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Pokémon has thrived for more than a quarter-century, largely due to its adaptability and the vast array of experiences it offers its fans. While battles and Pokémon League tournaments form a significant part of the franchise, they aren’t the sole focus for every fan. However, they do provide a sense of progression, achievement, and closure, especially when depicted in the anime series.
The Pokémon League tournaments serve as an effective narrative device to conclude a storyline within a specific region or series. They showcase Ash’s growth and the development of other Trainers, each tournament bringing its unique celebration and thrilling spectacle. Yet, despite their grandeur, not all tournaments are crafted equally; some resonate more with the audience due to their compelling nature.
The final season of Pokémon the Series: Black & White builds up to the Unova League, also known as the Vertress Conference. Given Ash’s strong showing in the preceding Sinnoh League, where he advanced to the semifinals, expectations were high. However, the Unova League turns out to be a disappointment, primarily due to Ash’s surprising regression in performance and strategic thinking, marking it as the franchise’s least impressive tournament.
Ash’s Unova League Loss To Cameron Is An Embarrassing & Disappointing Defeat
The final season of Pokémon the Series: Black & White culminates in the Unova League, also known as the Vertress Conference. There are naturally some high expectations in place for the Unova League, considering Ash’s impressive performance in the Sinnoh League, where he made it to the semifinals. Unfortunately, Ash’s performance and intelligence completely regresses during this tournament, making it indisputably Pokémon‘s worst tournament.
The tournament suffers from rushed pacing and uneventful battles, but the most frustrating element is that Ash loses to Cameron, a complete novice who only brings five Pokémon to a six-on-six battle. Cameron is one of the worst trainers for Ash to lose against. The Unova League attempts to create a similar aesthetic to the initial Indigo League, but it completely fails on this front.
Ash’s Indigo League Becomes A Humbling Experience In Hubris
Pokémon‘s Indigo League in the Kanto region is always going to be memorable, if for no other reason than it being Ash’s first proper Pokémon League. That being said, Ash’s lackluster performance in this tournament also highlights his lack of training and how he’s been fortunate enough to coast through past battles. Ash learns in the Indigo League that his overpowered Pikachu can’t solve all his problems.
Ash’s loss against Ritchie is quite humiliating, as is Charizard’s utter disobedience during a crucial moment. This tournament is an eye-opening wake-up call for Ash and Pokémon builds upon this tournament’s foundation to deliver better results in the future.
Pokémon’s Hoenn League Tries Too Hard To Reinvent The Wheel & Ends Up Stranded
Pokémon always deserves credit for when it attempts to push itself out of its comfort zone and do something different. It’s just a shame that Pokémon‘s Hoenn League became such a bland misfire. Ash puts to use a completely new team of Pokémon consisting of his Hoenn region acquisitions and, while this makes sense for a tournament that’s meant to act as Hoenn’s big finale, it’s ridiculous that Ash would overlook many of his more powerful Pokémon.
The worst part of all this is that Pikachu, who should be Ash’s ringer, loses to a foolish Meowth. The Hoenn League attempts something different by casting a wider range with Ash’s opponents and foregoing the standard rival approach, but this only leaves the Hoenn League feeling less important. If nothing else, Ash’s six-on-six battle against Katie is a series highlight.
Ash Opts For Fighting-Type Bragging Rights In His Clubsplosion Clash
Outside the official Pokémon League battles are many other mini-tournaments, some of which specialize in particular areas or types of Pokémon. For instance, Pokémon the Series: Black & White‘s Clubsplosion Tournament is a 16-competitor tournament that plays out over four episodes. Clubsplosion is cut from the same cloth as Nimbasa Town’s Club Battle.
It’s a tournament that focuses on hand-to-hand combat and Fighting-Type Pokémon, although there are no limitations in which Pokémon are allowed to participate. Ash’s positive performance alongside Stephan and Montgomery gives Clubsplosion’s narrative a surprising amount of charm. Ash’s Scraggy is one of his more interesting Unova acquisitions, and he gets to step into the Clubsplosion spotlight until losing against Montgomery’s Throh.
Ash Conquers Personal Milestones & Grows As A Trainer During The Johto League
Pokémon‘s Johto League is a real turning point for both Ash and the series, making it the perfect sophomore tournament that improves upon its Indigo League predecessor. Ash doesn’t win the League, but he does markedly better than he did in the last tournament, reaching the Top 8’s quarterfinals, which actually feels believable.
Here, Ash cements his bond with Charizard, which in some ways is even more satisfying than taking home the trophy. Ash’s Charizard losing to Harrison’s Blaziken feels a little outlandish, but it works as a plausible explanation to push Ash towards the Hoenn region and continue his journey. There’s a lot of narrative development in the Johto League that connects dots across the first two regions, most notably with how it brings Ash and Gary’s rivalry to a head.
The Masters Eight Tournament Pits Pokémon’s Very Best Against Each Other
A franchise that’s been around for as long as Pokémon can build to some truly epic spectacles that take advantage of its history. The Masters Eight Tournament from Pokémon Journeys does exactly this by assembling the world’s eight top Pokémon Trainers to determine the World Coronation Series’ grand champion. The very nature of the Masters Eight Tournament plays like the greatest hits of Pokémon‘s past.
Ash’s competition is filled with fan-favorite familiar faces like Cynthia, Steven, Lance, and Alain, while Leon defends his title as reigning Monarch. There’s a somewhat simplified nature to the tournament that strips away excess — including the one-on-one finals — and leads to a more predictable tournament as a result.
Pokémon’s Hearthome Tournament Delivers Terrific Tag-Team Two-On-Two Triumphs
Pokémon the Series: Diamond & Pearl‘s Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition is a really creative spin on a standard Pokémon tournament. The Hearthome Tournament features tag-team battles where each member fights with two Pokémon apiece. Tag-team matches always require some clever strategic planning, but Hearthome brilliantly pairs Ash together with Paul, his rival.
This is a great way for Ash to better understand and respect his enemy. There’s excellent character development between Ash and Paul, while the bond between Ash and his future Chimchar also reaches new heights. It’s easily the best of Pokémon’s mini-tournaments and a solid stretch of episodes that reinforces the narrative power of back-to-back battles.
The Kalos League Pushes Ash To New Heights Against A Rogue Rival
Pokémon the Series: XY‘s Kalos League feels like it’s torn in two different directions that ultimately turn it into a rather mixed bag, doing as much wrong as it does right. There’s a curious structural approach to the Kalos League in which several of Ash’s fights aren’t fully seen, so that all the focus can be placed on just his two most important battles.
Beyond this setback are some standout fights against Sawyer and Alain. Ash’s battle against Alain is thrilling, in particular, but this rival comes out of nowhere and feels like he exists for no other purpose than to defeat Ash. Pokémon could have done greater work with Alain’s development and execution, outside just the Mega Evolution specials.
Ash Is Finally Crowned A Pokémon Master Upon His Alola League Victory
It’s extremely difficult for Pokémon to put together a truly perfect League tournament. That being said, it’s hard to begrudge the Alola League when it finally marks Ash’s victory and his long-awaited crowning as a Pokémon Master. Admittedly, there are some convenient concessions that are present, like how every major competitor is someone who Ash knows, but these are easy to overlook.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see Ash slowly overtake his rivals and his final match against Kukui, despite being a three-on-three match instead of the standard six-on-six style, is such a strong, satisfying final fight. Ash’s win feels earned and the Alola League gives him a worthy challenge to overcome that, in many ways, brings home over 1000 episodes of adventures.
Some Of Ash’s Best Battles Are When He Works His Way To The Sinnoh League Semifinals
Ash may only make it to the Sinnoh League’s semifinals, losing against Tobias, but the fact that the Sinnoh League remains Pokémon‘s best-written tournament is proof that a competition’s winner isn’t the most important element. The Sinnoh League is a formative learning experience for Ash on every front, and the tournament doesn’t have a weak link when it comes to its well-crafted matches.
Ash’s battles against Conway, Nando, and Paul are all exceptional, and it’s extremely exciting to see Ash take out two Legendary Pokémon during his fight against Tobias. He gains a lot of respect as a Pokémon Trainer when everything is said and done here, and the climax of his rivalry with Paul is handled masterfully. Ash’s victory in the Alola League wouldn’t be possible without him learning what he did in the Sinnoh League.
Pokémon
- Release Date
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1997 – 2023
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
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Rica Matsumoto
Satoshi (voice)
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Ikue Otani
Pikachu (voice)
