DP131: Difference between revisions

The battle then begins properly as Ash orders Gliscor to use {{m|Sand-Attack}}, and Gliscor sends a lot of sand towards Torterra, clouding its vision. Reggie commends Ash on the smart move, as Brock notes that Ash has seen Torterra in battle before and therefore knows many of its strengths. Paul orders {{m|Giga Drain}}. However, the energy-sapping tentacles plunge into the ground, missing a now flying Gliscor completely. Brock and Reggie agree that Paul probably intended Giga Drain to miss to try and lull Ash into a false sense of security and let down his guard. Ash then has Gliscor use {{m|X-Scissor}} on Torterra and it scores a direct hit. Being a {{type|Bug}} move, it causes a fair bit of damage against Torterra, but not enough to cause it to faint.

Paul then starts to battle directly and orders {{m|Frenzy Plant}}, the most powerful {{type|Grass}} move as well as a risky one. Luckily, Gliscor is fast enough to avoid the vines, and Torterra is left immobilized while it recharges. Ash knows he has an opening and has Gliscor use {{m|Fire Fang}} which hits Torterra, and Ash has Gliscor follow this up with another X-Scissor. Ash decides to go in for one more hit and has Gliscor use {{m|Steel Wing}}, but as Gliscor heads towards Torterra it recovers from Frenzy Plant and Paul has it use {{m|Crunch}}. Although Steel Wing hits, Torterra bites on to Gliscor's tail, and Gliscor struggles, but is unable to break free. Paul then has Torterra use Giga Drain, and this time it hits dead-on, sapping Gliscor's energy while recharging its own. Reggie and Brock realized this was part of Paul's strategy, to allow Torterra to be immobilized so Ash would go in close-range. Gliscor is still struggling to break free from Giga Drain and Ash has Gilscor use Fire Fang on the energy tentacles, which hurts Torterra and sets Gliscor free. Both Gliscor and Torterra are left exhausted, and Ash decides to recall Gliscor for some rest. Dawn is very nervous just watching the match, and Ash notes that despite its fatigue Paul has chosen not to recall Torterra and sends out Staraptor to battle next. Reggie realizes that Staraptor is the {{p|Staravia}} [[DP066|he battled]] back when Ash was in [[Veilstone City]], and Dawn tells him that Staraptor defeated {{TP|Paul|Honchkrow}} in a [[PokéRinger]] competition [[DP118|not too long ago]], which impresses Reggie.

{{m|Night Slash}} is used by Honchkrow after a missed Razor Leaf, and although Grotle tries to stand up to it the hit is still powerful. Ash orders Grotle to use Energy Ball, however Honchkrow is shielded by the Light Screen making him and Dawn realizes that Light Screen can be passed on to other Pokémon. With the type-advantage and the Light Screen, Brock tells Dawn that Paul is trying to overwhelm Ash as Honchkrow is told to use {{m|Haze}} which surrounds Grotle. Normally when Paul battles, it's to polish up his Pokémon's moves or to increase their power but he has a different motive during this battle. Paul is going for the win. Reggie explains that Paul has worked out Ash's battle style which is allowing him to keep the pressure on Ash. When Grotle gets Night Slashed again,  Ash sees that it is exhausted by now, so he has it use {{m|Synthesis}}. As Grotle regains its energy, Paul takes advantage of the moment and tells Honchkrow to use {{m|Sky Attack}}. Honchkrow begins glowing and makes a direct line for Grotle. Ash has Grotle use {{m|Rock Climb}} to try and counter, and the attacks collide, obscuring both Pokémon, however Honchkrow flies clear while Grotle has been knocked out. Olivier rules Grotle as being unable to battle, and Ash recalls it as Paul recalls Honchkrow. Reggie, noting on Ash's poor judgment, points out that using Synthesis as healing moves have the disadvantage of leaving a Pokémon open to attack and a Trainer should make note of the opponent's condition before using one or be an easy target. Brock concurs, knowing that Ash wanted to have Grotle defeat Honchkrow so bad, it clouded his judgment.