Japanese Title: Birth! The Alola Champion!!
Original Airdate: September 15, 2019
US Airdate: January 18, 2020
The one where… the Status Quo stopped being God.
The Final of the Manalo Conference comes down to the wire, as Ash and Gladion fight down to their last Pokémon! It's an ending that is going to be chock full of surprises—surprises that will hardly be limited to the ultimate outcome of the tournament.
Tropes in this episode:
- Broken Win/Loss Streak: After seven attempts and 22 real life years, Ash finally wins a league based on the games.
- Cliffhanger: An Ultra Wormhole opens at the Champion's ceremony, and out comes Guzzlord.
- Graceful Loser: Gladion takes his loss well, accepting the outcome and congratulating Ash with a smile. The same goes for his Lycanroc, who is briefly seen given Ash's an Affectionate Gesture to the Head.
- Stunned Silence: Just like when he beat Gary, Ash's victory over Gladion leaves him so stunned that he doesn't even realize he won until Gladion snaps him out of it.
- The Reveal: Gladion has received the Ghostium-Z Z-crystal.
- Wham Episode: Ash being crowned a Pokémon League Champion.
- Wham Line: "Lycanroc is unable to battle, so the winner… is Ash!"
- Wham Shot:
- Gladion’s Lycanroc's Counter being Countered by Ash's...resulting in it being knocked out. The battle was finally decided. Ash is shaken so much that he doesn't even realize he's won until Gladion confirms it.
- During the ceremony, an Ultra Wormhole opens...revealing a Guzzlord.
