Anime 
Episode Guide Advanced Winner by a Nosepass Winner by a Nosepass
| Picture |
 |
| Japanese Title |
| Rustboro Gym! Nosepass' Secret Weapon! |
| Episode Pictures |
 Yes |
| Who's That Pokemon? |
 Pupitar |
| Hoenn Location |
 Rustboro City |
| Japanese Air Date |
| March 13, 2003 |
| American Air Date |
| January 10, 2004 |
| Title Pun |
| Winner By A Nose |
| Events |
| May decides to compete in Pokemon Contests instead of Gyms; Ash beats Roxanne for the Stone Badge. |
| Pokemon Debuts |
| Nosepass |
| Pokemon Appearances |
| Pikachu (Ash's), Meowth (Team Rocket), Treecko (Ash's), Wobbuffet (Jessie's), Geodude (Roxanne's) |
| Notes |
| The two songs that played during the battle were both from Pokemon games; the first was the music during your battle with the R/S Elite Four, while the second was from the battle with your rival in R/B/Y. This is the first time since Pokemon Scent-sation for Pokemon Yellow and The Water Flowers of Cerulean City for Pokemon Red/Blue that the Gym leader has all of the same Pokemon as he/she does in the video game. Roxanne has Geodude and Nosepass Ruby/Sapphire. This is Treecko's first-ever gym battle and Pikachu's first battle in the Hoenn League. The dub lists May's decision as a Pokemon Coordinator rather than a Contest Expert. |
| Mistakes |
| When Team Rocket were talking about almost being under the gym battle field in the tunnel, there was a PokeBall opening sound effect right before Wobbuffet spoke, but it had been standing there the whole time. |
| Video Edits |
| The entire episode is zoomed in on. |
| Cut Scenes |
| Total Time Cut: 3 sec The commercial break in the dub was moved up; in Japan, the commercial break doesn't happen until Pikachu tries Iron Tail for the first time against Nosepass. Three seconds are cut from the "TO BE CONTINUED..." shot. |
Pikachu is working on its Iron Tail. It is successful the first time, but fails on its second attempt. They are doing some last-minute training to beat Roxanne, the Rustboro City Gym Leader.
Ash and company are now eating lunch. Brock is worried about Pikachu's Iron Tail attack. Ash says it will be fine. Then Max asks May what her strategy will be. May finally confesses that she wants to be a Pokemon Coordinator. Everybody consents with her decision.
Team Rocket then realizes that from last episode the lady with the Geodude was in fact, Roxanne. James tells Jessie and Meowth that they will tunnel and dig a pitfall to steal Pikachu.
Ash is now at the Rustboro City Gym, which looks like a Rock-type gym. Inside, the battlefield has lots of rocks on it, and some people are on it. One of them asks if they are Ash and May, which they reply yes to. He calls Roxanne out and she greets them. She explains that the people are students at the Pokemon Academy who work in the gym. She asks Ash and May if they are ready. Ash certainly is, but May tells Roxanne that she wants to be a Pokemon Coordinator. Roxanne agrees with her choice. Then she asks Ash if the battle can be taped for her students, as watching a real battle is better than studying about it. Ash doesn't mind.
The battle will be a 2-on-2 battle between the challenger, Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town, and the gym leader Roxanne. The challenger may substitute his Pokemon, but the gym leader cannot. The battle begins!
Ash sends out Treecko; Roxanne uses Geodude. According to the Pokedex, Geodude is a rock Pokemon with a high defense. Physical attacks won't work against it. Treecko would have an advantage if it knew any grass attacks, but it doesn't. Treecko starts with Quick Attack, but it does no damage. Geodude hits Treecko with Mega Punch. Treecko is up in the air, but it does some damage to Geodude with a Pound attack. As Treecko's body weight was under the attack, it did some damage. But Geodude is still healthy, and uses Mega Punch attack. Treecko gets up, but falls down. Treecko is unable to battle, Geodude wins.
Now Ash will use Pikachu. Roxanne questions his choice, but Ash will still want to use it. Roxanne will not get in his way. Pikachu attacks with Thunder and destroys the rocks jetting above the battlefield, although Geodude took no damage.
We come back to Team Rocket, digging a tunnel that is planned to go under the gym. They plan to climb out the exit, grab Pikachu, and leave through the same tunnel. James will not let them buy another expensive machine, even though Jessie and Meowth want one, as it would be too costly. They keep digging.
The battle between Geodude and Pikachu continues. Geodude uses Rock Throw, but Pikachu uses Quick Attack. It runs right in front of Geodude. Then Pikachu uses Thunder, and Geodude faints. Geodude is unable to battle, Pikachu is the winner! Everyone is surprised Geodude lost, as it is a Rock-type, but apparently even rock types can take electric damage at close range.
Now Roxanne uses Nosepass. Nosepass is a Compass Pokemon, using the electromagnet in its nose to find its way. Pikachu is now tired, but it won't give up. Ash tells Pikachu to use Iron Tail and it hits! Roxanne now understands Ash's choice. Nosepass almost hits Pikachu, but Pikachu gets away. Pikachu tries another Iron Tail, but it is no good. Pikachu can't use Iron Tail twice in a row for some reason. Then Nosepass almost hits Pikachu again, and then uses Rock Tomb, surrounding Pikachu with very high rocks. Pikachu Thunders them away. Now Nosepass uses Sandstorm. Pikachu can't see, but Nosepass finds Pikachu with its nose. Pikachu is almost hit as the Sandstorm goes away. Now Pikachu runs around Nosepass many times to avoid its attack and tries to use Iron Tail again, but it fails. Pikachu needs to recharge its Iron Tail attack in order to use it, and it hasn't been getting the time. Nosepass attempts to do a Thunder Wave attack, but Pikachu dodges it.
Team Rocket has hit the gym floor just in time to take the Thunder Wave. They go right through the tunnel out the entrance, and go blasting off again.
Pikachu is tired and won't give up. Roxanne says she has a second attack handy just in case too. Nosepass now uses Zap Cannon, and Pikachu absorbs the hit. It deflects the attack back at Nosepass, who took some damage and is now paralyzed. Pikachu uses Iron Tail, which is successful, and hits Nosepass. Nosepass is unable to battle, Pikachu wins! Ash of Pallet Town is the winner!
Roxanne is glad to have battled Ash, and each say they learned a lot from the battle. Roxanne is sure the students at the Trainer's School will be impressed at the battle. Then Ash gets the Stone Badge, proof of his victory at the Rustboro City Gym.
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