It’s time for Part 5 of the “Did Ash Actually Earn This?” series, where we find out:

1. How many Gym Leaders did Ash fight?
2. How many Elite Four members did Ash fight?
3. How many awards did Ash fairly earn?

Seasons 14-16 takes Ash, and new friends, Iris and Cilan, through the Unova region. The Unova arc is definitely interesting, since it came out when both Pokémon Black & White, and their direct sequels came out. As such, Ash and friends encounter a lot more Unova Gym Leaders. Ash even has a long awaited battle with a certain villainous boss that moonlights as a Gym Leader.

Remember, folks: Ash must defeat the Gym Leader, Elite Four member, or Champion, either by knocking out all the opposing Pokémon, or if the opponent forfeits.

I’m counting battles that happened in any season (some exceptions apply).

As I mentioned before, Black 2 and White 2 were released while the Unova arc in the anime was still happening. Those who have played Black 2 or White 2 know that there are several changes in Gym Leaders and which badges they hand out. In the anime, Ash and friends find out that the Opelucid Gym, the final Gym in Black/White, is closed for the foreseeable future. They decide to go to Virbank City instead, and face Gym Leader Roxie. The funny thing about this is, early in the Unova arc, the last slot of Ash’s badge case was intended to hold the Legend Badge. It had the distinct shape and everything. But, the powers that be decided, with Black 2 and White 2 about to drop, why not shoehorn in the new characters and have Ash get the Toxic Badge instead? 

Look! The showrunners even gaslit everyone on what badges were supposed to go into the badge case!

Regardless, since Roxie is a Unova Gym Leader, and a trainer only needs 8 official Gym Badges to qualify for the Pokémon League, Ash fairly got to compete in the Vertress Conference.

The Vertress Conference is, shockingly, another single-elimination tournament. Ash reaches the quarterfinals before being eliminated, and once again, only battles the Champion.

For fuck’s sake, can Ash battle some more Elite Four members?! Please?! You shoehorned in the Gym Leaders from Black 2 and White 2, but we don’t get to meet 3 of the Elite Four?

So, Ash’s win against Alder was technically due to forfeit. Alder wasn’t taking the fight seriously, and fell asleep in the middle. After his Bouffalant got pissed from the lack of direction and attacked him instead of Ash’s Pikachu, Alder decided he was done with battling for the day. Ash never battles him again after that. People will say this doesn’t count as a win, since both Pokémon were still able to battle. But Alder was the one to end the battle of his own volition. Not to mention, a Pokémon refusing to follow a trainer’s direct orders also counts as a forfeit. So, I’m counting the battle against Alder as a win for Ash.

But, just like all the other arcs before it, Ash will not be getting a place in the Unova Hall of Fame for not defeating the Elite Four.

Bonus round! Which other Unova Gym Leaders did Ash fight?

So…I guess once Ash got all of his badges, it doesn’t matter which other Gym Leaders he fights? I don’t know, I’m not the writer of an award-winning, long-running anime. I’m just doing analysis over here. 

So, to recap, Ash earned eight Unova badges fairly, qualifying him for the Unova Champion League. But, his lack of interaction with most of the Elite Four means that he and his team aren’t getting inducted into the Unova Hall of Fame. The Kalos region is up next. Let’s just hope that Ash keeps earning his badges fairly, and he ACTUALLY FIGHTS SOME MORE ELITE FOUR MEMBERS. (I’m not getting my hopes up, though.)

Seriously, for all the buildup the Champion Leagues get, no one in those leagues gets any airtime.