Black & White box art
Generation V · Unova

Black & White

Gen VNintendo DSStaggered regional launch

Unova, with a strong story about truth and ideals.

At a glance

Developer
Game Freak
Publisher
Nintendo / The Pokémon Company
Platform
Nintendo DS
First released
18 Sep 2010 (Japan)
Genre
Role-playing game
Generation
Gen V · Unova

Release dates

Black & White first released in Japan on 18 Sep 2010, rolling out across all regions over 173 days.

🇯🇵
Japan
18 Sep 2010
First
🇪🇺
Europe
4 Mar 2011
+167 days
🇺🇸
North America
6 Mar 2011
+169 days
🇦🇺
Australia
10 Mar 2011
+173 days

Key innovation

Mostly all-new Pokémon pre-League, animated sprites, and seasons.

Critical reception

87

Black & White holds a Metascore of 87/100 on Metacritic, indicating generally favourable reviews for its original Nintendo DS release. See the reviews on Metacritic →

About Generation V

A bold creative reset with an entirely new Pokédex before the post-game. Generation V pushed the DS hardware to its limits with animated sprites, seasonal changes, and the series' most ambitious storyline.

Gym Leaders & Elite Four

The 10 key trainers you battle in Black & White, with their teams, levels. Sprites via Pokémon Showdown.

Cheren
Cheren
Aspertia Gym Leader · Unova
Simipour
SimipourLv. 65
Gigalith
GigalithLv. 65
Haxorus
HaxorusLv. 65
Emboar
EmboarLv. 67
Samurott
SamurottLv. 67
Serperior
SerperiorLv. 67
Burgh
Burgh
Castelia Gym Leader · Unova
Whirlipede
WhirlipedeLv. 21
Dwebble
DwebbleLv. 21
Leavanny
LeavannyLv. 23
Elesa
Elesa
Nimbasa Gym Leader · Unova
Emolga
EmolgaLv. 25
Zebstrika
ZebstrikaLv. 27
Clay
Clay
Driftveil Gym Leader · Unova
Krokorok
KrokorokLv. 29
Palpitoad
PalpitoadLv. 29
Excadrill
ExcadrillLv. 31
Skyla
Skyla
Mistralton Gym Leader · Unova
Swoobat
SwoobatLv. 33
Unfezant
UnfezantLv. 33
Swanna
SwannaLv. 35
Drayden
Drayden
Opelucid Gym Leader · Unova
Fraxure
FraxureLv. 41
Druddigon
DruddigonLv. 41
Haxorus
HaxorusLv. 43
Shauntal
Shauntal
Elite Four Elite Four · Unova
Cofagrigus
CofagrigusLv. 71
Jellicent
JellicentLv. 71
Golurk
GolurkLv. 71
Froslass
FroslassLv. 71
Drifblim
DrifblimLv. 71
Chandelure
ChandelureLv. 73
Grimsley
Grimsley
Elite Four Elite Four · Unova
Scrafty
ScraftyLv. 71
Krookodile
KrookodileLv. 71
Liepard
LiepardLv. 71
Sharpedo
SharpedoLv. 71
Drapion
DrapionLv. 71
Bisharp
BisharpLv. 73
Caitlin
Caitlin
Elite Four Elite Four · Unova
Reuniclus
ReuniclusLv. 71
Musharna
MusharnaLv. 71
Sigilyph
SigilyphLv. 71
Gothitelle
GothitelleLv. 71
Bronzong
BronzongLv. 71
Metagross
MetagrossLv. 73
Marshal
Marshal
Elite Four · Unova
Throh
ThrohLv. 71
Sawk
SawkLv. 71
Mienshao
MienshaoLv. 71
Breloom
BreloomLv. 71
Toxicroak
ToxicroakLv. 71
Conkeldurr
ConkeldurrLv. 73
View the full Black & White gym & Elite Four guide →
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