Following my previous article titled the Top 3 Pokémon Anime to Watch, I’ve mentioned that despite the fact that it’s one of the most recent entry into the Pokémon franchise, Pokémon XY and its subsequent series, Pokémon XY&Z were arguably one of the best Pokémon anime to be produced so far! With its step up in animation quality thanks to computer effects, great storyline, and well-thought out characters (especially the more competent Ash), many fans are also praising the intense Pokémon battles that showcase fluid movements and great strategies. While there are many battles that were excellent, here we introduce to you some of our favourite Pokémon battles in the Pokémon XY&Z series!
1. Ash-Greninja vs Mega Gardevoir [Episode 25 of Pokémon XY&Z]
If you were to ask any watchers of the Pokémon XY&Z series on which episodes they liked the most, most if not all will definitely mention Episode 25. This episode sent the Pokémon community into a frenzy as it showcased the very first appearance of Ash-Greninja, a special form Greninja takes after unlocking its hidden potential due to its special bond with Ash. This fight between Ash-Greninja and Mega Gardevoir also marks the second battle between Ash and Champion Diantha as the first was unfortunately interrupted by Team Rocket, not allowing Champion Diantha to show Gardevoir’s Mega Evolution. Fortunately, there were no interruptions this time round and thanks to Champion Diantha pushing Ash and Greninja to their limits with her speedy Gardevoir, their hidden potential was finally unlocked which really made this whole episode intriguing to watch.
2. Ash-Greninja vs Mega Sceptile [Episode 35 of Pokémon XY&Z]
Following Ash’s journey into the semi-finals of the Kalos League in Lumiose City, we witness the intense battle between Ash and Sawyer, both fighting for the chance of becoming the Champion. Despite the fact that the battle between Ash-Greninja and Mega Sceptile was only 5 minutes long, it was definitely an intense one as both contestants were down to their final Pokémon. This is one of those battles that will keep you on the edge of your seat, your entire attention focused on following each Pokémon’s movement. As it was a very, very close match, it was extremely difficult to tell who’d be the winner of this match. This was hands down the most epic battle with flawless animation, amazing dialogue, and both Pokémon going at full power.
3. Ash-Greninja vs Mega Charizard X [Episode 38 of Pokémon XY&Z]
Having defeated Sawyer in the semi-finals, Ash advances to the finals of the Kalos League to face his rival, Alain for a Full Battle (a six-on-six battle instead of the usual three-on-three). As with most great battles in Pokémon XY&Z, it is quite hard to predict what was going to happen in each battle, and this is no exception. Spanning over two episodes, Episode 38 begins with the final battle between Ash-Greninja and Alain’s Mega Charizard X. The animation as expected was awesome, and since the battle between the two is longer compared to the battle between Ash and Sawyer, it was definitely much more intense with many close calls. Will Ash with a type advantage over Alain finally win his first ever Pokémon League? Well, the only way to find out is to watch it!
Watching the anime really gives out a different feel than the games as the Pokémon battles in the anime series are more unpredictable and relies heavily on the trainers’ reflexes, strategy, and wits to win. If you’ve not watched the Pokémon XY&Z series yet, I strongly urge you to as it’s an incredible experience and really, really enjoyable (more so with Japanese dub!) Otherwise, if you’ve watched the series, what other Pokémon battles stood out to you the most? Let us know in the comments section below!
