It's time for Ash's third-round battle with Conway, who is known for carefully analyzing his opponents. Conway opens the battle with Shuckle and while Ash's Noctowl and Donphan have trouble, Gible is able to defeat it, finally mastering Draco Meteor in the process. Conway's next Pokémon is Lickilicky, which causes problems for Gible, but Ash beats Lickilicky with Noctowl. Finally, Conway sends in his trump card, Dusknoir, who uses Trick Room. Because this move allows the slowest Pokémon to always attack first, Dusknoir has a huge advantage and makes short work of Noctowl and Donphan. Fortunately, Ash's Gible is able to beat it. After the battle ends, Ash learns that he will be facing Paul in his first Sinnoh League full battle. That night, Ash puts his team together and it is finally complete when his Gliscor returns.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- 11th-Hour Superpower: During the opening scene of the episode, Ash is exercising some of his Pokémon and Infernape unexpectedly learns Flare Blitz.
- Ascended Fanon: Barry refers to Ash's Noctowl as Shiny when it is sent out. This is the first time a "differently colored" Pokémon is referred to as "Shiny" in the anime. The term, previously a fan term for the phenomenon,note becomes canon in Generation V.
- Back for the Dead: Donphan doesn't get a chance to do anything thanks to its attacks being deflected by Shuckle and Dusknoir's Flash Step and Mean Look allowing it to KO the Armor Pokémon.
- The Bus Came Back: The final scene of the episode sees Ash's Gliscor rejoin his party.
- Call-Back: Conway’s final Pokémon used against Ash is a Dusknoir, a Pokémon that had saved Conway’s life in the Summer Academy arc (though it's never stated that it is said Dusknoir).
- Flash Step: Trick Room allows Dusknoir to do this much to Ash and his Pokémon's surprise.
- Irony: Conway's preferred battle tactic is to devise elaborate strategies beforehand. Ash defeats him with a combination of luck (Gible finally perfecting Draco Meteor) and last-minute improvisation (Gible trapping Shuckle in its mouth and biting Dusknoir's hand to nullify Shadow Punch).
- Shout-Out: The dub title references a line in the song "Night Moves" by Bob Seger.
- Took a Level in Badass: Ash's Gible finally masters Draco Meteor. Likewise, Noctowl has learned Sky Attack, Air Slash and Extrasensory and easily beats Conway's Lickilicky.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: Conway lets out a Big "WHAT?!" when Ash orders Gible to bite Dusknoir's Shadow Punch, and proceeds to freak out when it works.Conway: Ah! What kind of move is that?! IT ATE THE SHADOW PUNCH!
