Japanese Title: Champion of the Forest! Luchabull Appears!!
Original Airdate: July 10, 2014
US Airdate: September 13, 2014
Hawlucha thought it would be more badass to be caught by fist-bumping the Poké Ball.
As the twerps continue their journey to Shalour City, they come across a power struggle among Fighting-types when an Ursaring attempts to take down a forest's Champion, a Hawlucha.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Heel Realization: Once Machamp realizes he's been duped by Conkeldur and Ursaring, he teams up with Hawlucha to take care of the two troublemakers.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Hawlucha insists on posing before executing its finishing move, Flying Press, which always gives its opponents time to get away, causing Hawlucha to crash. It fixes this problem with Ash's help.
- Large Ham: Hawlucha is a very theatrical battler and insists on posing before using its finishing move. It even wears a mask made of grass in its introductory scene.
- Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Conkeldur and Ursaring tried use Machamp to overthrow Hawlucha. Naturally, by the end, Machamp becomes the forest champion when Hawlucha decides to join Ash.
- Spin Attack: Ash teaches Hawlucha how to spin while performing Flying Press, giving it greater speed and attack power.
- Villain Teamup: Two of Hawlucha's rivals, Conkeldur and Ursaring, plot to overthrow Hawlucha and take over the forest, while using Hawlucha's third rival, Machamp, as an Unwitting Pawn.
