AG153

Tactics Theatrics!! (Japanese: バトルドーム！炎と水のフュージョン！！  Battle Dome! Fusion of Fire and Water!!) is the 153rd episode of the, and the 427th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on November 24, 2005 and in the United States on September 30, 2006.

Blurb
Ash has finally reached the Battle Dome, and what a reception! An eager crowd of journalists wants to meet the new challenger who's going to take on Tucker, the famous Dome Ace. Ash is whisked off to his first press conference and he's having fun until he admits he doesn't know who Tucker the Dome Ace is, to the horror of all the reporters.

Team Rocket knows who Tucker is—when they're not selling snacks at the Battle Dome, they're busy pretending to be his hairdressers. Tucker knows how to please a crowd, and Ash makes his big Battle Dome entrance only to be outshone by Tucker and his tons of screaming fans! Tucker sends out Swampert and Arcanine, so Ash chooses his Corphish and Swellow. But type advantage won't be enough against Swampert and Arcanine's teamwork and combos!

The battle heats up immediately and there are plenty of surprises in store for Ash. For one thing, Tucker's speedy Arcanine knows Aerial Ace, and goes head to head with Swellow! Ash also needs to find a way around Swampert's strong defense. It turns out Tucker's all about strategy as well as showmanship, so Ash has a rough time until he figures out how to counter Tucker's tactics with a few of his own. Corphish and Swellow then deal a knock-out combination to win the round. Ash leaves the Battle Dome with a shiny new Tactics Symbol and memories of an amazing experience!

Plot
Successfully arriving at the Battle Dome, is flooded by many reporters and personnel. Scott pops out, saying to go to the press conference. A press conference takes place with various reporters questioning Ash about his upcoming in the Battle Dome. Meanwhile, is grooming the Frontier Brain, Dome Ace Tucker, and making battle preparations. Arriving at an inner platform within the Battle Dome, Ash can easily see the battle platform from above. Team Rocket is doing their usual errands with serving the normal concessions and snacks.

The lights dim within the arena as a nearby screen illuminates, displaying various information about Ash from Pallet Town, including his achievements in the Orange, Indigo, Johto, and Hoenn Leagues. A giant plume of smoke and dust erupts in the arena as Ash makes his appearance. The arena then lightens with various colors of light as Tucker, the Frontier Brain, makes his appearance. Landing majestically atop the adjacent platform, the crowd goes hysterical. Seeing the Dome Ace of the Battle Dome for the first time gives Max and thoughts of their father.

The battle about to take place, Tucker displays the coin for defeating him in this battle as he then sends out both and  in a veil of fire and water. This battle will be a two-on-two Pokémon battle. Ash analyzes Tucker's choice and then chooses to call upon and.

The battle quickly goes underway with Swellow launching into a devastating towards Swampert. Arcanine then rushes towards Swampert and is thrust into the air reaching a high velocity and collides with Swellow knocking it backwards. Swellow recovers from the attack as Corphish attacks with an array of. Swampert then jumps in front of Arcanine to shield themselves from the attack with. notes that both Pokémon support each other with Arcanine's and Swampert's.

Swellow goes for another attack flying around to reach a high speed with Arcanine running to achieve an equal speed and jumps into the air to defend against Swellow's attack. The two attacks collide thrusting Swellow backwards and forcing Arcanine to the ground unable to stop himself from the fall. Corphish sees the opening and goes for the attack with while Swampert launching a  attack right behind Arcanine. Just before Arcanine and Corphish make contact, Arcanine dodges Swampert's attack with Corphish taking direct damage and slamming into the nearby wall.

Scott explains that Tucker is known for his astonishing battle tactics while both May and Max are surprised. Tucker thanks Ash on his battle spirit and effort but Swampert quickly resumes the battle with a. Both Swellow and Corphish dodge this attack with Corphish thrusting towards Swampert with a devastating. Swampert retaliates with a as both attacks collide in an explosion of light and color. Arcanine then dashes toward Swampert to perform another aerial attack. While Swellow comes forward for the, Arcanine launches a strategic towards Swellow but the attack is avoided with. Arcanine then increases its fire power with, hitting Swellow. May comments that it was like watching a Contest Battle.

Meanwhile, Swampert is controlling the water from the air and shaping it with a attack. Swellow dodges Arcanine's first attack, ExtremeSpeed and launches towards Arcanine once more with the second attacks making contact creating a gigantic explosion. Corphish goes for an opening with Crabhammer as Swampert forces the nearby Water Pulse towards Swellow and Corphish which collides creating a structure formed of water and ice. Arcanine launches a devastating Fire Blast within the structure rotating around creating a fusion of fire and water, Tucker's greatest of tactics.

Both Swellow and Corphish are suspended within this structure as a gigantic explosion taking place between the two forces and both Pokémon are forced towards the ground. Team Rocket is spectating the battle as neither Corphish or Swellow have enough energy to continue the battle. Both Pokémon revive with a fighting spirit greater than ever. Both Arcanine and Swampert launch a Flamethrower and towards Corphish. Both attacks are diverted by Corphish's Bubble Beam attack. Swellow then thrusts towards with quick attack as Swampert uses Dynamic Punch, and just as Arcanine goes for the opening, Swellow dodges forcing Arcanine into Swampert for a direct hit. A giant plume of smoke and dust engulfs the arena. Arcanine launches another Fire Blast attack but this is again diverted by another Bubble Beam attack. Visibility is lowered by a great amount of fog lingering within the arena.

Both Arcanine and Swampert are confused of Swellow's exact location and fly towards Corphish and Swellow. Just as both attacks are to make contact, Swellow floats to the left and flies from the bottom making a direct hit with Corphish's Crabhammer and Swellow's. Both Arcanine and Swampert are now unable to continue after taking the hits, granting Ash the win.

Most of the female crowd are disappointed with Tucker's loss as Tucker congratulates Ash for his victory, with the crowd crying out wildly. He mentions that he's a top tactician. As Tucker congratulates Ash, everyone begins to scream. Tucker thanks Ash for the battle. As Tucker leaves, Ash mentions that he forgot to give him the Tactics Symbol. Tucker points to the top of his hat as Ash then pulls it from atop his head and happily displays his newly obtained Symbol.

Major events

 * and arrive at the Battle Dome and meet Dome Ace Tucker, the third Frontier Brain.
 * Ash s Tucker and wins, earning the Tactics Symbol.

Humans

 * Max
 * Jessie
 * James
 * Scott
 * Norman (fantasy)
 * Female reporter
 * Cameraman
 * Male reporter
 * Audience
 * Child
 * Middle-aged woman
 * Cameraman
 * Male reporter
 * Audience
 * Child
 * Middle-aged woman

Pokémon

 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)

Trivia

 * The opening animation changes a fourth time to include.
 * This is the first time in the anime where is used by a Pokémon that can't fly. In the games, many Pokémon who can learn the move have no flight-related abilities.
 * Bill Rogers revealed at the Men of Anime convention that it was his intention that his dub of Tucker sounded similar to the performance of Kenta Miyake, his Japanese voice.
 * and music from Mewtwo Strikes Back are used as background music.
 * This is the first episode since its debut where James's Mime Jr. does not appear.
 * doesn't blast off in this episode.
 * James and narrate the preview for the next episode.

Errors

 * When gets knocked back by 's, part of Swellow's head is cut off.
 * The same thing occurs later when Swellow gets knocked back by Arcanine's.
 * In one scene, mentions that  can use . However, it was  who could use Protect, not Arcanine.
 * During the battle, Scott quotes as having said at the press conference that "the best offense is a good defense." What Ash actually said was that "the best defense is a strong offense."
 * When Ash speaks right before he calls Swellow and, his mouth overlaps on.
 * During the entirety of the battle, Swampert was shown using five moves, instead of four, which was the limit of all Pokémon.

In other languages
Taktisches Theater EP430 AG153 AG編第153話 精灵宝可梦 超世代 第152集