The WORST episodes of Pokémon

#1 - Alola to New Adventure!

Season 18 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/17/2016

While on vacation in the Alola region, Ash and Pikachu discovers and enrolls in the island Pokemon school.

#2 - All Hail the Ice Battlefield!

Season 17 - Episode 27 - Aired 5/19/2016

Our heroes and Sawyer arrive in Snowbelle City, and Ash is fired up to win his final badge at the freezing Gym! First up is Wulfric’s Abomasnow, whose Ability causes hail to fall on the already-icy battlefield! After Hawlucha fights through it to claim the first victory, Wulfric sends out Avalugg—who slowly recovers from damage when it’s hailing. It’s an icy combo that proves to be very effective, as Avalugg knocks out Hawlucha and Talonflame, and even defeats Greninja after it syncs up with Ash to become “Ash-Greninja” (as Bonnie calls it). Ash is devastated, and while his Pokémon heal up, he goes off on his own to recover…

#3 - Seeing the Forest for the Trees!

Season 17 - Episode 28 - Aired 5/26/2016

Ash is alone in the forest after losing at the Snowbelle Gym. Serena tracks him down, but they end up in a shouting match, and she runs off after angrily telling Ash to start acting like himself again! Soon, a snowstorm sets in, and Ash takes shelter in a cave with some frightened Pokémon. He gets into trouble while trying to help a stranded Spewpa—but Greninja shows up just in time, and then shifts effortlessly into Ash-Greninja to rescue Spewpa! When our heroes reunite, Ash promises not to overdo it again—a promise Greninja soon has to enforce when Ash learns the Kalos League is coming to Lumiose City!

#4 - A Real Icebreaker!

Season 17 - Episode 29 - Aired 6/2/2016

After a breakthrough, Ash is back at the Snowbelle City Gym for a rematch with Wulfric—and this time, things are quite different! Wulfric challenges Ash to show him a fiery battle, and Ash certainly delivers, as his Pikachu and Talonflame take down the Gym Leader’s Bergmite and Avalugg before the exciting final face-off. It’s Greninja versus Abomasnow…and then it’s Ash-Greninja versus Mega Abomasnow, as Wulfric reveals an unexpected Key Stone! Even in the face of such a challenge, Ash-Greninja rises to the occasion, and Ash wins his final Gym badge and qualifies for the Kalos League!

#5 - Lights! Camera! Pika!

Season 16 - Episode 78 - Aired 6/18/2015

#6 - A Diamond in the Rough!

Season 17 - Episode 30 - Aired 6/9/2016

A visit to a friend confronts our heroes with a most unusual group of challenges! Our heroes are visiting the wetland where Ash’s friend Goodra now lives when they run into a group of Carbink with a problem—one of their Carbink friends is playing a trick on them, hiding and refusing to come out! Everyone joins the search, but the Carbink are lured into a trap and used as part of a Team Rocket robot! Feeling bad about the trouble it’s caused, the mischievous Carbink teams up with Goodra to free its friends and send the villains blasting off again. Meanwhile, Alain has just defeated Gym Leader Korrina for his eighth badge, and he hopes to face a particular opponent at the Kalos League…

#7 - A Gaggle of Gadget Greatness!

Season 17 - Episode 31 - Aired 6/16/2016

Ash, Serena, and Bonnie are having a tough time keeping up with Clemont! Where is he going in such a hurry? It’s the Gadget Festival, where playful inventors exhibit their mechanical creations—and where Clemont is truly in his element! Team Rocket is celebrating with some gadgets of their own, but as usual, their goal is to steal Pokémon from unsuspecting Trainers. When Ash and friends hear about this scheme, they confront the villains, who attempt to fight back using a Meowth-enhancing gadget that Clemont finds impressive! But when Team Rocket’s invention falls a little short, they’re soon blasting off again—and our heroes get back to the festival!

#8 - A League of His Own!

Season 17 - Episode 32 - Aired 6/30/2016

Our heroes have arrived in Lumiose City for the Kalos League, where they meet up with Tierno, Trevor, Sawyer, and even Alain! The very first matchup is Trevor vs. Alain—and it’s an unexpected battle of Mega Charizard X versus Mega Charizard Y, as Trevor reveals just how hard he’s been training! But Alain proves too powerful, and Trevor is eliminated. Ash is detained by a persistent challenger on the way to the battlefield and arrives just in time for his match. His opponent starts off with an impressive Altaria, but Ash-Greninja claims a swift victory. Meanwhile, both Sawyer and Alain patiently await their own chance to battle Ash...

#9 - Kalos League Passion with a Certain Flare!

Season 17 - Episode 36 - Aired 8/4/2016

The day before the Kalos League finals between Ash and Alain, our heroes meet Alain’s young friend Mairin when she rescues Clemont’s wayward Chespin! Team Flare is also in Lumiose City, preparing for a secret operation while all eyes are on the League—and Lysandre has plans for Ash once the League is over. Meanwhile, Professor Sycamore, who has been researching Ash-Greninja, shows our heroes an old manuscript describing the mysterious Bond Phenomenon, which requires Trainer and Pokémon to have a particularly close connection. Afterward, Ash rallies his Pokémon for the battle ahead, while Alain trains hard with his Charizard. His mission to gather Mega Evolution energy is nearly complete...

#10 - The Right Hero for the Right Job!

Season 17 - Episode 41 - Aired 9/8/2016

Lysandre’s threat to the world continues, but our heroes have split up and are fighting back on several fronts! Ash and Alain face Lysandre in battle, and Malva joins them in solidarity. Meanwhile, Bonnie confronts the menacing Zygarde, bravely singing her Squishy song through tears—and Team Flare’s influence fades as Zygarde reconnects with its friend. Clemont enters Prism Tower to defeat Xerosic, and Clembot plugs itself into the control system in an attempt to shut it down. Doing so will wipe its memory, but Clembot insists that they have no choice—and Clemont sadly agrees. He completes the task, and Team Flare’s machine is shut down...for now!

#11 - Rocking Kalos Defenses!

Season 17 - Episode 42 - Aired 9/15/2016

Team Flare appears to be defeated for now—Clemont has destroyed their control system at great personal cost, and Alain and Ash have battled Lysandre to a standstill. But as the villain disappears, he promises that his new world will come to pass... Meanwhile, Mairin and Serena rescue Chespie—only to watch in horror as it’s absorbed by the mysterious Giant Rock, which changes shape to resemble Zygarde! It begins to move, heading toward the Anistar Sundial in search of more energy. Everyone is determined to stop it at all costs—including the Gym Leaders and Champion Diantha, as they join our heroes to rescue Chespie and save the world!

#12 - Battling With a Clean Slate!

Season 17 - Episode 44 - Aired 10/6/2016

The Lumiose Gym has been through a lot, but everyone is working together to get it up and running again. Clembot is back, too, although Clemont hasn’t been able to restore its memories. When someone arrives to challenge the Gym, Clembot experiences its first Pokémon battle all over again—and it loves every minute! It asks Clemont to teach it all about Pokémon, and he’s pleased to start rebuilding their friendship. The rest of our heroes are making plans, too. Ash wants to go home for a fresh start. Alain returns to work for Professor Sycamore. And Serena remembers Palermo’s offer to take her on as a student...

#13 - The First Day of the Rest of Your Life!

Season 17 - Episode 45 - Aired 10/13/2016

Lumiose City is nearly back to normal, and Serena has an idea for a celebration. With Professor Sycamore’s help, she and Shauna put on a special performance for everyone! They’re soon joined by their Master Class rival Jessilee, and the show is a huge success! Serena wants to keep pursuing her performance goals, but she’s not sure about her next step. With the support of Ash and her mom, she finally decides to turn down Palermo’s offer so she can keep improving on her own. But Palermo has a surprising response: she suggests that Serena travel to the Hoenn region to try her hand at Pokémon Contests!

#14 - A Full-Strength Battle Surprise!

Season 17 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/12/2016

On their way to Snowbelle City, our heroes run into their friend Sawyer, who’s already won his eighth Gym badge. Ash wants to show off what he’s learned about Greninja, and Sawyer wants to demonstrate how much stronger he’s become, so it’s time for a battle! After some smart tactics from Sawyer, the battle is down to Greninja and Sceptile—but for some reason, Ash and Greninja can’t seem to connect like they usually do, and Sawyer defeats Ash for the first time! Excited, he decides to come watch Ash’s battle at the Snowbelle Gym. Meanwhile, the Team Flare scientists continue their experiments as Squishy tries frantically to contact Z2…

#15 - The Guardian's Challenge!

Season 18 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/17/2016

Ash and Pikachu have decided to enroll in the Pokémon School. One day, their classmates decide to hold a surprise welcome party for them. But in the middle of this excited party, Tapu Koko, the Pokémon known as the island's guardian deity, shows up.

#16 - Loading the Dex!

Season 18 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/24/2016

Professor Kukui gives Ash an intelligent Rotom Pokédex that is capable of human speech. Ash goes to find and catch his first Pokémon in Alola, but he instead encounters Team Rocket, who are aided by a wild Mimikyu that despises Pikachu.

#17 - First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-style!

Season 18 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/24/2016

Ash is on the verge of catching his first pokemon, as team rocket stoops in to ruin the day

#18 - Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!

Season 18 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/1/2016

Ash’s class is going on a fishing trip, and Professor Kukui asks Lana to be in charge! Everyone casts their lures, with varying results—Lana befriends one Pokémon after another, but Ash and Mallow can’t get the timing right, Sophocles is too busy collecting data, and Lillie hooks a magnificent Milotic that gets away when she freezes. When they take a break, all their new Pokémon friends get scooped up in a Team Rocket net—and then find themselves falling toward some rocks! But Lana’s Popplio has been working hard for such an occasion, and it creates a giant water balloon to cushion the fall and save the day!

#19 - A Shocking Grocery Run!

Season 18 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/8/2016

On their day off from Pokémon School, Ash and his Pokémon are left home alone when Professor Kukui is called away. After some mishaps with laundry and cooking, Ash goes shopping and runs into Sophocles at the mall.

#20 - That's Why The Litten Is a Scamp!

Season 18 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/15/2016

Ash offers a piece of his sandwich to a wild Litten, but it grabs the whole thing and runs off! Ash’s classmates have had similar experiences, but everyone says it’s so cute they can’t get mad. Ash disagrees—he wants to catch Litten and teach it not to steal food!

#21 - Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!

Season 18 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/22/2016

Principal Oak assigns Ash’s class a special project: taking care of a Pokémon Egg. They soon realize someone will need to take the Egg home after school—and Mallow suggests Lillie! Lillie is stunned for a moment but soon steps up, hoping to get over her fear of touching Pokémon.

#22 - To Top a Totem!

Season 18 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/5/2017

Hala asks Ash how to keep Alolan Rattata and Raticate from overrunning the town. With his classmates’ help, Ash suggests recruiting their natural rivals, Yungoos and Gumshoos. Hala agrees, and Ash faces his first trial: battling the enormous Totem Gumshoos and its allies to gain their assistance!

#23 - Trial and Tribulation!

Season 18 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/19/2017

Ash faces off against Kahuna Hala in his first grand trial! His Rowlet defeats Hala’s Crabrawler, but it’s so exhausted afterward that it falls asleep in midair! Hala’s next Pokémon is the powerful Hariyama, who withstands every attack Pikachu tries. Hala unleashes the Fighting-type Z-Move, All-Out Pummeling—but thanks to Quick Attack, Pikachu dodges every hit. Then Ash’s own Z-Move, Breakneck Blitz, overwhelms Hariyama and wins the grand trial!

#24 - Young Kiawe Had a Farm!

Season 18 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/19/2017

On their day off from school, Ash joins Kiawe and his Charizard on their route, delivering fresh Moomoo Milk from Kiawe’s family farm on Akala Island. Ash wants to know all about farm life, so Kiawe takes him home to meet the family—and help out with all the chores!

#25 - The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair!

Season 18 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/26/2017

Team Rocket has been living in the lap of lazy luxury thanks to Bewear...but a wake-up call from the Boss gets them back on track, and they head to the beach in search of Pokémon.