Pokemon Black Team Builder (White, Black 2 & White 2)

How the Pokemon Black team builder works

Pokémon Black and White rebooted the series in Unova: until the post-game, every wild Pokémon is new to Generation 5. Two years later, Black 2 and White 2 returned to the same region with a new story, new towns and a much larger Pokédex. This Pokemon Black team builder covers all four games. The Game switch at the top swaps between the Black & White data and the Black 2 & White 2 data, keeping any team members that exist in both.

In Black and White, the Unova Pokédex holds 154 Pokémon, the White Forest filter adds 100 that only appear in White's White Forest, and the National Pokédex adds 220 post-game Pokémon. In Black 2 and White 2, the New Unova Pokédex holds 297 Pokémon, with older favourites such as Riolu, Mareep and Gible in the main story, and the National Pokédex adds 195 more.

Tap a sprite to add it and tap it again to remove it. The version filter hides what your version cannot catch, the type filter narrows the grid, and Randomize team picks six from whatever the filters show, which suits a randomized challenge run. The weakness panel counts how many members are weak to or resist each attacking type, and Show per-Pokémon matchups opens the full grid. Copy share link stores the game and the team in one link.

Sample teams in the Pokemon Black team builder

The first three sample teams use Black and White Pokémon around each Unova starter; the last one switches the Pokemon Black team builder to Black 2 and White 2. Load one, then change members until the weakness panel looks right.

Black vs White and Black 2 vs White 2 exclusives

These are the Pokémon each version cannot catch on its own, from the same data the Pokemon Black team builder uses. Black and White first:

• Missing from Black: Petilil, Lilligant, Solosis, Duosion, Reuniclus, Rufflet, Braviary, Thundurus (Incarnate Forme), Zekrom, Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Nidoran♀, Nidorina, Nidoqueen, Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking, Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume, Abra, Kadabra, Alakazam, Machop, Machoke, Machamp, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, Victreebel, Magnemite, Magneton, Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Chansey, Electabuzz, Magmar, Porygon, Togepi, Togetic, Mareep, Flaaffy, Ampharos, Bellossom, Marill, Azumarill, Hoppip, Skiploom, Jumpluff, Wooper, Quagsire, Porygon2, Elekid, Magby, Blissey, Wurmple, Silcoon, Beautifly, Cascoon, Dustox, Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo, Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry, Ralts, Kirlia, Gardevoir, Surskit, Masquerain, Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking, Whismur, Loudred, Exploud, Azurill, Aron, Lairon, Aggron, Roselia, Trapinch, Vibrava, Flygon, Corphish, Crawdaunt, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Shinx, Luxio, Luxray, Budew, Roserade, Happiny, Magnezone, Rhyperior, Electivire, Magmortar, Togekiss, Porygon-Z, Gallade, Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree, Paras, Parasect, Misdreavus, Poochyena, Mightyena, Minun, Mismagius.
• Missing from White: Cottonee, Whimsicott, Gothita, Gothorita, Gothitelle, Vullaby, Mandibuzz, Tornadus (Incarnate Forme), Reshiram, Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Murkrow, Houndour, Houndoom, Shroomish, Breloom, Plusle, Honchkrow.

White's list is long because White Forest, its post-game area, hosts a rotating selection of Pokémon from earlier regions, while Black has Black City instead. Black 2 and White 2 swap the same two areas and have their own exclusives:

• Missing from Black 2: Elekid, Electabuzz, Electivire, Skitty, Delcatty, Rufflet, Braviary, Solosis, Duosion, Reuniclus, Numel, Camerupt, Reshiram, Kyurem (White Kyurem), Regice, Latias, Glameow, Purugly.
• Missing from White 2: Magby, Magmar, Magmortar, Buneary, Lopunny, Vullaby, Mandibuzz, Gothita, Gothorita, Gothitelle, Spoink, Grumpig, Zekrom, Kyurem (Black Kyurem), Registeel, Latios, Stunky, Skuntank, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp.

Our version exclusives tool turns these lists into a trade list.

Gym Leaders in Pokemon Black and White

The first Gym depends on your starter: Cilan (Grass) if you chose Oshawott, Chili (Fire) for Snivy and Cress (Water) for Tepig. Lenora is the first real wall, and her Watchog can use Retaliate, so a Fighting-type pays off. Elesa's Emolga are Electric/Flying, which means Ground moves miss them. Clay's Excadrill is Ground/Steel and falls fast to Water, Fighting or Ground. The last Gym is Drayden in Black and Iris in White, both with the same Dragon team and a level 43 Haxorus that needs an Ice or Dragon move. Check every row in the Pokemon Black team builder before you head there.

Elite Four, N and Ghetsis

The Elite Four can be challenged in any order, and each member brings four Pokémon. Shauntal's Ghost-types fall to Dark and Ghost, Grimsley's Dark-types to Fighting and Bug, Caitlin's Psychic-types to Bug, Ghost and Dark, and Marshal's Fighting-types to Flying and Psychic. Then the story takes over: N uses the legendary dragon from the other version, Zekrom in Black and Reshiram in White, and Ghetsis follows straight after with Hydreigon. Alder, the Champion, waits in the post-game with a level 77 Volcarona.

Gym Leaders in Pokemon Black 2 and White 2

The sequels open with Cheren and Roxie before Burgh, Elesa and Clay return with stronger teams. Elesa now leads with Emolga and Flaaffy, Drayden's Flygon is immune to both Electric and Ground attacks, and Marlon's Jellicent is Water/Ghost, so Electric and Grass do most of the work. The Elite Four return at level 56 to 58, and the new Champion, Iris, closes with Haxorus at level 59.

Gen 5 rules the Pokemon Black team builder accounts for

• No Fairy type. Gen 5 still uses the old chart: Steel resists Ghost and Dark, Dragon is only resisted by Steel and Gardevoir is a pure Psychic-type.
• Physical and special split by move. Darmanitan and Haxorus are physical attackers, Chandelure and Reuniclus are special, so mix both kinds against bulky walls.
• Reusable TMs and six HMs. TMs no longer break, and the HMs are Cut, Fly, Surf, Strength, Waterfall and Dive.
• Experience scales with level. Beating higher-level Pokémon gives more experience, so a six-member team stays even more easily than in older games.

Tips for building a Pokemon Black or White team

• Cover Dragon early. Drayden or Iris, N and Ghetsis all bring Dragon-types, and Ice moves are the cleanest answer.
• Fighting-types are everywhere in Unova, so Timburr, Throh, Sawk and Mienfoo make easy fifth or sixth picks.
• Check single matchups with the type calculator, or compare Unova with the Kalos-era games in the full team builder.

Pokemon Black team builder FAQ