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| Titles | Pokémon Black Version 2 & Pokémon White Version 2 ポケットモンスター ブラック２ · ホワイト２ |
| Platform | Nintendo DS (DSi-enhanced) – the last core games for the DS family |
| Developer | Game Freak |
| Publisher | Nintendo / The Pokémon Company |
| Director | Takao Unno |
| Producers | Junichi Masuda, Hitoshi Yamagami, Shusaku Egami |
| Composers | Go Ichinose, Hitomi Sato (with the Black & White score by Shota Kageyama, Junichi Masuda, Minako Adachi, Morikazu Aoki and Satoshi Nohara) |
| Artists | Takao Unno (art director); character design by Ken Sugimori, Takao Unno, Motofumi Fujiwara and Hironobu Yoshida |
| Players | 1–4 (DS Wireless, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and infrared) |
| Generation | Generation V – direct sequels to Black & White, set two years later |
| New Pokémon | None – two new forms, Black Kyurem and White Kyurem |
| Unova Pokédex | 300 Pokémon (301 entries counting Victini at #000), up from 156 |
| Predecessor | Pokémon Black & White |
| Successor | Pokémon X & Y |
| Released (Japan) | 23 June 2012 (Hong Kong and Taiwan the same day) |
| Released (North America) | 7 October 2012 |
| Released (Australia) | 11 October 2012 |
| Released (Europe) | 12 October 2012 |
| Released (South Korea) | 8 November 2012 |
| Rating | CERO A · ESRB E (Everyone) · PEGI 3 · G (Australia) |
| Cartridge | Nintendo DS Game Card with a built-in infrared port |
| Sales | 8.52 million combined – 1.56 million in Japan’s first week |
Overview
Pokémon Black Version 2 and White Version 2 are the final core series titles of Generation V. They are direct sequels to Black & White, and at this point are the only direct sequels in the core series. Although these games don’t bring any new Pokémon with them, they do expand the Unova Pokédex to include 300 Pokémon (301 entries, counting Victini at #000), the supplement over Black & White being the inclusion of Pokémon from earlier generations. Like Black & White before them, these games enjoy minor enhancements when played on the DSi or 3DS (when compared to playing them on a standard DS).
These titles were announced on the international and Japanese versions of the official Pokémon websites on February 26th, 2012. On that same day Junichi Masuda announced them on Pokémon Smash!, a Pokémon TV show that aired on Japan’s TV Tokyo network.
The game mascots for these titles are once again forms of a Legendary Pokémon, this time Kyurem: White Kyurem is the mascot of Pokémon White 2 and Black Kyurem the mascot of Pokémon Black 2.
The titles were released first in Japan on 23rd June 2012, followed by the U.S. on October 7th, 2012, then days later, on October 11th, 2012, in Australia, and in Europe the day after. South Korea had to wait a bit longer and finally got its release on November 8th, 2012.
Two powers combine… A new legend arises! Set off on a new Pokémon adventure to save the Unova region! You and your Pokémon can accomplish anything together!
— Official description, North American packaging
Quick Answers
The questions people ask about Black 2 and White 2, answered first and explained further down the page.
What are the differences between Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, and which should I buy?
Black 2 has Zekrom, Black Kyurem, Black City and its Black Tower, the Challenge Mode key and the Iron Key for Registeel. White 2 has Reshiram, White Kyurem, White Forest and its White Treehollow, the Easy Mode key and the Iceberg Key for Regice. Two dozen or so wild species and several towns differ too, so pick your favourite dragon. More →
Do I need to play Black and White before Black 2 and White 2?
No. The sequels tell a complete story with new heroes, and newcomers can follow it easily. If you own Black or White, Memory Link unlocks eight flashback scenes, one-off rematches with Cheren and Bianca, and the chance to catch N’s released Pokémon, so the originals add extra depth rather than being required. More →
How do I catch Kyurem and get Black Kyurem or White Kyurem?
After the Hall of Fame, beat N in his castle ruins, take the stone he gives you to Dragonspiral Tower and catch Zekrom (Black 2) or Reshiram (White 2) at Lv. 70. Kyurem then returns to the Giant Chasm at Lv. 70 and leaves the DNA Splicers behind, which fuse it with that dragon. More →
How do I find N and get N’s Pokémon?
N rescues you at the Giant Chasm and later gives you HM05 Waterfall at Victory Road. After the Hall of Fame, a Zoroark leads you to his castle ruins beneath the League for a battle. With Memory Link, fourteen of his released Pokémon can be caught in the wild with his ID, and Rood gives you his Zorua. More →
What is the Pokémon World Tournament?
The PWT is Clay’s tournament arena south of Driftveil City. Your first visit pits you against Cheren, Hugh and Colress at Lv. 25. Later cups bring in Gym Leaders from all five regions, a World Leaders cup and a Champions cup with Red, Blue, Lance, Steven, Wallace, Cynthia and Alder, plus Rental, Mix and Type Expert rules. More →
What is Challenge Mode and how do I unlock it?
Challenge Mode makes opponents up to five levels stronger and gives Gym Leaders and the Elite Four an extra Pokémon, sharper tactics and better items. Beat the Champion in Black 2 to earn the Challenge Key, then switch modes from the Key System in Unova Link. White 2 players need the key sent from a Black 2 game. More →
What are Pokéstar Studios and Join Avenue?
Pokéstar Studios, north of Virbank City, lets you shoot short films by battling to a script and picking your lines. Stick to it for a good ending or improvise for a bad or strange one. Join Avenue, between Route 4 and Nimbasa City, is a shopping street you manage, filling eight shops and raising its rank as high as 100. More →
Who are the new Gym Leaders in Black 2 and White 2?
Three leaders are new to the badge circuit. Cheren, the old rival, runs Aspertia City’s Normal-type Gym. Roxie, a Poison-type bassist, plays host in Virbank’s club-style Gym. Easy-going Marlon guards Humilau City’s Water-type Gym as the eighth Leader. Drayden now holds Opelucid in both versions, and Iris has become Champion. More →
What is Pokémon Dream Radar?
Dream Radar is an augmented-reality Nintendo 3DS eShop app launched alongside the games. You blast Dream Clouds to collect orbs and catch Pokémon, including the Therian Formes of Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus, then send them to Black 2 or White 2. With a Generation IV card in the slot, you can also catch Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Ho-Oh or Lugia. More →
Can I play Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 on Nintendo Switch?
No. The games have never been re-released and remain DS cartridges, playable on the DS, DS Lite, DSi and the 3DS family. Their online services closed in 2014, Dream Radar disappeared when the 3DS eShop shut in March 2023, and Pokémon Bank, the link to Pokémon HOME, is due to close on 25 February 2027 (26 February in the UK). More →
Plot / Story
Two years after the events of Black and White we see a new, bigger Unova, with three new Gym Leaders and a new Champion, and a Pokédex expanded to include Pokémon who are foreign to the region. The player begins in Aspertia City this time, receiving their starter Pokémon from Professor Juniper’s assistant, Bianca; they are encouraged to go on a Pokémon journey to defeat the Pokémon Gyms and ultimately the Pokémon League. Hugh, a friend of the player, will accompany them on some occasions; he is the rival of the player, but he doesn’t pursue the Pokémon League dream – he wants to free a Pokémon that Team Plasma kidnapped.
Through their Pokémon journey, the player and Hugh will find previous members of Team Plasma, alongside Colress. Zinzolin, one of the Seven Sages, appears as an antagonist, while former Sage Rood will help the player.
At a certain point Zinzolin freezes Opelucid City in ice, helped by Kyurem and machinery. The player now has to defeat Team Plasma, their new figurehead Colress and the mastermind behind him, Ghetsis, to free Kyurem. Ghetsis will combine the power of Kyurem with the Legendary dragon befriended by N, his son, two years earlier, forcing Kyurem to fuse with either Zekrom or Reshiram. After Kyurem is saved and Team Plasma is disbanded, the player will be able to face the Elite Four and win the Pokémon League.
After this happens, many parts of Unova become accessible, such as the Skyarrow Bridge and the west of the region beyond it. Other Pokémon that are not native to Unova become available, and Zekrom/Reshiram and Kyurem will reveal themselves to the player; once caught, the player will be able to fuse them to change Kyurem’s form at will.
The whole journey in brief, from Aspertia to the Giant Chasm
Two years after N’s defeat, a new Trainer sets out from Aspertia City in Unova’s far south-west. Bianca, now Professor Juniper’s assistant, hands over a starter, and the hero’s friend Hugh takes the one with the type advantage. Hugh has a score to settle: Team Plasma once stole the Purrloin his late grandfather caught for his little sister. After calling on Alder in Floccesy Town and sparring with Hugh at Floccesy Ranch, the player takes the Basic Badge from Cheren and the Toxic Badge from Roxie in industrial Virbank City, where Pokéstar Studios opens its doors.
In Castelia, Hugh and the player chase grunts in pirate-styled uniforms through the sewers and first meet Colress, a scientist obsessed with drawing out the full strength of Pokémon. Burgh falls, Colress shifts a Crustle off Route 4 and battles, and Elesa waits in Nimbasa.
Driftveil reveals the split. Rood and the old Plasma members now return stolen Pokémon, while Zinzolin speaks for a new, hostile faction. Clay’s badge leads to the Pokémon World Tournament, where Colress waits in the final, and aboard the Plasma Frigate in the harbour Zinzolin boasts of seizing Unova before the Shadow Triad throw the heroes off.
Skyla’s Jet Badge follows, then the journey to Lentimas, through Reversal Mountain to Undella and on to walled Lacunosa, where Hugh and the player fight Zinzolin side by side. Moments after Drayden’s Legend Badge, the Frigate uses Kyurem’s power to encase Opelucid in ice, and the Shadow Triad make off with the DNA Splicers.
Marlon awards the eighth badge in Humilau, Colress’s machine moves another Crustle, and the heroes storm the Frigate before it flees to the Giant Chasm. There Colress is beaten at the helm and Ghetsis emerges as the true master. He unleashes Kyurem, N swoops in on Zekrom or Reshiram, and the Splicers force Kyurem to absorb the dragon. The player defeats Black or White Kyurem, then Ghetsis, who breaks down before the Shadow Triad carry him away.
N hands over Waterfall at Victory Road, and the Elite Four and Champion Iris await. After the credits come N’s castle ruins, the revived dragon at Dragonspiral Tower, Kyurem’s return to the Giant Chasm, Cynthia in Undella, the Nature Preserve’s Shiny Haxorus, the full PWT and, once Alder is beaten, the Black Tower or White Treehollow and Benga.
Twenty things Black 2 & White 2 did first
- The only core series games that are official direct sequels to a pair from the same generation.
- The story is set two years after the previous games, in a familiar region that has visibly changed.
- The hero’s hometown, Aspertia City, is a city rather than a town, which no other core game has done.
- The very first town has its own Pokémon Center, a first for the series at the time.
- The rival, Hugh, is driven by recovering his sister’s stolen Pokémon rather than by beating the League first.
- A rival from the previous games, Cheren, returns within the same generation as a Gym Leader, and the opening Gym is Normal-type.
- Two optional difficulty settings, Challenge Mode and Easy Mode, are unlocked with keys shared between the two versions.
- The Pokémon World Tournament gathers Gym Leaders and Champions from all five regions in one venue.
- A 255-strong Medal Rally rewards everyday actions such as walking, nicknaming and battling with collectable achievements.
- Pokéstar Studios turns battles into scripted films, and it is one of the rare places where the player character speaks.
- Join Avenue hands the player a shopping street to manage and rank up.
- Memory Link reads a Black or White save file to unlock flashbacks, rematches and extra Pokémon.
- The Pokédex gains a Habitat List that shows what can be found in each area and which entries are still missing.
- The mascots are new forms of an existing Legendary rather than new species, and neither can be obtained before the Hall of Fame without trading.
- Every Trainer has an animated battle sprite, and many high-powered moves receive new animations.
- The Pokémon Day Care stays closed until the player has entered the Hall of Fame.
- A forced save at Pokéstar Studios is the first compulsory save point before the Hall of Fame.
- More than one Master Ball can be earned without relying on lottery luck or multiplayer.
- The localisation gap was the shortest of any staggered core release, and these were the last core games launched region by region.
- They are the last core games with ‘Version’ in the title and the last Pokémon games made for the DS family.
Your rival, Hugh – and the bosses between the badges
Hugh always takes the starter that beats yours, so where a team depends on your choice the options run Snivy / Tepig / Oshawott. The Team Plasma and Colress battles are listed in the same order you meet them.
- Hugh 1 – Aspertia City: Tepig Lv. 5 if you chose Snivy; Oshawott Lv. 5 if you chose Tepig; Snivy Lv. 5 if you chose Oshawott
- Hugh 2 – Floccesy Ranch: the same counter starter at Lv. 8
- Boss – Cheren, Aspertia Gym: Patrat Lv. 11, Lillipup Lv. 13 (Challenge Mode: Patrat Lv. 12, Pidove Lv. 12, Lillipup Lv. 14)
- Tag battle – Castelia Sewers, with Hugh against two Plasma grunts: Hugh uses Pignite, Dewott or Servine Lv. 20 and Pidove Lv. 18
- Boss – Colress 1, Route 4: Magnemite Lv. 21, Klink Lv. 23
- Hugh 3 – Pokémon World Tournament (Driftveil Tournament): Pignite, Dewott or Servine Lv. 25 with the matching elemental monkey (Simipour, Simisage or Simisear) Lv. 25 and Tranquill Lv. 25
- Boss – Colress 2, PWT final: Magneton Lv. 25, Elgyem Lv. 25, Klink Lv. 25
- Tag battle – Plasma Frigate at Driftveil, with Hugh against two grunts: Hugh uses his second-stage starter Lv. 33, elemental monkey Lv. 31, Tranquill Lv. 31
- Hugh 4 – Undella Town: Unfezant Lv. 39, elemental monkey Lv. 39, Emboar, Samurott or Serperior Lv. 41
- Boss – Zinzolin and a grunt, Lacunosa Town, tag battle with Hugh: Hugh uses his final starter Lv. 43, elemental monkey Lv. 41, Unfezant Lv. 41
- Tag battle – Plasma Frigate before the Giant Chasm, with Hugh against two grunts and then Zinzolin and a grunt: Hugh uses his final starter Lv. 50, Unfezant Lv. 48, elemental monkey Lv. 48
- Boss – Colress 3, Plasma Frigate helm: Magneton Lv. 50, Metang Lv. 50, Beheeyem Lv. 50, Magnezone Lv. 50, Klinklang Lv. 52
- Boss – Shadow Triad, Giant Chasm: fought before the final confrontation with Ghetsis
- Boss – Black Kyurem (Black 2) or White Kyurem (White 2), Giant Chasm: Lv. 55, cannot be caught
- Boss – Ghetsis, Giant Chasm: Cofagrigus, Seismitoad, Eelektross, Drapion, Toxicroak Lv. 50, Hydreigon Lv. 52
- Hugh 5 – Victory Road: Unfezant, elemental monkey, Bouffalant Lv. 55, final starter Lv. 57
- Hugh 6 – Undella Town after the credits: Unfezant, elemental monkey, Bouffalant, Flygon, Eelektross Lv. 62, final starter Lv. 64
- Hugh rematch – Driftveil City, daily after the credits: the same six at Lv. 65, final starter Lv. 67
- Boss – N, N’s castle ruins (post-game): Zekrom (Black 2) or Reshiram (White 2) Lv. 70; seasonal six-Pokémon teams at Lv. 75–77 on Fridays after Kyurem has been dealt with
- Boss – Colress rematch, Plasma Frigate at the P2 Laboratory (post-game): Magneton, Rotom-Wash, Metagross, Beheeyem, Magnezone Lv. 72, Klinklang Lv. 74; the first win there earns a Master Ball
N, two years on
N spends most of the sequels out of sight. He can be heard but not seen in Chargestone Cave, and only resurfaces at the Giant Chasm, riding Zekrom in Black 2 or Reshiram in White 2 to shield the player from Kyurem’s Glaciate. That rescue is exactly what Ghetsis wanted: the DNA Splicers turn N’s dragon back to stone and let Kyurem absorb it. Once Ghetsis is beaten, N tries to reach out to the man who raised him and is cruelly rejected, then waits at Victory Road to hand over HM05 Waterfall. After the Hall of Fame, a Zoroark guides the player to his ruined castle beneath the League, where N battles with his dragon at Lv. 70 before entrusting it to the player as a stone to revive at Dragonspiral Tower. Memory Link shows him setting his old team free, and fourteen of those Pokémon then roam Unova bearing his ID.
Kyurem and the DNA Splicers
Kyurem is often described as the cold, hollow remnant left behind when the original dragon split into Reshiram and Zekrom, and the sequels build their plot on that idea. It lurks in the Giant Chasm, a crater said to have been gouged out by a meteorite, while walled Lacunosa Town still fears an old tale of a monster that came at night. Ghetsis uses the DNA Splicers to make Kyurem swallow N’s dragon. Black Kyurem gains Teravolt, Fusion Bolt and Freeze Shock, and White Kyurem gains Turboblaze, Fusion Flare and Ice Burn. After the credits, the player’s own Kyurem, caught at Lv. 70, drops the Splicers, so either fusion can be made or undone, though only one fused Kyurem can exist at a time.
In the anime and movies
The anime was already in Unova when the sequels arrived, and its last Unova season borrowed their villains wholesale: N, Colress and Ghetsis all turn up in the Episode N arc.
In the anime
Anime seasons which loosely tie in with Black & White Version 2 (in terms of locations, NPCs such as Gym Leaders and Pokémon):
Season 15: BW Rival Destinies2011–2012The English dub’s fifteenth season, from BW049, follows Ash through the rest of his Unova badge quest. It shares the sequels’ region, Gym Leaders and Pokémon rather than their new story.
Season 16: BW Adventures in Unova and Beyond2012–2013Starting at BW098, this season carries the sequels’ influence most directly. Its Episode N arc (BW109 to BW122) brings back N and Ghetsis and introduces Colress, before the Decolora Adventure episodes from BW123 take Ash, Iris and Cilan out of Unova by sea.In the movies
Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice2012The fifteenth film stars Kyurem and Keldeo, whose Resolute Form debuted at the same time as the games. Black 2 and White 2 launched in Japan around the film’s release, and some Japanese cinemas offered an in-game Pokémon.
Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened2013The sixteenth film features Genesect, a Generation V Mythical Pokémon available only through events, so it rounds off the Generation V era rather than tying in with the sequels’ plot.The Episode N episodes
Season 16’s Episode N arc is where the sequels’ story reaches the screen:
- BW109New Places… Familiar Faces! – Opens the Episode N arc, with Ash, Iris and Cilan back in eastern Unova.
- BW110The Name’s N! – N meets Ash and his friends on a ship bound for Aspertia City, after searching the ruined P2 Laboratory.
- BW112Team Plasma’s Pokémon Power Plot! – Colress’s anime debut, alongside Ghetsis’s return.
- BW113The Light of Floccesy Ranch! – On the way to the White Ruins, the heroes help an Ampharos guard the Mareep flock at Floccesy Ranch.
- BW122What Lies Beyond Truth and Ideals! – Closes the Episode N arc with Reshiram at the White Ruins.
- BW123Farewell, Unova! Setting Sail for New Adventures! – The first Decolora Adventure episode, as Ash leaves Unova by sea.
Changes & features
As the direct sequels to Pokémon Black and White, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 take place in the same region, but bring many new changes to the plot, graphics, areas and gameplay, along with the addition of a few features.
Changes to the plot
- The game now starts at Aspertia City, instead of Nuvema Town.
- A few changes were made to the Gym Leaders. Cheren takes the first Gym in place of the three brothers Cress, Cilan and Chili; Roxie replaces Lenora in the second slot; Brycen has retired, so Drayden moves up to seventh and the newcomer Marlon is eighth. The Gym Leaders are battled in the following order: Cheren, Roxie, Burgh, Elesa, Clay, Skyla, Drayden and Marlon.
- Team Plasma resurfaces and still aims to spread chaos through Unova.
- The player gets their starter Pokémon from Bianca.
- Iris is the new Unova Pokémon Champion.
Changes to the graphics and areas
- Many characters were redesigned, such as Ghetsis, Bianca, Elesa and Cheren, while new ones were introduced, like Colress, Roxie, Benga, Hugh and Marlon.
- The battle menu, the C-Gear and the opening of the game have all been redesigned.
- All the Pokémon Trainers now have animated sprites, including the old Gym Leaders and Champions featured in the Pokémon World Tournament.
- Many areas got tweaked, such as Driftveil City and Nimbasa City, while all the Gyms in Unova got redesigned.
- Some locations can no longer be accessed, such as Challenger’s Cave and Route 10. Some others were redesigned to be unique and look different depending on whether it’s Black 2 or White 2.
- Many Pokémon moves got graphically changed, as they now have new animations.
- Several Hidden Grottoes were added to the region. These locations may contain rare Pokémon or items.
- The player no longer needs to remove their Pokémon’s held items to switch them, since they can switch them directly from one party member to another.
- Balloon Smash and Balloon Catch are two new mini-games added to the Xtransceiver.
- A new Medal system is featured in the games, where the player can receive Medals at Pokémon Centers and store them in a Medal Box.
- Pokéstar Studios is another fun feature introduced in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. It allows the player to select some scenes and play them during acts, in order to make Pokémon films.
- All the Gym Leaders and Pokémon Champions up to the fifth generation (bar Koga, and Iris, who is now the Champion) can be battled in the new feature, the Pokémon World Tournament.
Gameplay and new features
- As the Repel effect wears off, a window will show asking the player if they want to use another one. This only happens if the player has additional Repels in their Bag.
- Similarly to Pokémon Platinum, the two sequels reintroduce the Move Tutors feature. These are characters that can teach the player’s Pokémon new moves in exchange for Shards of certain colours. The moves include rare ones that cannot be found as TMs. Check out our guide to Move Tutors in Pokémon Black & White 2 for more information.
In depth: everything the sequels add
The headline additions, one by one, with the fine print.
Team Plasma, split in two
It’s the evil organisation of Unova, which was thought to be completely wiped out during the previous games’ events. Team Plasma reappears, but divided into two opposing branches. One branch is led by Ghetsis, who aims to use Kyurem to freeze the Unova region and gain control over it, while the other is led by the former Sage Rood and remains loyal to Ghetsis’s son, N, who’s still compassionate and wants to help Pokémon and stop his father’s evil plan. Team Plasma also has a new figurehead known as Colress, a Pokémon researcher who seeks to unlock Pokémon’s ultimate power, and whom Ghetsis has installed as the organisation’s boss.
Ghetsis, back from the shadows
After his arrest at the end of Black and White, Ghetsis escaped with the Shadow Triad’s help, lost his Pokémon and went into hiding. He returns as the hidden master of neo Team Plasma in a new robe styled like castle battlements, carrying a cane modelled on a ship’s wheel that blocks Poké Balls. His aim is to freeze all of Unova with Kyurem, and he uses N’s arrival at the Giant Chasm to force Kyurem to absorb N’s dragon. His team of Cofagrigus, Seismitoad, Eelektross, Drapion and Toxicroak at Lv. 50 is led by a Lv. 52 Hydreigon. Beaten again, he flies into a rage, rejects N completely and is carried away, broken, by the Shadow Triad.
Colress and the Plasma Frigate
Colress, Achroma in Japanese with a name drawn from ‘colourless’, is a Steel-type scientist obsessed with finding the true way to draw out a Pokémon’s strength. He has no interest in liberating Pokémon and joined Team Plasma purely to further that research, yet Ghetsis appointed him the organisation’s boss. His machine controls Kyurem and moves the Crustle blocking Unova’s roads. He battles on Route 4, in the PWT final and at the helm of the Plasma Frigate, where he leads Magneton, Metang, Beheeyem, Magnezone and Klinklang. After the credits he disbands the team, researches at the P2 Laboratory and offers daily rematches, giving a Master Ball for the first.
Zinzolin, Rood and the Shadow Triad
Two of the Seven Sages chose opposite paths. Zinzolin stayed loyal to Ghetsis, captured Kyurem, revealed the new plan aboard the Frigate, fought Hugh and the player in Lacunosa and turned Opelucid to ice before his defeat at the Giant Chasm. Rood took the opposite road, leading the reformed members in Driftveil who return stolen Pokémon, holding off the neo Plasma at the Giant Chasm and giving the player N’s Zorua.
Three silent agents loyal only to Ghetsis, the Shadow Triad freed him from custody, stole the DNA Splicers from Opelucid Gym and twice threw the heroes off the Plasma Frigate. Defeated at the Giant Chasm, they finally carry their broken master away, remarking that he has lost the will to scheme again.
The Unova region, two years on
The Unova region remains for the most part as it was in the original Black & White games; click here for more general info on Unova. What has changed is the south-west, where Aspertia City, Floccesy Town and Virbank City fill in the corner the first games left blank, and the far east, where Humilau City and the Marine Tube sit beyond Undella Bay.
Where the sequels take you
Fourteen places that define the sequels’ Unova, new and old, each with a map or a screenshot.
Aspertia City
Unova’s south-western corner was blank in the original games, and Aspertia City fills it with a hillside town whose streets climb towards a lookout over the sea and mountains. It is the hero’s birthplace and the only core series hometown that is a city, with its own Pokémon Center from the outset. Bianca arrives here with Professor Juniper’s starters, Hugh also calls it home, and Cheren balances teaching at the Trainers’ School with his new role as Gym Leader. His Normal-type Gym is the first badge, and Route 19 leads east towards Floccesy.
Pokémon of note: Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Patrat, Lillipup. Items: TM83 Work Up (Cheren), Basic Badge.
Floccesy Town and Floccesy Ranch
A quiet rural town a short walk from Aspertia, Floccesy is where Alder settled after giving up the Champion’s title. The old master lives here with his grandson Benga, and leaving Alder’s house is how the player receives the Medal Box and starts the Medal Rally. Beyond the town, Floccesy Ranch is open pasture with a Hidden Grotto among the fences, and it hosts Hugh’s second battle. After the credits Alder takes on the player at home, a win that opens the Black Tower or White Treehollow, and Benga later returns here to hand over a Shiny Gible or Dratini.
Pokémon of note: Herdier, Marill, Dunsparce, Gible (Shiny gift, Black 2), Dratini (Shiny gift, White 2). Items: Medal Box, Exp. Share (held by Benga’s gift).
Virbank City and Virbank Complex
Virbank is a gritty industrial port of chimneys and container yards on Unova’s southern coast, and the sprawling Virbank Complex of warehouses and pipework spreads beside it. Its Gym is effectively a live-music club: challengers work their way past Roxie’s bandmates before the Poison-type Leader takes the stage herself. Her father, Pop Roxie, co-stars in films at the nearby studio. Once the Toxic Badge is won, Pokéstar Studios opens to the north, and the city’s harbour sends the player across the water to Castelia.
Pokémon of note: Koffing, Grimer, Whirlipede. Items: TM09 Venoshock (Roxie), Toxic Badge.
Castelia City and the Castelia Sewers
Unova’s skyscraper metropolis is still the region’s commercial hub, but the sequels open up what lies beneath it. Plasma grunts in their new pirate-styled uniforms bolt into the Castelia Sewers, and Hugh and the player corner two of them in a tag battle. It is down here that Colress first appears, calmly studying how Pokémon can be pushed to their limits. Back above ground, Burgh still runs the Bug-type Gym, now a maze of silk walls and funnels, and after the Hall of Fame Amanita hands out an Eevee with its Hidden Ability.
Pokémon of note: Eevee (gift after the Hall of Fame), Swadloon, Dwebble, Leavanny. Items: TM76 Struggle Bug (Burgh), Insect Badge.
Route 4 and Join Avenue
The dusty desert road between Castelia and Nimbasa has changed almost beyond recognition in two years, and its look now differs between the two versions. A Crustle blocks the way until Colress arrives with a machine that drives it off, then challenges the player with his Steel-type Pokémon. Locals offer a version-specific trade of Petilil for Cottonee or the reverse. At the Nimbasa end, the old gate has become Join Avenue, a near-empty shopping street that the player is asked to fill with shops and visitors.
Pokémon of note: Magnemite, Klink, Crustle, Petilil (Black 2 trade), Cottonee (White 2 trade). Items: Power Anklet (held by the traded Petilil), Power Weight (held by the traded Cottonee).
Driftveil City and the Pokémon World Tournament
Clay’s busy port is the heart of the sequels’ politics. In a house above the Gym, Rood, Anthea and Concordia lead former Plasma members who now try to return stolen Pokémon, while Hugh, still furious, lashes out at a grunt on arrival. South of town, the old Cold Storage has made way for the Pokémon World Tournament, which Clay built to bring development to the city, with a harbour where the Plasma Frigate docks. Rood rewards the player with N’s Zorua after a battle, and after the credits Hugh stays here for daily rematches.
Pokémon of note: Zorua (gift from Rood), Krokorok, Sandslash, Excadrill. Items: TM78 Bulldoze (Clay), Quake Badge, Battle Points (PWT).
Lentimas Town and Reversal Mountain
Lentimas is a remote settlement reached through the air links of Mistralton, and beyond it lies Reversal Mountain, a volcano whose interior looks different in each version. The trek through its tunnels leads on to Undella. The mountain hides Heatran, which appears in its cave once the Magma Stone from the highest cliff of Route 18 is brought there, and Cacturne can swarm on its slopes. Near Lentimas stands the eerie Strange House, where a ghostly puzzle yields the Lunar Wing that summons Cresselia at Marvelous Bridge.
Pokémon of note: Heatran (Lv. 68), Cacturne (mass outbreak), Cresselia (via the Lunar Wing). Items: Magma Stone (Route 18), Lunar Wing (Strange House).
Humilau City
Humilau is a resort town built out over the sea on wooden boardwalks and stilted huts in Unova’s far east, a new destination for the sequels. Its Gym Leader, the sunny and carefree Marlon, makes challengers hop between drifting lily pads before facing his Water-type team for the eighth and final badge. A local offers a Tangrowth in exchange for Mantine. Beyond the city, Route 22 and the Seaside Cave lead the story towards the Plasma Frigate and the Giant Chasm.
Pokémon of note: Tangrowth (trade for Mantine), Carracosta, Wailord, Jellicent, Mantine. Items: TM55 Scald (Marlon), Wave Badge, Sitrus Berry (held by the traded Tangrowth).
Plasma Frigate
Neo Team Plasma’s flagship is styled like a sailing warship, complete with a toned-down skull-and-crossbones on the crew’s caps, and it can fly as well as sail. The heroes first slip aboard in Driftveil’s harbour, where Zinzolin announces the new plan before the Shadow Triad eject them. It later carries the Kyurem-powered freezing assault on Opelucid, then flees to the Giant Chasm, where Colress waits at the helm and Ghetsis in his private quarters. After the credits Colress moors it beside the P2 Laboratory, offering a Master Ball for the first rematch.
Pokémon of note: Klinklang, Magnezone, Metang, Beheeyem, Magneton. Items: Master Ball (first post-game win over Colress).
Opelucid City
Drayden is both mayor and Gym Leader of Opelucid in both sequels, with Iris having moved on to the League, and the city’s appearance again differs between Black 2 and White 2. Challengers ride a great dragon statue around the Gym to reach him. Straight after the Legend Badge is won, the Plasma Frigate arrives overhead and Zinzolin uses Kyurem’s power to bury the city and parts of Routes 9 and 11 in ice. The Shadow Triad steal the DNA Splicers hidden in the Gym, and the city stays frozen until after the Hall of Fame.
Pokémon of note: Druddigon, Flygon, Haxorus, Altaria (Challenge Mode). Items: TM82 Dragon Tail (Drayden), Legend Badge, DNA Splicers (stolen).
Giant Chasm
Said to have been gouged out by a falling meteorite, the Giant Chasm is a ring of cliffs around a misty crater forest where Kyurem makes its home. The sequels’ climax plays out here: Rood’s reformed grunts hold back the neo Plasma, the Frigate is boarded one last time and Ghetsis unleashes a fused Kyurem in the crater. After the credits, Kyurem returns once N’s dragon has been caught, waiting at Lv. 70 and leaving the DNA Splicers behind. A Hidden Grotto can also hold Clefairy, Ditto, Sneasel or Metang.
Pokémon of note: Kyurem (Lv. 70), Clefairy, Ditto, Sneasel, Metang. Items: DNA Splicers.
Clay Tunnel, the Underground Ruins and Twist Mountain
Clay Tunnel is a mine carved into the hills near Twist Mountain, and behind a mysterious door lie the Underground Ruins, an ancient chamber that hides one of Hoenn’s legendary giants at a time. Regirock appears first, once a puzzle involving visits by day and by night reveals a hidden switch. Catching it earns the Iron Key in Black 2 or the Iceberg Key in White 2, opening Registeel or Regice, while the third key must come from the other version. With all three giants, Regigigas can be woken in the depths of Twist Mountain.
Pokémon of note: Regirock (Lv. 65), Registeel (Lv. 65), Regice (Lv. 65), Regigigas (Lv. 68). Items: Iron Key (Black 2), Iceberg Key (White 2), Fossils from the Twist Mountain worker (after Ghetsis).
Nature Preserve
Far beyond Unova’s borders and absent from the Town Map, the Nature Preserve is an untouched forest of grass, cliffs and clear water that only those holding Professor Juniper’s Permit may visit. Skyla flies the player in from Mistralton, and Fly cannot be used to leave. Its star resident is a Shiny Haxorus at Lv. 60, but the wild Pokémon are also unusual, with Fraxure, Altaria and Girafarig in the grass, and Magikarp and Gyarados anywhere between Lv. 1 and Lv. 100 in the water.
Pokémon of note: Haxorus (Shiny, Lv. 60), Fraxure, Altaria, Gyarados, Basculin (Red-Striped in Black 2, Blue-Striped in White 2). Items: Big Nugget, Rare Candy, Max Potion.
Black City and the Black Tower / White Forest and the White Treehollow
In the east of Unova, Black 2 has the dark city of Black City and White 2 the woodland of White Forest, and each now holds a ten-area challenge facility known as Unova’s Challenge. Black City’s Black Tower and White Forest’s White Treehollow test teams without the Bag, with a gate Trainer and a Boss on every level and Doctors offering a single heal. Clearing Area 5 earns the key that unlocks the other version’s city, and Alder’s grandson Benga waits at the very top.
Pokémon of note: Latios (Benga), Garchomp (Benga), Volcarona (Benga). Items: Tower Key (Black 2), Treehollow Key (White 2), Rare Candy, Wings.
Unova, place by place
More of the region as it looks in the sequels, from Aspertia to the Nature Preserve.
Can I catch them all?
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 feature the same Pokémon as the previous versions, with the addition of two new forms for Kyurem: the Black Kyurem form for Pokémon Black 2 and the White Kyurem form for Pokémon White 2. The Unova Pokédex now includes Pokémon from the other regions, which is showcased through the swarm Pokémon, tradable Pokémon and Legendaries available in Unova. Moreover, just like Black and White, the sequels too have Pokémon exclusive to each of them.
Version exclusives
Version exclusives: Black 2 has 28 exclusive species plus Black Kyurem, White 2 has 25 plus White Kyurem. The Route 4 trade swaps Petilil and Cottonee between the versions, and Black City and White Forest each hold their own residents.
Exclusive to Black 2
Weedle#013
Kakuna#014
Beedrill#015
Magmar#126
Spinarak#167
Ariados#168
Sudowoodo#185
Magby#240
Plusle#311
Spoink#325
Grumpig#326
Registeel#379
Latios#381
Buneary#427
Lopunny#428
Stunky#434
Skuntank#435
Bonsly#438
Gible#443
Gabite#444
Garchomp#445
Magmortar#467
Gothita#574
Gothorita#575
Gothitelle#576
Vullaby#629
Mandibuzz#630
Zekrom#644
Black Kyurem#646
Black 2 also has Black City and the Black Tower, the Challenge Key, the Iron Key for Registeel, a futuristic Opelucid City and a rubble-strewn Route 4.
Exclusive to White 2
Caterpie#010
Metapod#011
Butterfree#012
Mr. Mime#122
Electabuzz#125
Ledyba#165
Ledian#166
Elekid#239
Skitty#300
Delcatty#301
Minun#312
Numel#322
Camerupt#323
Regice#378
Latias#380
Glameow#431
Purugly#432
Mime Jr.#439
Electivire#466
Solosis#577
Duosion#578
Reuniclus#579
Rufflet#627
Braviary#628
Reshiram#643- White Kyurem#646
White 2 has White Forest and the White Treehollow, the Easy Key, the Iceberg Key for Regice, a traditional Opelucid City and a half-built Route 4.
Three swarm pairs are version-split too: Ariados or Ledian on Route 22, Sudowoodo or Mr. Mime on Route 20, Plusle or Minun on Route 6 and Volbeat or Illumise on Route 3.
Hidden Grottoes
Twenty grottoes hide behind gaps in the trees and hedges. Each holds a single Pokémon, usually with its Hidden Ability, or an item; an emptied grotto has a small chance of refilling every 256 steps.
- Route 2 – Nidoran (female), Nidoran (male), Granbull, Watchog
- Route 3 – Manectric, Pachirisu, Zebstrika (dark grass); Venonat, Lombre, Bibarel (pond) Two grottoes.
- Route 5 – Liepard, Minccino, Foongus
- Route 6 – Dunsparce, Woobat, Foongus (near the Breeder); Nosepass, Woobat, Foongus (by Mistralton Cave) Two grottoes.
- Route 7 – Zangoose, Seviper, Watchog, Cubchoo
- Route 9 – Muk, Liepard, Garbodor, Bouffalant
- Route 13 – Spheal, Drifloon, Foongus (by the Giant Chasm); Tangela, Skorupi, Foongus (by the stairs) Two grottoes.
- Route 18 – Kingler, Dragonite, Corsola, Chatot Dragonite is a 1% find.
- Route 22 – Pelipper, Amoonguss, Mienfoo
- Route 23 – Golduck, Gligar, Zangoose, Seviper, Absol
- Abundant Shrine – Vulpix, Bronzor, Amoonguss (near the Youngster); Golduck, Swablu, Amoonguss (by the shrine) Two grottoes.
- Giant Chasm – Clefairy, Ditto, Sneasel, Metang
- Lostlorn Forest – Pinsir, Heracross, Combee, Leavanny Pinsir is likelier in Black 2 and Heracross in White 2.
- Pinwheel Forest (outer) – Poliwhirl, Hariyama, Medicham, Bagon Hariyama is common in Black 2 and Medicham in White 2.
- Pinwheel Forest (inner) – Beedrill (Black 2), Butterfree (White 2), Murkrow, Breloom, Amoonguss
- Floccesy Ranch – Marill, Dunsparce, Herdier
Swarm Pokémon and their locations
Outbreaks are announced on the monitors inside the route gates. Every Black 2 and White 2 swarm is at Lv. 40–55 with a 40% encounter rate, and soft-resetting before the day’s first save changes which Pokémon is swarming.
FearowRoute 15
SlowpokeAbundant Shrine
Farfetch’dRoute 1
DoduoRoute 12
HypnoDreamyard- Mr. MimeRoute 20 (White 2)
FurretRoute 7- LedianRoute 22 (White 2)
- AriadosRoute 22 (Black 2)
NatuRoute 5- SudowoodoRoute 20 (Black 2)
HoppipRoute 18
QuagsireRoute 8
PinecoRoute 16
SwellowRoute 13
MasquerainRoute 11- PlusleRoute 6 (Black 2)
- MinunRoute 6 (White 2)
VolbeatRoute 3 (Black 2)
IllumiseRoute 3 (White 2)
SwalotRoute 9
CacturneReversal Mountain
HippowdonDesert Resort
What the sequels add
- The expanded Unova Pokédex – 301 entries (000–300) mixing Unova species with many from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh, available in the wild from the start.
- Black Kyurem and White Kyurem – New fusion forms of Kyurem, made after the credits by using the DNA Splicers on Kyurem and N’s Zekrom or Reshiram.
- The Regi trio and Regigigas – Regirock, Registeel and Regice in the Underground Ruins via the Key System, and Regigigas in Twist Mountain.
- Hoenn and Sinnoh Legendaries – Latios (Black 2) or Latias (White 2), Heatran, Cresselia, and Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf can all be caught after the credits.
- N’s Pokémon – Fourteen of N’s released Pokémon can be caught in the wild with his name and ID after the Memory Link flashback, plus his Zorua from Rood.
- Therian Formes – Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus in Therian Forme arrive through Pokémon Dream Radar, along with Dream Ball Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Ho-Oh and Lugia.
- Zorua and Zoroark without events – Both, and TM Snarl, can now be obtained during normal play.
- Keldeo’s Resolute Form – Keldeo, distributed at events, can take its Resolute Form in these games.
Starter Pokémon
The Unova starters again, with what Hugh takes against you:
- Snivy: Choose Snivy and Hugh takes Tepig. His Emboar is backed by Simipour, Unfezant and Bouffalant, with Flygon and Eelektross joining after the credits.
- Tepig: Choose Tepig and Hugh takes Oshawott. His Samurott is backed by Simisage, Unfezant and Bouffalant, with Flygon and Eelektross joining after the credits.
- Oshawott: Choose Oshawott and Hugh takes Snivy. His Serperior is backed by Simisear, Unfezant and Bouffalant, with Flygon and Eelektross joining after the credits.
Legendary, Mythical and event Pokémon
- KyuremGiant Chasm (post-game)
- Zekrom (Black 2)Dragonspiral Tower
- Reshiram (White 2)Dragonspiral Tower
CobalionRoute 13
TerrakionRoute 22
VirizionRoute 11
RegirockUnderground Ruins- RegisteelUnderground Ruins (Black 2 key)
- RegiceUnderground Ruins (White 2 key)
RegigigasTwist Mountain- Latios (Black 2)Dreamyard
- Latias (White 2)Dreamyard
UxieNacrene City
MespritCelestial Tower
AzelfRoute 23
HeatranReversal Mountain
CresseliaMarvelous Bridge
Tornadus, Thundurus and LandorusDream Radar only
Keldeo, Meloetta and GenesectEvent only
Kyurem – Lv. 70, Giant Chasm. After the Hall of Fame, catch N’s Zekrom or Reshiram at Dragonspiral Tower, then return to the Giant Chasm. Kyurem drops the DNA Splicers.
Zekrom (Black 2) – Lv. 70, Dragonspiral Tower. Defeat N in his castle ruins after the Hall of Fame; he gives the dragon as a stone to revive at the top of Dragonspiral Tower.
Reshiram (White 2) – Lv. 70, Dragonspiral Tower. As for Zekrom, in White 2.
Cobalion – Lv. 45 (65 if defeated and found again after the Elite Four), Route 13. Battle it on Route 13.
Terrakion – Lv. 45 (65 if defeated and found again after the Elite Four), Route 22. Found on a hidden ledge of Route 22.
Virizion – Lv. 45 (65 if defeated and found again after the Elite Four), Route 11. Found at the western end of Route 11.
Regirock – Lv. 65, Underground Ruins (via Clay Tunnel). Solve the ruins puzzle, which needs visits by day and night, to reveal a hidden switch.
Registeel – Lv. 65, Underground Ruins. Use the Iron Key, earned for catching Regirock in Black 2 or sent from a Black 2 game.
Regice – Lv. 65, Underground Ruins. Use the Iceberg Key, earned for catching Regirock in White 2 or sent from a White 2 game.
Regigigas – Lv. 68, Twist Mountain. Bring Regirock, Regice and Registeel to the sleeping Regigigas.
Latios (Black 2) – Lv. 68, Dreamyard. After the Hall of Fame it ambushes the player on entering the Dreamyard; follow and intercept it.
Latias (White 2) – Lv. 68, Dreamyard. As for Latios, in White 2.
Uxie – Lv. 65, Nacrene City, outside the museum. After Professor Juniper’s post-game call to the Cave of Being, stand on the right spot.
Mesprit – Lv. 65, Celestial Tower summit. Unlocked by the same Cave of Being event.
Azelf – Lv. 65, Route 23. Unlocked by the same Cave of Being event.
Heatran – Lv. 68, Reversal Mountain. Take the Magma Stone from the highest cliff of Route 18 to the cave in Reversal Mountain.
Cresselia – Lv. 68, Marvelous Bridge. Solve the Strange House puzzle near Lentimas Town for the Lunar Wing, then take it to Marvelous Bridge.
Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus – Lv. 5–40 depending on badges, Pokémon Dream Radar. Caught as Therian Formes in the 3DS app and transferred; not found in the game itself.
Keldeo, Meloetta and Genesect – Events. Distribution only.
What one cartridge cannot give you
Every Mythical Pokémon is still event-only, and five more Legendaries only arrive through the Dream Radar app or a trade:
Mew#151
Celebi#251
Jirachi#385
Deoxys#386
Manaphy#490
Darkrai#491
Shaymin#492
Arceus#493
Victini#494- Keldeo#647
Meloetta#648
Genesect#649- Tornadus#641
Thundurus#642
Landorus#645
Dialga#483
Palkia#484
Giratina#487
Ho-Oh#250
Lugia#249
That is 20 species, plus the other version’s dragon, Regi, Lati and Kyurem form.
Gift Pokémon and in-game trades
Pokémon you are simply handed:
- Snivy, Tepig or Oshawott – Aspertia City (Bianca). Lv. 5 starter chosen at the start of the game.
- Zorua – Driftveil City (Rood). N’s Zorua, Lv. 25, given after beating Rood; always male with N as Original Trainer.
- Deerling – Route 6 (Weather Institute). Lv. 30 with its Hidden Ability, Serene Grace; its form matches the current season.
- Eevee – Castelia City (Amanita). Lv. 10, male, with its Hidden Ability, Anticipation; given after the Hall of Fame.
- Tirtouga or Archen – Nacrene City Museum. Choose the Cover Fossil or Plume Fossil and have it revived at Lv. 25.
- Omanyte, Kabuto, Aerodactyl, Lileep, Anorith, Cranidos or Shieldon – Twist Mountain worker. One random fossil a day after Ghetsis is defeated, revived at the Nacrene Museum; fossils also come from Join Avenue’s Antique Shop later.
- Happiny – Nacrene City east gate. A Pokémon Breeder hands over an Egg.
- Gible (Shiny, Black 2) – Floccesy Town (Benga). Given after beating Benga at the top of the Black Tower; holds an Exp. Share.
- Dratini (Shiny, White 2) – Floccesy Town (Benga). Given after beating Benga at the top of the White Treehollow; holds an Exp. Share.
Tradable Pokémon: seven in-game trades, one of which differs between versions, plus the daily Nimbasa trade described below.
| You give | You get | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Cottonee | Petilil (‘Petulia’, Lv. 20, Power Anklet) | Route 4 (Black 2) |
| Petilil | Cottonee (‘Fluffee’, Lv. 20, Power Weight) | Route 4 (White 2) |
| Emolga | Gigalith (‘Gigalith’, Lv. 35, Leppa Berry) | Route 7 |
| Mantine | Tangrowth (‘Tangles’, Lv. 45, Sitrus Berry) | Humilau City |
| Ditto | Rotom (‘Bucky’, Lv. 60, Max Elixir) | Route 15 |
| Excadrill | Ambipom (‘Ambidexter’, Lv. 40, Sitrus Berry) | Accumula Town |
| Hippowdon | Alakazam (‘Beardy’, Lv. 40, Lum Berry) | Accumula Town |
There’s an additional trade option available that allows the player to get a variety of Pokémon, depending on their character’s gender and after fulfilling certain conditions. In Nimbasa City a character has dropped their Xtransceiver; the player picks it up and its owner (Yancy if you are playing as Nate, Curtis if you are playing as Rosa) calls, asking them to hold onto it. At the tenth call they arrange to meet in Nimbasa City to retrieve it and exchange numbers; after the 30th call they’ll ask the player to ride the Rondez-View Ferris Wheel with them, and once the player has entered the Hall of Fame they’ll offer to trade a Pokémon after each ride, one a day. Every Pokémon received this way is Lv. 50 with its Hidden Ability. As mentioned earlier, the Pokémon received depends on gender, and they are as follows:
Pokémon received through trade in Nimbasa City, as a male (from Yancy)
Meowth#052
Wobbuffet#202
Ralts#280
Shieldon#410
Rhyhorn#111
Shellos#422
Mawile#303
Spiritomb#442
Snorlax#143
Teddiursa#216
Spinda#327
Togepi#175
Pokémon received through trade in Nimbasa City, as a female (from Curtis)
Mankey#056- Wobbuffet#202
- Ralts#280
Cranidos#408- Rhyhorn#111
- Shellos#422
Sableye#302- Spiritomb#442
- Snorlax#143
Phanpy#231- Spinda#327
- Togepi#175
Compatibility with other titles
Both sequels are compatible with Pokémon Black and White, along with the rest of the games from the same generation that use the GTS (Global Trade Station). They can also be linked to games from the fourth generation, like Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. This allows the transfer of Pokémon from the fourth-generation games to Black 2 and White 2, while the reverse process is impossible. Furthermore, the games could be linked to Pokémon Dream Radar on the 3DS, which allows the transfer of all the rare items and Pokémon found in there.
Black 2 and White 2 can talk to other DS systems in several ways. Local DS Wireless Communications handles trades, battles, Xtransceiver calls and Memory Link, while the infrared port built into the cartridge allows quick close-range trades, battles and checks through the C-Gear. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection supplied the GTS, random-matchup battles, PWT download tournaments and Wi-Fi Memory Link until it closed on 20 May 2014, and the Pokémon Global Link and Dream World shut on 14 January 2014. Memory Link reads an original Black or White save to unlock flashbacks and extras. Poké Transfer accepts Pokémon from Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver using two DS systems, but nothing can be sent back. Pokémon Dream Radar on a 3DS sends its catches to a Black 2 or White 2 card in the same console. Moving forward, Poké Transporter carries Pokémon into Pokémon Bank and on to Pokémon HOME, a route that ends when Pokémon Bank closes on 25 February 2027 (26 February in the UK). Played on a DSi or 3DS, the games also gain small hardware enhancements.
Characters
Two new heroes, a rival with a grudge, old friends in new jobs, a scientist with a flagship and the people waiting for you after the credits.
Nate
The sequels’ heroes are Nate and Rosa, known in Japan as Kyohei and Mei, two new Trainers from Aspertia City in Unova’s south-west. Nate wears a visor over his brown hair, while Rosa’s look is built around two large hair buns and a visor of her own. Whichever is chosen receives a starter from Bianca and sets off with Hugh. Nate leads the 2012 animated trailer, and both have since appeared in spin-offs such as Pokémon Masters EX. The hero even speaks at Pokéstar Studios, which is rare for a core series protagonist.
Rosa
Rosa, Mei in Japan, is the female hero: a visor, two long hair buns and a pink-and-blue outfit drawn by Ken Sugimori. Whichever hero you pick, the other never appears in the story. Rosa is the one who meets Curtis in Nimbasa, Nate the one who meets Yancy, and both have since become sync pair Trainers in Pokémon Masters EX.
Hugh, your rival
Hugh, known in Japan as Hyu, is the player’s hot-headed childhood friend from Aspertia City. Years ago Team Plasma stole the Purrloin his late grandfather caught for his little sister, and his anger at anything wearing a Plasma uniform drives his journey. Grunts sneer that his dark blue hair looks like a Qwilfish. He always picks the starter that beats yours, adding Unfezant, an elemental monkey, Bouffalant, Flygon and Eelektross. The Purrloin, by then a Liepard, is recovered from the Shadow Triad, and he later helps the old Plasma reunite stolen Pokémon with their owners.
Bianca
Bianca, one of the previous games’ childhood friends, now works as Professor Juniper’s assistant and travels to Aspertia City to hand the hero a starter. She remains as warm and scatterbrained as ever, turning up across Unova to help with the Pokédex and to lend a hand along the journey. Linking with a Black or White save through Memory Link unlocks a one-off rematch with her old team.
Cheren
Cheren, the studious childhood friend from Black and White, has become the Normal-type Gym Leader of Aspertia City and also teaches at its Trainers’ School. Fittingly for a first badge, his Patrat and Lillipup teach the basics, and he awards the Basic Badge and TM83 Work Up. He joins Hugh and the player against Team Plasma on board the Frigate, competes in the opening PWT and, through Memory Link, offers a rematch with his old team.
Professor Juniper
Professor Juniper sends her assistant Bianca to Aspertia with the starters. Later she awards the Permit to the Nature Preserve once every Unova Pokédex entry has been seen, apart from Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta and Genesect. After the credits, an event involving her at the Cave of Being sends Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf to new spots around Unova.
N
N, the former king of Team Plasma, has spent two years away from Unova with the dragon who chose him. He reappears at the Giant Chasm to rescue the player, only to have Ghetsis fuse his dragon with Kyurem. Afterwards he gives the player HM05 Waterfall, battles in his ruined castle after the credits, entrusts his dragon to the player and offers Friday rematches from Nimbasa’s Ferris wheel.
Iris, the Champion
Iris, the Dragon-type prodigy who led Opelucid Gym in White, is now Unova’s Champion. Drayden brought her from the Village of Dragons and trained her, and she regards him as a grandfather although they are not related. The Memory Link flashback ‘A New Light’ shows him giving her new clothes after she won the title. She helps the player in Castelia, appears briefly in Opelucid and waits at the League with Hydreigon, Druddigon, Archeops, Aggron, Lapras and Haxorus. Her rematch team rises to Lv. 76–78, swapping Druddigon for Salamence in Challenge Mode. Fittingly for a ‘girl who knows the hearts of dragons’, half of her team is Dragon-type.
Alder
Alder has given up the Champion’s title and settled in Floccesy Town, where the player meets him near the start of the journey and receives the Medal Box after leaving his house. He lives with his grandson Benga and appears with Marshal and Brycen in the Memory Link flashback ‘Hearts’ Desire’. After the credits he battles at home, and he joins the PWT’s Champions cup.
Benga
Benga is Alder’s energetic grandson. He waits at the top of the Black Tower or White Treehollow as the Area 10 Boss with Lv. 80 Pokémon, including Latios, Garchomp and Volcarona in Black 2, and once defeated he gives a Shiny Gible in Black 2 or a Shiny Dratini in White 2 in Floccesy Town.
Cynthia
Sinnoh’s Champion is spending time at her villa in Undella Town again. She can be met there after the credits and is one of the seven Champions in the Pokémon World Tournament’s Champions cup, making her one of the toughest opponents the sequels have to offer.
Rood, Anthea and Concordia
Rood, the Sage who took the other road, lives in the old Team Plasma’s safehouse in Driftveil City with Anthea and Concordia, the two women Ghetsis raised alongside N as his foster sisters. His grunts spend the sequels returning stolen Pokémon to their Trainers and hold the line at the Giant Chasm. Beat him and he hands over N’s Zorua, the first of N’s Pokémon you can own.
Yancy and Curtis
The owner of the Xtransceiver dropped in Nimbasa City turns out to be a television idol under a screen name: Yancy, known on screen as Nancy, if you play as Nate, or Curtis, known as Christoph, if you play as Rosa. From the 30th call they invite you onto the Ferris wheel and, after the Hall of Fame, trade you a Lv. 50 Pokémon with its Hidden Ability each day. On the 50th call you catch them at work, in costume.
Gym Leaders
Since the original version of Black & White, which was set two years prior to Version 2, there have been some changes to the Gym Leaders in the Unova region, with some Gym Leaders either passing on their positions to others in order to progress, and some just outright retiring from the Unova Gym circuit.
The new Unova badge route – the eight Gyms in order, with each Leader’s ace, a team level to aim for and the TM they hand over (Normal Mode levels):
- Basic BadgeCheren · Aspertia CityNormal · ace Lillipup Lv. 13Aim for Lv. 13–15 · TM83 Work Up
- Toxic BadgeRoxie · Virbank CityPoison · ace Whirlipede Lv. 18Aim for Lv. 18–20 · TM09 Venoshock
- Insect BadgeBurgh · Castelia CityBug · ace Leavanny Lv. 24Aim for Lv. 24–26 · TM76 Struggle Bug
- Bolt BadgeElesa · Nimbasa CityElectric · ace Zebstrika Lv. 30Aim for Lv. 30–32 · TM72 Volt Switch
- Quake BadgeClay · Driftveil CityGround · ace Excadrill Lv. 33Aim for Lv. 33–35 · TM78 Bulldoze
- Jet BadgeSkyla · Mistralton CityFlying · ace Swanna Lv. 39Aim for Lv. 39–41 · TM62 Acrobatics
- Legend BadgeDrayden · Opelucid CityDragon · ace Haxorus Lv. 48Aim for Lv. 48–50 · TM82 Dragon Tail
- Wave BadgeMarlon · Humilau CityWater · ace Jellicent Lv. 51Aim for Lv. 51–53 · TM55 Scald
The eight Gym Leaders
Aspertia Gym: Cheren
The first Gym challenge of Unova two years on is Cheren, after Chili, Cress and Cilan have moved on and no longer operate the Striaton Gym. Cheren specialises in Normal-type Pokémon and is known as ‘The one who seeks the right path’. Cheren has always possessed a great knowledge of Pokémon, even as a youngster, demonstrated in the first Black & White games, where Cheren is the childhood friend of the player and also offered them advice and guidance during the course of their first adventure in Unova. Although Cheren is well regarded as a good, honest and knowledgeable character, he has been described as ‘a little difficult’ by Professor Juniper and ‘quite judgemental’ by Alder, the former Unova Champion. His team is made up of Patrat (Level 11), a Normal type, and Lillipup (Level 13), also a Normal type. Defeat Cheren and he will reward you with the Basic Badge as well as TM83 (Work Up).
“You must be a challenger! Welcome to Aspertia City’s Pokémon Gym. I’m Cheren, the Gym Leader! Hm? Well, maybe I’d better say that I just became the Gym Leader! More importantly, we need to prepare before welcoming you to the Gym. […] We have a challenger! You two, take your places! […] If you can defeat these two, then I’ll be your opponent!” – Cheren
Team: Patrat Lv. 11, Lillipup Lv. 13
Challenge Mode: Patrat Lv. 12, Pidove Lv. 12, Lillipup Lv. 14
The old rival now leads the first Gym and teaches at the Trainers’ School. Two of his students must be beaten before he will battle, and Challenge Mode adds a Pidove to his pair of Normal types. Reward: TM83 Work Up.
Virbank Gym: Roxie
Roxie specialises in Poison-type Pokémon and bass guitar; her Gym has a strong musical influence, and it’s as much like a nightclub as it is a Gym. She is known by some as ‘Poison days, poison on the stage!’. In Normal Mode, Roxie’s Pokémon are Koffing (Level 16), a pure Poison type, and Whirlipede (Level 18), a Bug/Poison type. Overwhelm Roxie’s Poison ’mons to obtain the Toxic Badge and TM09 (Venoshock).
“Get ready! I’m gonna knock some sense outta ya!” – Roxie
Team: Koffing Lv. 16, Whirlipede Lv. 18
Challenge Mode: Koffing Lv. 17, Grimer Lv. 17, Whirlipede Lv. 19
A new Leader who fronts a punk band. Her Gym is a live-music stage where her bandmates fight first, and the Gym’s song has different lyrics in the Japanese and international releases. Reward: TM09 Venoshock.
Castelia Gym: Burgh
Two years after the events of the original Black & White, Burgh and his bugs are still representin’ at the Castelia Gym. Think you know what to expect in Burgh’s team? Think again; there have been some changes: Swadloon (Level 22), a Bug/Grass type, and Dwebble (Level 22), a Bug/Rock type, are both new additions, but his Leavanny (Level 24), a Bug/Grass type, is still the cornerstone of his team. Burn out Burgh’s bugs once more to receive the Insect Badge and the same TM he gave away previously (TM76 Struggle Bug).
“Good work back there in the sewers. My Bug-type Pokémon have been scurrying with excitement about getting to battle you. I’d say my Bug-type Pokémon are pretty great! C’mon, let me brag a little! Dwebble’s round little eyes are cute! It’s resilient and reliable! My ace is Leavanny! It’s really the best! I think it’s so sweet how it makes clothes for other Pokémon out of leaves. Of course, I’m really proud of all of my Pokémon! Well now… Let’s get right to it!” – Burgh
Team: Swadloon Lv. 22, Dwebble Lv. 22, Leavanny Lv. 24
Challenge Mode: Dwebble Lv. 24, Shelmet Lv. 24, Karrablast Lv. 24, Leavanny Lv. 26
The artist returns with a refreshed team and a Gym of silk levels linked by cocoons, with his paintings hung on the top floor. He thanks the player for their help against Team Plasma in the Castelia Sewers before the battle. Reward: TM76 Struggle Bug.
Nimbasa Gym: Elesa
Elesa is a specialist in Electric-type Pokémon; she’s also a model, and is known as ‘The Shining Beauty’. Once the player reaches Elesa’s Gym they must first ride through her old Gym, whose roller coasters are still running, and then walk the catwalk of her new Gym next door, taking on the models who step out along the runway, to reach her. Elesa’s team this time round is made up of Emolga (Level 28), an Electric/Flying type, Flaaffy (Level 28), a pure Electric type, and Zebstrika (Level 30), a pure Electric type. Defeat Elesa and she will yield the Bolt Badge and TM72 (Volt Switch).
“Welcome to the main stage! My beloved Pokémon and your Pokémon shall compete! We’re going to see whose star shines brightest!” – Elesa
Team: Emolga Lv. 28, Flaaffy Lv. 28, Zebstrika Lv. 30
Challenge Mode: Emolga Lv. 30, Flaaffy Lv. 30, Joltik Lv. 30, Zebstrika Lv. 32
Elesa has moved her Gym into a new building: a long catwalk where three models battle before she takes the stage. Her old roller-coaster Gym still runs with a few Trainers inside, and it must be crossed first. Reward: TM72 Volt Switch.
Driftveil Gym: Clay
Clay specialises in Ground-type Pokémon; he’s also a big player in the mining business, and is known to some as ‘The Underground Boss’. Clay still has his Krokorok, which is a bit higher level this time round at Level 31. His Palpitoad isn’t in his line-up and is replaced by a Sandslash (Level 31), a pure Ground type. The cornerstone of his team remains his Excadrill (Level 33), a Ground/Steel type. You’ll be rewarded with the Quake Badge and TM78 (Bulldoze) if you can defeat the underground boss, who will then march you off to see the Pokémon World Tournament he has built south of the city.
“Harrumph! Kept me waitin’, didn’t ya, kid? All right, time to see what ya can do!” – Clay
Team: Krokorok Lv. 31, Sandslash Lv. 31, Excadrill Lv. 33
Challenge Mode: Krokorok Lv. 34, Sandslash Lv. 34, Onix Lv. 34, Excadrill Lv. 36
Driftveil’s mining magnate, styled ‘The Underground Boss’. He hands over TM78 straight after the battle, then marches the player to the Pokémon World Tournament he built south of the city. Reward: TM78 Bulldoze.
Mistralton Gym: Skyla
Skyla is fanatical about flight, and more specifically about Flying-type Pokémon; she owns her own airport, and it’s said that her grandfather was a legendary pilot. In the time between Black & White and their sequel titles, Skyla was the friend and fellow Gym Leader that Elesa confided in about changing her image. Skyla still has her Swoobat and Swanna, but they’ve done a bit of levelling up since you last encountered them: her Swoobat has gone from Level 33 to 37 and her Swanna from 35 to 39. Skyla has dropped Unfezant from her starting three and replaced it with Skarmory (Level 37), a Steel/Flying type. Clip Skyla’s wings and defeat her formidable team to be awarded the Jet Badge and TM62 (Acrobatics).
“Hee-hee! I’ve been waiting for you. You’re a tough Trainer who can face the wind and not get blown off your feet! I’m kinda excited about this battle! Why don’t you and I have some fun?” – Skyla
Team: Swoobat Lv. 37, Skarmory Lv. 37, Swanna Lv. 39
Challenge Mode: Swoobat Lv. 40, Skarmory Lv. 40, Sigilyph Lv. 40, Swanna Lv. 42
The cargo pilot swaps Unfezant for Skarmory, and her hangar Gym blows challengers around on gusts of wind. After the credits she flies the player to the Nature Preserve. Reward: TM62 Acrobatics.
Opelucid Gym: Drayden
This time round, which version of the game you are playing makes no difference to who you’ll face in the Opelucid Gym: it’ll be Drayden either way. Iris has moved on, but I’m sure we’ll see her later on in the story… Drayden’s Haxorus still makes up the cornerstone of his team, but it’s levelled up a bit since you last met it, now being Level 48, up from its previous Level 43. His Fraxure has been dropped from his starting line-up in favour of a Flygon (Level 46), a Ground/Dragon type, and Druddigon (Level 46). Defeat Drayden to obtain the pretty cool-sounding Legend Badge and TM82 (Dragon Tail).
“Welcome. Thank you for coming. I am the Opelucid Pokémon Gym Leader, Drayden. As the mayor, I’ve given everything to developing the city. As a Trainer, I’ve simply been pursuing greater strength. But what I’m searching for now is a young Trainer who can show me a bright future. Perhaps you can show me that future, the way Iris has?” – Drayden
Team: Druddigon Lv. 46, Flygon Lv. 46, Haxorus Lv. 48
Challenge Mode: Druddigon Lv. 50, Flygon Lv. 50, Altaria Lv. 50, Haxorus Lv. 52
Opelucid’s mayor is the Leader in both versions now that Iris is Champion. His Gym is crossed on the back of a giant dragon statue, and the DNA Splicers are stolen from it immediately after his battle. Reward: TM82 Dragon Tail.
Humilau Gym: Marlon
Marlon is the eighth and final Gym Leader you will face; he is a very strong Water-type Trainer, is well known for his kind nature and gives passionate advice to the player. He is relaxed and carefree in his mannerisms, to the point where, by the time you reach him, he still doesn’t even know who Team Plasma are, or even if they’re good or bad. Guess he had more important things going on, like swimming in the sea? Fishing for more ’mons? Some people know Marlon as ‘A Bigger Splash Than the Sea!’. Marlon’s team consists of Carracosta (Level 49), a Water/Rock type, Wailord (Level 49), a pure Water type, and Jellicent (Level 51), a Water/Ghost type. If you can defeat Marlon he’ll award you the eighth and final Badge you need to get into the Pokémon League, the Wave Badge. He’ll also give you TM55 (Scald).
“Sup! Here already, huh? You look strong! Shoots! Let’s start!” – Marlon
Team: Carracosta Lv. 49, Wailord Lv. 49, Jellicent Lv. 51
Challenge Mode: Wailord Lv. 53, Carracosta Lv. 53, Mantine Lv. 53, Jellicent Lv. 55
The laid-back eighth Leader is new to the sequels. Challengers ride lily pads that drift in the direction they are entered before facing his Water-type trio. Reward: TM55 Scald.
The Elite Four & the Champion
Just like the previous titles, the Elite Four of Unova can be faced in any order; the people you will face and their specialisms are unchanged from the original Black & White games. You’ve got tougher since you first took them on two years prior, but so have they, expecting a greater resistance than you did the first time you took them on. Also, Alder has moved on and there’s now a new Champion, and it’s someone you might just recognise from the previous games.
Shauntal, Grimsley, Caitlin and Marshal, then Champion Iris
Shauntal, Elite Four
Two years have passed since you first faced Shauntal; she remains part of the Elite Four and her team is stronger than ever. Her Cofagrigus is now Level 56 (from 48), her Jellicent has been dropped from the team in favour of a Drifblim (Level 56), a Ghost/Flying type, her Golurk has levelled up from 48 to 56 and her Chandelure has risen from Level 50 to 58.
“‘There is one man who wanders the world with a black dragon Pokémon to pursue ideals…’ That’s part of a novel I’m writing. I want to write down the event that happened on that day… Sorry, it has nothing to do with you… You’re a challenger, right? I’m the Elite Four’s Ghost-type Pokémon user, Shauntal, and I shall be your opponent.” – Shauntal
Team: Cofagrigus Lv. 56, Drifblim Lv. 56, Golurk Lv. 56, Chandelure Lv. 58
Challenge Mode: Cofagrigus Lv. 60, Drifblim Lv. 60, Golurk Lv. 60, Banette Lv. 60, Chandelure Lv. 62
Rematch: Cofagrigus Lv. 72, Mismagius Lv. 72, Froslass Lv. 72, Drifblim Lv. 72, Golurk Lv. 72, Chandelure Lv. 74
The novelist swaps Jellicent for Drifblim, and her rematch team brings in Mismagius and Froslass from Sinnoh.
Grimsley, Elite Four
Grimsley maintains his position as a member of the Unova Elite Four. He too has been training hard since the player last met him in battle two years prior. Grimsley still has the same team as last time. His Liepard has levelled up from Level 48 to 56; he’s also still got his Scrafty, and it’s up from Level 48 to 56, while his Krookodile has risen from Level 48 to 56. Bisharp remains the cornerstone of his team and has levelled up from Level 50 to 58.
“What will be determined here is which of us can absorb the opponent’s light and shine… But who will decide that? It shall be I, Grimsley of the Elite Four, and I will fulfill my duty to be your opponent.” – Grimsley
Team: Liepard Lv. 56, Scrafty Lv. 56, Krookodile Lv. 56, Bisharp Lv. 58
Challenge Mode: Liepard Lv. 60, Scrafty Lv. 60, Krookodile Lv. 60, Absol Lv. 60, Bisharp Lv. 62
Rematch: Liepard Lv. 72, Honchkrow Lv. 72, Scrafty Lv. 72, Houndoom Lv. 72, Krookodile Lv. 72, Bisharp Lv. 74
The gambler keeps his original four and adds Honchkrow and Houndoom for the rematch.
Caitlin, Elite Four
The master of Psychic-type Pokémon and former head of the Battle Castle remains in Unova’s Elite Four. Two years of representing the Elite Four have strengthened her team even further since you last met her. Caitlin’s Reuniclus has levelled up from 48 to 56, her Musharna is up from 48 to 56, her Sigilyph is up from 48 to 56 and the cornerstone of her team remains Gothitelle, which is up from Level 50 to 58.
“It’s me who appeared when the flower opened up. You, standing over there… You look like a Pokémon Trainer with strength and kindness. What I look for in my opponent is superb strength… I’m counting on you!” – Caitlin
Team: Musharna Lv. 56, Reuniclus Lv. 56, Sigilyph Lv. 56, Gothitelle Lv. 58
Challenge Mode: Musharna Lv. 60, Sigilyph Lv. 60, Reuniclus Lv. 60, Gothitelle Lv. 60, Metagross Lv. 62
Rematch: Musharna Lv. 72, Sigilyph Lv. 72, Gothitelle Lv. 72, Gallade Lv. 72, Reuniclus Lv. 72, Metagross Lv. 74
Once the lady of Sinnoh’s Battle Castle, she keeps her Unova team and adds Gallade and Metagross for the rematch.
Marshal, Elite Four
Marshal is still the most imposing member of the Unova Elite Four, and his team of Fighting types is meaner than ever. Throh is up from 48 to 56, Sawk is up from Level 48 to 56 and Mienshao is up from Level 50 to 56, but it has been outgrown by his Conkeldurr, which went from Level 48 to 58.
“You look familiar… Ah, yes. I met you at Twist Mountain. The strength you are radiating is far greater now than before! Greetings, challenger. My name is Marshal. I am the No. 1 pupil of my mentor, Alder. In order to master the art of fighting, I’ve kept training. You’re also walking a similar path with your Pokémon. It is my intention to test you—to take you to the limits of your strength. Kiai!” – Marshal
Team: Throh Lv. 56, Sawk Lv. 56, Mienshao Lv. 56, Conkeldurr Lv. 58
Challenge Mode: Throh Lv. 60, Sawk Lv. 60, Mienshao Lv. 60, Lucario Lv. 60, Conkeldurr Lv. 62
Rematch: Throh Lv. 72, Sawk Lv. 72, Lucario Lv. 72, Mienshao Lv. 72, Medicham Lv. 72, Conkeldurr Lv. 74
Alder’s top pupil adds Lucario and Medicham for the rematch. The four members can be challenged in any order, and none of them leads the others.
Iris, Champion
Two years on, Alder has moved on and a new Champion has risen. Remember Iris, the leader of the Opelucid Gym in Pokémon White? She’s the champ now. They call Iris ‘The Girl Who Knows the Hearts of Dragons’, so this should be a clue as to the composition of her team. Of her stacked-out team of six, half are Dragons. Here’s what she’s got: Hydreigon (Level 57), a Dark/Dragon type, Druddigon (Level 57), a pure Dragon type, Archeops (Level 57), a Rock/Flying type, Aggron (Level 57), a Steel/Rock type, Lapras (Level 57), a Water/Ice type, and finally her Haxorus (Level 59), a pure Dragon type.
“Know what? I really look forward to having serious battles with strong Trainers! I mean, come on! The Trainers who make it here are Trainers who desire victory with every fiber of their being! And they are battling alongside Pokémon that have been through countless difficult battles! If I battle with people like that, not only will I get stronger, my Pokémon will, too! And we’ll get to know each other even better! OK! Brace yourself! I’m Iris, the Pokémon League Champion, and I’m going to defeat you!” – Iris
Team: Hydreigon Lv. 57, Druddigon Lv. 57, Archeops Lv. 57, Aggron Lv. 57, Lapras Lv. 57, Haxorus Lv. 59
Challenge Mode: Hydreigon Lv. 61, Druddigon Lv. 61, Archeops Lv. 61, Aggron Lv. 61, Lapras Lv. 61, Haxorus Lv. 63
Rematch: Hydreigon Lv. 76, Druddigon Lv. 76, Archeops Lv. 76, Aggron Lv. 76, Lapras Lv. 76, Haxorus Lv. 78 (Challenge Mode: Salamence replaces Druddigon, Lv. 81–83)
Easy Mode drops the first battle to Lv. 53–55 and Challenge Mode raises it to Lv. 61–63. Haxorus holds a Focus Sash and Druddigon a Life Orb.
Glitches, exploits and oddities
Generation V’s second pair is as stable as its first, so the oddities are mostly menu quirks, one localisation fix and a growing list of online features that no longer work.
Habitat List Victini freeze
The new Habitat List can be pushed into a page it was never meant to show. Pick a Pokémon from a route where fishing can turn up a species from outside the Unova Pokédex, then step through Area, the route, the fishing icon and that non-native Pokémon before backing out twice. The game lands on Victini’s area page. If Victini has never been seen on that save, opening its entry from here freezes the game outright, so anyone experimenting should save first.
Twist Mountain missing from the Habitat List
Twist Mountain only registers on the Habitat List when the player walks in from Route 7. Arriving instead from Icirrus City or through the Clay Tunnel leaves the cave off the list, even though its Pokémon can be met normally. The entry appears only once the player reaches the section of the cave containing the Route 7 exit, which can confuse anyone working through the list area by area and wondering why the mountain never appears. Simply walking to the Route 7 side of the cave fixes it.
Mail hides Ability descriptions
Reading a piece of Mail that a Pokémon is holding has an odd side effect on the summary screens. Afterwards, the Ability description vanishes from the summary of every party Pokémon, leaving the Ability name with blank space beneath it. Nothing is lost: switching to any other summary page and back restores the text. It is harmless and has no effect on the Ability itself, but it can look alarming the first time a player checks a team member’s Ability after opening some Mail.
Early ‘White and Black’ flashback
Once N and Ghetsis have been beaten in a linked Black or White game, Memory Link offers the ‘White and Black’ flashback, set in the reformed Plasma’s house in Driftveil. The in-game Memory List claims that the player must first have entered the Pokémon World Tournament, but the scene can in fact be watched straight after the first visit to Rood’s house, before the PWT has even been seen. It is a harmless sequencing slip in the requirement text rather than a fault in the scene itself.
Box change sprite glitch
A storage system quirk carried over from Black and White. If a Pokémon is picked up and the Box is changed with the Switch Box option, returning to the original Box leaves the held Pokémon’s menu icon invisible. Tapping the empty-looking space can show a red silhouette of whichever Pokémon used to sit there, and moving it into the party can carry the odd sprite with it. Closing the PC, opening its summary or the Bag, or searching restores the proper icon.
Game Freak logo freeze
Another oddity shared with Black and White affects the opening logos. Normally the Game Freak logo can be skipped with a button press, but continuously mashing A and B together during it freezes the screen instead. The game does not crash for good: the picture simply stays frozen for as long as the buttons keep being mashed, and the intro continues normally once the player lets go. A single press, or simply waiting a moment, skips the logo exactly as intended.
Japanese Zoroark softlock
In the original Japanese release, a scene in which the player must follow a Zoroark could leave the game stuck. If the player walked out of the cave the Zoroark had entered instead of following it, the event could not continue, trapping the save. The problem was corrected for the international releases, so English and European copies are not affected, but Japanese players had to follow the Zoroark exactly as intended, or risk losing all progress made on that save file.
What no longer works
Several features have been lost to service closures. The Pokémon Global Link and Dream World ended on 14 January 2014, which also made five Medals impossible to earn and leaves a new save with a maximum of 247 of the 255 Medals. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection closed on 20 May 2014, taking the GTS, online battles, Wi-Fi Memory Link and PWT download tournaments with it. Pokémon Dream Radar vanished from sale when the 3DS eShop closed on 27 March 2023, and Pokémon Bank, the route to Pokémon HOME, is scheduled to shut on 25 February 2027 (26 February in the UK).
Videos & media
Check out these videos of the second versions of Pokémon Black & White.
Virbank Gym: Roxie’s battle intro theme, Japanese version vs. international version.
The Smash ‘87 TV commercial for B&W V2.
The special anime trailer for B&W V2, designed to give the aspiring Trainer an intro to the universe B&W V2 are set in.
The intro video for Pokémon Black Version 2.
Trivia & facts
Pokémon Black & White Version 2 were unique among their core series counterparts in the following ways:
- They are the only direct sequels. Gold & Silver were at one point in their development advertised as ‘Pocket Monsters 2’, but they became a new generation rather than version-specific sequels.
- The player starts out in a city, instead of a town, for the first time in the series (and the only time, to date).
- They are the first paired core series games whose mascots are forms of the same Pokémon rather than two different species, the only difference between the two being Kyurem’s form.
- The Pokémon Day Care is not accessible until the player enters the Hall of Fame.
- For a first in the series, the game mascots cannot be caught without trading prior to the player entering the Hall of Fame. They also can’t be caught during the first encounter with them.
- Black and White Version 2 are the last Pokémon core series titles to actually use the word “Version” in the titles.
Pocket Monsters Black 2: the last ‘Version’ in the series. - If the player’s selected gender is male, go to Nimbasa City and visit the Rondez-View Ferris Wheel during autumn; there you will find an NPC called Nursery Aide Enatsu (or June, in English). In the Japanese versions June is a man who disguised himself as a woman to try and get a job as a Nursery Aide. This must be some form of real-life reference to something?
- Koga is not present in either version of the game, yet all the other current and former Gym Leaders are (Iris, now the Champion, sits out the Leaders’ tournaments too).
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Cheren: rival one generation, Gym Leader the next. For the first time we see a rival (Cheren) progress to Gym Leader status within the same generation, whereas previously Blue took a full generation to achieve that same status.
- Many of the moves with more powerful base power (100+) have had their animations changed.
- For the first time in the series, the player is forced to save the game at a certain point in the story before they can enter the Hall of Fame: the player must save the game at Pokéstar Studios once they’ve produced their first movie.
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The Guitarist, Billy Jo’s Trainer class. There is a Trainer in the games called “Guitarist Billy Jo”; the character looks like a female version of Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day, and the name suggests that’s who it’s based on.
- Black & White Version 2 were the last core series games designed for the DS AND its alternative models, the DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL – and the last first-party games for the DS family at all.
- The intro for Pokémon Black 2 has a black silhouette of Black Kyurem on a dark, misty screen, whereas Pokémon White 2 has White Kyurem’s silhouette on a bright, yet still misty screen. The only other minor difference is that just before the appearance of Zekrom in the intro there is a blue light in the upper-left corner in Black V2, whereas in the White version it’s a red light at the bottom right. It’s the little things, right?
- Junichi Masuda and Tsunekazu Ishihara stated that Black and White’s second versions were created as paired games instead of the usual ‘third’ game that comes after a pair because they and their development team wanted to use a game mechanic that required two games – the Key System.
- Like in many core series titles, a rain of diamond dust can be witnessed in-game; this time if you go to Icirrus City on New Year’s Eve (December 31st). Once you witness the diamond dust celebratory rain you can go and claim a Medal the next time you see Mr. Medal.
- Route 10 is no longer in the game, but if you go to Icirrus City in winter, head inside the ex-Rocket Grunt’s house and speak with the NPC who claims to be the sound designer, the music will then change to the old Route 10 theme.
Route 10, closed for the sequels. - In Humilau City there’s a lady stood on the pier who says “This dress is comfy and easy to wear”; this is reminiscent of the original core series Pokémon games, where Youngster Ben says a similar “Hi! I like shorts! They’re comfy and easy to wear.”
Further trivia
- The localisation gap was the shortest of any staggered core release: about 106 days for North America, 110 for Australia, 111 for Europe and 138 for South Korea. From X and Y onwards the series launched worldwide at once.
- Their online play lasted only 1 year, 10 months and 27 days before Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection closed, the shortest of any core series game.
- They were the first games where more than one Master Ball could be earned without relying on lottery luck or multiplayer, one coming from Colress’s first post-game rematch.
- In the PWT, Gym Leaders’ Pokémon have 20 in every IV and Champions’ 25, but Red’s Pokémon get 30.
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The PWT, now on the Cold Storage site. The PWT stands on the site of Black and White’s Cold Storage, so Pokémon caught in the Cold Storage show ‘PWT’ as their origin when traded into the sequels.
- Pokéstar Studios’ film credits name directors after Hollywood figures such as Sidney Lumet, John Carpenter and David Lynch, and a theatre janitor borrows Roger Ebert’s ‘two thumbs up’.
Pokéstar Studios’ films, with their Hollywood-inspired credits. - Colress’s English name comes from ‘colourless’, echoing his Japanese name Achroma, while the Japanese Memory Link scene ‘Farewell, Beloved Star’ became ‘Farewell, Beloved Sister’ in English.
- Hugh is the only rival in the series shown striking someone, when he lashes out at a Plasma grunt on entering Driftveil City.
Legacy
What came after
- Pokémon X & Y – 12 October 2013. The next generation moved to the 3DS a year later, launching worldwide on one day for the first time.
- Pokémon Dream Radar delisted – 27 March 2023. The companion 3DS app left sale when the Nintendo 3DS eShop closed.
- Pokémon Bank closes – 26 February 2027 (7pm Pacific on 25 February). The Pokémon Company has announced the end of Pokémon Bank, which closes the Poké Transporter route from these games to Pokémon HOME.
- Still waiting – no re-release yet. Black 2 and White 2 have never been re-released, remade or added to a subscription or download service; they exist only as Nintendo DS cartridges.
Where to play Black 2 & White 2 today
The only official way to play is an original cartridge on a Nintendo DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL or any 3DS or 2DS model, and the games have never appeared on Switch. Local wireless trading, battling and Memory Link still work between two systems, but the Wi-Fi features ended in 2014. Dream Radar can only be redownloaded by existing owners, and moving Pokémon to HOME through Poké Transporter and Pokémon Bank remains possible only until February 2027.
How the sequels were made
Black 2 and White 2 were unveiled on 26 February 2012 on the Japanese TV show Pokémon Smash! and on the official websites, with Junichi Masuda naming the new Kyurem forms. Takao Unno directed and Masuda produced. Unno wanted returning players to see Unova from a new perspective, while Masuda hoped that starting in an unfamiliar city would make the world feel new. Tsunekazu Ishihara and Masuda explained that the team made a pair of sequels rather than a single third version because the Key System needed two games, and a ‘Grey’ title was ruled out as clashing with the black-and-white theme of opposites. The games launched in Japan on 23 June 2012, close to the film Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice, and sold over 1.6 million copies in two days. The international releases followed in October after the shortest localisation gap in core series history. They became the last core games for the DS family, arriving well after the 3DS launch.
Black 2 & White 2 in other media
The English and Japanese title screens:
Sales & reviews
Sales figures
Pokémon Black & White Version 2 sold a total of 8.52 million copies. It was the first time we’d seen Pokémon games get direct sequels, so it was interesting to see how that would affect sales, and in short B&W Version 2 sold more combined copies than the ‘third’ games of the later generations, like Platinum, Emerald and Crystal (only Yellow, at around 14.6 million, did better). They sold fewer copies than popular remakes such as HeartGold and SoulSilver, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and so on.
I believe the reason for this is firstly that a) Black & White sold fewer copies than all the other gens’ main series paired titles, which didn’t help, and b) they are SEQUELS, so we’ve just eliminated 90% of the world that didn’t already play Black & White, as I don’t know about you, but I don’t know many people who would buy a sequel to something they hadn’t played the first version of. So all in all, converting over 50% of the fans who bought Black & White to buy Black & White 2 is far from bad going.
Japan took to the sequels fastest: 1,561,738 copies in the first week (816,576 of Black 2 and 745,162 of White 2), more than 1.6 million in the first two days by Nintendo’s own count, and 3,076,701 by the end of the games’ 80th week on sale. Worldwide the pair had reached 7.81 million by the end of March 2013, and the lifetime total of 8.52 million comes from CESA’s 2020 industry white paper, roughly 54% of Black & White’s 15.64 million.
- 8.52mworldwide, lifetime
- 1.56mJapan in the first week
- 3.08mJapan after 80 weeks
- 54%of Black & White’s sales
Review scores
Black and White’s second renditions garnered interesting responses from critics and users alike in terms of their reception in comparison to the original B&W titles, with IGN actually praising them and rating them higher than the originals, but the review aggregation sites showing the second versions with lower average scores than their predecessors.
- Audrey Drake reviewed the game for IGN and scored it 9.6 out of 10, IGN’s best for a Pokémon title since Gold & Silver: “Look no further – the perfect realization of Pokémon on the DS has arrived.”
- GameSpot’s Ashton Raze, however, was a lot more critical, scoring the game only 6.5 out of 10, a low for the series in recent years, and commenting: “Despite being plenty of fun and sporting a few new tweaks, Pokemon Black 2 fails to outshine its predecessors.” This is a sharp contrast to IGN, who have generally been ‘there or thereabouts’ at similar scorings to GS on most previous Pokémon titles.
- The aggregate score on Metacritic stands at 80/100 for both versions. Whilst that’s still a good score on the scale of things, this is down from the 87/100 enjoyed by the original Black and White games.
- GameRankings, before it closed in 2019, held B&W V2 at an aggregated 81.31% across 36 reviews: again a decent score, but lower than the 85.77% held by the original B&W.
- The Japanese publication Famitsu magazine gave Black V2 and White V2 a strong 36/40, four short of the perfect 40 the originals received.
Critics were broadly positive, with both versions settling at 80 on Metacritic, a little below the originals. IGN was the most enthusiastic, awarding 9.6 and hailing the sequels as the finest Pokémon experience on the DS, and Nintendo Life went as far as calling them the best entries yet, fresh and easy to pick up. Game Informer felt the new features slotted neatly into the formula but missed a sense of invention, and GamesRadar enjoyed the extended story and new areas while wishing the games leaned less on Black and White. GameSpot was the harshest at 6.5, finding the battling still fun and the side activities enjoyable but the plot thin, some redesigns weaker and the early difficulty too gentle. In Japan, Famitsu gave 36 out of 40, below the perfect score the originals received.
Awards and honours:
Media & artwork
- Official artwork gallery from Pokémon Black & White Version 2 – a gallery featuring all the Pokémon in BW2
- Official artwork gallery from Pokémon Black & White Version 2 – a gallery featuring characters and miscellaneous artwork
- Box art from Pokémon Black Version 2, including numerous regional variations and editions
- Box art from Pokémon White Version 2, including numerous regional variations and editions
- Screenshots from Pokémon Black 2 & White 2
Further reading
Other Pokémon Black & White Version 2 articles, plus the games either side of the sequels: