DP015

Ash and his friends have reached Oreburgh City, where Ash will try to earn his first Sinnoh Gym Badge. But Paul has beaten him to the Oreburgh Gym, and he'll battle Gym Leader Roark first—if Roark ever shows up! Roark is also a mining foreman who's busy excavating for buried fossils and coal ore. In fact, Ash and company locate him just as he's uncovered another fossil find. The fossils he discovers can be revived at the local museum, which has Team Rocket sensing another great opportunity to score some Pokémon for their Boss.

Roark returns to the Gym to battle Paul in a 3-on-3 battle. The Oreburgh Gym is a Rock-type Gym, so Paul has an Azumarill to counter Roark's Geodude. Even though Azumarill should have the advantage, Geodude quickly knocks it out, and Paul is not pleased! Paul's Elekid defeats Geodude, only to have trouble with Roark's deceptively fast Onix. Paul switches Elekid out for Chimchar and beats Onix, but now Roark brings out a Cranidos.

Paul lets Chimchar take some hits so it can power up using its Blaze ability, yet even that doesn't stop Cranidos. Finally it's all up to Elekid, and it emerges victorious after the tough battle. Paul has earned his badge—along with a whole heap of hard feelings from Ash! Ash doesn't like the way Paul treats his Pokémon, and he likes it even less when Paul wants to leave without seeing Ash battle! But will Ash's wounded pride backfire on him?

Ash, Dawn, and Brock arrive at Oreburgh City and reach the Oreburgh Gym. Before he can enter, however, Paul and an older man, Ian, walk out of the Gym. Ash asks if Paul has challenged the Gym Leader yet, but Paul tells him to mind his own business. Ian explains that the Gym Leader is unavailable. He also reveals that the Oreburgh Gym uses Rock Pokémon. Ash is surprised by this, and the comment catches Paul's attention. Paul abruptly decides to go find a Pokémon Center, and as he walks away, Ash wishes him luck. Paul smirks and continues walking.

After Ash receives a Badge case, Ian reveals that the Gym Leader, Roark, is working at the Oreburgh Mine, so the group leaves the Gym to find him. At the mine, Team Rocket, after failing to steal a Nuzleaf for the Boss, serve amongst the workers. Ash and his friends approach the trio, who they don’t recognize through their miner gear, asking for directions. Team Rocket turns their back on the twerps to avoid being recognized. At this, several men push a minecart carrying a hefty lump of rock, followed by Roark who asks for them to wait. Roark walks over to the mining cart and polishes the large stone to reveal a Fossil. As the cart is taken away to the museum, Roark asks who Ash and his friends are. Ash replies that he's come to challenge him for a Gym Badge. Roark admits he forgot he was the Gym Leader, as he was so preoccupied with his latest discovery. Team Rocket, meanwhile, is more intrigued to hear that the fossil might be resurrected.

Roark returns to the Gym and quickly resumes his Gym Leader duties as Paul returns for his match. Roark apologizes for the delay, he invites Paul through to the arena. Upon hearing Dawn’s excitement to see a real Gym battle, he invites the group inside to watch. At the Gym battlefield, the field opens up to reveal a large rocky field, which impresses Dawn. Brock explains that Gym Leaders often have Gym fields that suit their Pokémon of choice and this sort of field is perfect for Roark's Rock-type Pokémon. The referee, Ian, explains that this battle will be a 3-on-3 battle, and at this Roark sends out his first Pokémon, Geodude.

Paul sends out his first Pokémon, Azumarill - a Water-type, the perfect counter to a Rock Pokémon. Paul orders Azumarill to use Hydro Pump, but this is deflected perfectly by Geodude’s Hidden Power. Azumarill is sent flying, and Roark has Geodude strike it down with a Rollout attack. Azumarill smashes right into the ground and is declared unable to battle by the referee. Dawn is shocked that a Water-type would lose to a Rock Pokémon, and Brock remarks that he thinks Roark was prepared for people to try to beat him with a Water-type and so trained his Pokémon to be able to beat them.

As Paul recalls Azumarill, he curses the Aqua Rabbit Pokémon for its weakness, infuriating Ash. Paul summons his next Pokémon, Elekid, which surprises Roark. Paul attacks first, and Elekid sends Geodude flying back with a Brick Break, knocking it out in a single hit. Roark sends out his next Pokémon, Onix, which Dawn checks on her Pokédex. Paul tries to get Onix with Brick Break again, but Onix dodges easily. Onix swings its tail around and brings it down hard on Elekid's head, but Elekid manages to Protect itself from the attack at the last minute. Onix manages to smash into Elekid with a Double-Edge the moment the protective barrier drops, and Elekid goes flying. Ash notes that Onix should take recoil from using Double-Edge, but this does not occur. Brock explains that Onix has the Rock Head Ability, which negates any recoil damage it would take. Roark orders Onix to use Stealth Rock, embedding shards of rock into the battlefield–a move that comes into effect when Paul substitutes. Onix Slams right into Elekid with its tail. It jumps back, however, as Elekid's Static Ability is triggered and paralyzes Onix. The two Pokémon clash again, but Elekid doesn't appear to be able to go on so Paul recalls it back to its Poké Ball to recover.

Paul sends out his next Pokémon, Chimchar, who is instantly attacked by the stones created by Stealth Rock. Chimchar is injured but is able to continue. He Digs underground, which worries Roark as Chimchar could appear at any moment for a sneak attack. Chimchar appears right below Onix and damages it, much to Roark's surprise. The two continue to battle, but due to Onix's paralysis, Chimchar is able to attack again and again with Dig. Eventually, Onix is knocked out and declared unable to battle.

Roark thanks Paul, saying it's been a good battle so far, before sending out his final Pokémon, Cranidos. Paul tells Chimchar to dive underground again, so Roark calls for Cranidos to focus and use Headbutt. Cranidos follows through, striking Chimchar with its hard head. Paul again tells Chimchar to Dig, but by now, Roark has caught onto Paul's plan, and Cranidos lands a Zen Headbutt on its opponent. Roark tells his Pokémon to attack again, and Paul tries to get Chimchar to dodge with Dig. But, as Brock points out, Zen Headbutt has the side-effect of making a Pokémon flinch and unable to attack or dodge. Cranidos repeats its attack over and over, even using Focus Energy to ensure that Chimchar goes down, battering Chimchar to almost being knocked out. However, Chimchar begins to glow with a fiery red aura, signaling that he has tapped into his Blaze Ability. Roark realizes he has to finish this fast, and calls for another Zen Headbutt. Chimchar launches into a Blaze-boosted Flame Wheel attack and lands a blow directly on Cranidos’s weak spot: its legs. Cranidos picks itself up just as Chimchar repeats the attack, before going underground for another Dig attack. Cranidos takes the opportunity to power up with Focus Energy, allowing it to move in time to evade Chimchar. Cranidos follows up with Headbutt, knocking Chimchar out of the match. Paul recalls Chimchar into the Poké Ball, angry with him for his defeat and promising to deal with him later.

Paul has one last chance, however, and calls out Elekid, who is again attacked by the trap of stones created by Onix's prior use of Stealth Rock. Roark tells Cranidos to use Flamethrower, which Elekid dodges before striking Cranidos's knee with Brick Break. This causes the Head Butt Pokémon to reel back in pain, as well as get paralyzed by Elekid's Static Ability. Cranidos, though, uses its own Ability, Mold Breaker, to cancel out Elekid's Ability. However, just as Cranidos is about to attack with Zen Headbutt, its knee injury kicks in, allowing Elekid to land a Brick Break attack onto Cranidos's head. Cranidos blasts Elekid square in the chest with Flamethrower, shutting down its attempt to hit it with another Brick Break attack. What follows is an explosive collision between Zen Headbutt and Brick Break that leaves both sides worse for wear, with Cranidos once again getting paralyzed by Static before curing itself with Mold Breaker. As Elekid prepares to use Brick Break once again, Cranidos counters with Flamethrower, which Elekid manages to cut through before hitting its opponent right on the head and creating a massive explosion.

As the smoke clears, both Elekid and Cranidos stand and stare each other down, both of them having been pushed to utter exhaustion. However, Cranidos is the only one of them who falls down and is declared unable to battle by Ian. With the victory going to Paul, Roark congratulates him on the great battle and presents him with a Coal Badge for his victory. Just as Paul prepares to head out, Ash demands that Paul stays to watch him battle Roark next.

Paul's Coal Badge

• Ash and his friends arrive in Oreburgh City and meet Roark, the local Gym Leader.
• Ash receives a Sinnoh Badge case.
• Paul is revealed to have obtained an Azumarill.
• Paul's Chimchar is revealed to have Blaze as his Ability.
• Paul defeats Roark in a Gym battle and earns the Coal Badge.

For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

Humans

• Roark
• Ian

Pokémon debuts

• Cranidos (Roark's)

Humans

• Ash
• Dawn
• Brock
• Jessie
• James
• Paul
• Roark
• Ian
• Miners

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Elekid (Paul's)
• Chimchar (Paul's)
• Azumarill (Paul's)
• Geodude (Roark's)
• Onix (Roark's)
• Cranidos (Roark's; debut)
• Machoke (miners')
• Machamp (miners')
• Hariyama (miners')

• Instead of their evolved forms, the character sketch sheet for the arc features Bonsly and Starly along with the main characters.
• Ash's Staravia and Brock's Sudowoodo have been added in the opening.
• Roark being at the coal mines is a reference to his occupation in the Generation IV games, when the player first visits the Gym.
• Music from Destiny Deoxys and Jirachi: Wish Maker is used as background music.
• Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Encyclopedia: Ash's Staravia
  • Pokémon senryū: ムックルが　ムクムクしんか　ムクバード Mukkuru ga, mukumuku shinka, Mukubādo "Mukkuru mukumuku evolved; Mukubird."
• The English dub title is a reference to the 1933 sci-fi novel The Shape of Things to Come by H. G. Wells. This was also used for two future episodes.
• This is one of the few episodes of Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl where Dawn's Piplup does not appear.
• This episode holds the record of having the most Abilities activated, with a total of four: Elekid's Static, Onix's Rock Head, Chimchar's Blaze, and Cranidos's Mold Breaker.
• Cranidos's Mold Breaker nullifies Elekid's Static. In the games, this would not happen, as Static does not protect Elekid from any kind of moves.
• Team Rocket does not blast off in this episode.
• Team Rocket uses a variation of their motto in this episode.

Errors

• When Team Rocket asks one of the miners if Roark was talking about Fossils coming back to life, the miner refers to Roark as Ian.
• During his battle, Roark asks himself when Elekid's Static on Onix would wear off, which something normally does not occur.

Dub edits

• In the original Japanese version, when Paul gets the idea to aim for Cranidos's legs, he says "あれだ！ (That's it!)" when the camera is zoomed in on Cranidos's legs, denoting his conceiving of said idea. In the English dub, his line is changed to "Come on!", instead denoting annoyance at Chimchar getting overpowered by Cranidos.