Complete Pokemon Filler Guide: Are They Worth Watching?

Believe it or not, fillers in Pokemon tend to bring about their own horde of adventures, somewhat misaligning from the original plot.

Pokemon anime, started in 1997, now has 23 seasons containing 1126 episodes. Out of which, 231 are filler episodes comprising a filler percentage of 21%.

Pokemon Journeys: The Series (2019) is the show’s 23rd Season and is still ongoing. As of now, it has released 39 episodes with no reported fillers.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series | Official Trailer
Pokemon Journeys: The Series | Official Trailer

Pokemon fillers are standalone attractions, whether they be about attending a blond-haired concert in Getting the Band Back Together, or Team Rocket appearing out of nowhere and running away with the prize in Pulling out the Pokemon Base Pepper.

They are fun and entertaining to watch, but the point remains that they are fillers and don’t contain any relevance to the original plot.

So, for newcomers looking forward to a long, long journey ahead, you can use this guide to skim through the fillers to see if they are worth watching or not.

1. Quick List

I. Season 1: Indigo League

  • Episodes: 1-82
  • Canon: 1-7, 10-18, 20-31, 34-36, 40-43, 45, 47-48, 50, 52-53, 55-56, 58, 60-61, 63, 68, 71-82
  • Fillers: 8-9, 19, 32-33, 37-39, 44, 46, 49, 51, 54, 57, 59, 62, 64-67, 69-70
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
8The Path to the Pokémon League1997-05-20Netflix
9The School of Hard Knocks1997-05-27Netflix
19The Ghost of Maiden’s Peak1997-08-12Netflix
32The Big Fire Pokémon Race!1997-11-11Netflix
33The Kangaskhan Kid1997-11-18Netflix
37The Battling Eevee Brothers1998-04-16Netflix
38Wake Up Snorlax!1998-04-23Netflix
39Showdown at Dark City1998-04-30Netflix
44A Chansey Operation1998-06-04Netflix
46So Near, Yet So Farfetch’d1998-06-18Netflix
49The Case of the K-9 Caper!1998-07-16Netflix
51The Ultimate Test1998-07-30Netflix
54The Purr-fect Hero1998-07-09Pokemon Site 
57Beach Blank-out Blastoise1998-08-27Pokemon Site
59Clefairy Tales1998-09-10Pokemon Site
62Snow Way Out!1998-10-05Pokemon Site
64The Evolution Solution1998-10-15Pokemon Site
65The Pi-Kahuna1998-10-22Pokemon Site
66Make Room for Gloom!1998-10-29Pokemon Site
67Lights, Camera, Quack-tion!1998-11-05Pokemon Site
69To Master the Onixpected1998-11-19Pokemon Site
70The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis1998-11-26Pokemon Site

II. Season 2: Orange Archipelago

  • Episodes: 83-118
  • Canon: 83, 90-92, 94, 98-99, 101-102, 104, 106-115, 117
  • Fillers: 84-89, 93, 95-97, 100, 103, 105, 116, 118
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
84Pikachu Re-Volts1999-03-04Pokemon Site
85The Crystal Onix1999-03-11Pokemon Site
86In the Pink1999-03-18Pokemon Site
87Shell Shock!1999-03-25Pokemon Site
88Bye Bye Psyduck1999-04-08Pokemon Site
89The Joy of Pokémon1999-04-15Pokemon Site
93Meowth Rules!1999-05-13Pokemon Site
95A Way Off A Day Off1999-05-27Pokemon Site
96Wherefore Art Thou, Pokémon?1999-06-10Pokemon Site
97Get Along, Little Pokémon1999-06-17Pokemon Site
100Bound for Trouble1999-07-15Pokemon Site
103Pokémon Food Fight1999-08-05Pokemon Site
105The Wacky Watcher1999-08-19Pokemon Site
116Roll On, Pokémon!1999-11-04Pokemon Site
118Flower Power1999-11-18Pokemon Site

III. Season 3: The Johto Journeys

  • Episodes: 119-159
  • Canon: 120-122, 125-128, 130, 132, 137-143, 147, 150, 153-157
  • Fillers: 119, 123-124, 129, 131, 133-136, 144-146, 148-149, 151-152, 158-159
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
119Spinarak Attack1999-11-25Pokemon Site
123Once in a Blue Moon1999-12-23Pokemon Site
124The Whistle Stop2000-01-01Pokemon Site
129Tanks A Lot!2000-02-03Pokemon Site
131Grin to Win!2000-02-17Pokemon Site
133Foul Weather Friends2000-03-02Pokemon Site
134The Superhero Secret2000-03-09Pokemon Site
135Mild ‘N Wooly2000-03-16Pokemon Site
136Wired for Battle2000-03-23Pokemon Site
144No Big Woop!2000-05-18Pokemon Site
145Tunnel Vision2000-05-25Pokemon Site
146Hour of the Houndour2000-06-01Pokemon Site
148Hot Matches2000-06-15Pokemon Site
149Love, Totodile Style2000-06-22Pokemon Site
151Forest Grumps2000-07-06Pokemon Site
152The Psychic Sidekicks2000-07-13Pokemon Site
158Type Casting!2000-08-31Pokemon Site
159Fossil Fools2000-09-07Pokemon Site

IV. Season 4: Johto League Champions

  • Episodes: 160-211
  • Canon: 161, 165, 167, 170-172, 177-179, 183, 185, 190, 192, 195, 204-206, 209, 211
  • Fillers: 160, 162-164, 166, 168-169, 173-176, 180-182, 184, 186-189, 191, 193-194, 196-203, 207-208, 210
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
160Carrying On2000-09-14Pokemon Site
162Two Hits and a Miss2000-09-28Pokemon Site
163A Hot Water Battle2000-10-05Pokemon Site
164Hook, Line and Stinker2000-10-12Pokemon Site
166A Better Pill to Swallow2000-10-26Pokemon Site
168Mountain Time2000-11-09Pokemon Site
169Wobbu-Palooza2000-11-16Pokemon Site
173Wings ‘n’ Things2000-12-14Pokemon Site
174The Grass Route2000-12-21Pokemon Site
175The Apple Corp!2001-01-04Pokemon Site
176Houndoom’s Special Delivery2001-01-11Pokemon Site
180All That Glitters!2001-02-08Pokemon Site
181The Light Fantastic2001-02-15Pokemon Site
182UnBEARable2001-02-22Pokemon Site
184Spring Fever2001-03-08Pokemon Site
186The Stolen Stones2001-03-22Pokemon Site
187The Dunsparce Deception2001-03-29Pokemon Site
188The Wayward Wobbuffet2001-04-05Pokemon Site
189Sick Daze2001-04-12Pokemon Site
191The Poké Spokesman2001-04-26Pokemon Site
193The Art of Pokémon2001-05-10Pokemon Site
194The Heartbreak of Brock2001-05-17Pokemon Site
196Turning Over A New Bayleef2001-05-31Pokemon Site
197Doin’ What Comes Natu-rally2001-06-07Pokemon Site
198The Big Balloon Blow-Up2001-06-14Pokemon Site
199The Screen Actor’s Guilt2001-06-21Pokemon Site
200Right On, Rhydon2001-06-28Pokemon Site
201The Kecleon Caper2001-07-05Pokemon Site
202The Joy of Water Pokémon2001-07-12Pokemon Site
203Got Miltank?2001-07-19Pokemon Site
207Fly Me to the Moon2001-08-16Pokemon Site
208Takin’ it on the Chinchou2001-08-23Pokemon Site
210Mantine Overboard2001-09-06Pokemon Site

V. Season 5: Master Quest

  • Episodes: 212-276
  • Canon: 213, 216-224, 226-227, 231-234, 243, 246-250, 252-254, 256, 258-276
  • Fillers: 214-215, 225, 228-230, 235-242, 244-245, 251, 255, 257
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
214Plant It Now… Diglett Later2001-10-04Pokemon Site
215Hi Ho Silver… Away2001-10-11Pokemon Site
225An Egg-Sighting Adventure2001-12-20Pokemon Site
228Just Waiting on a Friend2002-01-17Pokemon Site
229Fit to be Tyrogued2002-01-24Pokemon Site
230Xatu the Future2002-01-31Pokemon Site
235Whichever Way the Wind Blows2002-03-07Pokemon Site
236Some Like It Hot2002-03-14Pokemon Site
237Hocus Pokémon2002-03-21Pokemon Site
238As Clear as Crystal2002-03-28Pokemon Site
239Same Old Song and Dance2002-04-11Pokemon Site
240Enlighten Up2002-04-18Pokemon Site
241Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up?2002-04-25Pokemon Site
242Wish Upon a Star Shape2002-05-02Pokemon Site
244One Trick Phony2002-05-16Pokemon Site
245I Politoed Ya So2002-05-23Pokemon Site
251Just Add Water2002-07-11Pokemon Site
255A Crowning Achievement2002-08-08Pokemon Site
257You’re a Star, Larvitar2002-08-22Pokemon Site

VI. Season 6: Advanced

  • Episodes: 277-316
  • Canon: 277, 281-289, 291-294, 296-297, 299-305, 307-310, 312-313, 316
  • Fillers: 278-280, 290, 295, 298, 306, 311, 314-315
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
278Taming of the Shroomish2003-01-23Pokemon Site
279You Said a Mouthful2003-01-30Pokemon Site
280A Bite to Remember2003-02-06Pokemon Site
290Which Wurmple’s Which?2003-04-17Pokemon Site
295Turning Over a New Nuzleaf!2003-05-21Pokemon Site
298Ready, Willing and Sableye!2003-06-12Pokemon Site
306Jump for Joy!2003-08-07Pokemon Site
311Let Bagons Be Bagons2003-09-18Pokemon Site
314Candid Camerupt2003-10-09Pokemon Site
315Love at First Flight2003-09-11Pokemon Site

VII. Season 7: Advanced Challenge

  • Episodes: 317-368
  • Canon: 317, 319-321, 323-325, 327-328, 330-332, 335, 337-343, 346-354, 356, 359-360, 362, 364, 366
  • Fillers: 318, 322, 326, 329, 333-334, 336, 344-345, 355, 357-358, 361, 363, 365
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
318Maxxed Out!2003-10-30Pokemon Site
322Game Winning Assist2003-11-27Pokemon Site
326Going for a Spinda2003-12-25Pokemon Site
329Delcatty Got Your Tongue2004-01-22Pokemon Site
333True Blue Swablu2004-02-19Pokemon Site
334Gulpin It Down2004-02-26Pokemon Site
336Go Go Ludicolo2004-03-11Pokemon Site
344Whiscash and Ash2004-05-06Pokemon Site
345Me, Myself and Time2004-05-13Pokemon Site
355Lights, Camerupt, Action!2004-07-22Pokemon Site
357The Garden of Eatin’2004-08-05Pokemon Site
358A Scare to Remember2004-08-12Pokemon Site
361Judgment Day!2004-09-02Pokemon Site
363The Relicanth Really Can2004-09-16Pokemon Site
365Training Wrecks2004-09-30Pokemon Site

VIII. Season 8: Advanced Battle

  • Episodes: 369-421
  • Canon: 370, 372, 374, 377, 379-380, 382-404, 407, 411-412, 415-419, 421
  • Fillers: 371, 373, 375-376, 378, 381, 405-406, 408-410, 413-414, 420
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
371Where’s Armaldo?2004-11-11Pokemon Site
373Claydol Big and Tall2004-11-25Pokemon Site
375Beg, Burrow, and Steal2004-12-09Pokemon Site
376Absolute Disaster2004-12-16Pokemon Site
378Do I Hear a Ralts?2005-01-06Pokemon Site
381Showdown at Linoone2005-01-27Pokemon Site
405Hooked on Onix2005-08-04Pokemon Site
406Rough, Tough Jigglypuff\005-08-11Pokemon Site
408Sitting Psyduck2005-08-25Pokemon Site
409Hail to the Chef2005-09-01Pokemon Site
410Caterpie’s Big Dilemma2005-09-08Pokemon Site
413Pasta la Vista2005-09-29Pokemon Site
414Fear Factor Phony!2005-10-06Pokemon Site
420On Olden Pond2005-11-17Pokemon Site

IX. Season 9: Battle Frontier

  • Episodes: 421-468
  • Canon: 421-432, 435, 437-440, 442-443, 445-450, 454-455, 457-466, 468
  • Fillers: 433-434, 436, 441, 444, 451-453, 456, 467
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
433King and Queen for a Day2006-02-23Pokemon Site
434Curbing the Crimson Tide2006-03-02Pokemon Site
436Three Jynx and a Baby2006-03-16Pokemon Site
441All That Glitters Is Not Golden2006-04-20Pokemon Site
444The Ole’ Berate and Switch2006-05-11Pokemon Site
451Aipom and Circumstance2006-07-06Pokemon Site
452Strategy Tomorrow – Comedy Tonight2006-07-20Pokemon Site
453Duels of the Jungle2006-07-27Pokemon Site
456Pinch Healing2006-08-17Pokemon Site
467Like It or Lup It2006-11-02Pokemon Site

X. Season 10: Diamond and Pearl

  • Episodes: 469-520
  • Canon: 469-482, 485-498, 500-501, 504-514, 519
  • Fillers: 483-484, 499, 502-503, 515-518
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
483Faced with Steelix Determination2007-03-15Pokemon Site
484Cooking Up a Sweet Story2007-03-29Pokemon Site
499Steamboat Willies2007-07-05Pokemon Site
502The Electrike Company2007-08-09Pokemon Site
503Malice in Wonderland2007-08-23Pokemon Site
515The Keystone Pops2007-11-29Pokemon Site
516Bibarel Gnaws Best2007-11-29Pokemon Site
517Nosing ‘Round the Mountain2007-12-06Pokemon Site
518Luxray Vision2007-12-13Pokemon Site

XI. Season 11: Battle Dimension

  • Episodes: 521-572
  • Canon: 521-528, 530-561, 563-572
  • Fillers: 529, 562
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
529The Bells Are Singing2008-03-13Pokemon Site
562Jumping Rocket Ship2008-11-20Pokemon Site

XII. Season 12: Galactic Battles

  • Episodes: 573- 625
  • Canon: 573, 576-582, 584-592, 594-605, 608-615, 617-625
  • Fillers: 574-575, 583, 593, 606-607, 616
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
574Stealing the Conversation!2009-02-19Pokemon Site
575The Drifting Snorunt!2009-02-26Pokemon Site
583Battling a Cute Drama!2009-04-30Pokemon Site
593Beating the Bustle and Hustle!2009-07-09Pokemon Site
606Try for the Family Stone!2009-10-22Pokemon Site
607Sticking with Who You Know!2009-10-29Pokemon Site
616Regaining the Home Advantage!2010-01-07Pokemon Site

XIII. Season 13: Sinnoh League Victors

  • Episodes: 626-659
  • Canon: 626-630, 632-656, 658-659
  • Fillers: 631, 657
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
631Dealing with a Fierce Double Ditto Drama!2010-04-22Pokemon Site
657Saving Darmanitan from the Bell!2010-11-04Pokemon Site

XIV. Season 14: Black and White

  • Episodes: 660-707
  • Canon: 660-674, 676-677, 680-683, 685-701, 705-707
  • Fillers: 675, 678-679, 684, 702-704
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
675Scare at the Litwick Mansion!2011-04-07Pokemon Site
678Cottonee in Love!2011-04-28Pokemon Site
679A UFO for Elgyem!2011-05-05Pokemon Site
684Where Did You Go, Audino?2011-06-09Pokemon Site
702A Maractus Musical!2011-10-27Pokemon Site
703The Four Seasons of Sawsbuck!2011-11-03Pokemon Site
704Scraggy and the Demanding Gothita!2011-11-10Pokemon Site

XV. Season 15: Rival Destinies

  • Episodes: 708-756
  • Canon: 708-714, 716-736, 738-743, 745-746, 749-756
  • Fillers: 715, 737, 744, 747-748
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
715Baffling the Bouffalant!2012-02-16Pokemon Site
737The Mystery of the Missing Cubchoo!2012-07-19Pokemon Site
744Unrest at the Nursery!2012-09-20Pokemon Site
747Beauties Battling for Pride and Prestige!2012-10-11Pokemon Site
748A Surface to Air Tag Battle Team!2012-10-18Pokemon Site

XVI. Season 16: Adventures in Unova and Beyond

  • Episodes: 757-801
  • Canon: 757-773, 775, 777, 779-780, 783-786, 788-798, 800-801
  • Fillers: 774, 776, 778, 781- 782, 787, 799
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
774Cilan and the Case of the Purrloin Witness!2013-05-09Pokemon Site
776The Island of Illusions!2013-05-23Pokemon Site
778The Pirates of Decolore!2013-06-06Pokemon Site
781Searching for a Wish!2013-06-27Pokemon Site
782Capacia Island UFO!2013-07-04Pokemon Site
787Go, Go, Gogoat!2013-08-22Pokemon Site
799Grooming Furfrou!2013-11-28Pokemon Site

XVII. Season 17: Pokemon the Series: XY

  • Episodes: 802-849
  • Canon: 802-804, 808, 810-816, 818, 820-835, 837-838, 840, 842-849
  • Fillers: 805-807, 809, 817, 819, 836, 839, 841
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
805Seeking Shelter from the Storm!2014-01-30Pokemon Site
806An Appetite for Battle!2014-02-06Pokemon Site
807A Jolting Switcheroo!2014-02-13Pokemon Site
809Awakening the Sleeping Giant!2014-02-27Pokemon Site
817To Find a Fairy Flower!2014-05-15Pokemon Site
819Heroes–Friends and Faux Alike!2014-05-29Pokemon Site
836The Clumsy Crier Quiets the Chaos!2014-10-09Pokemon Site
839Bonnie for the Defense!2014-10-30Pokemon Site
841When Light and Dark Collide!2014-11-27Pokemon Site

XVIII. Season 18: XY – Kalos Quest

  • Episodes: 850-894
  • Canon: 850-861, 863-872, 875-876, 878-879, 881-885, 890-894
  • Fillers: 862, 873-874, 877, 880, 886-889
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
862So, You’re Having a Bad Day!2015-05-07Pokemon Site
873Over the Mountain of Snow!2015-07-30Pokemon Site
874Adventures in Running Errands!2015-08-13Pokemon Site
877The Tiny Caretaker!2015-09-10Pokemon Site
880Lights! Camera! Pika!2015-06-18Pokemon Site
886Love Strikes! Eevee, Yikes!2015-11-05Pokemon Site
887A Giga Battle with Mega Results!2015-11-12Pokemon Site
888A Fiery Rite of Passage!2015-11-19Pokemon Site
889Dream a Little Dream from Me!2015-11-26Pokemon Site

XIX. Season 19: XYZ

  • Episodes: 895- 941
  • Canon: 895-898, 900-901, 903-907, 909-913, 916-937, 939-941
  • Fillers: 899, 902, 908, 914-915, 938
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
899A Watershed Moment!2016-02-18Pokemon Site
902Unlocking Some Respect!2016-03-10Pokemon Site
908Making Friends and Influencing Villains!2016-04-28Pokemon Site
914A Diamond in the Rough!2016-06-09Pokemon Site
915A Gaggle of Gadget Greatness!2016-06-16Pokemon Site
938A Shocking Grocery Run!2016-12-08Pokemon Site

XX. Season 20: Sun and Moon

  • Episodes: 942-984
  • Canon: 942, 944-947, 949-954, 956-959, 962-984
  • Fillers: 943, 948, 955, 960-961
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
943Young Kiawe Had a Farm!2017-01-19Netflix
948They Might Not Be Giants!2017-03-02Netflix
955Getting the Band Back Together!2017-04-20Netflix
960Pulling Out the Pokémon Base Pepper!2017-05-25Netflix
961Lulled to La-La Land!2017-06-08Netflix

XXI. Season 21: Ultra Adventures

  • Episodes: 985-1033
  • Canon: 985-988, 990-1001, 1003-1013, 1015-1016, 1018-1023, 1025-1033
  • Fillers: 989, 1002, 1014, 1017, 1024
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
989The Dex Can’t Help It!2018-01-11Netflix
1002Dewpider Ascending!2018-04-26Netflix
1014Dummy, You Shrunk the Kids!2018-07-26Netflix
1017I Choose Paradise!2018-08-16Netflix
1024Lillier and the Staff!2018-10-21Netflix

XXII. Season 22: Ultra Legends   

  • Episodes: 1034-1087
  • Canon: 1034-1043, 1045-1056, 1058-1087
  • Fillers: 1044, 1057
Episode NumberTitleAir DateWhere to Watch
1044This Magik Moment!2019-03-17Netflix
1057Pikachu’s Exciting Adventure!2019-06-16Netflix

2. Which Fillers Can You Skip Altogether?

With over a THOUSAND episodes, the main plot follows through some 895 episodes.

Complete Pokemon Filler Guide
Pokemon | Source: Netflix

Nonetheless, if you want to reminiscence your childhood through a binge session with friends, sure, go for it!

However, for those who want to dive right into the meaty gym battles and tournaments, it is recommend that you skip all the fillers from these seasons completely:

  • Season 1: Indigo League
  • Season 4: Johto League Champions
  • Season 5: Master Quest
  • Season 8: Advanced Battle
  • Season 9: Battle Frontier
  • Season 12: Galactic Battles
  • Season 14: Black and White
  • Season 15: Rival Destinies
  • Season 17: Pokemon the Series: XY
  • Season 19: XYZ

But there are those fans who just want to see Ash or Satoshi’s progress in the series.

How he has evolved in catching pokemons, how many battles has he won, and any crucial episode relevant to his growth as a trainer.

3. About Pokemon

Pokemon was first released in 1996 and is set up in a world where humans catch monsters and store them in pocket-sized poke-balls.

They are creatures with an affinity to certain elements and some superhuman abilities related to that element.

Revolving around a teenage boy Ash Ketchum, Pokemon takes us through his journey to becoming the most accomplished Pokemon trainer the world has ever seen.

Epic Dope Staff

Epic Dope Staff

Our talented team of Freelance writers - Always on the lookout - pour their energies into a wide range of topics bringing to our audience what they crave - fun up-to-date news, reviews, fan theories and much much more.

Comments

Leave a Reply