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 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
8	The Path to the Pokémon League	1997-05-20	Netflix
9	The School of Hard Knocks	1997-05-27	Netflix
19	The Ghost of Maiden’s Peak	1997-08-12	Netflix
32	The Big Fire Pokémon Race!	1997-11-11	Netflix
33	The Kangaskhan Kid	1997-11-18	Netflix
37	The Battling Eevee Brothers	1998-04-16	Netflix
38	Wake Up Snorlax!	1998-04-23	Netflix
39	Showdown at Dark City	1998-04-30	Netflix
44	A Chansey Operation	1998-06-04	Netflix
46	So Near, Yet So Farfetch’d	1998-06-18	Netflix
49	The Case of the K-9 Caper!	1998-07-16	Netflix
51	The Ultimate Test	1998-07-30	Netflix
54	The Purr-fect Hero	1998-07-09	Pokemon Site
57	Beach Blank-out Blastoise	1998-08-27	Pokemon Site
59	Clefairy Tales	1998-09-10	Pokemon Site
62	Snow Way Out!	1998-10-05	Pokemon Site
64	The Evolution Solution	1998-10-15	Pokemon Site
65	The Pi-Kahuna	1998-10-22	Pokemon Site
66	Make Room for Gloom!	1998-10-29	Pokemon Site
67	Lights, Camera, Quack-tion!	1998-11-05	Pokemon Site
69	To Master the Onixpected	1998-11-19	Pokemon Site
70	The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis	1998-11-26	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
84	Pikachu Re-Volts	1999-03-04	Pokemon Site
85	The Crystal Onix	1999-03-11	Pokemon Site
86	In the Pink	1999-03-18	Pokemon Site
87	Shell Shock!	1999-03-25	Pokemon Site
88	Bye Bye Psyduck	1999-04-08	Pokemon Site
89	The Joy of Pokémon	1999-04-15	Pokemon Site
93	Meowth Rules!	1999-05-13	Pokemon Site
95	A Way Off A Day Off	1999-05-27	Pokemon Site
96	Wherefore Art Thou, Pokémon?	1999-06-10	Pokemon Site
97	Get Along, Little Pokémon	1999-06-17	Pokemon Site
100	Bound for Trouble	1999-07-15	Pokemon Site
103	Pokémon Food Fight	1999-08-05	Pokemon Site
105	The Wacky Watcher	1999-08-19	Pokemon Site
116	Roll On, Pokémon!	1999-11-04	Pokemon Site
118	Flower Power	1999-11-18	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
119	Spinarak Attack	1999-11-25	Pokemon Site
123	Once in a Blue Moon	1999-12-23	Pokemon Site
124	The Whistle Stop	2000-01-01	Pokemon Site
129	Tanks A Lot!	2000-02-03	Pokemon Site
131	Grin to Win!	2000-02-17	Pokemon Site
133	Foul Weather Friends	2000-03-02	Pokemon Site
134	The Superhero Secret	2000-03-09	Pokemon Site
135	Mild ‘N Wooly	2000-03-16	Pokemon Site
136	Wired for Battle	2000-03-23	Pokemon Site
144	No Big Woop!	2000-05-18	Pokemon Site
145	Tunnel Vision	2000-05-25	Pokemon Site
146	Hour of the Houndour	2000-06-01	Pokemon Site
148	Hot Matches	2000-06-15	Pokemon Site
149	Love, Totodile Style	2000-06-22	Pokemon Site
151	Forest Grumps	2000-07-06	Pokemon Site
152	The Psychic Sidekicks	2000-07-13	Pokemon Site
158	Type Casting!	2000-08-31	Pokemon Site
159	Fossil Fools	2000-09-07	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
160	Carrying On	2000-09-14	Pokemon Site
162	Two Hits and a Miss	2000-09-28	Pokemon Site
163	A Hot Water Battle	2000-10-05	Pokemon Site
164	Hook, Line and Stinker	2000-10-12	Pokemon Site
166	A Better Pill to Swallow	2000-10-26	Pokemon Site
168	Mountain Time	2000-11-09	Pokemon Site
169	Wobbu-Palooza	2000-11-16	Pokemon Site
173	Wings ‘n’ Things	2000-12-14	Pokemon Site
174	The Grass Route	2000-12-21	Pokemon Site
175	The Apple Corp!	2001-01-04	Pokemon Site
176	Houndoom’s Special Delivery	2001-01-11	Pokemon Site
180	All That Glitters!	2001-02-08	Pokemon Site
181	The Light Fantastic	2001-02-15	Pokemon Site
182	UnBEARable	2001-02-22	Pokemon Site
184	Spring Fever	2001-03-08	Pokemon Site
186	The Stolen Stones	2001-03-22	Pokemon Site
187	The Dunsparce Deception	2001-03-29	Pokemon Site
188	The Wayward Wobbuffet	2001-04-05	Pokemon Site
189	Sick Daze	2001-04-12	Pokemon Site
191	The Poké Spokesman	2001-04-26	Pokemon Site
193	The Art of Pokémon	2001-05-10	Pokemon Site
194	The Heartbreak of Brock	2001-05-17	Pokemon Site
196	Turning Over A New Bayleef	2001-05-31	Pokemon Site
197	Doin’ What Comes Natu-rally	2001-06-07	Pokemon Site
198	The Big Balloon Blow-Up	2001-06-14	Pokemon Site
199	The Screen Actor’s Guilt	2001-06-21	Pokemon Site
200	Right On, Rhydon	2001-06-28	Pokemon Site
201	The Kecleon Caper	2001-07-05	Pokemon Site
202	The Joy of Water Pokémon	2001-07-12	Pokemon Site
203	Got Miltank?	2001-07-19	Pokemon Site
207	Fly Me to the Moon	2001-08-16	Pokemon Site
208	Takin’ it on the Chinchou	2001-08-23	Pokemon Site
210	Mantine Overboard	2001-09-06	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
214	Plant It Now… Diglett Later	2001-10-04	Pokemon Site
215	Hi Ho Silver… Away	2001-10-11	Pokemon Site
225	An Egg-Sighting Adventure	2001-12-20	Pokemon Site
228	Just Waiting on a Friend	2002-01-17	Pokemon Site
229	Fit to be Tyrogued	2002-01-24	Pokemon Site
230	Xatu the Future	2002-01-31	Pokemon Site
235	Whichever Way the Wind Blows	2002-03-07	Pokemon Site
236	Some Like It Hot	2002-03-14	Pokemon Site
237	Hocus Pokémon	2002-03-21	Pokemon Site
238	As Clear as Crystal	2002-03-28	Pokemon Site
239	Same Old Song and Dance	2002-04-11	Pokemon Site
240	Enlighten Up	2002-04-18	Pokemon Site
241	Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up?	2002-04-25	Pokemon Site
242	Wish Upon a Star Shape	2002-05-02	Pokemon Site
244	One Trick Phony	2002-05-16	Pokemon Site
245	I Politoed Ya So	2002-05-23	Pokemon Site
251	Just Add Water	2002-07-11	Pokemon Site
255	A Crowning Achievement	2002-08-08	Pokemon Site
257	You’re a Star, Larvitar	2002-08-22	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
278	Taming of the Shroomish	2003-01-23	Pokemon Site
279	You Said a Mouthful	2003-01-30	Pokemon Site
280	A Bite to Remember	2003-02-06	Pokemon Site
290	Which Wurmple’s Which?	2003-04-17	Pokemon Site
295	Turning Over a New Nuzleaf!	2003-05-21	Pokemon Site
298	Ready, Willing and Sableye!	2003-06-12	Pokemon Site
306	Jump for Joy!	2003-08-07	Pokemon Site
311	Let Bagons Be Bagons	2003-09-18	Pokemon Site
314	Candid Camerupt	2003-10-09	Pokemon Site
315	Love at First Flight	2003-09-11	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
318	Maxxed Out!	2003-10-30	Pokemon Site
322	Game Winning Assist	2003-11-27	Pokemon Site
326	Going for a Spinda	2003-12-25	Pokemon Site
329	Delcatty Got Your Tongue	2004-01-22	Pokemon Site
333	True Blue Swablu	2004-02-19	Pokemon Site
334	Gulpin It Down	2004-02-26	Pokemon Site
336	Go Go Ludicolo	2004-03-11	Pokemon Site
344	Whiscash and Ash	2004-05-06	Pokemon Site
345	Me, Myself and Time	2004-05-13	Pokemon Site
355	Lights, Camerupt, Action!	2004-07-22	Pokemon Site
357	The Garden of Eatin’	2004-08-05	Pokemon Site
358	A Scare to Remember	2004-08-12	Pokemon Site
361	Judgment Day!	2004-09-02	Pokemon Site
363	The Relicanth Really Can	2004-09-16	Pokemon Site
365	Training Wrecks	2004-09-30	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
371	Where’s Armaldo?	2004-11-11	Pokemon Site
373	Claydol Big and Tall	2004-11-25	Pokemon Site
375	Beg, Burrow, and Steal	2004-12-09	Pokemon Site
376	Absolute Disaster	2004-12-16	Pokemon Site
378	Do I Hear a Ralts?	2005-01-06	Pokemon Site
381	Showdown at Linoone	2005-01-27	Pokemon Site
405	Hooked on Onix	2005-08-04	Pokemon Site
406	Rough, Tough Jigglypuff	\005-08-11	Pokemon Site
408	Sitting Psyduck	2005-08-25	Pokemon Site
409	Hail to the Chef	2005-09-01	Pokemon Site
410	Caterpie’s Big Dilemma	2005-09-08	Pokemon Site
413	Pasta la Vista	2005-09-29	Pokemon Site
414	Fear Factor Phony!	2005-10-06	Pokemon Site
420	On Olden Pond	2005-11-17	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
433	King and Queen for a Day	2006-02-23	Pokemon Site
434	Curbing the Crimson Tide	2006-03-02	Pokemon Site
436	Three Jynx and a Baby	2006-03-16	Pokemon Site
441	All That Glitters Is Not Golden	2006-04-20	Pokemon Site
444	The Ole’ Berate and Switch	2006-05-11	Pokemon Site
451	Aipom and Circumstance	2006-07-06	Pokemon Site
452	Strategy Tomorrow – Comedy Tonight	2006-07-20	Pokemon Site
453	Duels of the Jungle	2006-07-27	Pokemon Site
456	Pinch Healing	2006-08-17	Pokemon Site
467	Like It or Lup It	2006-11-02	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
483	Faced with Steelix Determination	2007-03-15	Pokemon Site
484	Cooking Up a Sweet Story	2007-03-29	Pokemon Site
499	Steamboat Willies	2007-07-05	Pokemon Site
502	The Electrike Company	2007-08-09	Pokemon Site
503	Malice in Wonderland	2007-08-23	Pokemon Site
515	The Keystone Pops	2007-11-29	Pokemon Site
516	Bibarel Gnaws Best	2007-11-29	Pokemon Site
517	Nosing ‘Round the Mountain	2007-12-06	Pokemon Site
518	Luxray Vision	2007-12-13	Pokemon Site

XI. Season 11: Battle Dimension

• Episodes: 521-572
• Canon: 521-528, 530-561, 563-572
• Fillers: 529, 562

Episode Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
529	The Bells Are Singing	2008-03-13	Pokemon Site
562	Jumping Rocket Ship	2008-11-20	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
574	Stealing the Conversation!	2009-02-19	Pokemon Site
575	The Drifting Snorunt!	2009-02-26	Pokemon Site
583	Battling a Cute Drama!	2009-04-30	Pokemon Site
593	Beating the Bustle and Hustle!	2009-07-09	Pokemon Site
606	Try for the Family Stone!	2009-10-22	Pokemon Site
607	Sticking with Who You Know!	2009-10-29	Pokemon Site
616	Regaining the Home Advantage!	2010-01-07	Pokemon Site

XIII. Season 13: Sinnoh League Victors

• Episodes: 626-659
• Canon: 626-630, 632-656, 658-659
• Fillers: 631, 657

Episode Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
631	Dealing with a Fierce Double Ditto Drama!	2010-04-22	Pokemon Site
657	Saving Darmanitan from the Bell!	2010-11-04	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
675	Scare at the Litwick Mansion!	2011-04-07	Pokemon Site
678	Cottonee in Love!	2011-04-28	Pokemon Site
679	A UFO for Elgyem!	2011-05-05	Pokemon Site
684	Where Did You Go, Audino?	2011-06-09	Pokemon Site
702	A Maractus Musical!	2011-10-27	Pokemon Site
703	The Four Seasons of Sawsbuck!	2011-11-03	Pokemon Site
704	Scraggy and the Demanding Gothita!	2011-11-10	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
715	Baffling the Bouffalant!	2012-02-16	Pokemon Site
737	The Mystery of the Missing Cubchoo!	2012-07-19	Pokemon Site
744	Unrest at the Nursery!	2012-09-20	Pokemon Site
747	Beauties Battling for Pride and Prestige!	2012-10-11	Pokemon Site
748	A Surface to Air Tag Battle Team!	2012-10-18	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
774	Cilan and the Case of the Purrloin Witness!	2013-05-09	Pokemon Site
776	The Island of Illusions!	2013-05-23	Pokemon Site
778	The Pirates of Decolore!	2013-06-06	Pokemon Site
781	Searching for a Wish!	2013-06-27	Pokemon Site
782	Capacia Island UFO!	2013-07-04	Pokemon Site
787	Go, Go, Gogoat!	2013-08-22	Pokemon Site
799	Grooming Furfrou!	2013-11-28	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
805	Seeking Shelter from the Storm!	2014-01-30	Pokemon Site
806	An Appetite for Battle!	2014-02-06	Pokemon Site
807	A Jolting Switcheroo!	2014-02-13	Pokemon Site
809	Awakening the Sleeping Giant!	2014-02-27	Pokemon Site
817	To Find a Fairy Flower!	2014-05-15	Pokemon Site
819	Heroes–Friends and Faux Alike!	2014-05-29	Pokemon Site
836	The Clumsy Crier Quiets the Chaos!	2014-10-09	Pokemon Site
839	Bonnie for the Defense!	2014-10-30	Pokemon Site
841	When Light and Dark Collide!	2014-11-27	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
862	So, You’re Having a Bad Day!	2015-05-07	Pokemon Site
873	Over the Mountain of Snow!	2015-07-30	Pokemon Site
874	Adventures in Running Errands!	2015-08-13	Pokemon Site
877	The Tiny Caretaker!	2015-09-10	Pokemon Site
880	Lights! Camera! Pika!	2015-06-18	Pokemon Site
886	Love Strikes! Eevee, Yikes!	2015-11-05	Pokemon Site
887	A Giga Battle with Mega Results!	2015-11-12	Pokemon Site
888	A Fiery Rite of Passage!	2015-11-19	Pokemon Site
889	Dream a Little Dream from Me!	2015-11-26	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
899	A Watershed Moment!	2016-02-18	Pokemon Site
902	Unlocking Some Respect!	2016-03-10	Pokemon Site
908	Making Friends and Influencing Villains!	2016-04-28	Pokemon Site
914	A Diamond in the Rough!	2016-06-09	Pokemon Site
915	A Gaggle of Gadget Greatness!	2016-06-16	Pokemon Site
938	A Shocking Grocery Run!	2016-12-08	Pokemon 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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
943	Young Kiawe Had a Farm!	2017-01-19	Netflix
948	They Might Not Be Giants!	2017-03-02	Netflix
955	Getting the Band Back Together!	2017-04-20	Netflix
960	Pulling Out the Pokémon Base Pepper!	2017-05-25	Netflix
961	Lulled to La-La Land!	2017-06-08	Netflix

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 Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
989	The Dex Can’t Help It!	2018-01-11	Netflix
1002	Dewpider Ascending!	2018-04-26	Netflix
1014	Dummy, You Shrunk the Kids!	2018-07-26	Netflix
1017	I Choose Paradise!	2018-08-16	Netflix
1024	Lillier and the Staff!	2018-10-21	Netflix

XXII. Season 22: Ultra Legends   

• Episodes: 1034-1087
• Canon: 1034-1043, 1045-1056, 1058-1087
• Fillers: 1044, 1057

Episode Number	Title	Air Date	Where to Watch
1044	This Magik Moment!	2019-03-17	Netflix
1057	Pikachu’s Exciting Adventure!	2019-06-16	Netflix

2. Which Fillers Can You Skip Altogether?

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

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.

I made a list to cut 700+ episodes of Pokemon down to 170 and I didn’t notice any problems with the story.
byu/little_girls_squeal inpokemon

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.