Pokemon Horizons Episode 56 recap: Liko and Katy vs Rika

Pokemon Horizons Episode 56 continues the Naranja Academy battle extravaganza between the students and their allied gym leaders against Paldea's Elite Four. With Dot and Roy having finished their battles, it's time for Liko and the gym leader Katy to face off against the Elite Four's Rika, who is far from a pushover and ready to extend her victory streak for another round.

An intense battle ensues, pushing both Liko and Katy to their limits. Did Liko and Katy succeed? And what's going on with Dot and Roy during the unfolding battle? Fans who are curious can find out the details in this Pokemon Horizons Episode 56 recap.

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Recapping Pokemon Horizons Episode 56 "Liko vs Rika! Beyond the Battle)

Pokemon Horizons Episode 56 kicks off with Rika beginning her attack. (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Our Episode 56 recap begins immediately at the end of Pokemon Horizons Episode 55, where Liko and the gym leader Katy have joined forces on Naranja Academy's practice field against Rika of Paldea's Elite Four. Liko has chosen Floragato for her Tag Battle Pokemon while Katy has selected her Lokix. Meanwhile, Rika has sent out her Clodsire and Dugtrio to face them both.

Rika begins by sending Dugtrio underground and making Clodsire use Sludge Wave. Floragato dodges but is hit when Dugtrio returns to the surface. Rika uses the same strategy and Floragato almost falls for it again, but uses its vine to grab hold of Dugtrio, though it doesn't manage to inflict any damage and lands safely. Dugtrio attacks with Rock Slide, but Floragato can't seem to move one of its feet.

Fortunately, Lokix arrives and destroys the incoming rocks, allowing Floragato to stand up. Our Pokemon Horizons hero thanks Katy, but she tells Liko that she shouldn't focus solely on Clodsire. Katy tells Liko to examine the battlefield, and Rika tells Liko that her mind is elsewhere, which is detrimental to any Pokemon battle. But Rika also states that Liko isn't seeing the full picture quite yet.

Liko doesn't understand, but Katy remarks that our young protagonist might understand what Rika means by the end of the Tag Battle. The battle continues, and our Pokemon Horizons Episode 56 recap shifts to Dot and Quaxly, who are roaming through Naranja Academy's library. The two attempt to catch Terapagos who is running about in a handbag, but Dot is distracted by the nearby magazines.

Dot meets Penny in Pokemon Horizons Episode 56. (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Dot runs into Penny, who is holding the bag Terapagos was in. Dot asks for the bag back, asking Penny not to mention the Pokemon residing inside it. Penny disregards Dot's request and attempts to leave, using Dot's name unexpectedly as Dot chases after her and the episode transitions back to Liko and Katy's Tag Battle. Rika continues to use the Sludge Wave and Dig combo from earlier.

Floragato uses Magical Leaf to dispel the Sludge Wave while jumping off Dugtrio's heads and using the attack again to deal super effective damage to the Ground-type Dugtrio. Ice-type Paldean gym leader Grusha is shown to be impressed with Liko's battling skills, and Geeta notes that few people impress Grusha in this way. Rika responds with a Mud Shot from Clodsire and a Rock Slide from Dugtrio.

Floragato manages to dodge well but is eventually hit by the Rock Slide, staying upright as our Pokemon Horizons hero attempts to come up with a new plan. Katy offers to make an opening and sends in Lokix to draw the attention of Rika's Pokemon who take the bait. Liko then commands Floragato to use Quick Attack, but Clodsire prepares a counterattack with Poison Jab.

Fortunately, Floragato is saved again by Katy's Lokix, who knocks the Grass Cat Pokemon out of the air before it is hit by the poisonous attack. Anne and Roy seem worried at first as they watch, but Nemona tells them not to worry. Right on cue, Lokix's Swarm ability activates, empowering its Bug-type moves. Katy apologizes to Liko and states that she won't hold back any longer.

Lokix attacks Rika's team with Struggle Bug in Pokemon Horizons Episode 56. (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Lokix attacks with Struggle Bug, dodging Clodsire and Dugtrio's counterattacks and hammering at them with Bug-type fury. Unfortunately, Lokix succumbs to Clodsire's poison before it can land the final blow, but Rika notices that her Dugtrio is now paralyzed. With her Pokemon defeated, Katy states that our Pokemon Horizons protagonist must finish the Tag Battle on her own.

Because of Struggle Bug, Rika's Pokemon have had their moves weakened according to Nemona, and the battle should be more manageable for Floragato. Back at the library, Dot asks Penny how the latter knows her name, to which Penny replies that she performs maintenance on the academy's Terastal Training course registration, shushing Dot as the trainer shouts in surprise.

Penny points out the presence of an instructor examining a book in the library, stating that she isn't who she seems, and who the audience knows as Chalce of the Explorers in disguise. Dot then notices that Terapagos has wandered off again and rushes to pick it up, but Chalce notices Dot's presence, and the latter attempts to hide the bagged Terapagos behind her back.

Chalce, under the disguise of "Ms. Agepan" asks Dot why she's flustered, and our Pokemon Horizons protagonist asks Ms. Agepan if she likes the mystery magazines in the library, which Agepan calls absurd. She says some truths should never be revealed, placing a strange book back on a nearby bookshelf before leaving. Dot believes she's seen Ms. Agepan somewhere before.

"Ms. Agepan" seems to be up to something sinister in Pokemon Horizons Episode 56. (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Investigating the strange book, our Pokemon Horizons hero reads its title, the Scarlet Book. Poring through it, Terapagos gets excited at a particular drawing that resembles a crystalline-shelled Pokemon, and Dot tells Penny to let her know if she finds out anything about the academy's mysterious instructor. The two exchange Rotom Phone numbers and the recap flips back over to Liko.

Floragato and Clodsire continue their battle with the latter using Poison Jab again, but Floragato attempts to avoid it by tying its vine to the poisonous spikes on Clodsire's body. Floragato lands a powerful kick, which Katy points out as a new move, Acrobatics. Rika asks what Liko is thinking about and Liko states that she wants to be as immersed in the battle as possible, becoming one with Floragato.

Releasing her Tera Orb, our Pokemon Horizons hero Terastallizes Floragato to boost its Grass-type powers. Rika responds by Terastallizing Clodsire to power up its Ground-type moves. Floragato sends out a Magical Leaf while Clodsire responds with Earth Power, but Earth Power wins out, knocking out Floragato and ending the match with another victory for Rika.

Floragato is overtaken by Clodsire's Earth Power attack in Pokemon Horizons Episode 56. (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Liko recalls Floragato and thanks her partner as tears well up in her eyes, leaving her to wonder why she's crying. Katy states that our Pokemon Horizons hero is finally taking battles seriously like her partner, resulting in bitter tears from a loss that she should cherish. Roy, Nemona, Dot, and Ann then arrive to praise Liko. Rika also approaches, and Liko states she's never had so much fun battling.

Back in the lobby of Naranja Academy, our Pokemon Horizons protagonist is approached by Grusha while Dot checks out the Scarlet Book at the front desk. Geeta meets up with Grusha, and the latter tells Liko "If that's enough to raise your spirits, you're pretty frigid." Grusha and Geeta leave Liko as she stands confused, and Roy approaches her and says he wants to battle more strong trainers.

A Terapagos-like creature's sketch in the Scarlet Book in Pokemon Horizons Episode 56. (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Liko states she wants the same for herself, and Dot arrives and asks the other protagonists if they've seen the Scarlet Book before. Dot points out the drawing that Terapagos was excited about, and the kids remark that it looks similar to Terapagos. Liko states that it's mysterious, but finding out more about it is a start to a new adventure, concluding Pokemon Horizons Episode 56.