Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Move List and Effects

Learn the effects of every move in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. Understand attack properties and status conditions to strategize your battles.

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Move List and Effects

Welcome, aspiring Pokémon Trainers, to the definitive guide on mastering the vast array of moves available in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2! Understanding your Pokémon's move pool and the strategic implications of each attack and status effect is paramount to victory, whether you're challenging Gym Leaders, conquering the Pokémon League, or battling friends in the Union Room.

This section will break down key moves you'll encounter and want to teach your Pokémon, focusing on their practical applications, where to obtain them (if applicable as TMs/HMs), and how to best utilize them in battle. We'll cover offensive powerhouses, crucial status-inducing moves, and vital support techniques.

Understanding Move Categories

Before diving into specific moves, it's essential to grasp the three main categories:

  • Physical Moves: These attacks use the Pokémon's Attack stat and the opponent's Defense stat to calculate damage. Examples include Tackle, Brick Break, and Earthquake.
  • Special Moves: These attacks use the Pokémon's Special Attack stat and the opponent's Special Defense stat to calculate damage. Examples include Ember, Thunderbolt, and Psychic.
  • Status Moves: These moves do not deal direct damage but instead inflict status conditions, raise/lower stats, or have other strategic effects. Examples include Sleep Powder, Swords Dance, and Recover.

Key Offensive Moves and Acquisition

Building a strong offensive presence is crucial. Here are some highly recommended moves and how to get them:

  • Flamethrower (TM35): A powerful Special Fire-type move with a 10% chance to burn the target.
    • Location: Castelia City, from a man in the building to the left of the Pokémon Center after defeating Burgh.
    • Strategy: Excellent for Special Attackers like Chandelure, Arcanine, or Darmanitan. The burn chance can be a game-changer against physically oriented opponents.
  • Thunderbolt (TM24): A strong Special Electric-type move with a 10% chance to paralyze the target.
    • Location: Victory Road, near the exit to the Pokémon League.
    • Strategy: A staple for Electric-type Special Attackers such as Zebstrika or Galvantula, and even some Water-types like Starmie. Paralysis can cripple fast threats.
  • Ice Beam (TM13): A potent Special Ice-type move with a 10% chance to freeze the target.
    • Location: Giant Chasm, in the cave accessible after the main story.
    • Strategy: Invaluable coverage for many Special Attackers, especially against Dragon, Flying, and Ground types. Freeze is the most debilitating status condition.
  • Earthquake (TM26): A devastating Physical Ground-type move that hits all adjacent Pokémon in Double Battles.
    • Location: Relic Castle, found on the second floor after navigating the sand traps.
    • Strategy: A must-have for Physical Attackers like Excadrill, Krookodile, or Garchomp. Be mindful of its effect in Double Battles – it hits allies too unless they are Flying-type or have Levitate.
  • Surf (HM03): A reliable Special Water-type move that is also an essential field move.
    • Location: Route 18, given by a woman in a house.
    • Strategy: Excellent for Water-type Special Attackers like Samurott or Jellicent. Its high power and accuracy make it a consistent damage dealer.

Crucial Status and Support Moves

Sometimes, the best offense is a good defense, or a well-placed status effect. These moves can turn the tide of battle:

  • Toxic (TM06): Inflicts badly poisoned status, which deals increasing damage each turn.
    • Location: Route 17, found on a small island accessible via Surf.
    • Strategy: Perfect for stall teams or breaking down bulky Pokémon. Combine with Protect or Substitute for maximum effectiveness.
  • Will-O-Wisp (TM61): Inflicts burn, halving the target's Attack stat and dealing residual damage.
    • Location: Celestial Tower, on the 4th floor.
    • Strategy: Essential for crippling Physical Attackers. Ghost and Fire-type Pokémon often learn this naturally or via TM.
  • Swords Dance (TM75): Sharply raises the user's Attack stat by two stages.
    • Location: Mistralton City, purchased from a vendor in the market for 10,000 Pokedollars.
    • Strategy: A fantastic setup move for Physical Attackers. One use can often lead to a sweep if your Pokémon can survive a hit.
  • Nasty Plot (TM85): Sharply raises the user's Special Attack stat by two stages.
    • Location: Lentimas Town, given by a woman in a house.
    • Strategy: The Special Attack equivalent of Swords Dance, ideal for Special Sweepers like Zoroark or Hydreigon.
  • Recover: Restores half of the user's maximum HP.
    • Strategy: A vital move for many defensive Pokémon (e.g., Jellicent, Reuniclus) to increase their longevity in battle. Often learned naturally by certain Pokémon.

Hidden Machines (HMs) and Their Battle Utility

While HMs are primarily for navigating the world, many also have decent battle applications:

  • Cut (HM01): A weak Physical Grass-type move.
    • Location: Striaton City, given by a woman in a house.
    • Battle Utility: Generally not recommended for battle due to low power, but can provide some early-game coverage.
  • Fly (HM02): A strong Physical Flying-type move that makes the user semi-invulnerable on the first turn.
    • Location: Lentimas Town, given by a woman in a house.
    • Battle Utility: Good for Flying-type Physical Attackers. The two-turn nature can be risky against faster opponents or those with priority moves.
  • Strength (HM04): A reliable Physical Normal-type move.
    • Location: Nimbasa City, given by a man in a house near the Ferris wheel.
    • Battle Utility: A solid option for early to mid-game Normal-type STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) or neutral coverage.
  • Waterfall (HM05): A powerful Physical Water-type move with a 20% chance to make the target flinch.
    • Location: Route 18, given by a man in a house.
    • Battle Utility: The preferred Physical Water-type move for Pokémon like Samurott or Basculin due to its power and flinch chance.
  • Dive (HM06): A Physical Water-type move that makes the user semi-invulnerable on the first turn.
    • Location: Undella Town, given by a girl in a house.
    • Battle Utility: Similar to Fly, but for Water-types. Less commonly used than Surf or Waterfall due to the two-turn mechanic.
  • Flash (HM05 - Gen 1-4, not an HM in B2W2): No longer an HM in Black 2/White 2, but still a useful status move (TM70).
    • Location: Castelia City, purchased from a vendor in the market for 10,000 Pokedollars.
    • Battle Utility: Lowers the opponent's accuracy by one stage. Can be useful in niche situations to reduce incoming damage.

By carefully considering your Pokémon's stats, typing, and your overall team strategy, you can assemble a formidable move set that will overcome any challenge Unova throws your way!