Summary
Ash’s strange fighting techniques often defy common logic and can lead to unexpected victories. From Pikachu destroying the gym leader in one shot to Meowth using a bucket of water, anime battles are filled with strange strategies. Despite his unconventional tactics, Ash’s unique way of thinking proves successful and creates some truly puzzling plot twists.
The Pokémon The anime has its own unique way of fighting, which may differ slightly from how the battles in the game work. While anime has become more and more game-like over time, every now and then an extremely strange scenario pops up, something that will make players laugh over a competitive Pokémon game tournament. Ash Ketchum is a master of strategy and strange techniquesHowever, this has led to some truly confusing plot twists over the years.
Sometimes the battles look silly and both combatants use odd tactics, while in other cases it’s Ash’s unique way of thinking outside the box that makes things especially strange . Sometimes, the fact that a Pokémon can actually do this strange thing is just a consequence of logic, but most of the time, these bizarre fighting techniques go against common logic.
10 Pikachu destroy the gym leader in just one hit
Episode: “What’s wrong with Wattson?”, Advanced Generation
In the episode “What’s Wrong with Wattson?”, Ash decides to challenge Wattson, the Hoenn gym leader who specializes in Electric-type Pokémon. Ash and Pikachu arrive at Wattson’s gym, facing a Raikou robot that Pikachu tries to attack and short-circuits. However, when they faced Wattson, Pikachu quickly defeated each of Wattson’s Pokémon in one hitleaving both Ash and Wattson stunned.
At the Pokémon Center, Ash discovered that the Raikou incident had caused Pikachu’s electricity to overcharge, making it much stronger than usual. Ash felt bad controlling Wattson, who was extremely depressed over being defeated so easily. Ash explains what happened, but Wattson lets him keep the badge.
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Ash’s 10 toughest Pokémon gym battles
Collecting gym badges is one of Ash’s main goals in the series, but some gym battles are a bit more difficult for Ash and Pikachu than others.
Ash’s 9 Muks crushed the sprouting Bell to death in a terrifying victory
Episode: “Rumbling Fourth Round,” Indigo League
When Ash was competing in the fourth round of the Indigo League, he encountered Jeanette, a trainer who used grass and insect Pokémon. Her third Pokémon, Bellsprout, made Ash feel overconfident, until it single-handedly defeated both Bulbasaur and Pikachu, dodging with uncanny dexterity. That’s when Ash called his Muk.
Muk was able to block many attacks from Bellsprout before simply crawl over it with its poisonous body, essentially drowning Bellsprout in poison. While the attack is technically a “Body Slam”, Muk just misses Bellsprout in a wave of terrible stench. This was Ash’s Muk’s only successful battle, and based on how it played out, it’s not hard to see why Muk was benched.
Episode: “The Trial of the Samurai”, Indigo League
One of the most ridiculous battles in the entire series occurs in the fourth episode. Ash’s newly evolved Caterpie is now a Metapod capable of only using Harden. Ash is challenged by a kid calling himself a Samurai, who uses bugs. After Ash’s Metapod shockingly shattered Pinsir’s horn, the Samurai also used the Metapod. The two Metapods are completely incapable of harming each otherand so the battle continued, to the point where Misty started sunbathing out of boredom.
The battle only ended when a flock of Beedrill attacked, causing all three trainers to flee. Who knows how long stubborn Ash would have lasted in this impossible battle if that hadn’t happened, but the battle itself was extremely strange.
7 Meowth uses outside help to defeat Onix
Episode: “Who Will Keep Togepi?”, Indigo League
When Togepi’s egg hatches, the main characters decide to hold a contest to see who will become Togepi’s coach. Team Rocket’s Meowth finally threw his hat into the ring, but his first round match was against Brock’s Onix, a bad match if ever there was one. After throwing Rocks in his face, Meowth saw two buckets of water nearby and came up with a genius idea.
Meowth threw the bucket at Onix, seemingly weakened it enough for his Fury Swipes to finish the job. Everyone was stunned, but Meowth managed to win despite the obvious cheating. Of course, despite not winning the contest, Misty still ends up possessing Togepi, as it first imprinted her, so Meowth’s efforts are in vain.
6 Squirtle dances revolving around Froakie
Episode: “Summer of discovery!”, XY
Ash and his friends attend a summer camp, where they meet a trio of other trainers named Tierno, Trevor, and Shauna. Tierno is a person who loves dancing and Incorporate rhythmic movements into your Pokémon battles with his Squirtle. Ash challenges Tierno and finds that this is quite effective.
Squirtle’s strangely rhythmic fighting style makes Ash’s Froakie very difficult to hit. Squirtle was even able to get close enough to touch Froakie, performing its attacks until Tierno won. Tierno’s dancing fighting style reappears a few more times in the series, but it’s never as outlandish as it first appears.
5. Pikachu’s Accuracy Spawns a Pokémon Meme
Episode: “Trick me on this!”, Indigo League
Ash prepares to fight against Blaine, the Cinnabar gym leader who first used Ninetales and quickly defeated Ash’s Squirtle. Sending Charizard away, Blaine switched to Rhydon, but Charizard flew away disobediently and was eliminated. This pits Ash and Pikachu against the ground-type Rhydon, which according to the game’s rules, cannot harm it.
Ash screams the iconic line, “Pikachu! The horn!”aiming Pikachu’s Thunderbolt at Rhydon’s horn, it somehow acts like a lightning rod and knocks Rhydon back. This became so emblematic of Ash’s anime shenanigans that later games would give Rhydon an ability, the Lightning Rod, that actually boosted its power when hit with electric attacks. not a weakness.
4 Infernape’s inexplicable attacks from underground
Episode: “A True Contender!”, Diamond & Pearl
During Ash’s battle with Paul in the Sinnoh Alliance, Paul opens with Drapion, setting up Toxic Spikes, a classic competitive strategy. He quickly took down several of Ash’s Pokémon, until Ash sent out Infernape, which once belonged to Paul. Paul switches to Ninjask, but Toxic Spikes are still a problem.
Ash decides to solve these problems by having Infernape use Dig, an attack cannot damage Ninjask. However, while underground, Ash orders another attack, Flare Blitz, causes Infernape to appear from underground, dealing massive damage to Ninjask and setting the battlefield on fire, destroying the spikes. Everyone was shocked by this strange plan, which completely went against the rules of the game but ultimately gave Ash the upper hand.
3 Pikachu aims for a classic strategy decades later
Episode: “Destination: Coronation!”, Journey
Ash’s first match in the World Coronation Series is against Vermilion City’s temporary gym leader, a girl named Visquez, who is taking the place of Lieutenant Surge. Visquez fights Raichu similarly, recreating the classic battle between Pikachu and Raichu from the original series. Pikachu even uses the same nonsense strategy Its ability to land on its tail, this time enhanced by using Iron Tail, allows it to avoid Raichu’s Volt Tackle.
The battle gets even weirder, as Pikachu is then able to defend himself from Electrode’s Aftermath ability with Electroweb, something that has essentially no defensive applications in the game. It’s still a fun throwback to Ash’s early battles and a nod to the most nostalgic fans.
2 Snorlax flying in the air thanks to Hyper Beam
Episode: “Wheel of Frontier,” Advanced Generation
Ash is fighting at the Battle Frontier with a trainer named Greta, and the match is a simple 2-on-2. Ash’s Grovyle falls on Greta’s Hariyama, but he calls Snorlax to defeat it. Greta then uses Medicham, which is faster and can move around Snorlax. Ash tells Snorlax to fire Hyper Beams, but they miss, until he decides a better idea is to aim the Hyper Beam at the ground.
The power of the Hyper Beam lifted Snorlax into the air, allowing it to perform a Body Slam from above, knocking out Medicham and winning Ash. Hyper Beam is a powerful attack that can generate some thrust, but of course, Snorlax weighs half a ton and probably doesn’t get airborne that easily.
1 Ash’s most infamous technique is completely insane
Episode: “Solid as Solrock,” Advanced Generation
While fighting the gym leader duo Tate and Liza, Ash decides to use Swellow and Pikachu. Despite being harassed by Team Rocket to the point that the gym was destroyed, the battle continued outside. Swellow is at a disadvantage against their Solrock and Lunatone, and Ash momentarily struggles during the battle. Where is this Ash comes up with his most outrageous strategy to date.
Ash looked up and ordered Pikachu to use Thunder on some clouds, confusing his opponents and friends alike. A bolt of lightning strikes Pikachu, riding Swellow, and they are both engulfed in yellow Electric energy, enhancing their attacks and giving Ash victory.
Needless to say, this is a completely pointless strategy, one that will only cause Swellow to faint, making this one of Ash’s most infamous gym battles of all time due to his victory I’m so unreasonable.
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Pokemon
Created by Satoshi Taijiri, Ken Sugimori, Junichi Masuda
First movie Pokemon: The First Movie
Latest movie Movie Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle
First TV show chapter Pokemon
Airing date of the first episode April 1, 1997
Current line Pokemon
TV program) Pokemon
