Unveiling Pokémon Horizons' Unprecedented Protagonist with Unmatched Mastery

Summary

Liko and Roy managed to talk down Galarian Moltres and now possess a powerful Legendary Pokémon, which is a feat that Ash never accomplished.

Liko also has possession of two other Ancient Poké Balls, which house formidable Pokémon. However, it remains uncertain whether they are considered part of her team.

Despite her lack of extensive training, Liko has now become the owner of a Legendary Pokémon. This accomplishment places her in an exclusive group of anime characters and presents a formidable danger to anyone attempting to seize her pendant.

Pokémon Horizons Episode #23 came to an exciting conclusion with a twist. Liko and Roy successfully persuaded Galarian Moltres to return to its Ancient Poké Ball, an achievement that Ash had never accomplished. To everyone's surprise, the Legendary Pokémon now remains in the possession of the kids.

This marks the third Ancient Poké Ball discovered by the team. The first contained the shiny Black Rayquaza, while the second housed the Titan Arboliva. Liko was trusted with Arboliva's Poké Ball, while Roy was left with an empty ball that previously held Rayquaza. It is possible that this ball can be used to recall Rayquaza if they encounter it again.

By having Rayquaza flee when released, the show creators cleverly avoided the challenge of Liko and Roy obtaining a powerful Legendary Pokémon so early in the storyline. However, Galarian Moltres did not follow suit this time. Now, Liko finds himself holding a Poké Ball that contains this incredibly powerful Legendary creature.

Liko's Galarian Moltres Makes Ash's Pokémon Look Weak

Liko, despite having Ancient Adventurer Lucius's Pokémon, cannot freely harness their power whenever she wants. For instance, Arboliva was summoned once, not for battle, but to confront Galarian Moltres. It can be assumed that Galarian Moltres will also only emerge from its Poké Ball on its own terms or when the situation calls for its power. It is unclear whether these Pokémon and their Ancient Poké Balls count as members of Liko's team. Currently, Liko has only captured Hatenna for herself, along with her starter Pokémon Sprigatito, so including the two Ancient Poké Balls would not exceed her team limit of six.

Interestingly, even though Liko is only 23 episodes into her journey, she now possesses a Legendary Pokémon. This is noteworthy because Ash Ketchum, despite forming close bonds with various Legendaries and commanding them in battle, never actually succeeded in capturing a Legendary Pokémon himself. Ash did have the Mythical Pokémon Meltan/Melmetal, but not a Legendary. However, Ash's companion Goh did manage to catch a Suicune at one point, so it is not entirely unprecedented for a major character in the anime to own a Legendary Pokémon. What is surprising is how early in her training journey Liko has been entrusted with a Legendary Pokémon, considering her limited experience as a trainer and having only recently captured her second Pokémon.

Liko may not be ready to command Galarian Moltres in battle just yet, but it's only a matter of time before she and Roy master the use of these remarkable Ancient Poké Balls. Owning a Legendary Pokémon is a privilege few anime characters have experienced, putting Liko in an exclusive club even without its complete loyalty. However, it's certain that the Explorers should tread carefully when targeting Liko's pendant again, as they might find themselves confronting one of the most formidable Pokémon yet to manifest in Pokémon Horizons.