Plymouth underlined the class that has earned them the Second Division title by brining Hartlepool's five-game winning streak to a close with a comfortable 3-1 win at Victoria Park.
Argyle looked a class act for most of the game after fighting back from an early goal, and in the end there was only one team in the match.
With top scorers David Friio and Micky Evans missing, Argyle might have been expected to take no risks. But it was clear from the start that was not the case, and two goals in a minute - one to either side - set the scene for a great game.
It was Hartlepool who went in front, on 10 minutes, when Adam Boyd curled a header into the top corner after a right-wing cross from Eifion Williams.
But just over 40 seconds later Argyle were level when Lee Hodges cashed in on poor defending to curl a wonderful over-the-shoulder volley into the top corner from the edge of the home penalty area.
Hartlepool hit back, and Boyd went close with another header before keeper Luke McCormick made a wonderful finger-tip save to keep out a shot from the impressive Williams.
But Argyle finished the half strongly and on 35 minutes home keeper Jim Provett pulled off just as good a save as he tipped a shot from Nathan Lowndes round the post.
But it was Lowndes who gave Argyle the lead on 41 minutes, charging down a clearance from Chris Westwood before firing in past Provett.
Two minutes after the break, the game was over as a contest when Tony Capaldi floated a right-wing corner to the far post where the ball bounced awkwardly and trickled into the net off the shin of home defender Mark Tinkler.
Hartlepool boss Neale Cooper, his side needing a win at Swindon next weekend to make sure of a play-off place, was disappointed with the result.
"The players worked hard, as they have all season," he said. "But Plymouth are a class side and they showed that today.
"We got off to a good start, but they scored themselves within seconds and that showed us how difficult it was going to be.
"We gave them a couple of soft goals, but fair play to my lads - they have been magnificent this season after we were made favourites to be relegated rather than play for promotion." Plymouth manager Bobby Williamson added: "We owed it to the other teams in the play-off race to put in a performance, and we did. Hartlepool had won their last five games and were in good form, but we coped well with them.
"The result and the performance is typical of the fantastic work ethic there is at this club. From the top, right through the club to the fans, it's geared up properly and run properly.
"We were without one or two regulars, but we have good strength behind the scenes and it showed in this game."