XY043 : Origins of Mega Evolution!
Pokémon the Series: XY
XY045 : Splitting Heirs!
Showdown at the Shalour Gym!
XY044.png
XY044   EP843
シャラジム戦!ピカチュウVSメガルカリオ!!
Shara Gym Match! Pikachu VS Mega Lucario!!
First broadcast
Japan September 25, 2014
United States November 15, 2014
English themes
Opening Pokémon Theme (Version XY)
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening メガV(メガボルト)
Ending ピースマイル!
Credits
Animation Team Kato
Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka
Storyboard 冨安大貴 Daiki Tomiyasu
Assistant director 冨安大貴 Daiki Tomiyasu
Animation director 志村泉 Izumi Shimura
No additional credits are available at this time.

Showdown at the Shalour Gym! (Japanese: シャラジム戦!ピカチュウVSメガルカリオ!! Shara Gym Match! Pikachu VS Mega Lucario!!) is the 44th episode of Pokémon the Series: XY, and the 843rd episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on September 25, 2014 and in the United States on November 15, 2014.

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

Ash's Shalour City Gym battle against Korrina is under way! The battle begins as Ash's Hawlucha faces off against Korrina's Mienfoo. He tries to use the rhythmic battle style he learned from Tierno, but it's not going so well. Finally, he remembers Serena's observation that he has his own unique style, and decides to battle like himself instead!

With this change of tactics, Hawlucha wins. Ash then sends in Fletchinder, who quickly takes down Korrina's Machoke. The Gym Leader has just one Pokémon left, and of course it's her partner Lucario, who Mega Evolves and knocks out Fletchinder and then Hawlucha in short order. But our hero's unique battling style shines, and in the final matchup, Pikachu defeats Mega Lucario!

Ash wins the Rumble Badge, and the gang is off to Coumarine City for his next Gym battle!

Plot

After arriving at Shalour City, Ash is ready to battle Korrina and get his third Kalos Gym Badge. Froakie and the others watch the match unfold from a viewing platform. Gurkinn is the referee and says that this battle is three-on-three and only Ash is able to make substitutions.

Ash facing Korrina

Korrina selects Mienfoo as her first choice, to which Serena checks it on her Pokédex. Ash sends out his Hawlucha to battle Mienfoo. Ash tries to use Tierno's strategy but Hawlucha gets hit by a High Jump Kick despite using a rhythm to avoid it. Mienfoo uses Drain Punch next, which Ash tells Hawlucha to block, but he still gets hit, getting his energy sapped in the process. Ash tells Hawlucha to fight back with Karate Chop, but Korrina has Mienfoo block it with a kick. Ash is wondering why the rhythm strategy didn't work despite that Tierno's Squirtle had no problem moving around. Korrina tells Mienfoo to use Force Palm, scoring a direct hit on Hawlucha. Hawlucha is still okay to battle, so Ash calls for a Flying Press attack. Korrina tells Mienfoo to counter with Swift, which hits its mark, and Hawlucha crashes onto the battlefield.

Ash has no idea how he is going to win and while looking up towards Serena, has a flashback about the dancing practice from the other day. Following Serena's advice, Ash decides to use his own strategy and in the middle of the fight, Mienfoo uses a High Jump Kick as Hawlucha waits for the right moment to lure it in. On Ash's orders, Hawlucha perfectly dodges Mienfoo's High Jump Kick, with the latter suffering crash damage as a result. Hawlucha follows on with Karate Chop and it hits Mienfoo. Korrina tells Mienfoo to fight back with Force Palm but Ash has Hawlucha use Flying Press to dodge Mienfoo's oncoming Force Palm before coming in for the finishing blow, knocking Mienfoo out.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket shows up and is planning to steal Pokémon while the others are distracted during Ash and Korrina's battle. As Korrina recalls Mienfoo, she sends out Machoke. Ash calls Hawlucha back and sends out Fletchinder, starting things off with a Flame Charge. Machoke manages to avoid it and attacks Fletchinder with Brick Break, which sends it tumbling to the ground. Fletchinder manages to get up but also gets hit by Machoke's Low Sweep. Still hanging in there, Fletchinder uses Steel Wing, but Machoke blocks it. Machoke manages to throw Fletchinder, but it holds on and launches a Razor Wind which damages Machoke a little. Fletchinder attacks again with Flame Charge, striking Machoke down and out as it prepares a counter Focus Blast attack.

Now, Korrina sends out her last Pokémon, Lucario and promptly Mega Evolves it to raise the stakes. Ash decides to keep Fletchinder in since it has the type advantage over Lucario. Fletchinder attacks with Flame Charge while Lucario uses an ear-deafening Metal Sound. Fletchinder struggles against the frequency but still manages to score a hit on Lucario. Lucario uses Aura Sphere, but Fletchinder managed to block with Steel Wing. While the smoke clears, Lucario comes up behind Fletchinder and uses Power-Up Punch, knocking Fletchinder out.

Ash recalls Fletchinder and sends Hawlucha again to battle Korrina's Lucario. Ash tells Hawlucha to use Karate Chop. As Ash's friends cheer for him and Hawlucha, Team Rocket is running down the hall, attempting to steal Pikachu. However, as they are about to go further, Froakie sees them and uses its Frubbles to stop them in their tracks. The friends also notice them and ask them why they're here. Team Rocket states that they are just doing their job and tells the twerps to stay out of their way. The evil trio wastes no time, sending out Pumpkaboo and Inkay to battle. As Team Rocket's Pokémon launch Shadow Ball and Psybeam attacks, Froakie steps in and uses its Frubbles to block the attacks, much to Team Rocket's shock. Quickly, Clemont sends out Chespin and Serena sends out Fennekin. By their Trainers' orders, they use Pin Missile and Flamethrower to send Jessie, James, and Meowth blasting off again, saving the Shalour Gym. Ash, however, was too involved in the Gym match to notice Team Rocket. He calls for Hawlucha to use Flying Press. Lucario batters Hawlucha away with a Bone Rush before defeating him with a powerful Aura Sphere.

After recalling Hawlucha and remarking that Korrina and Lucario have gotten much stronger from training, Ash sends Pikachu onto the field as his last Pokémon to battle Lucario. After a pause, Serena asks why neither Ash nor Korrina are making a move yet, to which Clemont replies that their Pokémon can't afford to lose the battle and that they’re being extra careful. Starting off, Ash tells Pikachu to use Quick Attack as Korrina tells Lucario to draw it in. Still running, Pikachu prepares to use Electro Ball while Lucario uses Bone Rush. Pikachu manages to strike but Lucario's Bone Rush deflects the attack toward the ceiling. Pikachu tries an Iron Tail next, but Lucario blocks it and sends Pikachu flying with a kick. Ash tells Pikachu to use Thunderbolt while in mid-air, which hits his opponent much to Korrina’s surprise. Lucario retaliates with an Aura Sphere, though Pikachu returns to his feet following the attack. Korrina calls for a Metal Sound, immobilizing Pikachu. Thinking fast, Ash has Pikachu use Thunderbolt to stop Lucario's Metal Sound. Lucario also uses Aura Sphere, but Pikachu manages to deflect it with his Iron Tail, as Clemont states that's the same Draco Meteor Climb strategy from the Cyllage Gym battle with Grant. Korrina tells Lucario to use Bone Rush as Ash calls for another Iron Tail to block. During the collision, they’re both hurt but standing. Lucario follows on with Power-Up Punch, which clashes with Pikachu’s Iron Tail. Pikachu goes for an Electro Ball next while Lucario uses Aura Sphere, again the attacks collide. Finally, Pikachu uses a Thunderbolt that hits Lucario which it wasn't able to dodge, knocking Lucario out and returning it to its normal form. While Korrina is defeated, Gurkinn finally admits his granddaughter put up an excellent fight. Korrina picks herself up and gives Ash the Rumble Badge in recognition of the victory.

Ash wonders where he should go next, to which Gurkinn replies that he should go to Coumarine City where another challenging Gym Leader awaits. Serena takes a moment to check her guide and is excited to learn the city has a monorail. Before the group sets off for Coumarine, Korrina bumps fists with Ash and tells him to come back soon and Ash agrees. Pikachu and Lucario also exchange a fist bump hoping that they will meet again someday.

Major events

Ash holding the Rumble Badge
For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series: XY, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Pokémon Quiz

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Mienfoo (US and international)
Pokémon Quiz: Machoke (Japan)

Trivia

The title card segment focuses on Korrina for this episode

Errors

  • When Pikachu discharges electricity after Ash asks him if he can get up, Gurkinn isn't present when the camera moves behind Korrina to show the entire field.
  • Just as the camera moves closer to the center of the battlefield as Fletchinder starts battling Machoke, Gurkinn disappears for a split-second.
  • Hawlucha is hit by Bone Rush, even though Hawlucha is a Flying type, and thus immune to Ground-type moves.
  • In the Danish and Swedish dubs, just when Hawlucha is thrown into the wall and faints, Ash's English voice can be heard.
  • The Turkish dub of the animated series mistakenly calls the Gym "Showdown Gym" in the episode title.

Dub edits

  • The kanji 命 爆発 (Life Explosion) that appeared during Korrina's poses are removed and replaced with her close-up poses in the dub.

In other languages



XY043 : Origins of Mega Evolution!
Pokémon the Series: XY
XY045 : Splitting Heirs!
Project Anime logo.png This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.