Don't Give Up, Crocalor! (Japanese: ふんばれアチゲータ、明日のためにGive it Your All, Achigator - For the Sake of Tomorrow) is the 119th episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,351st episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on November 28, 2025, in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2026, and is scheduled to air in sub-Saharan Africa on June 20, 2026, and in the United States on June 26, 2026.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Plot
In Briar's lab, she begins to reveal her findings as soon as the group assembles. By collating the information collected by various parties, Briar discovers that the key to ridding the world of Laquium lies in the special TeraType only accessible in Terapagos's Stellar Form: Stellar-type. Briar questions the Rising Volt Tacklers about the state of the Six Heroes when they Terastallized inLaqua and Liko answers it appeared as though they resonated with Pagogo. Briar comes to the same conclusion that Diana did some time ago: Pagogo didn't have enough power to purify the Laquium, even with the power of the Six Heroes. She also slightly amends Diana's theory; it's not the eighteen types in general that Pagogo needs to resonate with, but specifically the eighteen Tera Types of Pokémon on the same wavelength as the Six Heroes in order to use its full power. Despite the difficult path ahead of them, the Rising Volt Tacklers is determined to press on, starting with rescuing the Six Heroes from the Explorers. In order to do so, further research into Laquium is required and Dot decides to call Cervantis for help, having exchanged contact numbers a while ago. As Dot contacts the former director of Exceed, Roy declares they'll leave Blueberry Academy right away, surprising Liko and Ult with his rush. Drayton watches the group take a deep breath which doesn't ease Roy's distress and decides to ask the younger boy for a battle. Although he tries to decline the offer, Liko's words and Crocalor's enthusiasm convinces Roy to accept and the group moves to the Polar Plaza.
Crocalor and Kilowattrel battling together
Like their previous battle, Roy brings out Kilowattrel and Crocalor while Drayton calls out Archaludon and Kingdra. As soon as Carmine starts the battle, Roy finds himself at a disadvantage when Drayton has Kingdra use Rain Dance. Archaludon shoots an Electro Shot, but Kilowattrel saves Crocalor in time. Kingdra follows up with Hurricane, but the wind generates electricity in Kilowattrel's wings thanks to its Ability, Wind Power. Crocalor falls off from his teammate's back and panics momentarily before Roy has him charge at his opponent with Flame Charge. Despite using Snarl to stop them from approaching, Archaludon is still hit by Crocalor and Kilowattrel's combination attack. However, this results in the Alloy Pokémon's Defense increasing due to Stamina. Archaludon retaliates with Metal Burst which successfully deals damage to Roy's Pokémon.
Roy becomes troubled on how to give it his all, but his Pokémon encourage him by taking their own initiative. Drayton has Kingdra use Hurricane to prevent the two Pokémon from getting any closer, but with an idea from Crocalor, Roy has him use Flamethrower to act as an accelerator for Kilowattrel, with the Fire Croc Pokémon falling off shortly after to give the Frigatebird Pokémon a boost in speed and a chance to land Spark. Kingdra becomes knocked out once Crocalor uses Disarming Voice on it, leaving Drayton with only one Pokémon on his side. This prompts the BB League Elite Four to take the battle more seriously, calling for Archaludon to use Electro Shot again and Kilowattrel once again saves Crocalor. When the clouds part to reveal the sun, Kilowattrel flies them into the sun, making Archaludon miss its second attempt to attack with Electro Shot. Roy, motivated to grow stronger alongside his Pokémon, orders Crocalor to use a Diving Flame Charge after the latter jumps off Kilowattrel's back. However, Archaludon catches Crocalor before the attack could land and counters with Metal Burst, resulting in Kilowattrel being defeated after taking the hit for its teammate.
Skeledirge and Kilowattrel after winning the battle
Both Trainers become motivated to win now that it's come down to one Pokémon on each side. As Archaludon charges up, Roy reminisces the journey he and Crocalor went through since he was a Fuecoco. Once it gained the energy, Archaludon shoots an Electro Shot and Crocalor uses Flamethrower to meet it in the middle. While both attacks clash, Roy is determined to grow stronger with his partner, with Crocalor's fireball glowing brighter in response. When the attacks are let up, Crocalor uses Stomping Tantrum, but Archaludon is able to stop the debris from hitting it, raising its Defense again. However, Crocalor persistently stomps to force the attack to land. Just as he lands the attack with a determined stomp, Crocalor's fireball transforms into a fiery bird that lands on the Fire Croc Pokémon's head and engulfs him in a light in the shape of a flame, evolving him into Skeledirge. In response to this, Drayton pulls out his Tera Orb to Terastallize Archaludon, and Roy does the same with Skeledirge. The Pokémon unleash Terastallization-boosted attacks that fill the battlefield with smoke. When it clears up, both Archaludon and Skeledirge are on the ground with their Terastallization undone, but only the latter manages to get up while the former had fainted. As such, Carmine declares Roy the winner and everyone congratulates him and Skeledirge. Afterwards, Cervantis calls Dot while the others were giving their farewells. He reveals the existence of the Exceed Museum, which is actually a data center that most likely contains the data they need. Since it's impossible to hack from the outside, Dot enlists Penny's help to retrieve the data from within the museum.
