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Season guide

Pokémon: Season 3

41 episodes Premiered Oct 14, 1999 Updated Sep 20, 2026

Pokemon Season 3 continues the overarching saga across forty-one episodes. The narrative follows ten-year-old boy Ash, who has one huge dream to become a master of virtual characters and little monsters known as Pokemon. Accompanied by his partner Pikachu, Ash sets out into the world with the goal of becoming a master. The animated television series features action, adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy elements, continuing

Previously on Pokémon

Season 3 Lore Primer

Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.

  • Ten-year-old boy Ash holds the dream of becoming a master of virtual characters and little monsters known as Pokemon.
  • Ash is accompanied throughout his journey by his partner Pikachu.
  • Ash sets out into the world with the specific goal of becoming a master and catching them all.
  • The ongoing saga spans multiple episodes and seasons, blending animation, action, adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy elements.

Season overview

Pokemon Season 3 continues the overarching saga across forty-one episodes. The narrative follows ten-year-old boy Ash, who has one huge dream to become a master of virtual characters and little monsters known as Pokemon. Accompanied by his partner Pikachu, Ash sets out into the world with the goal of becoming a master. The animated television series features action, adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy elements, continuing the journey as Ash pursues his ambition to catch them all and achieve mastery. The series is part of the broader Pokemon television franchise that originated in 1997 and has been accompanied by various spin-off programming, side stories, and related media broadcasts.

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Season 3 Episodes

Episode Guide

🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD

Season 3 Progress Shield

Future titles & synopses blurred. Tap "Reveal" on any card to peek.
Binge Efficiency Engine

Season 3: Filler vs. Essential Canon

Filter episodes by narrative weight. Focus on essential mytharc and skip standalone side quests.

93%
Mytharc (3): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (38): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
S3·E1 Mytharc

Don't Touch That 'dile

Oct 14, 1999

Ash begins his journey in Johto, a largely unexplored region said to be thickly populated with Pokémon entirely new to him and his friends.

S3·E2 Core

The Double Trouble Header

Oct 21, 1999

In a Pokémon battle, Ash soundly defeats an ambitious young Trainer, who runs away dejectedly.

S3·E3 Core

A Sappy Ending

Oct 28, 1999

Ash and friends discover a forest where invading Pinsir are causing heavy deforestation.

S3·E4 Core

Roll On, Pokémon!

Nov 4, 1999

Ash and friends stumble into a small valley where Donphan are used to harvest precious stones.

S3·E5 Core

Illusion Confusion!

Nov 11, 1999

Who would be foolish enough to brave a thick forest in the dead of night without a Hoothoot guide? Certainly not Ash Ketchum...

S3·E6 Core

Flower Power

Nov 18, 1999

Our heroes must help prepare an insecure Bellossom dance troupe for their upcoming exhibition.

S3·E7 Core

Spinarak Attack

Nov 25, 1999

Ash and friends reach a new town and hear of three mysterious robbers apparently mimicking the crimes of a legendary master thief.

S3·E8 Core

Snubbull Snobbery

Dec 2, 1999

With pet food prepared by a French chef, rooms of WalkMaster exercise equipment and closets stocked with the latest in Pokémon fashion, life couldn't be much better for a Palm Hill

S3·E9 Core

The Little Big Horn

Dec 9, 1999

Brock saves a lost and frightened Stantler fawn and carefully nurses it back to health before releasing it.

S3·E10 Core

The Chikorita Rescue

Dec 16, 1999

Ash encounters a wild Chikorita and engages it in battle, thinking to add it to his team.

S3·E11 Core

Once in a Blue Moon

Dec 23, 1999

Professor Oak's errand—to deliver the mysterious GS Ball to a Poké Ball expert—is interrupted when a Quagsire with a penchant for spherical objects steals the GS ball for use in a

S3·E12 Core

The Whistle Stop

Jan 1, 2000

When Team Rocket attacks Ash and his friends, a brave young Trainer and her flock of Ledyba come to the rescue.

S3·E13 Core

Ignorance Is Blissey

Jan 6, 2000

Team Rocket can't believe their luck when the Blissey employed in a Pokémon Center willingly gives them the cente's entire food supply.

S3·E14 Core

A Bout With Sprout

Jan 13, 2000

Our heroes are recruited as guest instructors at a youth Pokémon Academy.

S3·E15 Core

Fighting Flyer With Fire

Jan 20, 2000

With Pikachu's help, Ash is confident that winning the Zephyr badge will be a breeze.

S3·E16 Core

For Crying Out Loud

Jan 27, 2000

Cute and cuddly is one thing, but a bawling Marill is too much even for Misty.

S3·E17 Core

Tanks a Lot!

Feb 3, 2000

Team Rocket's most recent super vehicle, the Arbotank, is their ticket to world domination.

S3·E18 Core

Charizard's Burning Ambitions

Feb 10, 2000

When Ash hears of the nearby Charicific Valley, he is sure a quick trip would be just the thing to reignite his Charizard's flagging spirits.

S3·E19 Core

Grin to Win!

Feb 17, 2000

The annual Sunflora contest is only a day away and yet our hero's new friend and Sunflora Trainer is unable to convince her star Pokémon to compete.

S3·E20 Core

Chikorita's Big Upset

Feb 24, 2000

A severe case of rivalry between Pikachu and Chikorita calls for therapy sessions with Nurse Joy.

S3·E21 Core

Foul Weather Friends

Mar 2, 2000

Our heroes chance upon a Hoppip—the fluffy "Cottonweed" Pokémon that is able to drift for miles on a passing wind.

S3·E22 Core

The Superhero Secret

Mar 9, 2000

When Ash and friends wander into town, they bring with them a challenge that threatens to be Gligarman's last—Team Rocket.

S3·E23 Core

Mild 'n Wooly

Mar 16, 2000

Team Rocket comes in sheep's clothing to relieve a kind Poké-shepherd of her Mareep flock.

S3·E24 Core

Wired for Battle!

Mar 23, 2000

When the most promising trainee at a Pokémon dojo abandons battle altogether, it's up to Ash and friends to convince him that battling is more than just a matter of probability.

S3·E25 Core

Good 'Quil Hunting

Mar 30, 2000

With Charizard gone and no fire Pokémon to call his own, Ash is overjoyed to come across a Cyndaquil in the wild.

S3·E26 Core

A Shadow of a Drought

Apr 6, 2000

Ash carelessly makes enemies of the Slowpoke-worshipping residents of a town.

S3·E27 Core

Going Apricorn!

Apr 13, 2000

Ash delivers the mysterious GS Ball to a renowned Pokémon expert, but Team Rocket wreaks trouble when they attempt to harvest the Apricorns essential to local Poké Ball production.

S3·E28 Core

Gettin' the Bugs Out

Apr 20, 2000

When Ash reaches the Hive Gym, he has just the Pokémon to challenge the Gym Leader's Bug Pokémon.

S3·E29 Core

A Farfetch'd Tale

Apr 27, 2000

An inexperienced young Trainer mistakenly scares off his own Farfetch'd.

S3·E30 Core

Tricks of the Trade

May 4, 2000

At the Pokémon Swap Meet, our heroes befriend a young Pokémon trainer who's having difficulties finding a trading partner willing to accept his Wobbuffet. When Jessie inadvertently

S3·E31 Core

The Fire-ing Squad!

May 11, 2000

Rocket attempts to steal all the water Pokémon from the annual Fire and Rescue Grand Prix.

S3·E32 Core

No Big Woop!

May 18, 2000

Ash and friends enthusiastically volunteer to watch over a troubled trainer's school of Wooper.

S3·E33 Core

Tunnel Vision

May 25, 2000

While Ash and friends deliberate on how to pass through a tunnel replete with Onix, two wandering Pokémon arrive on the scene together.

S3·E34 Core

Hour of the Houndour

Jun 1, 2000

Investigating a string of mysterious thefts, our heroes discover a pack of Houndour, struggling to survive in the wild.

S3·E35 Core

The Totodile Duel

Jun 8, 2000

Ash and Misty's friendly rivalry is tested when they both try to capture a Totodile at the same time. Unable to determine whose Poké Ball had captured the wild Pokémon, the two mus

S3·E36 Core

Hot Matches!

Jun 15, 2000

When Ash and friends hear of a virtually undefeatable trainer operating nearby, they seek her out.

S3·E37 Core

Love, Totodile Style

Jun 22, 2000

Ash's Totodile falls head over tail for a passing Azumarill, but is still unsuccessful in having its feelings requited when Team Rocket kidnap the Pokémon before Totodile's eyes.

S3·E38 Core

Fowl Play!

Jun 29, 2000

Ash has his sights set on a rare and brightly-colored Noctowl.

S3·E39 Core

Forest Grumps

Jul 6, 2000

When an Ursaring attack leaves Team Rocket and our heroes in compromising positions, compromise they do, members of each team being paired with members of the other.

S3·E40 Mytharc

The Psychic Sidekicks!

Jul 13, 2000

Our heroes come to a town whose residents all raise Psychic Pokémon to repel the Ghost Pokémon that lurk nearby

S3·E41 Mytharc

The Fortune Hunters

Jul 27, 2000

A Pokémon Fortune Telling boom turns out to be a Team Rocket plot to steal Pokémon from local trainers.