Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition

The setting for the competition

The Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition (Japanese: タッグバトル大会 Tag Battle Tournament) is an animated series-exclusive tournament consisting of Tag Battles that is held in a large stadium in Hearthome City, Sinnoh. It is one of the city's biggest attractions, along with its Pokémon Contest and the fashion show promoted by the Poké Chic magazine.

The competition is broadcast on television and hosted by Enta. It was first mentioned in Dawn's Early Night! and it took place from Tag! We're It...! to Smells Like Team Spirit!. Ash and Brock decided to enter the tournament after learning about it from Nando, while Dawn was registered as per Zoey's suggestion following her failed Double Performance in the Hearthome Contest.

The Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition is notable for a number of important events, such as the group's first encounter with Conway and the release of Paul's Chimchar, something which allowed the Chimp Pokémon to join Ash's party. It was referenced in many later episodes as well, including Arriving in Style!, Dawn of a Royal Day!, and Friends, Rivals, Lend Me Your Spirit!.

Competition

The Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition accepted 32 registrations. When registering for the tournament, each Trainer was given an entry card with a number on its front. During the opening ceremony, a computer shuffled all the cards, randomly pairing up two numbers and forming 16 different teams. After that, Trainers started looking for the person holding the card whose number was matched with the number on their card.

With the teams formed, the tournament began with the Tag Battles taking place one at a time. All battles were observed by a referee. The prize is two Soothe Bells, one for each winner.

Known participants

Ash holding the Soothe Bell he won
Trainers Place
Ash and Paul Winners
Dawn and Conway Runners-up
Brock and Holly Top 4
A Psychic and a Black Belt Top 8
A Scientist and Ace Trainer Top 16
Giant and unnamed Trainer Top 16

Pokémon used in competition

Ash


Pikachu

Turtwig

Staravia

Chimchar

After Chimchar was released by Paul in Glory Blaze!, he joined Ash's team and was used in the final battle.

Dawn


Piplup

Pachirisu

Buneary

Buizel

Brock


Sudowoodo

Croagunk

Paul


Chimchar

Torterra

Elekid → Electabuzz

Conway


Slowking

Aggron

Heracross

Holly


Wingull

Nosepass

Farfetch'd

Giant


Koffing

Pokémon used by other Trainers


Scyther

Magmar

Yanma

Bagon

Rhydon

Tauros

Granbull

Hitmonchan

Furret

Metagross

Zangoose

In other languages

Language Title
Dutch Hearthome City Koppelgevecht Competitie
Finnish Hearthome Cityn Tag-ottelukilpailu
French Tournoi en double d'Unionpolis
German Herzhofen-Zweiermatch
Italian Torneo a doppi incontri di Cuoripoli
Polish Zawody Dwuwalk Miasta Hearthome
Brazilian Portuguese Competição de Batalhas em Dupla da Cidade de Hearthome
Spanish Latin America Batalla Corazonada
Spain Combate Corazón
Swedish Hearthome City parstridtävlingen

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