Summary

• Ash's journey spans over 25 years and 1200+ episodes, showcasing adventures in unique regions with diverse companions and Pokémon.
• Memorable episodes highlight Ash's growth, from his Frontier Brain offer to Legendary encounters, and victories over rivals like Paul and Alain.
• Iconic moments, such as Pikachu's refusal to evolve and Ash finally becoming a World Champion, mark significant milestones in his legendary story.

The Pokémon anime starring Ash ran for over 25 years and 1200+ episodes, featuring adventures that took place in 8 different regions of the Pokémon world. Ash and Pikachu traveled with many companions over this time, and caught dozens of Pokémon that quickly became new friends.

It's difficult to boil down Ash's journey to only a few episodes, simply because of how massive it is collectively. There are far too many great episodes to list them all. These episodes were chosen not only for being quality episodes on their own, but also for their impact on Ash's journey as a whole. Ash's greatest victories and most impactful experiences, as well as pivotal character moments for not only Ash, but Pikachu as well.

10 Ash is Offered a Spot as a Frontier Brain

Episode: Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, "Pace - The Final Frontier!"

After participating in Hoenn's Pokémon League, Ash decided to return to Kanto and challenge the Battle Frontier, a place where the finest trainers from all over come to hone their skills. There, Ash challenged Frontier Brains, akin to gym leaders, with the ultimate goal of taking on Brandon, the strongest of all. When it finally came time to battle with Brandon, Ash called upon old Pokémon like Charizard, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur, setting up a memorable return for long-time fans.

Ash performs well against Brandon, who battles with the legendary Pokémon, Regice. Pikachu battles valiantly and is able to defeat the Iceberg Pokémon, securing Ash the win. Ash is recognized as a Master of the Battle Frontier, and even offered a job as a new Frontier Brain, but ultimately declines in favor of continuing to travel. This is one of Ash's earliest big achievements, and though it's often overlooked, deserves recognition alongside his later champion standings.

9 Ash is Chosen by a Legendary for His Strength of Will

Episode: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, "The Battle Finale of Legend!"

It's not uncommon for Ash to get swept up in the schemes of large criminal organizations like Team Galactic, which often involve attempts to control Legendary Pokémon. However, one of the most significant moments to come of these schemes was when Team Galactic had captured Dialga, Palkia, and the Lake Guardians, Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit. The Lake Guardians ask Ash and his friends for help, recognizing them as good people.

Ash, in particular, is chosen by Azelf, the Pokémon representing willpower. Ash's will has always been ironclad, leading him to leap off buildings and throw himself in front of attacks to stand up for what he believes in, so Azelf's respect was particularly fitting. Team Galactic are (mostly) defeated due to Ash and friends' efforts, freeing Dialga and Palkia from their control.

8 Ash Proves Himself to His Greatest Rival

Episode: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, "Battling a Thaw in Relations!"

As Ash traveled in Sinnoh, he made a rival in Paul, a trainer who had a harsh attitude towards Pokémon training, even abandoning his Chimchar when it failed to live up to his expectations. Ash took that Chimchar in and raised it to be an Infernape in what is undoubtedly one of the best character arcs for a Pokémon in the series. This episode gives Ash and Infernape an opportunity to prove that Ash's friendly means of training is superior by putting it all on the line in the Sinnoh League.

Ash and Chimchar struggling against Paul puts the series' themes to the test, and in a hard-fought battle, Ash eventually emerged victorious. Accepting his defeat, Paul showed his respect to Ash for the first time, praising him for raising Infernape so well. And Ash, being who he is, happily invites Paul to have another battle sometime, showing that he was able to let the past be the past and start a new friendship.

7 Ash Just Barely Falls Short of Champion

Episode: Pokémon XY, "Down to the Fiery Finish!"

the episode is somewhat controversial due to it ending in Ash's loss

Pokémon XY is a fan favorite series for many reasons, with Ash's performance in battle being a key reason why. His performance in the Kalos League is exceptional, taking him all the way to the finals, where he battled against Alain, a trainer featured in the Mega Evolution specials who became a rival for Ash.

Alain and Ash's battle comes to a climax in this episode, where Alain's Mega Charizard X goes up against Ash's special Ash-Greninja in an epic battle that no fan can forget. While the episode is somewhat controversial due to it ending in Ash's loss, it's still an incredible battle, and Ash losing doesn't change how well he did. It's a major moment for Ash to come so close, his continuing on shows how strong his resolve really is.

6 Ash Finally Becomes the Champion of Alola

Episode: Pokémon Sun & Moon, "Enter the Champion!"

After losing in the final round in Kalos, Ash found himself in the Alola region, attending a Pokémon school. All the while, a brand new Alola League was being formed for the first time, and Ash was able to compete in the Manalo Conference tournament. Ash had assembled quite a team of rare and unusual Pokémon which he brought to the competition, giving him a bit of an edge going into it.

Ash fought hard in every round, but particularly in the final round, where he was matched up against Gladion, another rival with some unusual Pokémon of his own. By using his own brand of reckless strategy, Ash is able to defeat Gladion in a Lycanroc vs. Lycanroc finale, at last becoming a Champion after getting close so many times. This opened the door for future opportunities for Ash as well, but becoming the first Alola Champion has cemented Ash a place in history.

5 Ash and Gary Finally Battle It Out

Episode: Pokémon Gold and Silver, "Can't Beat the Heat!"

Ash's outside the box thinking is the key to his victory

When Ash signed up for the Johto League's Silver Conference, he found himself facing down his first rival, Gary Oak, in the first round. The time had finally come for Ash to prove that he was a competent Pokémon trainer, dispelling Gary's low opinion of him once and for all. In a full six-on-six battle, Ash and Gary slugged it out, with everything coming down to Ash's Charizard vs. Gary's Blastoise, his own starter.

Once again, Ash's outside the box thinking is the key to his victory, as he overcomes his type disadvantage by setting the field aflame, forcing Blastoise to put out the fire and create a veil of steam. Ash's victory over Gary signals the end of their long-running rivalry, as the two are finally able to become friends again. After seeing Gary treat Ash so poorly for most of the series up to this point, it's very satisfying to watch him lose and be forced to recognize Ash's ability, even if Ash didn't get too far in the actual tournament afterward.

4 Hints of Romance for Ash Ketchum?

Episode: Pokémon XY, "Till We Compete Again!"

As noted earlier, XY is a fan favorite, so it's only appropriate that XY's emotional final episode be mentioned, as it does contain a rather significant moment for Ash. The episode sets up saying goodbye to his traveling companions, Bonnie, Clemont, and Serena, with the latter catching a flight to the Hoenn region while Ash returns home to Kanto.

Goodbye episodes are always a bit sad, and this one sees off popular recurring characters like Alain as well. Most notable, of course, is Serena's goodbye to Ash, which involves her giving him a quick kiss (offscreen), shocking Clemont and Bonnie while Ash himself is a bit bewildered. While some fans would surely have preferred a more direct romance, this moment is the closest that Ash ever comes to romance in the series, and is worth mentioning for that alone.

3 Pikachu Chooses Not to Evolve

Episode: Pokémon: Indigo League, "Electric Shock Showdown"

Raichu beats Pikachu so badly that it ends up in the hospital

This episode features Ash going up against the Electric-type gym leader, Lt. Surge, whose Raichu beats Pikachu so badly that it ends up in the hospital. Having seen Raichu's power, Ash contemplates evolving Pikachu, but Pikachu slaps the stone away with its tail, saying that it wants to win as a Pikachu, or not win at all.

It's obviously an important episode for Pikachu, establishing its eternal desire to remain a Pikachu and not evolve. It also establishes one thing that helps justify Ash's decision not to evolve some Pokémon: Pikachu defeats Raichu by using speed-based moves that Raichu never mastered, making a point of the increased agility that lower forms offer.

2 Ash and Pikachu Meet for the First Time

Episode: Pokémon: Indigo League, "Pokémon - I Choose You!"

Of course, one can't discuss Ash and Pikachu's journey without including the very beginning. Ash wakes up late and misses out on the main three starter Pokémon, leaving him with only a disobedient Pikachu to work with. It's hard to believe at this early stage how inseparable Ash and Pikachu would one day become.

This episode does an excellent job of establishing Ash as a character as well--his stubbornness, his courage, and how much he truly cares about Pokémon. Ash standing up to the flock of Spearow to protect Pikachu is emblematic of his character, even decades later. Ash and Pikachu are bonded by this t struggle, laying the foundation for one of anime's greatest partnerships of all time.

You can see whe they first meet each other via the The Official Pokémon YouTube channel:

1 Ash Becomes World Champion

Episode: Pokémon Journeys, "Partners in Time!"

[Ash's] performance eventually saw him included in the Masters' Eight tournament

And just as important as the beginning of Ash's journey is the climax. Ash spent his final seasons battling in the World Coronation Series, a worldwide championship featuring only the toughest trainers. His performance eventually saw him included in the Masters' Eight tournament, where the top 8 trainers in the world battle it out, including the undefeated Leon and his Charizard.

This episode is the peak of Ash's battle with Leon, with the fight down to Pikachu vs. Charizard. Pikachu gathers strength by ing all the friends they've made along the way, and launches one final attack, a Thunderbolt, against Charizard's Fire Blast. Pikachu emerges victorious, allowing fans around the world to rejoice as Ash's hard-fought journey to the top is finally complete. Ash earns the title of "Monarch" and is declared world champion after 25 years, which undoubtedly makes it the Pokémon episode that defined Ash's era the most.

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