63 : The Battle Of The Badge May 2026

: Ash, Misty, and Brock return to Viridian City after a full year of traveling. Ash is eager to win the Earth Badge, the final requirement for his entrance into the Pokémon League.

: Before Ash can challenge the gym, his rival Gary Oak enters and faces the Gym Leader, Giovanni. Despite Gary's skill, Giovanni unveils a powerful, never-before-seen armored Pokémon—Mewtwo—who effortlessly defeats Gary's Arcanine and Nidoking. 63 : The Battle of the Badge

" The Battle of the Badge " (Season 1, Episode 63) is a major milestone in the Pokémon series, marking the moment Ash Ketchum secures his eighth Kanto gym badge to qualify for the Indigo League. This episode is widely remembered for debuting the mysterious Mewtwo in the anime and featuring a rare battle where Team Rocket takes over as temporary Gym Leaders. : Ash, Misty, and Brock return to Viridian

: An emergency forces Giovanni to leave the gym, and he leaves Jessie, James, and Meowth in charge as substitute Gym Leaders. They use Giovanni's Pokémon—including Rhydon, Kingler, and Machamp—to battle Ash. : An emergency forces Giovanni to leave the

: Gary reveals he already has ten badges, despite only eight being needed for the league, suggesting Kanto has more than eight total gyms.

: After Team Rocket refuses to hand over the badge, Togepi accidentally triggers an explosion that sends them flying. Jessie drops the Earth Badge as they blast off, and Ash recovers it just before the gym building collapses. Key Trivia