Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Head to Big Stadium and you'll encounter your rival taking on Team Plasma, defeat the grunts quick and you'll be told they're searching for something to power a weapon they're developing.
We're told about Team Plasma stealing his Sister's Purrloin, and that being his motivation for stopping them.
Now that Route 5 is open, you can have a Rotation Battle tutorial, which Lucario does by himself.
Next up back to Route 16 which we can explore more of now we can use Strength for a trainer and the Payback TM and then head into Lostlorn Forest. Inside there's a few Trainers and the Snarl TM. Heracross is a solid Pokémon you can catch in Black 2, but I have enough Physical Pokémon in my team, and want a different bug type. Lilligant is available in Rustling Grass for W2 members as well, if you want that as a Quiver Dance set up Pokémon.
Next up head across Dirftveil Drawbridge and into Driftveil. You'll see an Ex Team Plasma member and a current one arguing, with the ex-member willing to help you. Driftveil is a bit more built up now, with some hotels to check up for some items.
There's a Red Shard tutor in one of them too, worth remembering for later. At the moment (despite it not immediately having use) I decide to go with ThunderPunch over Ice Punch. Excadrill can comfortably deal with Clay in Driftveil, but the Gym Leader afterwards I need a better option for the Ace.
Ice Punch will be obtained later to pair with Swords Dance for a physical Bolt/Beam that pairs nicely with the Slide/Quake physical combo for hitting as many Pokémon super effectively and neutral as possible.
You'll also find Sage Rood, now demoted to just Trainer Rood. That ThunderPunch addition, and swapping Copycat for Work Up pays off instantly.
After battling him you can pick up a Zorua, and he reveals that he has been working to restore the stolen Pokémon as his part to atone. The Zorua was previously one of N's Pokémon, and you'll find more as you progress through the game.
Afterwards I head to Route 6, which looks largely similar and battle the trainers there. I catch one of the Foongus, although I don't use it for long, I was mainly hoping to use it here for Effect Spore to Paralyse/Sleep one of Clay's Pokémon for set up (but the set up ultimately wasn't neeeded). I think I also had idea for getting it Spore, but level 50 was a bit of an ask for that.
Back in Driftveil I head to the Market and pick up the Expert Belt and get the triple battle tutorial.
Next up is Driftveil Gym Excadrill deals handily with the whole Gym, especially because they like to use Dig, and Earthquake counters that.
Clay uses Bulldoze instead though, which means you'll want another option.
His move sets get an upgrade again on Challenge mode. Krokorok gets Sandstorm over Rock Tomb, in an attempt to boost Onix's special defence and activate Sand Force on his Excadrill. Sandslash gets Hone Claws and Rock Slide over Fury Cutter and Rollout. Onix is his additional Pokémon and it has Sturdy, so those Rocks proved useful.
I mainly wanted to avoid getting a Bulldoze speed reduction on my Excadrill, so play around it on his Sandslash. Without the speed reduction, Excadrill can outspeed and one shit his by using Earthquake - whereas if I was slower I risk being oneshot by his Bulldoze.
For winning you receive the Quake Badge and Bulldoze TM.
Clay also informs you of the next place to find Team Plasma.
I end the part back at the Pokémon Centre, by topping up on some Dusk Balls and other items.
0:00 - Nimbasa City
4:20 - Route 5
9:05 - Route 16
18:15 - Driftveil Drawbridge
36:25 - Route 6
49:10 - Driftveil Gym
57:30 - Driftveil Gym Leader Clay (Quake Badge)
Head to Big Stadium and you'll encounter your rival taking on Team Plasma, defeat the grunts quick and you'll be told they're searching for something to power a weapon they're developing.
We're told about Team Plasma stealing his Sister's Purrloin, and that being his motivation for stopping them.
Now that Route 5 is open, you can have a Rotation Battle tutorial, which Lucario does by himself.
Next up back to Route 16 which we can explore more of now we can use Strength for a trainer and the Payback TM and then head into Lostlorn Forest. Inside there's a few Trainers and the Snarl TM. Heracross is a solid Pokémon you can catch in Black 2, but I have enough Physical Pokémon in my team, and want a different bug type. Lilligant is available in Rustling Grass for W2 members as well, if you want that as a Quiver Dance set up Pokémon.
Next up head across Dirftveil Drawbridge and into Driftveil. You'll see an Ex Team Plasma member and a current one arguing, with the ex-member willing to help you. Driftveil is a bit more built up now, with some hotels to check up for some items.
There's a Red Shard tutor in one of them too, worth remembering for later. At the moment (despite it not immediately having use) I decide to go with ThunderPunch over Ice Punch. Excadrill can comfortably deal with Clay in Driftveil, but the Gym Leader afterwards I need a better option for the Ace.
Ice Punch will be obtained later to pair with Swords Dance for a physical Bolt/Beam that pairs nicely with the Slide/Quake physical combo for hitting as many Pokémon super effectively and neutral as possible.
You'll also find Sage Rood, now demoted to just Trainer Rood. That ThunderPunch addition, and swapping Copycat for Work Up pays off instantly.
After battling him you can pick up a Zorua, and he reveals that he has been working to restore the stolen Pokémon as his part to atone. The Zorua was previously one of N's Pokémon, and you'll find more as you progress through the game.
Afterwards I head to Route 6, which looks largely similar and battle the trainers there. I catch one of the Foongus, although I don't use it for long, I was mainly hoping to use it here for Effect Spore to Paralyse/Sleep one of Clay's Pokémon for set up (but the set up ultimately wasn't neeeded). I think I also had idea for getting it Spore, but level 50 was a bit of an ask for that.
Back in Driftveil I head to the Market and pick up the Expert Belt and get the triple battle tutorial.
Next up is Driftveil Gym Excadrill deals handily with the whole Gym, especially because they like to use Dig, and Earthquake counters that.
Clay uses Bulldoze instead though, which means you'll want another option.
His move sets get an upgrade again on Challenge mode. Krokorok gets Sandstorm over Rock Tomb, in an attempt to boost Onix's special defence and activate Sand Force on his Excadrill. Sandslash gets Hone Claws and Rock Slide over Fury Cutter and Rollout. Onix is his additional Pokémon and it has Sturdy, so those Rocks proved useful.
I mainly wanted to avoid getting a Bulldoze speed reduction on my Excadrill, so play around it on his Sandslash. Without the speed reduction, Excadrill can outspeed and one shit his by using Earthquake - whereas if I was slower I risk being oneshot by his Bulldoze.
For winning you receive the Quake Badge and Bulldoze TM.
Clay also informs you of the next place to find Team Plasma.
I end the part back at the Pokémon Centre, by topping up on some Dusk Balls and other items.
0:00 - Nimbasa City
4:20 - Route 5
9:05 - Route 16
18:15 - Driftveil Drawbridge
36:25 - Route 6
49:10 - Driftveil Gym
57:30 - Driftveil Gym Leader Clay (Quake Badge)
