Opelucid City Gym

Master Opelucid City Gym in Pokémon Black and White! Learn strategies, trainer battles, and how to defeat Gym Leader Drayden/Iris to earn the Dragon Tail TM.

Dragon type Pokémon are almost always the final type you’ll need to deal with, incredibly powerful creatures they are not weak to many attacks and can deal damage by the truck load.

If you need to train, Route 10 to the north, or the grass outside Shopping Mall Nine on Route 9 are your best bets. If you need an effective Pokémon, consider training a Cubchoo from Twist Mountain until it evolves into Beartic. Giving an Ice type a Lucky Egg from the Battle House can also boost its experience gain.

Speak to the guide to receive a Fresh Water. The gym's puzzle involves activating switches to change dragon paths. Head forward to find your first fight.

Trainer Battles

Trainer Battle 1: Fraxure (Level 41, Dragon)

Head right across the thin walkway then right when it splits. Jump onto a square switch to change the dragon's path. Hop off your walkways and hit the button. Run up along the head of the dragon and follow the walkway round.

Trainer Battle 2: Deino (Level 41, Dark/Dragon)

Hop off and hit the button here then run up the dragon’s neck again, follow this walkway around.

Trainer Battle 3: Fraxure (Level 40, Dragon), Fraxure (Level 40, Dragon)

Hop off and hit the button here then run up the dragon’s neck again, follow this walkway around.

Trainer Battle 4: Fraxure (Level 41, Dragon)

Continue along the walkway, hop off onto the button, and follow the junction down this time.

Trainer Battle 5: Druddigon (Level 42, Dragon)

Run left and follow the route north, taking a right in order to hop off and on to a button. Now run up the dragon’s neck and follow the route round, you’ll need to take a narrow walkway downward.

Trainer Battle 6: Deino (Level 39, Dark/Dragon), Druddigon (Level 39, Dragon), Fraxure (Level 39, Dragon)

This section requires you to do a loop and jump on one switch twice. Follow the path down, eventually hitting yet another switch. Head north, back to where you were before, and hit the switch again. Now follow the dragon’s head south and upward.

Trainer Battle 7: Deino (Level 40, Dark/Dragon), Druddigon (Level 40, Dragon)

Run right and hit the button, now follow the dragonhead upward and right, take the linear path.

Trainer Battle 8: Fraxure (Level 40, Dragon), Fraxure (Level 41, Dragon)

Run up until you hop over an arrow then hang a left and jump off onto a switch opening the path to the Gym Leader.

Gym Leader Drayden/Iris

The leader is dependent on your version of Black/White. They use Dragon types.

• Pokémon: Fraxure (Level 41, Dragon), Druddigon (Level 41, Dragon), Haxorus (Level 43, Dragon)

The main problem point in this fight is the move Dragon Tail, which forces unwanted switches. If this happens, focus on damaging attacks. Haxorus is fast and has a high attack stat; ensure your Pokémon is at least its level.

Upon victory, receive your badge and TM82 Dragon Tail. Take the teleporter behind the leader to exit.

Outside, the professor will point you towards the Pokémon League and give you a Master Ball, a Poké Ball that will capture any creature at any time. Keep it safe for an important capture.