History Recap / PokemonS12E28EvolvingStrategies

* WhamEpisode: Ash gets absolutely demolished by Paul in their full battle with Ash's confidence being destroyed for a good while. On the bright side, another major moment of this episode is Chimchar finally evolves into Monferno.

* CharacterDevelopment: Prior to this battle, Paul was prone to belittling Ash. During the battle, and even after defeating Ash, Paul spends the majority of the two episodes silent, barring when he’s giving his Pokémon commands. He doesn’t even insult Ash, or give him any sort of grief during their battle, nor does he rub it in Ash’s nose upon winning. However he doesn't even acknowledge Ash afterwards either.

* CharacterDevelopment: Prior to this battle, Paul was prone to belittling Ash. During the battle, and even after defeating Ash, Paul spends the majority of the two episodes silent, barring when he’s giving his Pokémon commands. He doesn’t even insult Ash, or give him any sort of grief during their battle, nor does he rub it in Ash’s nose upon winning.

* CharacterDevelopment: Prior to this battle, Paul was prone to belittling Ash. During the battle, and even after defeating Ash, Paul spends the majority of the two episodes silent, barring when he’s giving his Pokémon commands.

* MoralityPet: Once Ash's Chimchar enters the battle, Team Rocket is delighted to see it and actively cheer for it when it finally defeats Paul's Ursaring.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Unfortunately, even after Chimchar evolves, Ash's loss becomes a ForegoneConclusion; Monferno is his last Pokémon standing, while Paul still has four.

* CharacterDevelopment: Prior to this battle, Paul was prone to [[{{UnsportsmanshiplikeGloating}} belittling]] Ash. During the battle, and even after defeating Ash, [[{{OCCIsSeriousBusiness}} Paul spends the majority of the two episodes silent, barring when he’s giving his Pokémon commands.]]

* StandardStatusEffects: Pikachu gets burned by Magmortar's Flame Body ability, Buizel is poisoned by Magmortar's Smog, Ursaring gets paralyzed by Pikachu's Static ability, and Monferno gets paralyzed after getting hit by Electabuzz's Thunder.

* TheBadGuyWins: It’s more of "The Rival Wins." Paul ends up winning the battle against Ash.

* RealityEnsues: Unfortunately, even after evolving, Ash's loss becomes a ForegoneConclusion; Monferno is his last Pokémon standing, while Paul still has four.

* StandardStatusEffects: Pikachu gets burned by Magmortar's Flame Body ability, Buizel is poisoned by Magmortar's Smog, Ursaring gets paralyzed by Pikachu's Static ability, and Monferno gets paralyzed after getting hit by Electabuzz's Thunder.

* StandardStatusEffects: Pikachu gets burned by Magmortar's Flame Body ability, Ursaring gets paralyzed by Pikachu's Static ability, and Monferno gets paralyzed after getting hit by Electabuzz's Thunder.

Ash and Paul's full battle continues from the previous episode. Pikachu faces Magmortar but nothing it does seems to work in its favor. As Paul continues his onslaught of powerful attacks and expertly timed substitutions, he decimates Ash's team until only Chimchar is left. Chimchar manages to finally take out Ursaring and even evolves into Monferno, learning Mach Punch in the process, but its luck ends there when it faces its rival, Paul's Electabuzz.