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Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Strategy!
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ジュナイパーを攻略せよ! Overcome Junaiper!
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First broadcast
Japan
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July 28, 2019
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United States
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November 30, 2019
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English themes
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Japanese themes
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Credits
Animation
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Team Kato
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Screenplay
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面出明美 Akemi Omode
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Storyboard
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樋口香里 Kaori Higuchi
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Assistant director
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小柴純弥 Junya Koshiba
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Animation directors
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酒井裕未 Hiromi Sakai
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柳原好貴 Yoshitaka Yanagihara
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No additional credits are available at this time.
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Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Strategy! (Japanese: ジュナイパーを攻略せよ! Overcome Junaiper!) is the 132nd episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, and the 1,071st episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on July 28, 2019 and in the United States on November 30, 2019.
Blurb
Rowlet is determined to battle Decidueye in Ash’s Alola Pokémon League quarterfinals match against Hau, but first it needs some additional training. And just in the nick of time, Toucannon and its flock arrive to teach Rowlet a new move! Meanwhile, at Manalo Stadium, Gladion and his Lycanroc defeat James and Mareanie…and then Ash is up next! Rowlet enters the battlefield dressed in a Decidueye costume, which ends up becoming a decoy against the real Decidueye’s Sinister Arrow Raid attack! With Rowlet still standing, how will the rest of the match play out?
Plot
Wingull arrives at Melemele Island and informs Toucannon's flock that Rowlet is competing in a tough match against a Decidueye, prompting Toucannon, Trumbeak, and several Pikipek to leave for Manalo Stadium. Meanwhile, Ash is already training with Pikachu and Rowlet, who is hoping to overcome Hau's Decidueye. Though Ash's friends advise Torracat's Fire attacks would be more effective against Decidueye, Ash is insistent on choosing Rowlet and declares that he has no secret plan in mind. Kiawe quickly supports the tactic after seeing Rowlet's enthusiasm, though the others have their doubts. Ash decides to keep training with Rowlet while everyone else goes to watch Gladion's match.
While fuming over her loss against James in the previous round, Jessie demands he win or else before handing him the Z-Power Ring to ensure his victory. Soon, James and Gladion enter the battlefield as Caster introduces the latter to the audience. James calls out Mareanie for a pep talk; Mareanie agrees to do her best and fulfill James's personal goal of battling the Masked Royal. After Hapu calls for the second round match to begin, James makes the first move, but Gladion's Lycanroc easily evades the oncoming Sludge Bomb.
Meanwhile, Rowlet falls asleep again during Ash's training session. Rotom suggests Rowlet should learn a new move for a counter-strategy. Rowlet soon wakes up as its foster family arrives to lend a hand. After Rowlet informs Toucannon of its concerns for its upcoming match, Toucannon shows its Feather Dance technique. Rotom adds that the move would be ideal against Hau's Decidueye, as Feather Dance weakens an opponent's attack. With that, Ash and Rowlet begin to try to master Feather Dance.
Elsewhere, Mareanie manages to stand up, though she is exhausted. As Lycanroc increases its attack power with Swords Dance, James decides to use a Z-Move and performs Black Hole Eclipse with Mareanie. Gladion counters with his own Z-Move, Continental Crush, with Lycanroc hurling a giant boulder directly at Mareanie's black hole. In the crowd, Nanu recalls how Ash used the same strategy during their grand trial match. The two Z-Moves cancel each other out, and Gladion has Lycanroc follow up with Stone Edge, winning the round. A dejected James walks backstage and is confronted by Jessie, though instead of receiving a scolding, she rewards his efforts with a can of Komala Coffee. Meowth adds that they will just think of another way to conquer Alola, and Jessie declares that Team Rocket only looks to the future. James is greatly relieved, as is Mareanie, who goes on to poison him in admiration.
Later, Rotom interrupts Ash's training session to inform him that Gladion won his match and that his match is about to begin. The Trumbeak and Pikipek return in time to deliver Rowlet a special gift, a Decidueye-styled cloak meant to encourage it to win. The flock leaves, while Ash returns to the stadium. Backstage, Hau declares his hopes to defeat Ash and prove himself as a strong Trainer. Ash shares his sentiments, also admitting that he wants to win the entire Manalo Conference. The two are called over to the battlefield; Hau runs off first, while Ash takes a moment to call out his Pokémon from their Poké Balls so they can cheer him and Rowlet on. Ash's friends are relieved to see Ash made it to his match, though they are concerned about how his training went. Meanwhile, Toucannon's flock perches themselves on the stadium rooftop to watch the battle.
Nanu begins the match, and Hau orders Decidueye to use Razor Leaf. Rowlet dodges it before launching Seed Bomb, though Decidueye batters the Everstone away with Leaf Blade. Ash decides to use his Z-Move early, but Decidueye simply flies upwards and evades Bloom Doom. Hau reveals he did his research and calls Ash's tactic predictable. Decidueye then shoots a Spirit Shackle arrow, pinning Rowlet to the battlefield and allowing Hau to use his own Z-Move, Sinister Arrow Raid. The attack hits its target, but Rowlet is revealed to have used its cloak as a makeshift substitute. Seeing as the match is yet to be won, Hau confidently declares that his next move won't miss.
Major events
- For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, please see the timeline page.
Debuts
Pokémon debuts
Characters
Humans
Pokémon
Who's That Pokémon?: Wingull (US and international), Pikipek (Japan)
Trivia
- Poké Problem: Who was Rowlet's special training partner in today's episode?
- The English dub title of this episode is a pun on the saying "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".
- Nanu and Hala narrate the preview for the next episode.
Errors
Dub edits
In other languages
Language
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Title
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Chinese
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Cantonese
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攻下狙射樹梟吧
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Mandarin
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攻下狙射樹梟吧!
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Danish
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Imitation Er Den Bedste Strategi!
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Dutch
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Imitatie is de grootste vorm van strategie!
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Finnish
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Matkiminen on taktiikan vilpittömin muoto!
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German
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Nachahmung ist die schönste Strategie!
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Hebrew
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!חיקוי הוא האסטרטגיה הטובה ביותר
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Italian
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L'imitazione è la più sincera delle strategie!
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Korean
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모크나이퍼를 공략하라!
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Polish
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Imitacja to skuteczna strategia!
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Brazilian Portuguese
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Imitação é a forma mais sincera de estratégia!
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Russian
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Лучшая стратегия – имитация!
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Latin American Spanish
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Admiración por Decidueye: ¡Estrategia de imitación!
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Turkish
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Taklit en samimi stratejidir!
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