In commemoration of Nintendo’s 135ᵗʰ anniversary, September 20 to 30 is NIWA Cross-Wiki Week. Click here for event details and the possibility to win a $20/€20 Nintendo eShop gift card. Please remember to follow the manual of style and code of conduct at all times. Check the Bulbagarden home page for up-to-date Pokémon news and discuss it on the forums or in the Bulbagarden Discord server.
Reunion Battles In Nimbasa! (Japanese: 全員集合!ドンバトル!!Everyone Gathers! Don Battle!) is the 39th episode of the Best Wishes series, and the 696th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on July 7, 2011, and in the United States on October 29, 2011.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Our heroes think they’ve finally arrived in Nimbasa City, but their new friend Luke informs them that they’re actually in Nimbasa Town, home of the Pokémon Club Battle Tournament. Named after Don George’s Pokémon Battle Club, which sponsors the event, the tournament promises to be filled with excitement. One by one, many of our heroes’ friends and rivals show up to register: Bianca, Georgia, Burgundy, Stephan, and Trip are all in town for the competition!
Soon the matchups are announced and the action gets under way. Iris’s rival, “Dragon Buster” Georgia, is up first, and her Beartic quickly takes down her opponent’s Joltik. Later, Ash faces off against Burgundy, Cilan’s old rival and fellow Pokémon Connoisseur! Confident as ever, Burgundy chides Ash for not completely replacing his Pokémon team as she recommended during their last meeting, but our hero and his Palpitoad manage to defeat Burgundy and her Stoutland!
Next up, Cilan is set to battle Trip. Meanwhile, the Team Rocket trio have quietly arrived in Nimbasa City, confidently preparing for their next assignment...
Plot
This plot summary is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this plot summary to add missing sections and complete it.
The episode begins with Team Rocket arriving in Nimbasa City, ready to begin planning their latest scheme... one which is far more ambitious than all their previous ones.
Ash and his friends arrive at what they think is Nimbasa City but is in fact Nimbasa Town, a far smaller suburb of the main city which happens to be where the Battle Club will host the Pokémon tournament. Bianca arrives and with Ash, Cilan, Iris, and Luke in tow proceeds to registration.
They meet Don George, the Dojo Master hosting the tournament and encounter Burgundy, who is also entering the tournament. Stephan is also entering with his Zebstrika, now evolved from Blitzle. Georgia and Trip are also present and will be competing, with a collection of rare feathers to be awarded to the victor. Each contestant is to enter a total of three Pokémon, with one Pokémon to be chosen for each one-on-one battle. The opening draw is announced as Ash is paired with Burgundy, Cilan is paired with Trip and Bianca is paired with Stephan. Georgia is up first, winning her first battle with Beartic against a Joltik. Dino and Antonio also win their matches by defeating Omega and Emmanuel, respectively.
Ash and Burgundy are up next, Ash sending out Palpitoad with Burgundy sending out a Stoutland. Ash starts off by commanding a Mud Shot from Palpitoad, which scores a hit as does Stoutland’s Tackle and Thunder Fang, the latter being completely ineffective. Burgundy then orders an Ice Fang on Palpitoad while still in Stoutland's mouth, leaving Palpitoad frozen solid. Ash responds with Supersonic, which breaks the ice and frees Palpitoad. Stoutland attacks with a Tackle followed by Fire Fang, which is directly blocked by Palpitoad's Mud Shot. Ash follows this up with a powerful Hydro Pump, scoring a direct hit and causing Stoutland to faint. Ash is declared the winner, while the gang remark how great Ash and Palpitoad worked as a team.
The gang then prepare for their upcoming battles, with Ash and Georgia through to the next round and Trip and Cilan up next.