Pokemon Horizons Episode 55 recap: Enter Paldea's Elite Four

Pokemon Horizons Episode 55 aired in Japan on June 21, 2024, and saw our heroes returning to Naranja Academy just in time for a visit from some special guests, leading to a collection of Tag Battles. While this initially seemed like an unfair matchup for Naranja's students, the Paldean gym leaders who assisted in the Terastal Training exercises arrived to lend a hand.

Plenty of intensity could be found in this latest series entry, and it doesn't hurt to examine the events as they unraveled in a Pokemon Horizons Episode 55 recap.

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Recapping the events of Pokemon Horizons Episode 55 "Confrontation! The Elite Four of Paldea"

Our heroes return to Naranja Academy and rejoin Nemona in Pokemon Horizons Episode 55 (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Our Pokemon Horizons Episode 55 recap begins with Liko, Roy, Dot, and Anne returning to Naranja Academy along with other students who completed their initial stages of Terastal Training. Director Clavell announces a bit of fun for the students with some special guests, and the Paldean Pokemon League chairwoman Geeta arrives and announces that Paldea's Elite Four will be battling the students.

At Naranja Academy's training grounds, Dot tells our Pokemon Horizons heroes that victory is effectively out of reach, but Nemona arrives to tell the kids that they won't be battling alone. The clashes against the Elite Four will be Tag Battles, and the students will be pairing up with the gym leaders they battled during their Terastal Training gym battle test.

Right on cue, Iono waves over to Dot, with the latter realizing she's first to battle alongside her idol. They take their position against Poppy of the Elite Four, who sends out a Tinkaton and a Copperajah against Dot's Quaxly and Iono's Bellibolt. Rules are announced, stating that gym leaders can't Terastallize their Pokemon and the battle ends when one of the student or Elite Four's Pokemon faints.

Dot and Iono prepare for battle in Pokemon Horizons Episode 55 (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The battle is initially domineered by Poppy and Iono, but our Pokemon Horizons heroes believe Dot still has a chance to contribute. Quaxly's attacks are shrugged off by Copperajah and Tinkaton, forcing Bellibolt to protect Quaxly from their counterattack. However, Dot has Quaxly use its dance moves to activate Bellibolt's Electromorphosis ability, boosting its Electric-type powers.

Bellibolt launches Quaxly high into the air, and Dot Terastallizes her Pokemon and pushes back Tinkaton with a Liquidation attack. Meanwhile, Dot's Bellibolt manages to get on Copperajah's back and let loose a Zap Cannon, defeating Copperajah and making Dot and Iono the winners. However, our Pokemon Horizons protagonist feels a bit bad that Iono did a lot of the hard work.

Meanwhile, on another battlefield, Coral of the Explorers is joined by the gym leader Kofu while battling the Elite Four member Larry. Coral tells her Glalie to use Self-Destruct, defeating Larry's Flamigo and Oricorio, but also her Glalie and Kofu's Wugtrio. She is upset to learn that Larry is the winner, as the use of Self-Destruct counts as a loss when all participating Pokemon have fainted.

Coral's Self-Destruct plan backfires in Pokemon Horizons Episode 55 (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Roy then enters the fray alongside Brassius against the Dragon-type Elite Four member Hassel, which Roy considers good training for his future encounter with Lucius' Black Rayquaza. Hassel sends out Baxcalibur and Flapple while Roy sends out Fuecoco and Brassius relies on his Dolliv. However, Fuecoco's attacks only seem to make Baxcalibur stronger, and Roy calls for his Pokemon to back off.

Because of Baxcalibur's Thermal Exchange ability, Fire-type moves strengthen it. Roy then decides to use Fuecoco's Disarming Voice, which deals great damage to both Baxcalibur and Flapple. However, Flapple uses Grav Apple, reminding Fuecoco of a real apple and causing it to ignore our Pokemon Horizons hero's commands, being struck by Flapple as a result.

Fuecoco then attacks with Flamethrower supported by Smoliv's Helping Hand move, but Flapple responds with Twister, creating a fiery vortex that Baxcalibur jumps into to supercharge its Thermal Exchange ability. Baxcalibur nearly eliminates Fuecoco, but Dolliv protects it by causing it to fall. Baxcalibur and Flapple then block Dolliv and Fuecoco's counters with their Protect moves.

Our Pokemon Horizons protagonist then Terastallizes Fuecoco and combines its Flamethrower with Dolliv's Energy Ball. Unfortunately, Baxcalibur responds with a Blizzard attack that neutralizes Roy and Brassius' combo before it finishes both Pokemon off with a Glaive Rush attack. Roy realizes he's still no match for the Black Rayquaza, but states he'll keep getting stronger and had a lot of fun.

Roy and Brassius lose but aim to get stronger in Pokemon Horizons Episode 55 (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Meanwhile, Sidian of the Explorers and the gym leader Tulip lose their match to the Elite Four's Rika and her Clodsire and Dugtrio. This clears the way for Liko and Katy, who must face Rika next and is very much looking forward to keeping her winning streak alive as the other Elite Four members look on confidently.