SM052

Revealing the Stuff of Legend! (Japanese: 日輪の祭壇！ソルガレオ降臨！！ The Altar of the ! Solgaleo Descends!!) is the 52nd episode of the, and the 991st episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on November 30, 2017 and in the United States on April 7, 2018.

Blurb
Our heroes are all gathered at the Altar of the Sunne, along with all four of Alola’s Island Guardians. Lillie and Gladion ask the Island Guardians for help to rescue their mother, Lusamine, who has been taken through an Ultra Wormhole by a mysterious Ultra Beast. After Tapu Koko and the others perform a ritual, little Nebby evolves into the mighty Solgaleo—one of the Legendary Pokémon of Alola!

At Solgaleo’s invitation, the Pokémon School students climb onto its back. With the help of a new Z-Move, Solgaleo opens an Ultra Wormhole and carries them through, off to rescue Lusamine from the Ultra Beast!

Plot
recaps the events of the last episode, in which she and made their way to Vast Poni Canyon in an effort to save their mother Lusamine. They successfully battled against and went on to reach the Altar of the Sunne. Her friends, including and, were in tow, much to Lillie's delight, concluding the flashback.

With everyone assembled, they notice Alola's four guardian deities hovering above them. first approaches, and Ash explains the situation to them. Lillie elaborates that Nebby's power to open an Ultra Wormhole would help save Lusamine, and Gladion asks if it was possible to meet Solgaleo at the Altar of the Sunne. Immediately, Tapu Koko flies over to the other guardian deities, and after a brief discussion, the quartet sends out a powerful cry and a multicolored sphere appears. Rotom explains that the island deities', , , and s have mixed. A beam of light descends and forms a viewing screen. Solgaleo, followed by, emerge from separate Ultra Wormholes and clash, just as in Ash's dream earlier. A then emerges from the cloud, which  recognizes as Nebby.

Nebby instantly teleports the four island guardians to a location near the Pokémon School. It is revealed that Tapu Koko lured Ash and Pikachu to Nebby. The viewing screen suddenly fades. Professor Kukui tells Ash that he believes that the guardian deities, Lunala, and Solgaleo entrusted him with Nebby. Whilst is fast asleep inside Ash's bag, something begins to glow; Rowlet hurriedly leaves Ash's bag, and Nebby floats out. Ash shows Tapu Koko the peculiar cocooned Pokémon, which soon continues its ascent into the sky. and begin to throw glitter and water vapor around Nebby. Gladion becomes infuriated by the delay, though Tapu Koko silences his concerns with an intense glare. Lillie reassures her older brother that the island guardians are capable and require everyone's patience. Kukui leaves the group after receiving a phone call, explaining that Professor Burnet was due to arrive. As he departs, he whispers to his still in its Poké Ball.

Meanwhile, the are climbing their way to the Altar of the Sunne after a tough match against several. Upon making it there, James pulls out a book, and reveals the mysterious floating Pokémon are Alola's guardian deities, though his reference doesn't contain. overhears Ash and his friends' conversation, which reveals that Nebby has since evolved. The trio are still under the assumption that Nebby is a pre-evolved form of, and decide to catch it and the guardians.

Meanwhile, Burnet and her are surrounded by a horde of Jangmo-o and  when Kukui arrives on the scene. He calls upon his Braviary and flies over to Burnet's side. The obstacle is cleared after one attack, much to Burnet's surprise.

Elsewhere, Team Rocket is admiring their latest targets through a set of binoculars. Suddenly, arrives and carries Team Rocket away, jumping across to another cliff. Bewear holds the group tighter, causing them pain before releasing them. Team Rocket watch the unfolding scene in awe.

Now, the four island guardians are hovering above their respective pillars and humming in harmony. The ground begins to glow, and a light traces its way upwards and opens the Altar of the Sunne. The now opened portal beams a light directly onto Nebby, and in a light and fire spectacle, it emerges as a newly evolved Solgaleo. Rotom takes a flurry of images, and records that Cosmoem evolved into Solgaleo. Jessie notes that the evolution is cool, before she and Meowth chastise James for his wrongful claim that Nebby was an Alolan pre-evolved form of Koffing. As Ash and his friends are in awe of Solgaleo's presence, Lillie approaches Solgaleo before embracing it. Ash offers Solgaleo some candy, which it happily accepts and licks Ash with its giant yellow tongue as thanks.

Ash, Lillie and Gladion then ask Solgaleo if it can take them through the Ultra Wormhole. A Z-Crystal appears, landing in Ash's hand. The peculiarly-shaped Z-Crystal does not fit into Ash's Z-Ring, with Tapu Koko removing it from his wrist. It closes its shell with the Z-Ring inside and performs a ritual chant and dance before passing it on to Tapu Lele, followed by Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini, all of them upgrading Ash's Z-Ring. Ash thanks the island guardians for the upgrade, which can now fit the Solganium Z. Gladion immediately requests Solgaleo to take him through the Ultra Wormhole to rescue his mother. It appears a little startled by the forward request, before it lays flat to allow everyone to climb aboard. Gladion commands the group to return their Pokémon to their Poké Balls before they depart.

With everyone on board, Solgaleo stands up. Tapu Koko floats over and shows Ash the Z-Move pose in several stages. A sun symbol emerges on Solgaleo's forehead, and with a roar, it becomes a bright light and performs, creating an Ultra Wormhole opening for the group to float through. Team Rocket is astounded and believes rare treasures and Pokemon may be behind the portal. Out of curiosity, Jessie asks Bewear if it could jump through the portal, but it holds the trio tighter to inflict pain. Kukui and Burnet arrive at the Altar in time to see the opening closing and the guardian deities departing. Solgaleo runs through the Ultra Wormhole, while everyone holds on tightly.

Major events

 * is revealed to own a.
 * Nebby evolves into and learns.
 * obtains a Solganium Z from Nebby.
 * The guardian deities upgrade Ash's Z-Ring into a Z-Power Ring.
 * Ash,, and enter an Ultra Wormhole with Solgaleo in search of Lusamine.
 * In the process, Ash and Nebby perform for the first time.

Humans

 * Jessie
 * James
 * Professor Burnet
 * Jessie
 * James
 * Professor Burnet
 * Jessie
 * James
 * Professor Burnet
 * Professor Burnet
 * Professor Burnet

Pokémon
Who's That Pokémon?: (US and international),  (Japan)
 * (fantasy)
 * ('s; Alola Form; Snowy)
 * ('s)
 * (Professor Burnet's)
 * (Nebby; flashback)
 * (Nebby; evolves)
 * (Nebby; newly evolved)
 * (×4)
 * (×4)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (Professor Burnet's)
 * (Nebby; flashback)
 * (Nebby; evolves)
 * (Nebby; newly evolved)
 * (×4)
 * (×4)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (×4)
 * (×4)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Trivia

 * Poké Problem: Protokoffing evolves in today's episode! What does it become?
 * Host:
 * Choices:, , ,
 * Answer: Solgaleo
 * The scene where pets the newly evolved Nebby resembles a picture shown during the credits of Pokémon Sun.
 * ,, , , and narrate the preview for the next episode.
 * The English dub was released on Amazon Video on April 6, 2018, one day before the episode aired in the United States.
 * Ash and read the Who's That Pokémon? segment in the dub.
 * The Japanese text depicting looks very similar to the text used when using said move in the games.

Dub edits

 * The Japanese text depicting 's names is edited out in the dub.
 * 's soul poking out of his mouth is removed in the dub for unclear reasons.

In other languages
Die Enthüllung einer Legende! EP995 SL052 SM052 SM編第52話 精灵宝可梦 太阳＆月亮 第52集