Japanese Title: Alola's Strongest Z! Kapu-Kokeko VS Pikachu!!
Original Airdate: October 20, 2019
US Airdate: Febuary 22, 2020
From out of nowhere, Tapu Koko made its appearance at the exhibition match, wishing to challenge Ash personally. Taking the events in stride, Professor Kukui commands the guardian deity in place of his sixth Pokémon, pushing Ash to his limits and forcing him to rely on Pikachu as his last Pokémon. As the match reaches its climax, both sides face off in a Z-Move showdown.
Tropes in this episode:
- Chekhov's Gun: Ash's Electrium-Z turns into the Pikashunium-Z again, but it's never shown turning back. Journeys shows that the change was indeed permanent.
- Defeating the Undefeatable: Pikachu ultimately defeats Tapu Koko, ending Ash’s streak of losing against it.
- Surpassed the Teacher: In Alola, Tapu Koko and Kukui have served as mentors to Ash and Pikachu. Through their guidance, Ash and Pikachu have grown and developed their skills. In a challenging battle, Ash and Pikachu demonstrate their progress by defeating their mentors, Tapu Koko and Kukui, in an impressive manner.
