 | This article is about an episode of thePokémon animated series that has not beendubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names. |
| HZ124 |
突入！エクスプローラーズ本部
Break In! Explorers' Headquarters |
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First broadcast | Japan | January 23, 2026 |
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English themes |
Japanese themes |
Credits | Animation | Team Kumemura |
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| Screenplay | 松澤くれはKureha Matsuzawa |
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| Storyboard | 尼野浩正Hiromasa Amano |
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| Assistant director | 佐藤道拓Michihiro Satō |
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| Animation directors | 中矢利子Toshiko Nakaya |
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| 志村泉Izumi Shimura | | 柳原好貴Kōki Yanagihara | | 大西雅也Masaya Ōnishi | | X10 | | HE YE | | SHEN TAOYI | | DONG LIZE | | CHEN LIANG | | LUO RUI | | WANG JINGGUO | | YU HUIYUN | | HE JINLONG | | ZHOU LEYAO | | ZHANG QIANRU | | LIN XIAZHOU | | GAO YIZHU | | A MEI | | Additional credits |
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(Japanese:突入！エクスプローラーズ本部Break In! Explorers' Headquarters) is the 124th episode ofPokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,356th episode of thePokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on January 23, 2026.
Plot
Amethio meets with the younger members ofRising Volt Tacklers at theBrave Olivine to discuss their upcoming rescue mission. Having been kept up to date of the situation byHamber,Zirc, andOnia, Amethio reveals theSix Heroes are presently being kept in theExplorers HQ, and withSpinel being atExceed, now would be the best time to strike. One thing thatLiko noticed duringtheirbattle against the Six Heroes was that they hadn't attacked each other while under the influence of theSuper Strong Spheres, meaning they still recognize each other as allies. However, that recognition could be lost if they are exposed to the Strong Spheres again, making this mission even more dire. Amethio begins to explain the layout of theExplorers HQ to the determined Rising Volt Tacklers, with Liko notingCharcadet's own determination. WhileMurdock navigates the Brave Olivine to its next destination, the younger members all spend their free time separately.Roy andSkeledirge are asleep;Quaxwell andTinkaton are also sleeping asDot finalizes the plan; Liko assists Charcadet with theAuspicious Armorgiven byDiana asMeowscarada andPagogo watch. Meanwhile,Ult invites Amethio andCeruledge inside the observation deck, but the latterTrainer refuses as he reminiscesthe last time he boarded the airship and remarks the view that the Rising Volt Tacklers freely see from there instead. Unaware of the incident Amethio referenced in his musings, Ult tells him he’s willing to trust him, relying on the others' words, and Amethio accepts with a small smile.
Once they arrive at the Explorers HQ, the mission starts with Amethio, Zirc, Onia, Roy, and Ult acting as decoys to draw the attention of the Explorers keeping watch while Liko and Dot head to the cargo area and hack their way in. Unfortunately, they are caught byIndi andRubina, who bring out theirSalamence. Both Pokémon useFlamethrower on Meowscarada and Quaxwell, but Charcadet exits from itsPoké Ball to take the hit, triggering itsFlash FireAbility. The two Explorers then use their Strong Spheres on Salamence, prompting Dot to step in when she realizes Charcadet can't handle both opponents at once. However, Amethio arrives just in time. Having completed his part of the mission, he steps in tobattle in her place, allowing her to focus on hacking while making Charcadet eager to battle alongside Ceruledge.
Rubina commands Salamence to attack their opponents, forcing them to dodge as Indi waits for an opening. When Charcadet gets knocked against a wall, Ceruledge usesShadow Claw repeatedly, but Salamence's rampage is not stopping. Indi's Salamence uses Flamethrower, with Charcadet protecting Ceruledge by taking it. Powered-up, theFire Child Pokémon unleashes a rapid barrage against the Dragon Pokémon, but it's ineffective. Meanwhile, Ceruledge holds its ground with the other Salamence until it lands an attack that activates the Fire Blades Pokémon'sHidden Ability,Weak Armor. Having waited for Rubina's Salamence to beconfused as a result ofOutrage, Amethio attempts to have Ceruledge retaliate, but Indi's Salamence intercepts it withDragon Claw, so Charcadet usesTake Down instead, reducing itsrecoil with its armor. Both Explorers become annoyed with the flow of battle and call for Salamence to power up viaDragon Dance. Although they are nearing their limits, Charcadet and Ceruledge combine their attacks together to counter the two Salamence before Liko has the Fire Child Pokémon useFire Spin to protect them. However, Indi and Rubina send Salamence into the vortex of flames since there is nowhere to run in there, which Liko notes also applies to Salamence as she and Amethio call for their partners to attack together again. Unseen by the Trainers outside, Charcadet's armor begins to glow in ablue light. The combinedPsycho Cut andEmber hits both Salamence and temporarily forces everyone outside to shield themselves as the vortex intensifies briefly. When the vortex subsides, not only are both Salamence severely weakened, but Ceruledge is standing alongside a newly evolvedArmarouge. Even though the outcome is clear, the Explorers refuse to admit defeat, so Liko has Armarouge useClear Smog to remove the two Salamence's increased stats while Ceruledge attacks withPhantom Force. The Fire Blades Pokémon attacks withBitter Blade next, hitting Armarouge when Indi's Salamence dodges it and triggers Flash Fire once more. With Ceruledge's support, Liko commands Armarouge to use its strongest Ember, which transforms into a newmove,Armor Cannon, thatdefeats both Salamence and the Explorers retreat.
Likorecalls Armarouge and thanks Amethio and Ceruledge for allowing the Fire Warrior Pokémon to reach its full potential. Amethio, though, says it was all Liko's hard work in raising it before recalling Ceruledge. Dot congratulates Liko on the Evolution before revealing she managed to unlock the door. Roy and Ult then rejoin the trio, albeit withLucario,Sableye, andCaptain Pikachu down from their battle earlier. Amethio tasks Zirc and Onia with keeping watch of the building in the event things turn south before leading the group to the place where the Six Heroes are held. Upon arrival, each of them rush to a box containing one of the Six Heroes, not noticing some walls being erected until its too late. Now separated, they also find themselves face to face with an Explorers member, with Spinel watching them from his throne.
Major events
- For a list of all major events inPokémon Horizons: The Series, please see thetimeline page.
Debuts
Pokémon debuts
Characters
Humans
Pokémon
Trivia
- Mega Nidothing's Mega Mega! Mega Evolution:Sharpedo
- The firsteyecatch featuresAmethio with hisCeruledge,Corviknight, andWhite Zygarde, and the second featuresLiko with herMeowscarada,Hatterene,Pagogo, andCharcadet.
- This episode marks the first time that a:
- As of this episode:
- All the Pokémon Liko currently owns that are capable of evolving have reached their final forms.
- Dot is the only younger member of theRising Volt Tacklers that has a Pokémon who is still capable of evolving.
- Roy,Ult, Dot, Amethio, and Liko narrate the preview for thenext episode.
Errors
Dub edits
In other languages
