Top 10 Pokemon Rival Battles

Since their first battle turned out to be a real snoozefest, you could say Ash and his partner were particularly motivated for this rematch. After all, you don’t see Rowlet wake up for just any old fight. But, as it turns out, when it's not groggy, Ash’s feathery grass type has quite the peck. Especially when paired with its new Seed Bomb attack. Hau’s evolved Dartrix didn’t make it easy on them, though. So, when the wings were down, Ash brought out his trusty Z-ring for a flashy Bloom Doom finisher. After such a back-and-forth, it’s hard to say who are the bigger rivals: Ash and Hau, or Rowlet and Dartrix.

Pokémon contests are supposed to be spectacles, but this one takes that idea to the next level. See, rather than a traditional battle, this two-on-two is all about Dawn and Zoey trying to strategically one-up each other. As expected, the results are downright dazzling. The stunning tug-of-war takes on a new meaning because Zoey isn’t just a rival, she’s a friend. And yet, that’s precisely why she served as the perfect final hurdle for Dawn’s journey. That emotionally-charged final blow basically proves as much. Dawn doesn't quite clinch the win here, but she can hold her head high that she went out with both style and substance.

Despite Pikachu’s best efforts, Serperior nearly squeezed Ash out of the Unova League in the very first round. The Pallet Town prodigy didn’t exactly have a great track record against Trip, and this 1v1 wasn’t looking any different. Pikachu was pulled, slapped, and blasted until it could barely muster a spark anymore. But, just when Trip tried to wrap things up for good, Pikachu delivered an Iron Tail to end all Iron tails. By supercharging it with an Electro Ball attack, Pikachu managed to shock Serperior all the way to a flowery defeat. Trip’s comeuppance was a long time coming, but boy was it worth the wait.

After two regions, dozens of contests, and a whole lot of smack talk, May and Drew finally settled their score once and for all. Yeah, you could say the stakes were high. Visually speaking, Combusken and Squirtle’s combination attacks are some of the most breathtaking the series has ever seen. Although, Drew makes a compelling case for his Flygon and Absol, too. To say nothing of the actual combat. Still, the riveting clash of might doesn’t take away from how much this means to each trainer. May’s time on the show couldn’t have ended any other way, and we don’t just mean Combusken’s Sky Uppercut. Though, that didn’t hurt, either.

Putting aside the tournament and the build-up, there’s just something undeniably awesome about an Ash-Greninja squaring off against a Mega Sceptile. The best part? There’s a whole fight before that moment, and it’s just as epic. Sawyer’s analytical schemes ensured that, even in a full six on six battle, there wasn’t so much as a single dull matchup. Especially since Ash kept countering each new strategy with one of his own. But, of course, the real winner here is the fated showdown of starters. Somehow, this duel made Ash-Greninja look even cooler, and Sawyer’s Mega Sceptile couldn’t just compete anymore. But, at the very least, it went down with one hell of a fight.

This isn’t the first time these two have stepped in the ring together, but it is the first to get an ending. Unlike their original bout, there’s no Team Rocket, no excuses, and no holding back. That last part is particularly true for Ash’s Lycanroc. He hadn’t quite worked through his rage yet, and it came out in a big way against Gladion’s Silvally. Not that it changed the outcome very much. The Null Pokemon positively wrecked Ash’s Lycanroc, and that was with the rage boost. Once his temper cooled off, the rock-type sank like, well, a rock. It’s a one-sided affair that focuses on character above action, and it’s all the better for it.

You know you’re in for a good fight when it opens with Pikachu taking on a Tyranitar. Although, that shouldn’t be too “shocking” considering this was Ash’s first crack at a League finals. Unfortunately, Alain was there, too. Just like all his other run-ins with Ash, he was the definition of calm, cool, and collected. At least, to start out. Ash soon proves that he didn’t make it this far for nothing, and neither did his Pokémon. The fights are nothing short of grandiose, to the point even Alain himself starts to sweat. Ash’s Greninja couldn’t quite clutch the win, but the fact that they forced out Alain’s Mega Charizard is its own victory.

There are six Pokemon on each side of this battle, but really, it all comes down to one. Don’t get us wrong, these rounds are as insane as they come. But, at the end of the day, this was always Infernape’s fight to win. Ever since he was a Chimchar, Paul scoffed at the idea of strength coming from the heart. It took a few tries, but in the quarter-finals of the Sinnoh League, Infernape finally proved him wrong. And he did it in absolutely blazing fashion. With one jaw-dropping Flare Blitz, the fire-type took home a win for the league, for Ash, and for himself all at the same time.

It’s hard to beat the day Ash actually became a Pokémon master. Let alone that he defeated Leon to do it. The Galar Champ fulfilled the role of Ash’s last rival all too well, and proved as much with this unprecedented fight. Spread across four action-packed episodes, the skirmish has time to do twenty years of Pokémon stories proud. We’re talking nonstop hype, cameos from Pokémon and partners alike, and a final stretch with Pikachu that needs no introduction. The word “historic” doesn’t even come close to summing it all up. Leon’s good and all, but not even he could stand between Ash, Pikachu, and becoming the very best like no one ever was.

Oak’s grandson practically defined what a Pokemon rival should be. As such, he also laid out what happens when Ash reaches their level. This one showdown essentially culminated “Pokémon” as we knew it, and the fight did not disappoint. Gary definitely brought out the big guns - in Blastoise’s case, literally. But, Ash had Charizard, and in the end, that’s all he needed to secure a win over his longtime rival. Even compared to becoming a League Champ, nothing may ever top the high of Charizard Seismic-tossing Ash to victory. If only because, in the process, he finally wiped that smug grin off Gary’s face.