Continuing on the journey to Shalour City, Ash and his friends come to a canyon where they find a whole new style of Pokémon battle: the Sky Battle, a format that requires the use of Flying types. This makes a great first test for Ash's new Hawlucha, but will Fletchling make the bigger splash?
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Adaptation Expansion: The suits that Sky Trainers wear are so they can take to the air alongside their Pokémon.
- An Aesop: Don't let your height stop you from estimating your abilities.
- Awesomeness by Analysis: Fletchling carefully analyzes Talonflame's flight patterns during its battle with Hawlucha, which helps in its own battle later.
- Continuity Nod: We get the first anime look at "Sky Trainers", a special class of Pokémon Trainers found in Pokémon X and Y. Battles with Sky Trainers are optional, but require the use of Flying types.
- Eye Catch: The Dare da? is Talonflame.
- Gameplay and Story Segregation: Ash uses Hawlucha and Fletchling during both battles with Moria even though neither can participate in the games due to the fact that their models stand on the ground. Hawlucha also uses Flying Press which is also not eligible for use in the games.
- Height Angst:
- At first, Moria's Talonflame refuses to battle Ash's Fletchling because it's too small. Needless to say, Fletchling doesn't take it well.
- Poor Bonnie temporarily deals with this when she realizes that she’s too short to fly with the others.
- Oh, Crap!: Fletching, when Ash sends out Hawlucha at the start of the episode.
- Took a Level in Badass: Fletchling evolves into Fletchinder and learns Flame Charge. This also doubles with 11th-Hour Superpower.
