HZ113

Mega Evolution - Ult
	ウルト ――最強; Uruto—Strongest
Japan	October 17, 2025
United States
Opening	None
Ending	Evolving Again (instrumental)
Opening	None
Ending	尤
Animation	Team Kumemura
Screenplay	松澤くれは Kureha Matsuzawa
Storyboard	尼野浩正 Hiromasa Amano
Assistant director	MISU山猫 Misu Yamaneko
Animation directors	大野泰江 Yasue Ōno
	服部奈津美 Natsumi Hattori
	松本めぐみ Megumi Matsumoto
	大西雅也 Masaya Ōnishi
	忍田雄介 Yusuke Oshida
	OLM Thailand OLM Thailand
	Wasi Paricharttanakun
	Wasin Weechaneemart
Additional credits
	Preview thread on BMGf Closed; Original review thread on BMGf; Dub review thread on BMGf;
	Preview thread on BMGf Closed; Original review thread on BMGf; Dub review thread on BMGf;

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Pokémon Horizons: The Series

HZ114: Mega Evolution - Bonds

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Mega Evolution - Ult (Japanese: ウルト ――最強 Uruto—Strongest) is the 113th episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,345th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on October 17, 2025, in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2026, and in Australia on April 2, 2026.

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

Plot

At night, Roy and Ult are having dinner cooked by Emma. Afterwards, Ult brings up their loss against the Yellow Flash, with Roy being impressed by the Aura Pokémon's strength. Roy wonders how to defeat it while Ult brings out a Dusk Ball, claiming the Pokémon inside it would've done so easily even though he doesn't know what's inside it. However, Ult believes it will come out once he has proven himself to be the strongest Trainer, and Roy says he has the same dream while pulling out the Ancient Poké Ball. Emma, meanwhile, plans on making some tea, only for the lights to go out. To restore the power, she calls out her Ampharos and Mega Evolves it into Mega Ampharos to use its strong electricity powers, to Ult's annoyance for being over the top. Later, Roy and Emma talk about the former's reason for visiting Kalos, with Ult listening in. When Roy mentions the Rising Volt Tacklers, Emma reads an article released by Exceed about the group being responsible for the incident on Mount Pericarp. Roy vehemently denies Exceed's claims but solemnly reveals the group had disbanded, and his friends went back to either school or home. On the other hand, he decided to travel and become stronger, with Captain Pikachu joining him now that Friede is gone, to meet the Black Rayquaza again. While shocked to hear about Rayquaza, Ult decides to catch it, determined to be the strongest Trainer. Roy is unable to stop him from having the same dream, especially since Rayquaza is now a wild Pokémon, meaning Ult is free to catch it too. At that, Ult becomes motivated to master Mega Evolution again, and Emma becomes surprised at seeing this side of Ult. She then earnestly asks Roy to be friends with Ult, revealing she took in him while he was living on the streets and taught him some things such as reading and writing. Emma admits she was inspired by the man who took her in similarly and even followed in his footsteps as a detective. Despite wanting to see Ult find something for himself, he never got along well with Emma, so she hopes Roy would be able to support Ult instead. He agrees to her request belatedly and sets off to find Ult, who is at the Lost Mayo Maze, trying to challenge the Yellow Flash again. He stops Ult from trespassing, and the two leave the place, not noticing the Yellow Flash had been watching the interaction.

The next day, Ult becomes irritated at not being able to Mega Evolve Sableye, believing the Mega Ring given is not real. Roy reminds him of advice given by Master Mayonnaise, but Ult finds the other man suspicious, which increased when he unexpectedly shows up. Master Mayonnaise correctly deduces the two young Trainers had lost to the Yellow Flash, and he tells them their feelings should be united with their Pokémon if they wish to Mega Evolve. He then suggests a battle to show what he means, and they agree. Ult begins the battle by having Sableye use Power Gem that Crocalor dodges successfully. Despite the continuous assault by Power Gem, Crocalor manages to evade them all, making Roy praise the Fire Croc Pokémon. Soon, Crocalor charges towards Sableye, who is unable to use Power Gem and gets attacked by the former's supereffective Disarming Voice. Sableye tries to use Throat Chop but is unable to, and it is attacked by Stomping Tantrum. Annoyed, Ult has Sableye attack Crocalor from behind with Shadow Sneak, but the Fire Croc Pokémon, feeling united with Roy, not only avoids the attack with Flame Charge, but also defeats Sableye at the same time.

Ult refuses to admit defeat and attempts to have the Pokémon inside his Dusk Ball come out, but Master Mayonnaise stops him. After healing his Pokémon with a Full Restore, Ult is questioned on whether he trusts Sableye, and he confirms he does. However, Master Mayonnaise reveals that trust did not show itself during the battle as Sableye became exhausted when Ult called for it to constantly use Power Gem, rendering it unable to react accordingly later on. Ult tries to claim Roy wasn't battling him fairly, but Master Mayonnaise counters him with the fact that they battled well because of their trust in each other. He further adds on how Ult has been burdening the Pokémon in the Dusk Ball, which led to it not coming out. Ult reveals he trusts Sableye because it has been by his side. When asked what does he think Sableye feels about Ult as its Trainer, he is unable to answer, causing Master Mayonnaise to declare Ult hasn't been paying attention to the Darkness Pokémon. He concludes by telling Ult to give up Mega Evolution since he lacks the bond needed, leaving the latter frustrated. Just then, the Yellow Flash, who was watching the battle, drops in and gestures for the two Trainers to return to the Lost Mayo Maze for a second chance.

The two boys agree to the challenge and enter the place. However, they must once again get through the confusing layout of the place. Thankfully, Sableye remembers the route they took and everyone follows the Darkness Pokémon as it leads them to the area with the pit. Trusting Sableye, Ult and his Pokémon jump over the pit that the former previously fell into and tear apart the wallpaper of the 'door' that stumped them yesterday. Ult says the maze taught him about how Trainers need to understand their Pokémon, and he wants to learn more about his partner, especially as they battle against the Yellow Flash. Opening the door, Roy and Ult don't find the Yellow Flash waiting, but rather two occupants of the palace – Count Hoisin and Shōyu.

Major events

Roy meets Emma for the first time.
Emma tells Roy about her and Ult's history.
- Emma is revealed to have known Looker in the past.
Roy and Ult have a battle, which Roy wins.
Roy and Ult decide to try Mega Evolution training again and are challenged by two Trainers.

For a list of all major events in Pokémon Horizons: The Series, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

Humans

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Liko (flashback)
Roy
Dot (flashback)
Ult
Mollie (flashback)
Orla (flashback)
Ludlow (flashback)
Murdock (flashback)
Master Mayonnaise
Emma
Looker (picture)
Liko's homeroom teacher
Count Hoisin
Shōyu

Pokémon

Crocalor (Roy's)
Kilowattrel (Roy's)
Pikachu (Friede's; Captain Pikachu)
Lucario (later Roy's; Yellow Flash; Shiny)
Sableye (Ult's)
Meowscarada (Liko's; flashback)
Hattrem (Liko's; flashback)
Quaxwell (Dot's; flashback)
Tinkatuff (Dot's; flashback)
Chansey (Mollie's; flashback)
Metagross (Orla's; flashback)
Quagsire (Ludlow's; flashback)
Rockruff (Murdock's; flashback)
Alcremie (Murdock's; Strawberry Ruby Swirl; flashback)
Espurr (Emma's; Mimi)
Ampharos (Emma's; Mega Ampharos)
Escavalier (Count Hoisin's)
Accelgor (Shōyu's)
Croagunk (Looker's; picture)
Delcatty (Trainer's; flashback)
Munchlax (Trainer's; flashback)

Trivia

This is the second episode of the Episode: Mega Evolution flashback arc. It takes place during the one-year timeskip in Where the Adventure Leads.
The title text for this episode is shown directly over the background, without a separate title card segment. As such, the title is not read aloud. Since there is no opening theme, the series logo (with the arc subtitle) is shown directly over a shot of the Looker Bureau.
This episode does not contain any eyecatches, instead having the series logo on a corner of the screen before and after the commercial break.
Despite Wasi Paricharttanakun and Wasin Weechaneemart working for OLM Thailand as animation directors, the studio itself was left uncredited in the ending credits for that role and added into the listing for clarification purposes.
This is the first episode to air in Japan after the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
The Taiwanese Mandarin and Hong Kong Cantonese dubs of this episode were released on the Traditional Chinese Pokémon YouTube channel at 6:30 PM (UTC+8), at the same time the Japanese version was released on the Japanese YouTube channel after its television airing. In the regular episode order, the Taiwanese Mandarin dub was midway through the second season, while the Hong Kong Cantonese dub was between the first and second seasons.
The Korean dub of this episode aired on October 21, 2025 (four days after the Japanese airing), before the Mega Voltage arc.
This episode marks the first mention of Looker since What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals, 12 years and 596 episodes prior.
- Additionally, this episode marks the first time a recurring character from Pokémon the Series makes an appearance in any capacity during Pokémon Horizons: The Series, not including Nurse Joy.
Roy, Ult, Sableye, and Crocalor narrate the preview for the next episode.
Emma having a Mega Ampharos is a reference to Pokémon Legends: Z-A, where Emma after her first battle with the player character demonstrates Mega Evolution by Mega Evolving her Ampharos.

Errors

When Roy, Ult, and their Pokémon were eating in the Looker Bureau, the first shot shows Crocalor at the table with Cap and Kilowattrel on the floor. The next shot, Crocalor and Cap are on the table with Kilowattrel at the table.
During Roy and Ult's battle, Crocalor was able to dodge Sableye's Shadow Sneak with Flame Charge despite Shadow Sneak's increased priority.
After the battle, Ult revived his Sableye with a Full Restore that Master Mayonnaise gave him. Full Restores do not revive fainted Pokémon, they only fully heal a Pokémon's HP and cures any status conditions. A Revive is needed to revive a fainted Pokémon before one can use a Full Restore on them.
In the original Hong Kong Cantonese release, the ending animation version focusing on Roy (from the previous episode) was used instead of the version focusing on Ult like in the Japanese version.^[1] This was identified as an error, with the original upload being removed.^[2] The reupload correctly uses the ending animation version focusing on Ult.^[3]

Dub edits

In the Korean dub, clips of Roy and Ult Mega Evolving Lucario and Sableye are used at the very beginning of the episode (before the recap) for an 8-second logo segment.
In the English and other dubs, the ending theme uses clips from all three variants of the Japanese version. This same version animation is used for the other episodes of the arc, instead of different ones for each episode like in the original.