XY019 : A Conspiracy to Conquer!
Pokémon the Series: XY
XY021 : A Pokévision of Things to Come!
Breaking Titles at the Chateau!
XY020.png
XY020   EP819
挑戦バトルシャトー!ビオラVSザクロ!!
Battle Chateau Challenge! Viola VS Zakuro!!
First broadcast
Japan March 20, 2014
United States June 7, 2014
English themes
Opening Pokémon Theme (Version XY)
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening V(ボルト)
Ending X海峡Y景色
Credits
Animation Team Kato
Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka
Storyboard 樋口香里 Kaori Higuchi
Assistant director 前園文夫 Fumio Maezono
Animation director 小山知洋 Tomohiro Koyama
No additional credits are available at this time.

Breaking Titles at the Chateau! (Japanese: 挑戦バトルシャトー!ビオラVSザクロ!! Battle Chateau Challenge! Viola VS Zakuro!!) is the 20th episode of Pokémon the Series: XY, and the 819th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on March 20, 2014 and in the United States on June 7, 2014.

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Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
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Blurb

On their way to Cyllage City, our heroes meet Nico and Chester, two brothers who introduce them to the incredible Battle Chateau. Its owner, Lord Turner, explains that the Trainers who battle there are considered knights and expected to adhere to the knight’s code of chivalry and honor. By defeating others at the Battle Chateau, a Trainer receives a title of nobility—from the lowly Baron to the acclaimed Grand Duke.

Nico has already earned his Baron title, and he wants to introduce Chester to the Chateau. First, though, he’s looking for a battle of his own—and when his Fletchinder defeats Baron Farrell and his Dusknoir, Nico earns the new title of Viscount! Next, Chester and Ash face off in their debut battle. Chester’s Fletchling makes a valiant effort, but Pikachu is triumphant, and Ash is now a Baron!

Gym Leader (and Duchess) Viola also frequents the Battle Chateau, and after snapping a photo of Ash in his new Baron cape, she receives a challenge of her own. Duke Grant, with his powerful Onix, and Duchess Viola, with her speedy Surskit, take the battlefield—but thanks to some impressive training, Onix manages to keep up with Surskit, and Grant wins, earning the highest title of Grand Duke!

Afterward, Ash is determined to advance through the Battle Chateau ranks so he can challenge Grant someday, but it seems that may not be necessary—because Grant is the Gym Leader of Cyllage City, our heroes’ next stop!

Plot

At a Pokémon Center, Serena shows her friends a picture of the Battle Chateau, and suggests that they go there. They are approached by two rapping brothers, Nico is the older brother and has a Fletchinder and Chester is the younger one with a Fletchling; who explain that one gets noble ranks by battling at the Chateau. Ash is immediately interested, so he and the group join the brothers to the Chateau. Once arrived, Nico already holds the rank of Baron and requests a debut battle for Chester, and Ash asks to have a battle as well. The group is met by the head of the house, Duke Turner, who explains that the Battle Chateau is a social meeting place for gentlemen and ladies to have first-rate battles. A Pokémon Trainer, or "knight" climbs through the noble ranks by winning battles. A Maid guides the group to the salon, where they are to choose their opponent of the same rank. The group sees Grant, who is only described as a strong Trainer, hanging from the wall.

Nico finds a battle partner in another Baron named Farrell. The Chateau's other guests come to the terrace to watch the match unfold. Coming to the terrace, Santalune City Gym Leader Viola waves to fellow Gym Leader Grant before noticing Ash and his friends on the balcony. On the battlefield, Nico and Farrell wear white cloaks, and Turner tells the group the Chateau is based on chivalry. Chester explains the ranks: first, Baron (white), then Viscount (blue), Earl (green), Marquis (yellow), Duke (red), and finally Grand Duke (purple). Nico needs only one more victory to have ten and be promoted to Viscount.

The battle begins; Nico using Fletchinder and Farrell using Dusknoir. Fletchinder begins with Flame Charge but Dusknoir vanishes, only to reappear suddenly and attack Fletchinder with a Thunder Punch. Fletchinder uses Flame Charge again and is successful. Viola says hello to Ash, and tells him that she has a Duchess rank, the female counterpart of Duke. The Maid declares Nico the winner of the match, and he is given a new blue cloak and is promoted to Viscount. Just then, Grant crashes to the ground, and he and Viola exchange words. Viola says Grant shouldn’t be climbing walls anyway, though Grant admits that the historic walls are an irresistible challenge to a rock climber like himself. Ash takes the opportunity to ask Grant for a battle, but as Grant is a Duke, they cannot.

However, Turner announces that Ash and Chester will battle for the Baron rank, Ash decides to use Pikachu and Chester sticks with Fletchling. Ash starts the battle with Thunderbolt, which Fletchling dodges with Agility. Ash follows up with Electro Ball, which again fails to land. Fletchling uses Feather Dance, which lowers Pikachu's attack power, and hits with a Steel Wing. Pikachu counters with Iron Tail, but the move is not effective because of his decreased strength, but is more effective when Ash uses it repeatedly. Ash uses Thunderbolt again, causing Fletchling to faint and winning the battle, as well as a white cloak and the title of Baron.

Viola begins to take a picture to commemorate Ash's victory when white gloves are draped over her shoulder, the sign for a battle request, this one from Grant. On the battlefield, the Maid announces that both Viola and Grant need only one more victory each to reach Grand Duchess and Grand Duke title respectively. Viola brings out Surskit and Grant releases Onix. Viola begins with having Surskit turn the field into ice for speed, and Grant, expecting the strategy, uses Rock Tomb. Surskit manages to escape from the rocks with Bubble Beam and Protect. Surskit follows on with a Signal Beam, but the attack is blocked by Onix's Flash Cannon. Onix uses Rock Polish to raise its speed. Surskit uses Ice Beam to freeze Onix's tail, but Onix breaks out of the ice by jumping. Onix uses Rock Tomb once more trap its opponent before finishing Surskit with another Flash Cannon, and wins the battle.

As Grant leaves the Chateau, Ash and his friends catch up with him and tell him that they hope to battle with him. Grant says he thinks he will meet Ash in the Cyllage Gym soon, and looks forward to it. Viola finally reveals that Grant is the Cyllage City Gym Leader, shocking everyone. Clemont concludes that Grant must be a Rock-type specialist, and Grant confirms this. Ash resolves to train to stand up against Rock Tomb. Outside the Chateau, Ash and his friends thank Nico and Chester, who wish Ash luck at his next Gym.

Major events

 
Ash becoming a Baron
For a list of all major events in the anime, please see the history page.

Debuts

Humans

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

 
Pokémon Quiz

Pokémon

 
Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Fletchinder (US and international)
Pokémon Quiz: Fletchinder (Japan)

Trivia

 
The title card segment focuses on Ash for this episode

Errors

Dub edits

  • For unknown reasons, this episode, along with the previous one, was skipped during the debut airings on Hungama TV in India. They were later aired during re-runs on Marvel HQ.

In other languages



XY019 : A Conspiracy to Conquer!
Pokémon the Series: XY
XY021 : A Pokévision of Things to Come!
  This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.