ahead, and if anything happens, they are free to act on their own. Despite planning on returning to the younger members after discovering Laquium crystals, Friede gets accosted by Spinel while Liko, Roy, and Dot are confronted by Coral, Sidian, and Chalce.
In the preview for this episode, when Captain Pikachu used Thunder Punch on the rock hill, the rocky surface was completely broken. In the actual episode, only a hole was formed. In addition, when the Rising Volt Tacklers stand in front of the barrier in the preview, there was no rocky surface on the barrier, whereas in the actual episode, the rocky surface is present alongside more ivy and moss.
Captain Pikachu doesn't begin sneezing when Dot says the word "cute", indicating that he's only affected by the word when it's directed towards him.
Liko, Roy, Dot, Floragato, and Crocalor narrate the preview for the next episode.
Barrier in the preview
Barrier in the actual episode
