Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum is a talented trainer, to be sure, but even he has struggled against some of the anime’s toughest gym leaders. With dozens of gym matches under his belt, these battles rank among the most difficult he’s ever faced.
These gym battles all have one thing in common: Ash lost at least once before successfully earning his gym badge. These losses were tough for him to face, and in some cases it wasn’t even his fault, but rather circumstances that forced him to forfeit. Still, they posed a real challenge for Ash, both on his first attempt and his subsequent rematches. These gym leaders proved that gym battles won’t always result in a win for the challenger, and that there’s more to a battle than just type advantages or move selection. Here are 7 of Ash’s toughest gym matches ever, and how he persevered.
7Lenora Used Tricky Moves to Lock Ash In
Pokémon Black and White, episodes #15 and #16
As Ash moved on to his second gym badge in Unova, he found himself up against Lenora, a gym leader who uses Normal-type Pokémon. Ash approached this battle a little over-confidently, as he recognized her Watchog and Lillipup.Lillipup catches Ash by surprise by using Roar at the start of the battle, forcing him to switch out his Tepig for Oshawott. Then, Lenora switched to Watchog and used Mean Look, keeping Ash from recalling Oshawott. Her Watchog knew Thunderbolt, which meant Oshawott went down in a hurry. Tepig follows soon after, defeated by Lillipup’s Take Down.
In his rematch, Ash had to face an evolved Lillipup as Herdier, making it even tougher than before. Ash had to train Oshawott and Tepig extensively in between, helping the former to master Aqua Jet and giving it a speed advantage. Lenora doesn’t hold back, using powerful moves like Shadow Ball and Giga Impact, but Ash is able to win with Tepig’s Flame Charge. It’s still a close fight, though, as Tepig was only barely still standing at the end.
6Whitney’s Rollout Was Too Much to Handle
Pokémon the Original Series, episodes #158 and #159
For Ash’s third gym battle in Johto, he challenged Whitney, a notoriously difficult gym leader in the games due to her Miltank’s powerful Rollout attack.Sure enough, Ash found himself on the receiving end of that Rollout, bowling over Cyndaquil, Totodile, and Pikachu in turn, until he is defeated. While Ash did manage to knock out one of her Pokémon, he simply had no strategy to counter Miltank’s sustained Rollout. If he was going to find a way to win, Ash would have to discover some way of putting a stop to Miltank’s rampage.
In Ash’s rematch against Whitney, he chose the same three Pokémon again, a potentially costly mistake, although this time Whitney only used Miltank. Ash did come up with a strategy, however: he used Totodile’s Water Gun to carve out ditches in the terrain, creating potholes for Miltank that would disrupt Rollout. When it was Pikachu’s turn, he had Pikachu hide in a ditch and launch Miltank into the air, allowing him a chance to attack and finish the job.
5Blaine Nearly Got Pikachu Killed
Pokémon the Original Series, episodes #58 and #59
Ash eagerly challenged the Kanto region’s seventh gym leader, Blaine, who decided to hold his gym match inside a volcano.This gave him a tremendous home field advantage for his Fire-types, but also posed an equally huge risk for his opponents, as one wrong move would mean a deadly lava bath. Ash used Squirtle, who was easily defeated by Ninetales, and Charizard, who refused to battle, before resorting to Pikachu.Pikachu ends up trapped between Magmar and the edge of the arena, and is only narrowly saved from falling into the magma below, forcing a forfeit.
Ash earned a chance to rematch Blaine by helping after Team Rocket caused the volcano to nearly erupt. It ended up being a one versus one match, with Magmar against Charizard, who had gained some respect for Magmar as a fellow Fire-type. Charizard obeyed in the ensuing match, and managed to defeat Magmar with a Seismic Toss after a difficult battle.
4Roark Outmaneuvers Ash at Every Turn
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, episodes #16 and #18
Roark was the first gym leader Ash challenged in the Sinnoh region, and battled in front of his new rival Paul, no less. Roark used a Cranidos, which managed to move nimbly, easily defeating Ash’s Aipom.Ash then uses Pikachu, who just can’t seem to inflict real damage on Cranidos, forcing Ash to switch to Turtwig, who finally knocks out the fossil Pokémon. Roark then sent out an Onix, who took down Turtwig easily with Double Edge. Down to just Pikachu, Ash was defeated by Onix’s use of Screech. Paul then left, disgusted with Ash’s performance.
Ash took a little time before challenging Roark again, giving the gym leader a chance to evolve Cranidos into Rampardos, making his rematch far more difficult. Roark opens with Onix this time, but is defeated by Pikachu’s Iron Tail. He then uses a Geodude against Aipom, and Aipom just ekes out the victory. Finally, it’s time to face Rampardos, who quickly defeats Aipom, and then Pikachu, but not before Pikachu gets some damage in. Turtwig eventually defeats Rampardos with Razor Leaf, earning Ash the Coal Badge.
3Lt. Surge Put Pikachu in the Hospital
Pokémon the Original Series, episode #14
Of allAsh’s gym matches, his battle against Kanto’s third gym leader, Lt. Surge, may be one of the most iconic of all time. Lt. Surge battled with a Raichu against Ash’s Pikachu, and the evolved form managed to deliver powerful attack after powerful attack against Pikachu, not holding back at all. Surge defeats Pikachu with a Thunderbolt, as if rubbing it in how much stronger Raichu is.Pikachu is put in serious emergency care at the Pokémon Center, and Nurse Joy offers Ash a thunder stone, which would allow him to evolve Pikachu. Pikachu turns down the offer, however, insisting on fighting for the honor of Pikachu.
Ash devises a strategy, relying on Pikachu’s superior speed to gain the upper hand. In the rematch, Pikachu uses attacks like Agility and Quick Attack to keep ahead of Raichu, and dodges the most severe attacks, causing Raichu to take recoil damage with each failed attack. When Raichu busts out the Thunderbolt again, Ash’s Pikachu manages to channel the energy into the ground using his tail, causing the attack to fail. Pikachu ultimately pulls out the win, and Ash receives not only the Thunder Badge, but Lt. Surge’s respect as well.
2Clair’s Dragons Pushed Ash to the Limit
Pokémon the Original Series, episodes #252 and #254
Ash’s match against Clair, Johto’s eighth gym leader, was always going to be a tough one for him. Up against her Kingdra first, Ash used Pikachu, not realizing Kingdra’s Dragon-typing erased its weakness to electricity.Pikachu was barely able to scratch Kingdra, so Ash decided to try Noctowl. Noctowl lands a Confusion, but misses with Hypnosis due to Kingdra’s agility. Noctowl is nearly knocked out, but the battle is interrupted by a burglar alarm, set off by Team Rocket.
Although the match was called off, Ash was definitely losing. In his rematch, Ash was able to use Charizard, which helped turn things around for him. Ash opens with Snorlax, who was able to take out Kingdra this time, using Ice Punch for the finishing blow. Clair then uses Gyarados, which defeats Snorlax. Pikachu is up next, using its extreme type advantage to overpower the monstrous Gyarados and defeat it with Thunderbolt. Finally, it’s Charizard versus Dragonair, with Charizard evaporating the pool of water Clair has been using, and Ash wins with a combo of Fire Spin and Seismic Toss, taking the victory.
1Wulfric Gave Ash a Crisis of Confidence
Pokémon XY, episodes #120 and #122
Wulfric is the eighth gym leader in the Kalos region, and a master of Ice-typePokémon as well as Mega Evolution. The battlefield in the gym is coated in ice, creating a slick environment that’s tough to fight on. Wulfric sends out Abomasnow, which uses its ability to cause hail to fall as well, dealing minor damage regularly. Ash’s Hawlucha manages to defeat Abomasnow with a High Jump Kick, but his next Pokémon, Avalugg, is a problem.Avalugg regains health under hail conditions, and is able to easily sweep Hawlucha, Talonflame, and Greninja, resulting in a devastating loss for Ash.
Ash was so upset about this loss that he took an entire episode to recover. He came back to try again, this time facing Bergmite first. Ash defeated Bergmite with Pikachu’s Iron Tail, then faced Avalugg with Talonflame, taking it down with Flame Charge and Steel Wing. Finally, it’s Ash-Greninja versus Mega Abomasnow, and Ash pulls out a unique plan to combine Aerial Ace with Double Team, resulting in a flurry of false Greninja. Ash uses ice blades to help Greninja “skate” around the battlefield, making it much harder to hit, before finishing off with Aerial Ace.
Due to how much this gym battle shook Ash’s confidence, his battle with Wulfric is undoubtedly Ash’s toughestPokémongym battle ever.
