S8 redirects here. For the TCG release with the set symbol S8, seeFusion Strike (TCG).

Pokémon Advanced Battle redirects here. For the Italian opening, seePokémon Advanced Battle (song).

Pokémon: Advanced Battle Season 8
Logo for the season
Opening	Unbeatable
Episodes	52
Region	Hoenn &Kanto
Series	Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
Preceded by	Pokémon: Advanced Challenge
Followed by	Pokémon: Battle Frontier

Pokémon: Advanced Battle is the eighthseason of thedubbed version of thePokémon animated series. It is the third season ofPokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire. It concludes the adventures ofAsh,May,Max, andBrock in theHoennregion, as Ash and May compete in theEver Grande Conference and theHoenn Grand Festival, respectively. It also begins Ash's second adventure throughKanto as he challenges theBattle Frontier.

It began on September 17, 2005, with the dub premiere ofClamperl of Wisdom, and concluded on July 8, 2006, withPasta La Vista. It originally aired inthe United States as part of the 2005-2006Kids' WB! Saturday morning lineup. This seasonskipped the originalAG101 due to the2004 Chūetsu earthquake as well asAG120, a clip show episode.

It is preceded byPokémon: Advanced Challenge and succeeded byPokémon: Battle Frontier.

Blurb

Ash earns his final two Badges and secures himself a spot in the Hoenn League Championships, while May comes dangerously close to not getting her final Ribbon—setting the stage for epic showdowns with both of her rivals in the Grand Festival. Ash meets two Trainers that become his own Hoenn rivals, facing off against both of them during the course of the tournament. Upon returning to Kanto and reuniting with old friends, Ash is recruited for a new challenge—the Battle Frontier!

Important events

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

• TeamsMagma andAqua awakenGroudon andKyogre, only to realize the true danger in unleashing their power.Lance helps to resolve the situation. (AG097 -AG098)
• Ash tries his luck against theHoennElite Four memberDrake. (AG101)
• May meets a new rivalHarley, not knowing of his penchant for trickery. (AG103)
• On the way toSlateport City, Ash meetsMorrison, who becomes hisrival. (AG118)
• Ash andhis friends stopBrodie, now independent, from stealing theRibbon Cup. (AG119)
• TheHoenn Grand Festival takes place. (AG121 -AG123)
  • May,Drew, Harley, andRobert get past the preliminary and mainAppeals Round. (AG121 -AG122)
  • May defeats Harley in theContest Battles, but loses to Drew, ending up in the top eight. (AG123)
  • Robert defeats Drew in the finals, winning theRibbon Cup and becoming aTop Coordinator. (AG123)
• Upon arriving atEver Grande City, Ash and friends meetTyson, anEver Grande Conference participant and torch runner. (AG125)
• The Ever Grande Conference takes place (AG126 -AG131)
  • Ash, Morrison, and Tyson make it past the preliminary round. (AG126)
  • Ash, Morrison, and Tyson make it through the qualifying rounds. (AG127 -AG128)
  • Ash battlesKatie and wins. (AG128 -AG129)
  • Ash battles Morrison and wins. (AG129 -AG130)
  • Ash battles Tyson, and loses. Ash comes in the top eight in theHoenn League, while Tyson becomes the Ever Grande Conference winner. (AG130 -AG131)
• Ash and his friends part ways. Ash later meetsScott andAgatha at theViridian Gym. Scott tells Ash of theBattle Frontier. (AG132)
• Ash, May andMax reunite atProfessor Oak'sLaboratory, andBrock rejoins the group in the very end of the episode. (AG133)
• Misty makes an appearance for three episodes. (AG132 -AG134)
• Ash and May begin their quests to participate in the Battle Frontier and KantoContests, respectively. (AG133)

Party changes

Additions

The following Pokémon are obtained:

• Ash's Snorunt (AG108)
• May's Munchlax (AG117)
• Misty's Azurill (prior toAG132)
• May's Squirtle (AG133)

Evolutions

The following Pokémon evolve:

• Brock'sLombre →Ludicolo (AG105)
• Ash'sSnorunt →Glalie (AG123)

Other

• Ash's Torkoal (left at Professor Oak's lab,AG133)
• Ash's Glalie (left at Professor Oak's lab,AG133)
• May's Skitty (left atPetalburg Gym beforeAG133)
• May's Beautifly (left atPetalburg Gym beforeAG133)
• May's Bulbasaur (left at Professor Oak's lab,AG133)
• Brock's Ludicolo (left atPewter Gym beforeAG134)

Returns

The following Pokémon return to their Trainer:

• Ash's Phanpy (AG133)

Gym battles

Ash battles the followingGymLeaders:

Battle Frontier battles

Ash battles the followingFrontierBrains:

Pokémon Contests

May participates in the followingPokémon Contests:

Hoenn

Kanto

Episodes

Home video releases

North American DVD releases

Main article:List of English language Advanced Battle home video releases (Region 1)

Australian DVD releases

Main article:List of English language Advanced Battle home video releases (Region 4)

Trivia

• For reasons unknown, this season was never aired onNew Zealand television. However DVDs were made available, which at the time was unusual for recent season in New Zealand. It was also aired on theAustralianCartoon Network, which can be viewed in New Zealand throughSky.
• The episodes of this season,Pokémon: Advanced, andPokémon: Advanced Challenge for sale oniTunes are missing theWho's That Pokémon? andPokémon Trainer's Choice segments, as well as the season-based eyecatches from the final commercial breaks.
• This is the final season to air on Kids' WB!
  • This is also the final season dubbed by4Kids Entertainment.

In other languages

Related articles

This article is part ofProject Anime, aBulbapedia project that covers all aspects ofPokémon animation.

• Seasons of the Pokémon animated series
• Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire episodes