EP271

Playing with Fire! (Japanese: バシャーモふたたび！ハヅキとのたたかい！！ Returns! Battle Against !!) is the 271st episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on October 24, 2002, and in the United States on October 4, 2003. 
==Blurb==
Ash is battling Harrison from Hoenn at the Johto League Silver Conference. Pikachu is very excited to be battling, but Harrison's Kecleon knocks Pikachu out in Round 1. It's a close match the whole way through, but one by one Harrison knocks out Totodile, Snorlax, and Noctowl. Ash cleverly guides Bayleef through a rough battle with Harrison's Houndoom. Houndoom is a fire type Pokémon so it has the advantage, but Ash had Bayleef use its Vine Whip attack to close Houndoom's mouth. In the end, Bayleef is able to knock out Houndoom! But Bayleef is no match for Harrison's last Pokémon. Harrison's sixth Pokémon is one that Ash has never seen before—Blaziken. It's a fire type Pokémon and it's at a really high level. Ash has saved Charizard for last. With two strong fire types in the arena, it's hard to predict the outcome! (To be continued!)
==Plot==
 has chosen to 's . Ash takes a moment to check his Pokédex for information, which alerts him to Kecleon's unique . Soon enough Kecleon camouflages itself, making itself almost invisible besides a red zigzag on its stomach. Ash soon realizes that Kecleon hasn't moved yet, but before Pikachu can attack, Kecleon jumps into the long grass for cover. To counter this maneuver Ash orders Pikachu to listen out for Kecleon. However, Kecleon uses its attack to confuse Pikachu, then tosses him aside with its tongue. Harrison orders a , and the attack narrowly clips Pikachu as he tries to evade it. Pikachu stands up and rushes into the grass to hide, but Kecleon uses its tongue to cut down the lawn. Pikachu bides his time before grabbing a hold of Kecleon's tongue, using it as a wire to deliver a direct , knocking Kecleon out. Harrison quickly recalls Kecleon.
For his second Pokémon, Harrison sends out , the same one he captured before the tournament opened. Pikachu uses another Thunderbolt, but Sneasel dodges and lashes Pikachu with a to claim the round. Ash takes a second to collect Pikachu from the field before calling out . He orders a , but Sneasel runs forward and attempts to use Metal Claw. However, Totodile s down on Sneasel's arm, effectively immobilizing it. Totodile performs a happy dance, knocking Sneasel into the ground in the process. After Totodile swats it away with his tail, it leaves Sneasel unable to continue.
Harrison chooses to fight next. Totodile tries a , but Hypno is totally unfazed by the attack. Hypno replies with a bout of , taking full control of Totodile. Next, Hypno uses a attack to send Totodile flying, knocking him out cold. Ash sends out his , who emerges from its sleeping peacefully. Although Snorlax's slumbering state prevents it from being affected by Hypnosis, Hypno takes advantage of the situation by using . As Hypno slowly absorbs Snorlax's energy, its target soon wakes up in a rage from having its dreams stolen. With a single , Hypno is blasted out of the match. The announcer orders a five-minute intermission due to three of Harrison's Pokémon being unable to battle. 
From the sidelines, and remind Ash that he needs to remain focused. He reassures them, declaring that he hopes to make proud. Meanwhile, the Team Rocket trio watch as construction goes ahead on their ever-expanding business venture. James takes all of the credit, remarking that his excellent pin designs made all the difference. However, Jessie reminds him that her marketing strategies were invaluable. As the pair squabble, orders them to settle down and focus on the business instead.
The second half of the battle begins, Ash sends out and Harrison chooses . Noctowl hits Steelix with a , but Steelix blinds it with . Noctowl is hit with a attack from Steelix. Noctowl recovers and attempts to use Hypnosis. However, Steelix knocks it out of the sky with a powerful , winning Harrison the round. Ash sends Snorlax back out. As Snorlax prepares to use its Hyper Beam, Steelix s it up and uses a attack. Snorlax manages to free itself from Steelix's Bind with an before proceeding to knock Steelix out with a Hyper Beam.
Harrison's next Pokémon is . Snorlax uses Hyper Beam once more. However, Houndoom uses to deflect the attack, and Snorlax ends up getting blasted by its own Hyper Beam at twice its original power, knocking the out. is amazed that Harrison's Houndoom can use Counter. Ash's next Pokémon is . The decision surprises Harrison, however, as a Pokémon like Bayleef is weak against Pokémon like Houndoom. Brock and have their doubts, but they hope that Ash can overcome the type disadvantage. Bayleef starts with , but a attack from Houndoom burns through the leaves. Ash orders , while Harrison orders . The attacks miss, but then, Bayleef uses to shut Houndoom's muzzle, which prevents Houndoom from using Flamethrower and Bite. Bayleef tosses Houndoom to the ground and then finishes the battle off with a .
Harrison is down to his last Pokémon—. Oak is surprised to see Blaziken, and he informs that the rare Hoenn Pokémon will be interesting to watch. Brock notes that Bayleef has to battle yet another type-advantaged Pokémon. Ash consults his Pokédex once again, which reveals Blaziken can use its long legs to make incredible leaps. Bayleef starts with Razor Leaf, but Blaziken uses its legs to kick the leaves away in a flash. This impressive display of strength and speed causes Ash to reconsider his strategy. He settles on keeping Bayleef away from Blaziken as much as possible. Ash orders a Vine Whip, but the vines are easily caught by Blaziken. Ash is shocked at yet another incredible display of reflexes while Blaziken proceeds to reel Bayleef in. Ash orders a Body Slam to use Blaziken's power against it, but Blaziken lands a close-range on Bayleef and knocks her out.
Now Ash is also down to his last Pokémon, . Harrison knows the round will be challenging as Ash's Charizard is a high-level Pokémon. Both Pokémon launch their Flamethrowers and the attacks clash in mid-air, resulting in a huge ball of fire.
==Major events==
* and continue their Full Battle in the quarterfinals.
* Harrison is revealed to own a and a .
* Ash's Bayleef is revealed to know .
===Debuts===
====Pokémon debuts====
==Characters==
===Humans===
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* Jessie
* James
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* Jackson
* Macy
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===Pokémon===
Who's That Pokémon?: (U.S. and international), (Japan)
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==Trivia==
* This episode can be found on the second Game Boy Advance Video Pokémon cartridge.
* This episode marks the last time to date in which has used or in an official battle onscreen.
* doesn't blast off or recite the in this episode.
===Errors===
* On Pokémon.com, the title used to read "Play with Fire!" instead of "Playing with Fire!".
** Additionally, the blurb for this episode states that 's knocks out of the battle in the first round; however, it is actually Pikachu who defeats Kecleon in the first round. Pikachu is instead knocked out by Harrison's Sneasel in the second round.
* During the introduction, the narrator says that Harrison is using Pokémon Ash has never seen before, but it shows Kecleon as an example, even though Kecleon is one of the few Hoenn Pokémon Ash has seen before. Pikachu, , and appeared not to recognize the Kecleon either.
* When Pikachu is hit by Kecleon's , he is shown with spiral eyes, which is normally used as an indication that a Pokémon has been knocked out, and yet is still able to battle. To make matters more confusing, when Pikachu is knocked out a couple of minutes later, he is shown with the standard spiral eyes.
* When Ash sends out Totodile, he throws a normal , despite the fact that he caught him with a Lure Ball.
* At the halfway point, the announcer incorrectly refers to the quarterfinals as the semifinals.
* Harrison's hits Ash's Noctowl with , which should not be possible since Noctowl is a type, and as such should not be affected by a move.
* When Ash sends out for the second time, the cream part of its belly is disconnected from the cream part of its face.
* In the English dub:
** Totodile's is incorrectly referred to as .
** Steelix's is incorrectly referred to as . In addition, Steelix cannot legally learn Wrap.
* In the dub, 's voice is absent.
EP271 error.png|Totodile's Poké Ball
EP271 error 2.png|Snorlax's belly
===Dub edits===
==In other languages==
271
Category:Episodes written by Atsuhiro Tomioka
Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Toshiaki Suzuki
Category:Episodes storyboarded by Toshiaki Suzuki
Category:Episodes directed by Toshiaki Suzuki
Category:Episodes animated by Izumi Shimura
Category:Pokémon League episodes
Category:Episodes focusing on Ash
Category:Episodes in which an alternately colored Pokémon appears
de:Spiel mit dem Feuer!
es:EP273
fr:EP271
it:OA155
ja:無印編第271話
zh:宝可梦 第272集