Best Episodes
Join Ash accompanied by his partner Pikachu, as he travels through many regions, meets new friends and faces new challenges on his quest to become a Pokémon Master.
Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 12, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
On a boat heading to see ruins dedicated to Reshiram, Ash, Iris, and Cilan meet the mysterious boy calling himself N, who quickly befriends their Pokémon. However, when Team Rocket attacks the group once more and James's Amoonguss paralyzes Pikachu with Stun Spore, N's timely intervention helps turn the tide of the fight.
The episode was rated 7.88 from 17 votes.
On the way to Vertress City, Ash, Cilan, and Iris find their way to Iris's hometown: the Village of Dragons. While there, Iris shows Axew to her elder and helps her childhood friend Shannon when one of her Zweilous suddenly evolves into Hydreigon and goes out of control.
The episode was rated 7.95 from 19 votes.
On the way to the Unova League, Ash and Cilan get challenged to a Tag Battle against the brothers Soren and Rocko who have trained their Braviary (Soldier of the skies) and Drilbur (Warrior of the land) to perform amazing combination attacks.
The episode was rated 7.95 from 21 votes.
Ash's Snivy and Pikachu must face off against Cameron and his newly evolved Lucario.
The episode was rated 8.00 from 22 votes.
Ash and friends once again run into N, who has freed a Braviary held captive by Team Plasma. They help him bring it to a Pokémon Center, but when Braviary is tracked by a pair of Team Plasma Grunts - Nero and Bianco, who respectively use a Seviper and Zangoose in battle - N puts his life on the line. Successfully freeing Braviary, N joins the group on their journey to the White Ruins.
The episode was rated 8.05 from 19 votes.
After N is hurt by Colress's machine, two young women, Anthea and Concordia, come to save him. It is from these two girls that Ash and the others learn the truth about N's life, including his link to the evil Ghetsis.
The episode was rated 8.06 from 17 votes.
Colress appears and tests his newly-advanced machine on Dragon-type Pokémon - first taking over a young trainer's Haxorus, and later Iris's Dragonite. As Ash and Charizard try to stop them, N puts himself in the crossfire, knowing the Pokémon should be friends and not fight.
The episode was rated 8.20 from 15 votes.
Learning that the Unova League will be held at Vertress City, Ash and his friends prepare for the tournament, but not before making a detour towards Iris' hometown, the Village of Dragons. But along the way, Iris drags the boys and their Pokémon into competing against a group of women who believe that their Pokémon are not only powerful but more beautiful than anyone else's.
The episode was rated 8.21 from 24 votes.
At the ruins dedicated to the Pokémon Reshiram, N steals the Light Stone from Cedric Juniper, and Ash's attempt to stop him ends with them separated from the others. Team Plasma move to attack the White Ruins while Team Rocket watch on in anticipation, and Iris, Cilan and Looker attempt to fight off the enemy forces.
The episode was rated 8.23 from 13 votes.
Near Vertress City, the gang meets the Pokémon Rescue Squad's Virgil - trainer of Team Eevee - and his brother Davey, whom they decide to assist in helping a group of troubled Cryoganal.
The episode was rated 8.31 from 16 votes.
With Iris and Cilan heading off on their own adventures in Johto, Ash is restless and still wishes to become a Pokémon Master. To that end, Alexa suggests that he travel with her back to her home in the Kalos region just as Team Rocket hatches another plan to steal Pikachu.
The episode was rated 8.35 from 17 votes.
As the revived Reshiram quickly falls under Ghetsis' control, Ash and friends try to develop a strategy to stop Team Plasma. Looker convinces Team Rocket to help in the fight against the villains, while Ash and Pikachu aim to destroy the controlling machine, and N hopes to pacify the enraged Reshiram before it destroys the world in a righteous fury - akin to when it burned down Team Plasma's castle in the past.
The episode was rated 8.35 from 17 votes.
On Wayfarer Island, Ash and his friends see the native Metapod and Butterfree, and when they find a Caterpie who has not yet evolved, Ash takes it upon himself to help the very lazy Pokémon join the rest of its friends, remembering the times he had raising his own Butterfree years ago.
The episode was rated 8.40 from 15 votes.
Ash and his friends come across the Kanto Fair, and seeing a Charmander perform on stage reminds him of his old friend Charizard. He tells Iris, Cilan and N about his and Charizard's history, with Misty and Brock making cameos during the tale. Professor Oak sends Charizard over, and after he meets Iris' Dragonite, the two trainers agree to have a friendly match. Ash's offer to let Charizard rejoin his team is met with approval from all parties involved.
The episode was rated 8.71 from 21 votes.
Ash and N prepare to save Iris, Cilan, and Professor Juniper's father from the clutches of Team Plasma before Ghetsis can revive Reshiram, but their attempts to fight back are hampered by Colress's Pokémon controlling machine, forcing them all to call back their Pokémon. Pikachu gets hit by the machine's beam, which sways N into surrendering the Light Stone in exchange for its freedom just as Ghetsis arrives, ready to begin the ritual.
The episode was rated 8.81 from 16 votes.
