View source for BW043

{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=BW042 |
prevtitle=Club Battle Finale: A Hero's Outcome! |
nextcode=BW044 |
nexttitle=Purrloin: Sweet or Sneaky? |
series=Best Wishes series |
colorscheme=Unova}}
{{EpisodeInfobox|
epcode=BW043 |
altepcode=EP700 |
colorscheme=Unova|
screen=hd|
title_en=Meowth's Scrafty Tactics!|
title_ja=ニャゴシエーター・ニャース！ズルズキン説得作戦！！|
title_ja_trans=Nyagotiator Nyarth! Zuruzukin Persuasion Tactics!! |
broadcast_jp=August 18, 2011 |
broadcast_us=November 26, 2011 |
en_series= |
en_op={{so|Black and White}} |
ja_op= {{so|Best Wishes!|ベストウイッシュ！}} |
ja_ed= [[Can You Name All the Pokémon? BW|ポケモン言えるかな？ＢＷ]] |
olmteam=Team Kato |
scenario=大橋志吉 |
storyboardn=1 |
storyboard=浅田裕二 |
directorn=1 |
director=浅田裕二 |
artn=1 |
art=岩根雅明 |
morecredits=yes |
epstaffpage=BW041-BW050|
footnotes=* {{filb-eppics|bw|043}}
}}
'''Meowth's Scrafty Tactics!''' (Japanese: '''ニャゴシエーター・ニャース！ズルズキン説得作戦！！''' ''Nyagotiator {{tt|Nyarth|Meowth}}! {{tt|Zuruzukin|Scrafty}} Persuasion Tactics!!'') is the 43rd episode of the {{series|Best Wishes}}, and the 700th episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It first aired in Japan on August 18, 2011 and in the United States on November 26, 2011.

{{spoilers}}

==Synopsis==
On their way to [[Nimbasa City]], the gang are seen taking a break for lunch. While {{AP|Tepig}} and {{TP|Iris|Axew}} are playing, they find an unconscious {{MTR}} in the bushes. Upon telling everyone, {{an|Cilan}} quickly inspects Meowth´s condition. Cilan and {{an|Iris}} give him medicine, and soon after, Meowth regains consciousness. After being startled by the gang, Iris asks Meowth what {{TRT}} is doing here. However, Meowth tells them that he is no longer a part of Team Rocket.

When {{Ash}} asks him what happened, Meowth tries to run away, claiming that nothing happened, but he is not able to run in his condition, and almost collapses. He tells the story of how he was entrusted to carry out an operation, but was unsuccessful. As a result, he was taken back to headquarters to hear what the consequences were. When leaving headquarters, he imagined [[Jessie]] and [[James]] leaving him, so he kept walking.

Upon hearing the story, Cilan suggests to the others that they should let Meowth travel with them, but Ash and Iris don´t think that it's a good idea. Cilan then reminds them that he is the only Meowth in [[Unova]], and that he will be lonely. Meowth initially refuses, but Iris says that he will faint again if they leave him. Ash tells Meowth that he can travel with them on the condition that he doesn't do anything bad. Meowth agrees to these terms as he has no reason to do anything bad, seeing as he's no longer a part of Team Rocket.

As they start walking, Meowth flatters the gang on their qualities; commenting on Cilan's soup, calling Iris a princess, and even calling Ash a good Trainer. As they walk, Axew becomes interested in a shiny object placed on the road, but when Axew tries to grab it, he is kidnapped by a {{p|Scrafty}}. The gang follows Scrafty to its hut, but Meowth tries to stop them, explaining that they mustn't get any closer to Scrafty´s hut because he could hurt Axew. Ash ignores Meowth and runs towards the hut, but Meowth stops him again, telling him that Scrafty is serious and that they shouldn't anger him. Pikachu agrees with Meowth, and Cilan suggests that they wait there until it things calm down. Inside the hut, Axew tries to use {{m|Dragon Rage}}, blowing a hole through the wall, but Scrafty manages to evade it.

Meowth tells the others that he will take it from there, claiming that he is a negotiator. Meowth slowly walks to Scrafty´s hut, calling for it to come outside. He asks Scrafty why he is doing this, and Scrafty tells him it will release Axew if it gets a Pokémon to help it in a fight. While Meowth negotiates with Scrafty, Ash makes his way around the hut as Scrafty shows Meowth that Axew is in one piece—but is tied up. Higher up, Ash notices that there is a window on the side, later suggesting that there is a way to release Axew. He tells Meowth to talk with Scrafty, but Meowth explains that Scrafty is an evolved form of {{AP|Scraggy}}, and that it will be good idea to take Scraggy with him to distract Scrafty. Ash complies and lets Scraggy go with Meowth, and takes {{AP|Snivy}} with him. As Snivy is released from her [[Poké Ball]], she attacks Meowth, only for Ash to tell her that Meowth is now their friend. 

Meanwhile, Jessie and James are in the [[Nimbasa City]] underground, completing another one of their operations.

Meowth and Scraggy go to Scrafty while Ash goes around the hut again. As Scraggy and Scrafty show which moves they can use, Meowth suggests that Scrafty should teach Scraggy some good moves in an attempt to distract it. Scrafty accepts, and shows Scraggy how to use {{m|Hi Jump Kick}}. Scraggy tries to use the move, distracting Scrafty and allowing Meowth to signal to Ash that he can release Axew. Ash tells Snivy to use {{m|Vine Whip}} and carry Axew out of the window. As Meowth pretends to alert that Axew is missing, he and Scraggy leave so Pikachu can use {{m|Thunderbolt}} on Scrafty and return to the others.

Upon returning Axew, Meowth says that Scraggy is worried about Scrafty, but Scrafty returns and challenges the gang. Ash accepts and chooses Tepig to battle, who easily wins the fight. Meowth and Cilan investigate why Scrafty is doing these things. After refusing to speak, Scrafty admits that its nest was taken away, and it needs help to get it back, and that everyone he has asked has refused to help—resulting in it kidnapping Pokémon. After hearing the story, Ash and his friends agree to help Scrafty. 

Scrafty leads them to his nest, showing them that a {{p|Mandibuzz}} had taken it. Scrafty tries to attack Mandibuzz, but is easily defeated by her {{m|Shadow Ball}}. Scraggy decides to try to defend his "older brother". Mandibuzz uses {{m|Pluck}} and dives into Scraggy, but Scraggy manages to dodge the attack. Mandibuzz hits the head in the ground and gets stuck on the rocks. As Mandibuzz tries to get free, Scrafty commands Scraggy to use Hi Jump Kick, which successfully hits and defeats Mandibuzz. Upon defeating Mandibuzz, she starts crying, explaining that she was kicked out of her flock because she ate all of the food, forcing her to take Scrafty's nest. After hearing this, Meowth suggests that they pick up some food and give it to Mandibuzz´s flock. After seeing it as a peace-offering, Mandibuzz is welcomed back to her flock.

As the trio continue their journey, Iris compliments Meowth's negotiation skills, to which everybody agrees. Suddenly, Iris decides to capture Meowth and throws a Poké Ball at him. The catch is unsuccessful as Meowth yells at her, claiming that he belongs to no-one. He agrees to continue traveling with the group, as long as they don't try to catch him.

Finally, Jessie and James are seen at night in [[Anville Town]]'s train yard, planning to report their progress to [[Dr. Zager]].

==Major events==
* [[Ash's Scraggy]] learns {{m|Hi Jump Kick}}.
* {{MTR}} begins to travel with {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}}, claiming to have been fired from [[Team Rocket]].
* {{an|Iris}} attempts to capture Meowth, but is unsuccessful.
* [[Jessie]] and [[James]] arrive in [[Anville Town]] and begin their plans to sabotage the [[Battle Subway|Nimbasa Subway system]].
{{animeevents}}

===Debuts===
====Pokémon debuts====
* {{p|Scrafty}}

=====TV episode debuts=====
* {{p|Mandibuzz}}

==Characters==
===Humans===
* {{Ash}}
* {{an|Iris}}
* {{an|Cilan}}
* [[Jessie]]
* [[James]]
* {{an|Giovanni}} (fantasy)
* Subway patrons

===Pokémon===
[[File:WTP BW043.png|thumb|200px|right|Who's That Pokémon?]]
[[Who's That Pokémon?]]: {{p|Scrafty}}

* {{p|Pikachu}} ({{OP|Ash|Pikachu}})
* {{p|Axew}} ({{OP|Iris|Axew}})
* {{p|Meowth}} ({{TRM}})
* {{p|Tranquill}} ({{OP|Ash|Tranquill}})
* {{p|Oshawott}} ({{OP|Ash|Oshawott}})
* {{p|Tepig}} ({{OP|Ash|Tepig}})
* {{p|Snivy}} ({{OP|Ash|Snivy}})
* {{p|Scraggy}} ({{OP|Ash|Scraggy}})
* {{p|Pansage}} ({{OP|Cilan|Pansage}})
* {{p|Scrafty}} (debut)
* {{p|Mandibuzz}} (×2)
* {{p|Beartic}} (flashback)
* {{p|Scolipede}} (flashback)
* {{p|Darmanitan}} (flashback)

==Trivia== 
* [[Professor Oak's lecture|Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster]]: {{p|Timburr}}
* This is the 700th aired episode of the Pokémon anime, if ''[[Holiday Hi-Jynx]]'' and ''[[Snow Way Out!]]'' aren't counted as episodes.
* All of the transitions in this episode, not including the theme song, used a Meowth head.

===Errors===
* When the first Mandibuzz explains  her problem to Meowth, he replies "If you went an ate your buddy's food without ''his'' permission, you did a bad thing." The "buddy" turns out to be another  Mandibuzz, which is a [[List of Pokémon by gender ratio#Female only|female-only species]].

===Dub edits===
*In the [[Pokémon in Latin America|Latin American]] dub, when Meowth was trying to distract Scrafty, instead of saying ''"Scrafty! Watch out, look at that!!"'', he points and says ''"{{tt|¡¡Que horror, los de [[wp:Digimon|Digimon]]!!|What an horror, the Digimon guys!!}}"''. 
**A similar reference in which a Pokémon character looks down to the Digimon franchise happened in [[DP045]].

==In other languages==
{{Epilang|color=C3C3C3|bordercolor=2C2C2C
|zh_cmn={{tt|交涉喵·喵喵！頭巾混混說服作戰！！|Nyagotiator Meowth! Scrafty Persuasion Tactics!!}}
|fi={{tt|Meowth vaihtaa leiriä!|Meowth changes teams!}}
|da={{tt|Meowth's luskede taktik!|Meowth's sneaky tactics!}}
|de={{tt|Mauzi als Retter in der Not!|Meowth as a knight in shining armor!}}
|it={{tt|Il Meowth che non t'aspetti!|A Meowth you could not expect!}}
|nl={{tt|Meowth's slimme strategie met Scrafty!|Meowth's smart strategy with Scrafty!}}
|no={{tt|Meowths listige taktikk!|Meowth's sneaky tactics!}}
|pl={{tt|Taktyka Meowth'a!|Meowth's Tactic!}}
|es_eu={{tt|¡Las tácticas de Meowth con Scrafty!|Meowth's tactics with Scrafty}}
|es_la={{tt|¡Las astutas tácticas de Meowth!|Meowth's crafty tactics!}}
|sv={{tt|Meowths sluga taktik!|Meowth's sneaky tactics!}}
|pt_br={{tt|As Taticas do Meowth!|The Tactics of Meowth!}}
}}
{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=BW042 |
prevtitle=Club Battle Finale: A Hero's Outcome! |
nextcode=BW044 |
nexttitle=Purrloin: Sweet or Sneaky? |
series=Best Wishes series |
colorscheme=Unova}}
{{Project Anime notice}}

[[Category:Best Wishes series episodes|043]]
[[Category:Milestone episodes|700]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on Meowth|700]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Yukiyoshi Ōhashi|700]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Yūji Asada|700]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Masaaki Iwane|700]]
[[Category:Episodes in which a main character's Pokémon learns a new move|700]]

[[de:Mauzi als Retter in der Not! (Episode)]]
[[fr:Épisode 702]]
[[it:NB043]]
[[ja:BW編第43話]]
[[pl:BW043]]