DP131: Difference between revisions

Outside, the battlefield isn't in a usable condition, since it is mostly a pile of rubble and working construction is none other than {{TRT}}. They recite an alternate version of their motto, which is centered around their new jobs. Suddenly, Ash arrives and he nearly sees through their disguises after they call him [[twerp]]. It turns out the battlefield is out of commission for a few days due to overuse. Ash begins to worry as he doesn't know where to meet Paul until a [[Battle judge|referee]] named [[Olivier]] arrives, having been asked by Reggie to officiate the Full Battle. He tells Ash that as the regular battlefield can't be used, Reggie has selected another location.

At the lakefront, Reggie thanks Ash for coming, and expands upon what he was telling Paul earlier; another part of the reason that he requested the Full Battle is because of how alike Ash and Paul are. Both are intent on growing stronger alongside their Pokémon, the only difference between them being their training methods. He then says that a Full Battle between them is inevitable, and now is the perfect time for them both to compare each other's strengths and weaknesses. Just then, Olivier arrives in a balloon with a portable scoreboard. Helping him man the scoreboard and make the necessary changes as the match progresses is Team Rocket, once again wearing disguises.

Olivier officially states the rules: the battle will be a Full Battle, six-on-six with substitutions freely allowed on both sides. Coin Toss is used to decide who gets to pick their Pokémon first, and Ash wins. He sends out Buizel first, and Paul sends out his {{TP|Paul|Torterra}}. The referee begins the match, only for Ash to instantly recall Buizel, similar to how Paul recalled his first Pokémon during the match against Brandon when he didn't like the type matchup. Ash apologizes to Buizel and promises he will get another chance later, and sends out Gliscor instead. Ash reminds Paul that he [[DP081|encountered Gliscor before]] when it was still a {{p|Gligar}}, but Paul remains silent, choosing not to engage in conversation with his rival.

The battle then begins properly as Ash orders Gliscor to use {{m|Sand Attack}}, and Gliscor sends a lot of sand toward 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 Torterra to use {{m|Giga Drain}}, but the energy-sapping tentacles end up plunging into the ground, missing a now airborne Gliscor completely. Brock and Reggie agree that Paul probably intended for 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}} and it scores a direct hit. Being a {{type|Bug}} move, it causes Torterra a good amount of damage, but not enough to defeat it. 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 fly up and avoid the vines, and Torterra is left immobilized due to having to recharge. Ash knows this is his chance and has Gliscor use {{m|Fire Fang}}, followed by X-Scissor. Ash decides to go in for one more hit and has Gliscor go in for a {{m|Steel Wing}}, but Torterra finishes recharging and is commanded by Paul to use {{m|Crunch}}. Although Steel Wing hits, Torterra also nails Crunch and bites down hard on Gliscor’s tail, trapping it and leaving it vulnerable to Torterra’s Giga Drain. Reggie and Brock realized this was part of Paul's strategy; allowing Torterra to be immobilized so Ash would go in close range. Gliscor’s energy is still being sapped by Torterra, so Ash has it use Fire Fang on the energy tentacles, which brings the Giga Drain to a halt and sets Gliscor free. But despite this, Torterra’s attacks have caused Gliscor noticeable damage, so Ash decides to recall it.

Dawn is very nervous just watching the match, and Ash notices that Paul is keeping Torterra in the battle despite how much damage it’s taken, so he sends out Staraptor as his third Pokémon. 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 [[Paul's Honchkrow]] in a [[PokéRinger]] competition [[DP118|not too long ago]], which impresses Reggie. Ash has Staraptor begin with {{m|Brave Bird}}, and Staraptor goes in for a direct hit. However, Paul has Torterra use {{m|Stone Edge}}, which stops Staraptor dead in his tracks and sends him plummeting to the ground. This makes everyone realize why Paul left Torterra in; he knew Ash would switch to Staraptor and go in for a close-range attack, making himself vulnerable to Torterra’s super-effective Stone Edge. Now that Torterra has done its job, Paul recalls it. Reggie asks Brock and Dawn if Ash came up with any kind of strategy against Paul or if he switched any of the Pokémon in his [[party]]. Dawn tells Reggie that Ash planned on using his usual six from the start, while Brock tells him that, with the exception of Pikachu, Ash acquired all of his Pokémon in [[Sinnoh]]. Reggie then realizes that since Paul has battled Ash several times and knows what Pokémon he has, he based his team on that information.

Paul's second Pokémon is {{p|Weavile}}, and after making sure Staraptor is okay to continue battling, Ash has him go in for a {{m|Quick Attack}}. Staraptor gets the hit in, and Paul then has Weavile use {{m|Swords Dance}}. Dawn asks what Swords Dance does, and Reggie explains that it increases Attack power. Ash calls for an {{m|Aerial Ace}}, and Paul counters this by ordering {{m|Blizzard}}. The {{type|Ice}} move hits Staraptor and neutralizes his Aerial Ace, and Paul then has Weavile use {{m|Metal Claw}}. As Staraptor flies in, Weavile jumps onto his back, shocking everyone. Weavile then nails Metal Claw on Staraptor's back, and jumps off as the Predator Pokémon crashes to the ground. Paul then orders Weavile to go after Staraptor with another Metal Claw, and Ash has Staraptor use {{m|Close Combat}} in response. Staraptor and Weavile trade blows, but the exchange turns in Staraptor’s favor and Weavile takes a lot of damage. Paul orders a Blizzard while Ash calls for Brave Bird, and Staraptor endures the Blizzard and lands a direct hit with Brave Bird. Staraptor suffers from the [[recoil]], but Weavile comes out of it far worse and falls on the ground [[fainting|unable to battle]]. Olivier rules Weavile out of the battle, and Ash, now with the advantage, commends a battered Staraptor on a fantastic performance but knows better than to get too confident over this win. Ash also knows that Staraptor took significant damage, and recalls him for some rest.

Paul's third Pokémon is Electabuzz, to which Ash responds by sending out Grotle. Ash wonders what Paul is planning with an {{type|Electric}}, and has Grotle start with {{m|Energy Ball}}. Paul has Electabuzz use {{m|Light Screen}}, causing the Energy Ball to not even faze it. Brock explains to Dawn that Light Screen helps to defend against [[Special move|special attacks]] like Energy Ball, cutting down their power by half. Now that Light Screen is set up, Paul substitutes Electabuzz with {{TP|Paul|Honchkrow}}, who has a much better type matchup against Grotle. Brock tells Reggie that Grotle [[DP100|battled]] Honchkrow before, and it was that battle that caused {{p|Turtwig}} to [[Evolution|evolve]]. Grotle is determined to defeat Honchkrow to make up for the defeat that he suffered after evolving, and Ash decides to leave him in, determined to show Paul and Honchkrow how much Grotle has improved since then. Everyone else knows this is a bad decision on Ash's part due to Grotle’s disadvantage against a {{type|Flying}}, especially Paul.

Grotle uses {{m|Razor Leaf}}, but Honchkrow dodges and lands a powerful Night Slash. After Grotle shakes it off, Ash orders him to use Energy Ball. However, to Ash’s surprise, Honchkrow is shielded by Electabuzz’s earlier Light Screen, making him and Dawn realize that Light Screen can be passed on to other Pokémon. With the type advantage and the Light Screen, Brock realizes that Paul’s goal is to overwhelm Ash, as Honchkrow is ordered to use {{m|Haze}}, surrounding Grotle. Normally, when Paul battles, it's to polish up his Pokémon's moves or to increase their power, but his motive during this battle is much different; this time, he's going straight for the win. Reggie explains that Paul has worked out Ash's battle style and is accordingly responding to it in order to keep the pressure on Ash. Grotle unsuccessfully tries to use Razor Leaf again, and Honchkrow comes out of the Haze and lands another Night Slash. Ash sees that Grotle is exhausted by now, so he has him use {{m|Synthesis}}. As Grotle regains his energy, Paul takes advantage of his vulnerable state and has Honchkrow use {{m|Sky Attack}}. Honchkrow begins glowing and flies straight for Grotle, and Dawn gets worried because Grotle hasn’t finished recovering yet. Ash has Grotle use {{m|Rock Climb}} to try and counter, but before the Grove Pokémon can execute the move, Honchkrow lands a direct hit and knocks Grotle out. Olivier rules Grotle unable to battle, and Ash recalls it, moments before Paul recalls Honchkrow. Reggie, noting Ash's poor judgment, points out that using a healing move such as Synthesis has the disadvantage of leaving a Pokémon open to attack, and a Trainer should make note of the opponent's condition before using such a move, or be an easy target. Brock concurs, knowing that Ash wanted Grotle to defeat Honchkrow so badly that it clouded his judgment.

Both Trainers must choose new Pokémon, and Pikachu lets Ash know he's ready to go up next. Ash can see his partner is determined to help defeat Paul and sends him into the battle. Paul sends in a Pokémon that surprises everyone: {{TP|Paul|Magmortar}}, evolved from his {{p|Magmar}}. With one of his Pokémon down, and feeling the pressure piling on, Ash prepares to take on Magmortar.