Pokemon Black & White 2 [DS]

[Your Vest Friend]

Wasn't Brycen seen at the Pokewood thing before? That would explain why he's not a gym leader anymore.

[Johnny Boy]

I'm gonna miss Brycen . Well hopefully he'll still have an appearance in the game along with the Striaton leaders and Lenora.

[Your Vest Friend]

Found it;

He's still definitely there, he's just...got a new wardrobe and isn't a gym leader.

[Scar]

Speaking of Ferrothorn. If you breed leech seed onto and also stick a rocky helmet on it. Dear God, that thing is a freakin' nightmare. First time I played, I seriously destroyed Ghetsis' total team by cheesing it with it. His Hydreigon's flamethrower didn't even make a dent.

Hydreigon doesn't get STAB. Anything which does have stab will create a significant dent. Chandelure, Heatran, Volcarona would all eat Ferrothorn for breakfast.

Anyway, Black and White is really weird. The pokemon are either mediocre or amazing when it comes to base stats. However, some of the pokemon with fantastic base stats are ruined by their terrible movepools. I don't know a damn thing about pokemon creation or stat-balancing, but after so many generations, I guess its becoming more difficult.

[Rusty Spy]

Anyway, Black and White is really weird. The pokemon are either mediocre or amazing when it comes to base stats. However, some of the pokemon with fantastic base stats are ruined by their terrible movepools. I don't know a damn thing about pokemon creation or stat-balancing, but after so many generations, I guess its becoming more difficult.

I know, though I think Enigmatus said it best; Gen 5 is the Specialists.

That makes it hard to build a team in that game since they don't have a lot of variation in their movepools.

Edited June 16, 2012 by Rusty Spy

[Johnny Boy]

I know, though I think Enigmatus said it best; Gen 5 is the Specialists.

That makes it hard to build a team in that game since they don't have a lot of variation in their movepools.

Guess this is why they added a lot of old school pokemon to the Unova pokedex.

[Semi-colon e]

It kind of harkens back to Generation I where many things lacked movepools, though that was mostly because of the lack of moves and most of these critters now have a decent amount of shit they can learn.

Also still no Dark gym leader fffuuuu

[Scar]

I know, though I think Enigmatus said it best; Gen 5 is the Specialists.

That makes it hard to build a team in that game since they don't have a lot of variation in their movepools.

To be honest, my favorite pokemon are from Gen III, because of their movepool.

Blaziken, Sceptile, Swampert, Salamence, Gardevoir, Slaking, Milotic, Metagross, Latias and Latios. Then there are the Ubers; Groudon was extremely hench. Kyogre was ludicrous. Then there was Rayquaza (my favorite legendary), which has a collossal movepool as well as totally ridiculously massive attack stats and decent speed.

Edited June 16, 2012 by Scar

[Johnny Boy]

It kind of harkens back to Generation I where many things lacked movepools, though that was mostly because of the lack of moves and most of these critters now have a decent amount of shit they can learn.

Also still no Dark gym leader fffuuuu

Well there's always hope for Generation 6 right?

[buba]

It kind of harkens back to Generation I where many things lacked movepools, though that was mostly because of the lack of moves and most of these critters now have a decent amount of shit they can learn.

Also still no Dark gym leader fffuuuu

Dark-types are better for the Pokémon League.

[Octarine]

It's cool that they were able to do something interesting with Brycen's weird backstory about being an actor. He was my least favourite of the Unova gym leaders in the original, but there's something about dressing up like a seventies Spider-Man villain that's immediately endearing.

...but wait. Is it just Drayden who's returning, or is it him and Iris again?

Edited June 16, 2012 by Octarine

[Salamander]

...but wait. Is it just Drayden who's returning, or is it him and Iris again?

While only Drayden is on the front of that guide, that's probably to keep the image balanced. I think most people would recognise it as odd if only one of the two parallel gym leaders got the boot - or got promoted to the Elite Four, as has also been suggested, since we don't know who they are. But I think she's just out of the image for balance purposes, and I'm holding onto my theory that Iris and Drayden got swapped over for B2W2.

[Tori Himemiya]

As for Mighty Glaciers, Ferrothorn, Jellicent, and Mandibuzz are a staller's best friends, and with the advent of Eviolite, many Pokemon are coming out of depths to make a comeback to make use of the Defense boosts, the prime cases being Chansey and Munchlax.

Don't forget Evolite Dusclops. That thing was OU for a reason. Too bad even with the best defenses for a ghost its HP stat sucks.

Found it;

He's still definitely there, he's just...got a new wardrobe and isn't a gym leader.

He looks like a fucking serial killer in that shot. I'd say its an improvement.

[-Robin-]

Don't forget Evolite Dusclops. That thing was OU for a reason. Too bad even with the best defenses for a ghost its HP stat sucks.

True. But I took it's HP stat into account, and the fact he doesn't have an offensive presence doesn't help either. Chansey has a commanding HP stat to stack with the boosted defenses, while Dusclops barely breaks 280 HP maximum. Munchlax has higher Attack than Dusclops, boosted resistances thanks to Thick Fat, and can run a Resttalk set with its base 135 HP, while Dusclops has to get lucky with a RestTalk set and Ghost typing; considering Munchlax is a baby Pokemon, its boost is a lot more profound.

But the idea of Eviolite bringing Pokemon from the abyss is incredible. Could you imagine what would happen if Jynx finally got an evolution in Gen VI? With Eviolite, she'd have a Special Defense that surpasses Mantine's and Kyogre's. She'd outright beat Kyogre if she has Dry Skin as well. No Special sweeper would get past her.

Edited June 16, 2012 by Joshua

[buba]

Pretty weak new form...

Keldeo's Form leaked Concept Art!

Took me 2 minutes...

Edited June 17, 2012 by Tmsp

[Octarine]

Pretty weak new form...

Ehh. It's pretty similar, but the lack of the giant caterpillar eyebrows is enough of an improvement that I can dig it. It's not strictly necessary, but it's not bad.

It's kind of a pity that the only Pokémon getting new forms are Gen V ones, though. With all of the classic monsters in BW2's Unova Dex, it might have been cute to give an alternate form to Mewtwo or Jirachi or something (actually, Mewtwo's status as a mutant abomination makes alternate forms fairly consistent with the lore in that case, too). I love it when the generations intermingle like that.

Edited June 17, 2012 by Octarine

[Salamander]

If we keep on getting pre-/evolutions from previous generations, they may well latch onto forme changes at some point as well. They're all just different ways of refining Pokemon and making them relevant again. Maybe in Generation VI.

As for Resolution Form Keldeo, I'd have liked it if they'd bulked up its body a bit as well, but I think it's legit.

[Blue Blood]

If we keep on getting pre-/evolutions from previous generations, they may well latch onto forme changes at some point as well. They're all just different ways of refining Pokemon and making them relevant again. Maybe in Generation VI.

As for Resolution Form Keldeo, I'd have liked it if they'd bulked up its body a bit as well, but I think it's legit.

... something there was intentionally none of in Gen 5. I don't particularly like legendary forme changes that exist for no reason. Giratina, Deoxys and Kyrem work, but Keldo, Meloetta, Shaymin don't. It's different when it comes to standard Pokémon and alternate forme ones being far more uncommon and interesting.

New Keldeo is laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame.

Edited June 17, 2012 by Blue Blood

[Salamander]

... something there was intentionally none of in Gen 5.

I know, but the "pattern" is more or less that odd-numbered generations are more original, while even-numbered ones build more on existing Pokemon. And while we should be dubious of any such patterns, it's pretty clear that this one makes sense, because there's always going to be a need for both influxes of new material and revisions of old. So I was sort of looking towards Generation VI here, because those are the kinds of new Pokemon I find more compelling.

I don't particularly like legendary forme changes that exist for no reason. Giratina, Deoxys and Kyrem work, but Keldo, Meloetta, Shaymin don't. It's different when it comes to standard Pokémon and alternate forme ones being far more uncommon and interesting.

I have to be honest, though, I'm not convinced by attempts to assign "reason" or "no reason" to various forme/form changes (apparently Keldeo's are technically forms rather than formes, although I don't recall if the English-language versions care about that distinction). It seems to me that the reasons which can be cited to justify your "working" forme changes are no more substantial or spurious than those for your non-working ones. Why exactly did Giratina need a new forme again? If it's in Deoxys's nature to be mutable, why shouldn't Meloetta be able to both sing and dance? Of the ones you cite, I'm only really convinced by Kyurem's formes. But by the same token, all I really object to are form changes that are clumsily contextualised (take Meloetta to a café, that's a great reason for a forme change). I suspect we actually agree on that - it's the degree to which form changes seem to actually matter.

[Marcello]

I like Keldeo's new form.

[Sonictrainer]

A preview of the first several areas.

Pokemon

-Route 19 has Patrat and Purrloin within it

-Route 20 has Sewaddle, Pidove, Dunsparce, Audino, Purrloin, Patrat, Venipede, & Sunkern

-Sangi Ranch features Lillipup, Riolu, Pidove, Azurill, Dunsparce, Audino, Mareep, Patrat, & Psyduck

-Tachiwaki Complex features Pidove, Magby/Elekid, Growlithe, Audino, Magnemite & Koffing. Pidove is only found outside in it, while Growlithe and Koffing are inside

-The Unova Pokédex page has been updated with various new Pokémon

-The map is shown for the first time and shows that you can search for Pokémon with the Pokédex

-The area you change form with Keldeo in is called "Oath Woods"

Gym Leaders

-Cheren's team is Patrat (Lv. 11) & Lillipup (Lv. 13). Defeating him will give you the Basic Badge and TM83 (Work Up)

-Homika's team is Koffing (Lv. 16) and Whirlipede (Lv. 18). Defeating her will give you the Toxic Badge and gives you the TM09 (Venoshock).

According to this picture, the order of the Gym Leaders will be as follows:

1st: Cheren

2nd: Homika

3rd: Burgh

4th: Elesa

5th: Clay

6th: Skyla

7th: Drayden

Final: Shizul

Scan of the first Town, Aspertia City

-There is a map that shows Areas in the south west of Unova: Aspertia City, Route 19, Sangi Ranch, Route 20, Tachiwaki City, Pokewood, Sangi Town, and Tachiwaki Complex

-It has a Pokemon Gym run by Cheren, which is a Trainer school.

-You can now watch different channels on the TVs in the game.

Story Checklist

1. Meet your mom

2. Meet Rival at his house

3. Go with rival to meet Bianca and get your Starter and a Pokedex. Afterwards you battle your Rival

4. Meet with Bianca at the Pokemon Center and then meet with your rival, your rival's sister, and your mom and get the running shoes and town map

5. Head on to Route 19.

Route 19 & Sangi Town

-Route 19 has Patrat and Purrloin within it

-The person who wrote the Dengeki article encountered a shiny Patrat when he played the game, as seen in the scan. Will this be the case for everyone who plays the game, or was he just extremely lucky?

-North of Sangi Town is where the Keldeo event occurs.

Story Checklist

1. Bianca teaches you how to catch a Pokemon

2. you meet Alder

3. After route 19, you go to Sangi Town and get a call from your mom. Apparently your mom and Alder know each other.

4. Head on Route 20

Scan with Route 20 & Sangi Ranch

-Route 20 has Sewaddle, Pidove, Dunsparce, Audino, Purrloin, Patrat, Venipede, & Sunkern

-Sangi Ranch features Lillipup, Riolu, Pidove, Azurill, Dunsparce, Audino, Mareep, Patrat, & Psyduck

-After defeating your Rival, a Trainer will ask the both of you to find their Herdier. When you bring it back, you will get TM21(Frustration)

Story Checklist

1. From route 20 you head north to Sangi Ranch

2. You fight your Rival at Sangi Ranch.

3. Return to Sangi Town and Alder will have you fight 2 trainers at his house. Also, a man in the Sangi Town Pokemon Center will give you the Medal Box for the Medals System and 6 Hints for Medals. As stated before, the Medals System awards you medals for accomplishing various goals (basically, they're achievements/trophies).

4. Return to Aspertia City and fight Cheren

5. Bianca gives you TM27(Return) and the C-Gear after you beat Cheren, which allows you to trade

6. Return to Route 20 and you will get a Pokedex Upgrade

7. Head on to Tachiwaki City

Scan with Tachiwaki City

-Homika's Gym is here and you can challenge her immediately

-The north exit of Tachiwaki City leads to Pokewood. The south part is called the Tachiwaki Combine.

-Once per day, you can get a Super Ball (Great Ball?) as an item in the grass.

-Wild Pokemon found in the Tachiwaki Combine include Pidove, Elekid (exclusive to Black 2), Growlithe, Audino, Magby (exclusive to White 2), Patrat, Magnemite, and Koffing.

-You get to view Homika's father's movies when you reach Pokéwood.

-In the Tachiwaki Complex, if you beat all three trainers within it, you will receive TM94 (Rock Smash)

-There's a boat that will take riders from Tachiwaki City to Castellia City.

Story Checklist

1. Fight Gym Leader Homika

2. Go to Pokewood and meet Homika's Father. Afterwards you can view his Pokewood movies

3. Return to Tachiwaki City and fight a Plasma Grunt at the Boathouse. Afterwards, Homika will give you HM01 from Homika

4. Return to Route 20 and fight Fight Team Plasma

5. Return to Tachiwaki City and get on a boat to Castellia City

Scan with Elesa, Black City, and White Forest

-Elesa has a Lv.28 Flaffy

-you can access Black City/White Forest earlier in the game

Scan with Team Plasma

-Team Plasma is separated into two factions now - "Team Plasma" and "Former Team Plasma." The original one sides with N while the new one wants your typical evil plans of conquering the world: "We'll liberate Pokemon and conquer the world!"

-Akuroma has some connection to Team Plasma, though it doesn't say what

-Your rival and Team Plasma are related in some way. He is also mad at Team Plasma because they stole a Purrloin that was intended as a present.

Edited June 20, 2012 by Son1ctrainer

[Octarine]

I'm glad that so many of the classic monsters will be available early. Not that we didn't kind of know that already, but it hasn't stopped making me happy. Most of them are ones I'd be willing to keep through the whole story, too. Magnemite~

Giving the first gym leader nothing but unevolved common-as-dirt normal-types seems a bit silly, though. I mean, there are Dunsparces around now; at least give him one of those! If it's too mean to rock-type the newbies into submission, we should at least teach them a lesson about serene grace.

[Kuzu]

Damn, they couldn't even give Cheren a normal type from another region? That hurts.

[-Robin-]

Dunsparce is my favorite Gen II Pokemon after Qwilfish. Brb training a team of six of the little buggers.

[Octarine]

My fondest memory of Silver back in the day is finding a Dunsparce in Dark Cave super-early in the game and holding on to it for most of a playthrough, utterly convinced that it'd evolve into some kind of badass dragon snake if I only gave it long enough, because surely a monster that weird and weak could only be the first form of something amazing. I'm still thankful that Dark Cave didn't have any Delibirds in it.

I never got my dragon snake, but Dunsparce grew on me a lot. It's not my favourite from Gen II or anything, but it's pretty cute, and it deserves the kind of attention it would get from Cheren using one. I can just picture the heaps of adorable fanart the poor thing could never get without a celebrity endorsement.

Edited June 20, 2012 by Octarine