Japanese Title: Enjū Gym! Ghost Battle!!
Original Airdate: January 25th, 2001
US Airdate: Novermber 10th, 2001
Anxious to acquire the next Johto League badge, Ash challenges Ecruteak City's Gym Leader, Morty. However, Ash has seen Morty's Ghost-type Pokémon in action and is a little worried about battle strategies. In a discussion with Nurse Joy, Ash realizes his secret weapon against Morty's Pokémon is his Noctowl. Find out what special strategies Ash and his Noctowl employ in a head-to-head battle against the skilled Gym Leader and his fear-provoking Pokémon!
Tropes
- A Day in the Limelight: Ash's Noctowl is his MVP for this match and even learns Confusion.
- Energy Ball: Gengar's most powerful attack, Shadow Ball.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Both Ash and the narrator make note that it's been quite a long time coming for Ash to earn the Fog Badge. It's been 23 episodes since Ash got his last badge and almost three months in real time.
- Loophole Abuse: It's minor but at one point, Morty takes advantage of the move Mean Look to trap Cyndaquil into the battle and shut off Ash's ability to switch pokemon and taking away his right as the pokemon challenger to do that.
- Lotus-Eater Machine: The Gastly make Team Rocket see a sumptuous meal that keeps floating away from them.
- No-Sell: Defied as part of the key to Ash's strategy against Morty. While Ghost-types are normally immune to Normal and Fighting-type moves, Noctowl's Foresight takes away this advantage in addition to keeping them visible.
- Scissors Cuts Rock: Both trainers take part in this but ironically only Ash has an excuse. Noctowl's Foresight allows it to hit Ghost Types with Normal type attacks. Meanwhile, Morty's Ghost types can casually use ghost type attacks to hit Noctowl regardless (because Noctowl having a Ghost immunity would likely kill the conflict of the episode and turn the result into a Foregone Conclusion).
- Strategy Versus Tactics: Morty is the strategist, having trained his pokemon in such a way to easily achieve future gym matches. Ash is the tactician who initially is easily crushed by Morty but his improvisation (and luck) allow him to barelyh clinch a victory.
- Took a Level in Badass: Noctowl learns Confusion.
- You Will Not Evade Me: Haunter's Mean Look forces Ash's Cyndaquil to stay in the battle until the round is over.
