The time has finally come for Ash's gym battle with Maylene. With the help of its new move Brave Bird, Staravia defeats her first Pokémon, Machoke, and eventually beats her second Pokémon, Meditite, after Ash manages to find a way to overcome its tricks. But then Lucario enters the battle. Do Ash's Pokémon have what it takes to beat it?
Tropes:
- Battle in the Rain: Actually has a point: after Buizel and Lucario blew off the roof, it starts to rain, which activates Buizel's Swift Swim ability.
- Mythology Gag: Detect failing due to Meditite using it too much is showing off the anime's version of how, in the games, Detect only works the first time you use it.
- One-Man Army: Lucario defeats Staravia and Chimchar, and ties with Buizel.
- Pom-Pom Girl: Dawn once again dresses up as a cheerleader in order to cheer for both the trainers (even though she ends up cheering more for Ash).
- Scissors Cuts Rock: Lucario is able to beat Chimchar.
- Status Effects: Both Chimchar and Buizel are paralyzed by Lucario's Force Palm.
- Took a Level in Badass: Buizel learns Water Pulse to contrast Aura Sphere.
- We Win, Because You Didn't: Inverted: Ash didn't defeat Maylene, only tied with her. However, in these cases the decision is in the hands of the gym leader, and Maylene considers Ash's performance good enough for a badge.
- You Will Not Evade Me:
- A literal example invoked by Ash, who keeps up an onslaught of attacks until Meditite's Detect finally fails.
- Chimchar tries to evade Lucario with Dig, but he detects its Aura and hit it anyway.
