Japanese Title: Satoshi Participates! The Pokémon World Championships!!
Original Airdate: March 22, 2020
US Airdate: September 11, 2020
Ash has officially entered the World Coronation Series in hopes of having a rematch with Leon. His first match in the competition brings him to the Vermilion Gym, where he is set to face off against its acting Gym Leader, Visquez.
- Art Evolution: During Visquez's flashback about Surge, he's got his HeartGold and SoulSilver design but retains his open vest.
- Bait-and-Switch: Once again Ash ends up facing a trainer with a Raichu and having to deal with its significant power advantage compared to Pikachu. While at first he goes into the usual strategy of having Pikachu try to use its more agile and speedy tricks to get the advantage, Raichu proves to be too difficult this time around. This forces to Ash swap Pikachu out with Gengar instead, who fights and defeats Raichu head on.
- Call-Back: This episode is essentially a huge one to Ash's battle with Lt. Surge. From Visquez stating how Surge spoke of Ash fondly to Pikachu using its tail as a lightning rod.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Gengar to Raichu with the use of its psychic and ghost powers.
- Forgot About His Powers: Gengar managed to avoid Raichu's tail by letting it pass through but didn't do the same with Electrode.
- It Only Works Once: Ash's usual strategy of countering Raichu with his Pikachu's agility and mobility may have worked well against trainers who underestimate Pikachu's strength, but Visquez knows how Pikachu fights due to hearing stories from Lt. Surge and thus trained her Raichu to overcome Pikachu's advantages.
- Mythology Gag: Pikachu running on Visquez's Electrode is faster, but it still looks familiar.
- Not So Stoic: Despite its aloof behavior upon evolving in the last episode, Raboot does show concern during the battle and is even implied to smile a bit when Ash gets the victory.
- Shout-Out: Visquez is a walking reference to Private Vasquez in Aliens.
- Wake-Up Call Boss: Downplayed. Visquez loses to Ash in the end, but her Raichu's ability to overwhelm Pikachu's usual speed advantages is a not-so-subtle reminder to Ash that the World Coronation Series really does mean the best of the best trainers gather to compete.
