Advanced Challenge

2003 · 52 episodes · 19h 56m in all · 5.1/10

A shadow hovers over Ash, May, and friends as they continue their journey through the Hoenn region, and it’s not just that of Mt. Chimney—both Team Magma and Team Aqua put plans into action with our heroes caught in the middle! When not foiling evil schemes, Ash and May chase their personal goals, with Ash battling for three more Gym Badges and May winning her first three Contest Ribbons. The group also gains new Pokémon like Torkoal and Bulbasaur, but could they be too much to handle?

1. What You Seed Is What You Get
4 Sept 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When Ash's Treecko and Corphish face Grovyle and Slugma in a double battle, Treecko turns the tables, learning to use Bullet Seed.
2. Love at First Flight
11 Sept 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Our heroes discover a love story between two Trainers who star with their Pokémon in a local dance festival.
3. Let Bagons Be Bagons
18 Sept 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
A Trainer learns that Pokémon battling requires more than tactics and technology. Meanwhile, a Bagon dreams the impossible dream of taking flight.
4. The Princess and the Togepi (1)
25 Sept 2003 · 23 min · 6.0/10
An invitation to the Togepi Festival brings Misty to the Hoenn region, where she learns that a local kingdom bases its rule on the whims of passing Togepi.
5. A Togepi Mirage! (2)
2 Oct 2003 · 23 min · 6.0/10
Our heroes go up against an evil regent who would use Misty's Togepi to steal the throne from its rightful heir!
6. Candid Camerupt!
9 Oct 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Ash, Brock, May, and Max must all work together to face the four members of a family of skilled Pokémon Trainers and their powerful Pokémon.
7. I Feel Skitty!
16 Oct 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
After her Skitty is exhausted by chasing its own tale, May entrusts it to a local aromatherapy house, where it recovers completely.
8. ZigZag Zangoose!
23 Oct 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
A young trainer gains confidence and strengthens his bond with his Zangoose, when he is forced to face Seviper in a less than fair battle.
9. Maxxed Out!
30 Oct 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Max meets another young boy who shares his name, but differs greatly in personality. When this young and inexperienced new acquaintance goes off on his own, Ash and friends must track him down.
10. Pros and Con Artists (1)
6 Nov 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
As May prepares for her first contest, Ash faces another contestant in a pre-contest battle.
11. Come What May! (2)
13 Nov 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
May wins her first contest, finally earning a ribbon. Jessie of Team Rocket attempts to win by cheating, but is disqualified.
12. Cheer Pressure
20 Nov 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Ash and friends meet an old friend who has since joined a Pokémon cheering squad. When they expose his squad for a fake, the trainer is inspired to start anew.
13. Game Winning Assist
27 Nov 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When Team Rocket threatens an innocent family of ranchers, Ash and friends drive them away, with May's Eneko using Assist for the first time.
14. Fight for the Meteorite
4 Dec 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When Team Aqua and Team Magma battle to gain a meteor on Mount chimney, Ash and friends must put an end to both of their dastardly plans.
15. Poetry Commotion!
11 Dec 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
No sooner has Ash begun an official battle with a novice gym leader, Flannery, than Team Rocket interrupts, postponing the battle for an extra day.
16. Going, Going, Yawn
18 Dec 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Ash is battling for his fourth Hoenn region Gym badge! Can his Corphish defeat Flannery's team of Fire types?
17. Going for a Spinda
25 Dec 2003 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When rumors arise that a particular Spinda draws happiness to its trainer, Team Rocket quickly hatches a plan to steal this lucky Pokémon.
18. All Torkoal, No Play
8 Jan 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Ash and friends struggle to pass through a valley guarded by territorial Steel Pokémon.
19. Manectric Charge
15 Jan 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
While Ash uses his Torkoal to battle the powerful Watson, May faces his assistant with her Skitty.
20. Delcatty Got Your Tongue
22 Jan 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When May's Skitty is injured far from a Pokémon Center, a master in the art of Pokémon massage comes to the rescue!
21. Disaster of Disguise
29 Jan 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When Ash and friends learn that a masked coordinator is attempting to compete in secret, they help the timid boy hide his identity.
22. Disguise Da Limit
5 Feb 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
At Vendanturf Town, the masked trainer makes a strong performance, but loses to May's Skitty, as May wins her second ribbon.
23. Take the Lombre Home
12 Feb 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
The people of a small village blame a local drought on the Pokémon Solrock, but it soon comes to light that the drought is in fact the work of Team Rocket.
24. True Blue Swablu
19 Feb 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
May feels a special duty to help a wounded Swablu return to its flock.
25. Gulpin It Down!
26 Feb 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Mayhem ensues when Professor Oak inadvertently creates a gigantic Gulpin and Treecko in an effort to stop a Gulpin outbreak.
26. Exploud and Clear
4 Mar 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Even as Ash's Treecko evolves in the course of battle, his opponent's Loudred does the same. Team Rocket couldn't have picked a worse time to attack.
27. Go Go Ludicolo!
11 Mar 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Ash and friends must rely on Grovyle, Torkoal, and Corphish, as they approach Petalburg City.
28. A Double Dilemma
18 Mar 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When May and Max's father, Norman, reaches near celebrity status, Team Rocket pretends to be a part of the family.
29. Love, Petalburg Style!
25 Mar 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Rumors are spreading about Nurse Joy spending a little too much time with Norman, Max and May's father! What's going on?
30. Balance of Power
1 Apr 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Ash has challenged Max and May's father, Norman, to a battle before—but this time, it's for a Gym badge!
31. A Six Pack Attack!
8 Apr 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When Professor Oak makes a surprise appearance in Hoenn, bringing along Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, Ash joins forces with them to battle Team Rocket.
32. The Bicker the Better
15 Apr 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When Ash and May face a duo in a double Pokémon battle, a falling out between these two friends causes them to lose--but they soon resolve their differences.
33. Grass Hysteria!
22 Apr 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When May accidentally enters a forbidden spot where only grass Pokémon live, she quickly befriends a friendly Bulbasaur.
34. Hokey Pokéballs
29 Apr 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
May lets her Bulbasaur out of its Pokéball and the curious Pokémon soon gets into trouble.
35. Whiscash and Ash
6 May 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When a famed Whiscash swallows Ash's Gym badges, he teams up with a fisherman to try to reel it in!
36. Me, Myself and Time
13 May 2004 · 23 min · 6.3/10
Ash and Pikachu meet up with an aspiring archaeologist who leads them to an ancient and mystical site.
37. A Fan with a Plan
20 May 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
May prepares to enter her first contest open only to ribbon holders, but remains confident despite seeing the contest favorite and his powerful Masquerain.
38. Cruisin' for a Losin?
27 May 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
May decides to use Bulbasaur in the Rubello Town Contest. Will its lack of experience cost her a ribbon?
39. Pearls Are a Spoink's Best Friend
3 Jun 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
When a Spoink loses the pearl on its head, Ash and friends volunteer to help search for it.
40. That's Just Swellow
10 Jun 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Ash, May, and Brock participate in a curious sporting event in which players use rings dangling from balloons to catch balls lying on the ground.
41. Take This House and Shuppet
17 Jun 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Fights arise both between May and Max and amongst Team Rocket, as a Shuppet--a Pokémon that feeds on human anger--stirs them to conflict.
42. A Shroomish Skirmish
24 Jun 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Team Rocket infuriates a Breloom, forcing not only themselves, but also Ash and friends to flee from its wrath.
43. Unfair-Weather Friends
1 Jul 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Ash and friends learn of Groudon and Kyogre, when Team Magma is joined by a master of disguise.
44. Who's Flying Now?
8 Jul 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Ash and friends meet up with the beautiful gym leader, Winona, at the Feather Carnival.
45. Sky High Gym Battle!
15 Jul 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
It's Swellow versus Swellow as Ash and Winona battle it out in the Fortree City Gym!
46. Lights, Camerupt, Action!
22 Jul 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
As the heroes continue onwards, they encounter a man pushing his Camerupt. After helping the man, the heroes are told the man, named Elijah, goes around villages and shows movies. The heroes decide to accompany them, while Team Rocket plans on stealing his equipment.
47. Crazy As a Lunatone
29 Jul 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
A group of conspiracy theorists known as the Pokémon Mystery Club pursues a Lunatone suspected to be behind a recent series of strange events.
48. The Garden of Eatin'
5 Aug 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
A troubled Snorlax wanders into a public park, creating no end of trouble.
49. A Scare to Remember
12 Aug 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
A fierce bout of amnesia causes Pikachu to join forces with Team Rocket!
50. Pokéblock, Stock, and Berry (1)
19 Aug 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Before taking part in the Lilycove Coordinator Contest, May has time to study the art of Pokéblock preparation with a local master
51. Lessons in Lilycove (2)
26 Aug 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
The Lilycove Coordinator Contest is underway but things are not looking good for May--her Combusken's Fire Spin has spiraled out of control!
52. Judgment Day!
2 Sept 2004 · 23 min · 5.0/10
Hoping to get to Mossdeep Island, Ash and the gang are forced to take a detour.