The Pokémon anime has been a consistent presence since the late '90s, with Ash and Pikachu's adventures cementing a legacy that will continue to live on despite their recent exit. Pokémon has produced countless thrills and spills over the years, across well-over one thousand episodes - featuring intense battles, emotional interactions, as well as general fun between Pokémon and their Trainers.
Pokémon episodes often present an issue and resolve it in one episode, but sometimes with major events like Gym battles, they run over multiple episodes. With that in mind, Pokémon fans have plenty of episodes that stand apart as excellent and timeless, and well worth rewatching over and over again. These episodes tend to cover a momentous occasion, whether that means a Pokémon or Trainer's achievement, a new or exciting interaction, the climax of a battle, or just simply an excellent episode of this beloved anime.
10 Partners In Time
Pokémon Journeys Episode 132 - Overall Episode 1217
Starting off with one of Ash's final triumphs, Ash winning the Masters Eight was the crowning moment of his long and arduous Pokémon journey. Ash had already defeated some top Trainers and even won the Orange and Alola Leagues, but beating the best of the best was that long overdue sense of Ash finally reaching the heights worthy of being called a Pokémon Master.
While the episode covered the climax of Ash's ultimate clash with Leon, it captured the colossal clash between Charizard and Pikachu. Even the classic Pokémon theme played in the battle's final moments, as well as a nostalgic surge of Ash's Pokémon appearing to him in that final push for victory. Ash's Pikachu has always been overpowered compared to other members of the species, but Pikachu's tenacity and will to finish off the seemingly unbeatable Charizard, will never be dull viewing. Pokémon Journeys was by no means one of the anime's best adventures, but this episode will live on forever as a part of Ash's legacy.
9 Battling A Thaw In Relations
Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Episode 188 - Overall Episode 654
Paul was one of Ash's best opponents. His aggressive personality and harsh treatment of Pokémon drove Ash forward in the Diamond & Pearl series of the anime, and their many battles were a spectacle every single time. Their Sinnoh rivalry appropriately came to an end in the quarter-finals of the Sinnoh League, and after multiple episodes, Ash persevered.
"Battling a Thaw in Relations" picked up where the previous battle left off, with Ash having three Pokémon remaining and Paul only two. Drapion and Gliscor were eliminated, but to have meaningful interactions between Infernape, Electivire and Pikachu, fans got the perfect closing stages to this thrilling battle and rivalry. Ash versus Paul was a battle for the ages, which made Ash's quick defeat at the hands of Tobias in the next round, all the more frustrating.
8 Volcanic Panic
Pokémon Episode 59
Ash versus Blaine is a hot Gym battle will always be remembered as one of Ash's most iconic across the entire series. "Volcanic Panic" covered the latter stages of their explosive rematch, and it marked the first time that Charizard actually pulled its weight for Ash – albeit as a rare occurrence inspired by testing his strength against the formidable Magmar.
Despite Charizard still feeling like a wildcard, it proved that it did have potential hiding behind his disobedient and unruly personality – and all this provided hype and hope for Ash's push leading towards the Pokémon League. Pokémon fans will always want to forget Ash's disastrous battle there against Ritchie, so they will look back at the few highs of the Kanto campaign, and "Volcanic Panic" never disappoints.
7 Enter The Champion
Pokémon Sun & Moon Episode 139 – Overall Episode 1078
In a similar vein to Ash's victory at the Masters Eight, his win at the Manalo Conference in Alola will always be remembered among his greatest ever achievements. Ash's Alola team made it all the way to the final to face off against Ash's rival Gladion, and the pair put on an exciting show, despite it only being a 3-vs-3 bout. "Enter The Champion" started off hot with Pikachu and Zoroark quickly falling, meaning that Lycanroc versus Lycanroc got center stage for the remainder of the episode.
However, Ash's Lycanroc eventually emerged victorious, earning Ash his first Pokémon League triumph, with the Orange League win never being held to the same regard. Ash would go onto have an incredible exhibition battle with Kukui straight after, but "Enter The Champion" was the episode that saw Ash make history, even if the 6-vs-6 bout was more of a spectacle.
6 Charmander - The Stray Pokémon
Pokémon Episode 11
Ash's acquisitions of Pikachu, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander were all iconic moments that set the precedent for Ash's Pokémon journey, but the latter was the one that pulled at the heart-strings the most. Charmander arrived in Episode 11 "Charmander - The Stray Pokémon" as a loyal Pokémon who was mistreated and cast aside by its disgraceful Trainer.
Ash, Brock, and Misty helped to keep Charmander safe and nurse it back to health, while helping it realize that it needed to move on from its abusive Trainer. Most people love animals in real life, with pets often being an integral part to day-to-day existence, and seeing such an adorable Pokémon being abused and mistreated, will always get a response, but not in an "avoid this episode at all costs" sort of way.
5 When Regions Collide
Pokémon Sun & Moon Episode 43 - Overall Episode 982
Pokémon Sun & Moon was easily one of the most fun periods of Ash's overall Pokémon journey, and added elements of nostalgia here and there to help cement certain episodes as some of the franchise's very best. With focus shifting from the usual Gym challenge to the Grand Trials, there was more time for Ash and friends to travel around on short trips and have fun.
The first series of Sun & Moon even ended with Ash and his Alola friends traveling back to Kanto with Brock and Misty. When in Kanto, Ash and Pikachu took on Misty's Gyarados, while Kiawe and Turtonator took on Brock and Mega Steelix. It was exciting to see Ash's new friends interact with the old ones, and these two battles never get old.
4 Enter The Dragonite
Pokémon Episode 112
For many Pokémon fans, the Orange Islands arc felt like filler after Ash's disastrous Indigo League campaign came to an end. However, this "filler" adventure had some defining moments for Ash – from catching Lapras and Snorlax to winning his first Pokémon League tournament. Winning the Orange League was no small feat, as he overcame the undefeated Drake, who himself had some formidable Pokémon in his team.
"Enter The Dragonite" showed the closing stages of Ash's encounter with Drake, with Ash boasting an overwhelming advantage as Drake's ace, Dragonite, came into play. Dragonite took out Charizard, Squirtle, Tauros and helped to get rid of Team Rocket, before finally falling to Ash's Pikachu. This was an incredible display from Drake's Dragonite, which made Ash's victory seem all the more impressive, despite the brief comeback.
3 A Riveting Rivalry
Pokémon XY Episode 128 - Overall Episode 927
Ash's Kalos team was easily one of his best of the entire series, but he ultimately came up short in the final of the Lumiose League, by losing to Alain. While he had a good honest rivalry with Alain and a great final battle, it was his final battle against another rival named Sawyer that deserves more recognition. "A Riveting Rivalry" wraps up their intense semi-final bout by cycling through both Trainers' Pokémon until it comes down to Mega Sceptile versus Ash-Greninja.
Ash-Greninja versus Mega Sceptile is a seriously underrated battle, and one of the most exciting of the whole anime. If this took place in a final, fans would still be talking about it to this day, a testament to how hard Sawyer pushed Ash in this battle.
2 Electric Shock Showdown
Pokémon Episode 14
Ash lost a lot of first attempts against Gym Leaders over the course of his long tenure on the Pokémon anime. Whether it was down to overconfidence, naivety, or just not being ready to face a powerful Trainer's unknown secret weapons – it would often take defeat for Ash to realize what he was doing wrong and approve accordingly in time for a rematch. Sometimes this would take multiple episodes, but back in the original series, Ash lost, learned and won the rematch all in one episode – "Electric Shock Showdown."
"Electric Shock Showdown" is one of the most memorable and iconic episodes of the entire Pokémon anime, as it showed a vulnerability to Ash and Pikachu, as they pondered how to deal with defeat, and whether evolution was the answer. Pikachu's willpower and perseverance have become known to all over the years, and it really started to shine through in this particular episode.
1 Pokémon - I Choose You
Pokémon Episode 1
Pokémon fans generally look back on the first series of the anime with a nostalgic fondness, but they also harbor a frustration bordering on hatred for how naive Ash once was. While most of Ash's Kanto campaign is tough to watch back because of his luck in victory and poor decisions causing defeat, the first episode will always warrant a rewatch.
"Pokémon - I Choose You" signified the start of Ash's journey, and is the starting point when Pokémon fans inevitably come back to the anime to commence a rewatch. It is fascinating to see Ash and Pikachu at odds, given how close they were by the end of the Kanto adventures, and they only solidified their bond further from there. The first episode will always have a special place in the hearts and minds of true Pokémon fans.