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.
Ult-imate Training (Japanese: クイズです！ウルトの修行はなんでしょう？Quiz Time! What is Uruto's Training?) is the 117th episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,349th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on November 14, 2025, and is scheduled to air in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2026.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Plot
Liko and Dot arrive at Briar's lab, with Carmine and Penny already present. The two new arrivals are taken aback when Briar asks about Pagogo's favorite food out of nowhere, which she explains it could help her understand more about Terapagos while researching. While Carmine becomes jealous at Liko for receiving Briar's full attention, Lacey proposes a battle with Ult to help him train on the condition he studies with her if he loses. Ult eagerly agrees and starts the battle by having Sableye attack Lacey's Excadrill with Throat Chop, but it gets pushed back by the latter's X-Scissor. Sableye's Power Gem also becomes mostly ineffective due to Excadrill's typing. Before Ult can command for an attack, Lacey stumps him with a question that he couldn't answer. As a result, Sableye takes a hit from Excadrill's Dig. Another question leaves Ult fumbling even with a hint, so Lacey Terastallizes Excadrill into a Fairy-type to show the answer to her question, resulting in Ult watching Sableye being defeated by a supereffective Tera Blast. Since he lost, Ult agrees to study with Lacey, making the girl pleased. Back in the lab, Carmine shows off how capable she is as Briar's assistant, but she becomes jealous again when Liko is able to handle Briar's needs just as well. Just then, Gimmighoul controls Carmine and makes her find a Gimmighoul Coin, which leads to the girl chasing after the Coin Chest Pokémon and Dot going after both of them.
Meanwhile, while looking for themes to question Ult about, the two come across Roy doing some "relaxing" training while following Drayton's advice. Seeing Captain Pikachu, Lacey questions Ult on where a Pikachu stores its electricity. Unfortunately, not only does Ult not know the answer, he also gets electrocuted by an irritated Cap. After getting another question wrong though, Ult becomes fed up, but Lacey carries on by calling out her Plusle and Minun, theming her next question after them. Ult is unable to answer this question as well and Drayton gives the answer before Lacey could, both not noticing the look Ult has when he sees Drayton's own Dragonite. Once Drayton leaves on Dragonite, Ult muses how close they must be, bringing out his Dusk Ball while explaining how his own Dragonite doesn't come out. When he cries out how he wants to be close to Dragonite as well, Ult becomes surprised to see the Dragon Pokémon come out willingly. At the same time, Dot and Carmine successfully find Gimmighoul in the cafeteria, and the latter Trainer decides to train the former. At the battlefield, the two Trainers end up having their Pokémon exchange Astonish, to Quaxwell's exasperation. When both Trainers become exhausted, Carmine notes how Dot resembles her brother because of her hairstyle and surprising amount of backbone.
In the Coastal Biome, Ult tells Lacey about Dragonite's purpose and how it used to belong to his father. In return, she reveals she is inspired to have her own Excadrill thanks to her father having his own Excadrill. Ult is asked why he wants to become stronger, and when he says it's to be the best Trainer out there, Lacey calls out on his lie. She notes Ult's honesty until now and recites something her father likes to say before asking for the reason again. Reluctantly, Ult brings up the battle against theSix Heroes where he felt powerless to help, and therefore unable to fight for others like he wanted. The BB League Elite Four member points out Ult wanting to fight for others is already a kind act and asks what he wants to do with Dragonite. However, he couldn't answer when an AlolanExeggutor appears behind them, making Lacey realize they had trespassed into its territory and the group runs away. While escaping, Ult realizes what Dragonite wants to do and agrees to battle alongside it. Taking Lacey's advice into account, Ult manages to defeat the Alolan Exeggutor. Afterwards, Ult admits he enjoys battling alongside Dragonite and reaffirms his decision to become closer to the Dragon Pokémon, realizing he was too lost in his father's words he never considered what Dragonite wanted as well. After everything they went through though, Ult is still unable to be honest with Lacey, to the latter's exasperation.
