A Strategic Part of Battling!

### Written by

Sonic876, Punkasaurus0530, Frogadier55, NegimaLover, TMNTHedgehog5, and DragonSpore18

### Directed by

Sonic876 and NegimaLover

***A Strategic Part of Battling!*** is the 32nd episode of *Josh's Adventures of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys the Series*.

## Plot

The Masters Eight Tournament semifinals battle between Ash and Cynthia continues, with the former having three Pokémon remaining and the latter having four. Ash's fourth Pokémon is Dracovish, and Cynthia sends out her fifth Pokémon, Garchomp, causing Ash to wonder if she will Mega Evolve. Dracovish goes in for an Ice Fang, but Garchomp dodges and lands a Dragon Claw, dealing super effective damage on Dracovish. Garchomp follows up with a Stealth Rock, before Cynthia substitutes her for Roserade, whose burn from Gengar's earlier Will-O-Wisp has been healed thanks to its Ability, Natural Cure. Despite this, Dracovish is able to withstand Roserade's Poison Jab and strike back with a Fishious Rend, though it ends up getting poisoned. Nonetheless, Dracovish's poison status gives it the anger, determination, and power to push through Roserade's Leaf Storm with Dragon Rush, knocking Roserade out.
Ash wants to recall Dracovish at this point due to the damage it is taking from poison, but, at Dracovish's insistence, allows it to stay in the battle. Cynthia sends out her sixth Pokémon, Milotic, whom Dracovish charges toward with Dragon Rush. Milotic uses Disarming Voice to keep Dracovish at bay, before employing the same tactic it used against Iris's Dragonite and coiling around Dracovish to use a close-range Iron Head. Dracovish, however, strikes back with Fishious Rend, and the attacks collide to create a big explosion. Although Milotic has taken visible damage, Dracovish ends up going down.

Ash recalls Dracovish and sends out Sirfetch'd, who immediately takes damage from Garchomp's Stealth Rock. Ash suddenly gets an idea and has Sirfetch'd use Brutal Swing with its shield to eliminate the Stealth Rock, greatly impressing Goh, Hop, Leon, Diantha, and Cynthia. Milotic attacks with a Hydro Pump, but Sirfetch'd is able to dodge the attack by jumping into the air, retrieving its shield in the process. Sirfetch'd and Milotic both proceed to charge at each other as Milotic uses Iron Head. However, Sirfetch'd uses its shield to block Milotic's attack, before landing a flurry of Fury Cutters that pushes Milotic back. Milotic's next attack is Disarming Voice, but Sirfetch'd manages to endure it and blitz Milotic with Meteor Assault, taking it down.

Cynthia recalls Milotic and commends Ash on his cleverness at getting rid of the Stealth Rock, before sending Garchomp back out and again forcing Ash to consider the possibility of Garchomp Mega Evolving. Sirfetch'd charges once more with Fury Cutter, knocking away a Scale Shot along the way, before clashing against Garchomp's Dragon Claw. Sirfetch'd ends up getting knocked back, but is able to avert a second Dragon Claw by using Detect. Sirfetch'd goes in for a Meteor Assault, and Garchomp uses Draco Meteor in response, both of which successfully land. Both Pokémon take a good amount of damage and, as the smoke clears, enter a standoff. Garchomp eventually stumbles, but remains conscious, while Sirfetch'd faints standing up.

Ash recalls Sirfetch'd as Cynthia calls Garchomp back. Ash sends out his final Pokémon, Lucario, and Cynthia sends Togekiss back out. In the stands, Goh's Cinderace suddenly pops out of its Poké Ball to cheer on his friend. Lucario starts off with Bullet Punch, and Togekiss tries to stop it in its tracks with Air Slash, but Lucario is able to push through it and land its attack on Togekiss. Togekiss is still standing, however, as Lucario charges an Aura Sphere. Togekiss beats it to the punch with another Air Slash, not only dealing a good amount of damage, but also negating Lucario's Aura Sphere, seemingly making it flinch. Togekiss uses yet another Air Slash, but Lucario uses Bullet Punch to neutralize the attack, resisting flinching thanks to its strong willpower. After a brief moment of silence, Cynthia surprises the entire Wyndon Stadium by recalling Togekiss and Dynamaxing it, revealing that she has no intention of Mega Evolving Garchomp. Ash readies his Key Stone, and Lucario prepares to take on Dynamax Togekiss as the battle approaches its climax.

## Major events

* Ash and Cynthia continue their Full Battle in the semifinals.
* Ash's Lucario is revealed to have Inner Focus as its Ability.
* Cynthia is revealed to own a Dynamax Band.

## Characters

### Humans

* Ash
* Tracey
* Goh
* Jessie
* James
* Professor Oak
* Delia
* Cynthia
* Diantha
* Leon
* Hop
* Dan
* Announcer (voice only)
* Crowd

### Pokémon

* Pikachu (Ash's)
* Meowth (Team Rocket)
* Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
* Bulbasaur (Ash's)
* Charizard (Ash's)
* Kingler (Ash's)
* Muk (Ash's)
* Snorlax (Ash's)
* Heracross (Ash's)
* Bayleef (Ash's)
* Quilava (Ash's)
* Totodile (Ash's)
* Noctowl (Ash's; Shiny)
* Donphan (Ash's)
* Swellow (Ash's)
* Sceptile (Ash's)
* Corphish (Ash's)
* Torkoal (Ash's)
* Glalie (Ash's)
* Staraptor (Ash's)
* Torterra (Ash's)
* Infernape (Ash's)
* Buizel (Ash's)
* Gliscor (Ash's)
* Gible (Ash's)
* Unfezant (Ash's; female)
* Oshawott (Ash's)
* Pignite (Ash's)
* Snivy (Ash's)
* Scraggy (Ash's)
* Leavanny (Ash's)
* Palpitoad (Ash's)
* Boldore (Ash's)
* Krookodile (Ash's)
* Hawlucha (Ash's)
* Noivern (Ash's)
* Gengar (Ash's; flashback)
* Lucario (Ash's)
* Sirfetch'd (Ash's)
* Dracovish (Ash's)
* Cinderace (Goh's)
* Grookey (Goh's)
* Morpeko (James's; Hangry Mode)
* Rotom (Team Rocket's; Rotom Phone)
* Garchomp (Cynthia's)
* Roserade (Cynthia's)
* Milotic (Cynthia's)
* Togekiss (Cynthia's; Dynamax)
* Aegislash (Dan's)
* Rotom (Professor Cerise's; Rotom Phone)

## Transcript

*Main article: A Strategic Part of Battling!/Transcript*
## Trivia

* Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!!: Roserade
* This episode aired exactly 12 years after *Memories are Made of Bliss!*, where Ash imagines himself battling against Cynthia in place of Flint.
* Ash's strategy of using Sirfetch'd's Brutal Swing to remove Stealth Rock is similar to his plan of using Infernape's underground Flare Blitz to remove Toxic Spikes in *A Real Rival Rouser!*.
* James's Morpeko is seen eating Old Gateaux during the battle, referencing Cynthia's home region of Sinnoh.
* Tauros and Talonflame are the only two of Ash's Pokémon at Professor Oak's Laboratory to not be present in this episode.
* The Dare da? segment is replaced with eyecatches of Ash, Goh, and Pikachu for this episode.
* Jessie, James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet narrate the preview for the next episode.