JN045

Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken! (Japanese: ソード&シールドⅣ 「最強の剣と盾」 Sword & Shield IV - "The Ultimate Sword and Shield") is the 45th episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, and the 1,130th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on November 13, 2020 and in the United States on March 5, 2021.
==Blurb==
Chairman Rose is determined to use the destructive Legendary Pokémon Eternatus to produce unlimited energy, and Ash and Goh are battling hard to stop that from happening! Although Rose seems to have the upper hand, Ash’s Riolu suddenly evolves into Lucario and defeats Rose’s Pokémon! Elsewhere, Goh and Raboot battle Rose’s secretary Oleana. Things seem bleak for Goh…until Raboot evolves into Cinderace! Rejoining forces, our heroes realize the sword and shield from Galar’s hero legend are actually Zacian and Zamazenta—who appear just in time to help defeat Eternatus again! Goh catches Eternatus, and after adding it to his Pokédex, he leaves its Poké Ball with Professor Magnolia for safekeeping.
==Plot==
A news crew continues to report on the events occurring around Hammerlocke Stadium and the Dynamax outbreaks across Galar. Meanwhile, Jessie, James, and are still fleeing from the rampaging Gigantamax . Luckily, a mention of snaps Meowth back to his senses, and he starts to go after . As Meowth scales the stadium complex, his teammates grab hold of his tail. Already on the rooftop, prepares to Gigantamax his ; however, this fails, as does Meowth's attempt to use , due to Eternatus absorbing all the Galar particles in the vicinity. The Gigantic Pokémon then launches a , which sends Team Rocket blasting off, before continuing to charge itself with Galar particles.
On the battlefield, Chairman Rose is pleased to see Eternatus absorbing the Galar particles to assume its final form. is determined to end the chaos, so he orders and to attack. Rose's blocks with and uses on its opponents. Riolu prepares to land a counter , only for Ferrothorn to intervene while Copperajah tries another Heavy Slam. Ash realizes Rose's strategy involves synchronized offense and defense, so he tries to separate Rose's Pokémon with Pikachu's and Riolu using . Rose then orders both of his Pokémon to use , managing to corner Pikachu and Riolu. Ash orders his pair to leap at the last moment, leading Rose's Copperajah and Ferrothorn to strike each other down with Power Whip instead. Rose is stunned by the counter-tactic.
Meanwhile, Goh is facing Oleana in battle inside the stadium foyer. Goh's launches an , which is knocked back by Oleana's using . Raboot tries a flurry of Ember attacks, though another Water Pulse from Milotic lands instead. She remarks on Goh's weak performance, admitting that he is rather foolish for thinking he could even defeat Eternatus. She orders Goh to stop wasting her time and simply forfeit. Goh, however, refuses and orders another Ember. Milotic again counters with Water Pulse, landing a blow on Raboot as well. Goh decides to switch things up, but Raboot launches another Ember, insistent that it wants to only battle using Ember. Goh concedes, reflecting on Raboot's performance against . Oleana scores another Water Pulse hit on Raboot and orders it to use .
Eternatus suddenly launches a powerful Dynamax Cannon at the Hammerlocke Stadium complex, and the other battles pause momentarily. Pikachu narrowly evades the attack, leaping into Ash’s arms for safety. Rose orders his Pokémon to use Power Whip, though Riolu leaps in front to defend its Trainer and Pikachu. Riolu manages to stave off the blows with its paws and evolves into a to bolster its strength. Ash first calls for a , but Lucario uses its Aura to communicate with him, so he instead tells it to use , defeating Rose’s Pokémon with ease. Ash then rushes off to help Leon take on Eternatus, while Rose rushes to tend to his defeated Pokémon.
Goh, meanwhile, considers a way to win the battle with Ember, by aiming the attack at the walls and ceiling from all angles. Raboot fulfills its Trainer’s request, landing several Ember attacks on Milotic before evolving into . Taking a moment to scan it with his Rotom Phone, Goh orders Cinderace to launch its new attack, . The attack hits its mark and Oleana's Milotic is unable to battle. Raihan, meanwhile, easily defeats the group of after Sonia with 's . Sonia thanks Raihan for his help. He replies that while he would ask her on a date, he has to turn his attention to defeating the rampaging Dynamax Pokémon across Galar first. While Raihan leaves the area, Sonia turns her own attention to Eternatus.
Ash and Goh soon reach the tower summit, where Leon and Charizard continue to battle Eternatus. The boys take a moment to marvel at each other's newly evolved Pokémon before returning to the real situation at hand: defeating Eternatus. Leon focuses his attention on Eternatus's head to stop its attack and has Charizard use a flurry of attacks. As Eternatus appears to falter, Leon throws an Ultra Ball at it, momentarily sucking it in. However, Eternatus soon breaks out, with a powerful wave of energy knocking the boys down. Leon is forced to recall his Charizard before fainting from exhaustion. Eternatus then flies up into the sky and transforms into its larger form. Watching from his helicopter, Chairman Rose is thrilled by the development while Oleana is taken aback by it. Ash and Goh step up to take on Eternatus, but it is unfazed by their efforts and retaliates with . While Pikachu, Lucario, and Cinderace lay strewn about from the powerful attack, Goh cries out to them.
The Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield suddenly glow blue and red respectively, taking Ash and Goh by surprise. Goh explains that he found them in the Slumbering Weald. Sonia reaches the rooftop and rushes to attend to her injured friend Leon. Eternatus then launches another Eternabeam, which again causes the Rusted Sword and Shield to glow. Ash and Goh realize they must fulfill the ancient legend, so they raise their armaments to defend Galar from Eternatus's evil power. With this, and awaken at the Slumbering Weald and come to their aid, taking possession of the Rusted Sword and Shield, respectively, and transforming to their Crowned Sword and Crowned Shield forms. Zacian strikes with and Zamazenta follows on with a , both of which deal big hits. In retaliation, Eternatus unleashes a barrage of Eternabeams, one of which strikes the rotor of Chairman Rose's helicopter and sends it reeling. Ash and Goh order Pikachu to use , Lucario to use Aura Sphere, and Cinderace to strike with Pyro Ball. The attacks hit before the launch their own combined attack to exhaust Eternamax Eternatus. Goh sees his opportunity and takes out a , which grows in size. Working with Ash to throw the enlarged ball, Goh successfully catches . Goh's Rotom Phone updates with information on Eternatus, and the boys cheer. Zacian and Zamazenta quickly leave the area, leaping up into the sky and clearing away the dark clouds. The Dynamax Pokémon also return to their usual forms, ending the chaos across Galar. As the Rusted Sword and Shield return to Ash and Goh's possession, Leon takes the opportunity to thank them for helping save Galar, though the boys admit that Zacian and Zamazenta are the true heroes.
Sometime later, Professor Magnolia and her granddaughter Sonia update each other on the situation across Galar. Chairman Rose's whereabouts are a mystery, while Leon tries to track him down. Eternatus has since been sealed deep in the earth, but Magnolia admits it still poses a potential future threat. Sonia, meanwhile, has been given the title of Pokémon Professor, with her very own white lab coat, and tasked with protecting Galar from future harm. At the Slumbering Weald altar, Ash and Goh return the Rusted Sword and Shield to their rightful place and take the opportunity to thank the legendary heroes for their help. As the boys leave the altar, unknown to them, Zacian and Zamazenta appear momentarily to see them off.
==Major events==
* uses for the first time.
* 's evolves into and learns .
* Goh's evolves into and learns .
* Ash and Goh defeat Rose and Oleana, respectively.
* Ash and Goh reunite.
* Goh meets again.
* Leon attempts to , but fails.
* Eternatus turns into its form and is revealed to know .
* Ash encounters for the first time.
* Ash and Goh defeat Eternatus with and Zamazenta's help.
* Goh catches , ending the Darkest Day.
* Rose and Oleana go into hiding.
* Eternatus's is sealed away by Professor Magnolia.
* Sonia becomes a Pokémon Professor.
* Ash and Goh return the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield to the Slumbering Weald.
* Ash and Goh return to Vermilion City.
===Debuts===
====Pokémon debuts====
* (Galarian Form)
* ()
* Ash's Lucario
* ()
* ()
* (; )
==Characters==
===Humans===
* 
* Goh
* Jessie
* James
* Professor Magnolia
* 
* Rose
* Sonia
* Oleana
* Raihan
* 
** Oleana's subordinate
===Pokémon===
* ()
* (; Gigantamax)
* ()
* (; evolves)
* (; newly evolved)
* (; evolves)
* (; newly evolved; debut)
* (; flashback)
* (; ; new; sealed away)
* (Professor Cerise's; Rotom Phone; ×2)
* ()
* (Raihan's)
* (Professor Magnolia's; Rotom Phone)
* (Rose's)
* (Rose's)
* (Oleana's)
* (Oleana's subordinate's)
* ('s)
* ('s)
* ('s)
* (; )
* (; )
* (Dynamax)
* (Galarian Form; Dynamax; debut)
* (multiple; Dynamax)
* (Dynamax)
==Trivia==
* Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!!: 
* This episode concludes the four-episode arc.
* In the original trailer for the Sword and Shield arc, Gigantamax is alone when he climbs to the top of the tower summit. In the broadcasted version of the episode, can be seen in the frame with him.
* This episode marks the first time that:
** A first partner Pokémon belong to a main character has evolved in two different regions since May's Blaziken fully evolved in Once More With Reeling!, 665 episodes earlier.
** One of has evolved outside of the region it was obtained in since An Old Family Blend!, 482 episodes earlier.
** One of Ash's Pokémon has evolved via friendship since his evolved into in Battling the Leaf Thieves!, 399 episodes earlier.
** A main character's first partner Pokémon from the current generation fully evolves before all of the concurrent first partner Pokémon are introduced.
** A main character has a Legendary Pokémon, although they ultimately don't keep it.
** Meowth has used a new move since The Path to the Pokémon League, 1,122 episodes ago.
* There is no Dare da? or Who's That Pokémon? segment in this episode. The same is true for the other episodes in the Sword and Shield arc.
* Professor Cerise, Goh, , , and narrate the preview for the next episode.
===Errors===
===Dub edits===
==In other languages==
045
Category:Episodes written by Michihiro Tsuchiya
Category:Episodes storyboarded by Hiromasa Amano
Category:Episodes directed by Saori Den
Category:Episodes animated by Rei Yamazaki	
Category:Episodes animated by Yoshitaka Yanagihara	
Category:Episodes animated by Miki Nomura	
Category:Episodes animated by Studio Massket
Category:Episodes by multiple animation directors	
Category:Episodes in which a Legendary Pokémon appears
Category:Episodes in which a Champion appears
Category:Episodes in which a main character's Pokémon evolves
Category:Episodes in which a main character's Pokémon learns a new move
Category:Episodes in which a main character obtains a new Pokémon
Category:Episodes in which a main character releases or gives away a Pokémon
de:Schwert und Schild: Die Legenden erwachen!
es:EP1134
fr:LV045
it:EP045
ja:新無印編第45話
zh:宝可梦 旅途 第45集