The BEST (And Worst) Encounters For Your Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 Nuzlocke!

FlygonHG: The BEST (And Worst) Encounter For Your Pokemon Black 2 and White 2.
Nature modifier code marker: Time to fix this

imo you're underestimating zangoose a bit. It has a great attack stat and excellent coverage between return, x-scissor and especially close combat. I have used it consistently in both of my black 2 nuzlockes, i even got a random shiny one lmao.

It's not about whether you play with trade but rather if you can trade. Not everyone can, like those of us who can only play via emulators.

X and Y now?

Just a heads up, you can technically grind for razor fangs at the PWT so you can still get gliscor and use the fling strat!

Would love to see a hgss tierlist

Some comments:

1. Imo Samurott > Emboar, for the same reasons you stated. Water types are rare in the Unova earlygame (and the only guaranteed pre-Clay water is Ducklett which doesn't evolve within Clay's leval cap unless on Challenge Mode).

2. Watchog is a pretty good catch enabler though with Hypnosis + Super Fang.

3. Fun Fact: Most Liepards sweep normal mode Shauntal and Caitlin with Nasty Plot + Dark Pulse. Then it can be sacced on Iris, perhaps even getting of a suicide TWave. It can also help against Cheren with Growl. This puts it into C-tier in my opinion. The nuzlocke subreddit did a tierlist on B2W2 a while ago and I decided to do a snaplocke based on this tierlist, which made Liepard and Absol my only Dark types. And Liepard > Absol.

4. Unfezant has Feather Dance, Roost, Bulk Up and either Return or Fly. This bird can actually deal with Marshal. Who cares about Superluck? Still C, but way higher.

5. Sunkern actually does work against Cheren with Growth strats (or Grasswhistle if you are a gamer). Still an awful Pokemon all around, but beating Cheren, especially on challenge mode, is a big deal.

6. You say Stoutland has a 50% chance of Intimidate, but I roll Sand Rush like 75% of the time >:(. Still, Silk Scarf return goes hard earlygame and even into the midgame. Post-Skyla though Stoutland slowly starts to fall behind.

7. Golduck evolves within normal mode Clay's level cap. This makes it arguably the single best answer to this fight. it gets obsolated fast right after that, but so does every other earlygame water type in this game.

8. Scolipede wishes it had more than Agility to Baton Pass. If you allow PWT TMs, Sword Dance BP Scolipede can set up some nasty sweeps.

9. The good thing about getting a Grimer in Castelia Sewers is that it increases you chances for Pawniard on Route 9.

10. It's actually shocking how bad of a Guts abuser Conkeldurr is. It's so glacially slow that in most cases it will take a hit (2 if it switches in) before getting off an attack and then still takes Poison damage. This racks up fast. And sadly it has no strong STAB move to abuse Sheer Force with, except for Drainch Punch. But then you have no HP recovery options. Still an A-tier pokemon, but god is it awkward.

11. Prankster Whimsicott has the small niche of being one of the few pokemon that can contain an out of control Champion Haxorus. It ain't a big niche, it ain't even a situation that you ever want to be in. But it's there.

12. Vaporeon does not get Water Pulse for Clay. Water Pulse is learned at level 17, and to get an Eevee in Castelia Garden you obviously use the level 18 repel manip. The move relearner is post-Clay. So it has to fight Clay with Aurora Beam, which is good against all this pokemon except this damned Excadrill. Also you have to farm Dust Clouds in Chargestone Cave to get a Water Stone pre-Clay, which sucks.

13. As for Espeon, Psychic types just don't match well into the Unova lategame. :( It can maybe deal with Ghetsis' Toxicroak, but Espeon eating a Sucker Punch is terrifying.

14. I'm actually rather disappointed in Krookodile. Yes, it's amazing once it gets going, but I gets going by around the mid 40s. And Krokorok just stinks - it's the only Ground type in this game this does not sweep challenge mode Elesa, which is beyond cringe. Also it's a bit slow. It's the 3rd best ground type in this game, high A tier.

14. Sandslash is arguably the best answer for normal mode Elesa. Excadrill is still a Drilbur and Krokorok stinks, but Sandslah just rips Elesa apart with Dig and Rock Tomb.

15. I just don't like Flygon in these games. You actually have to build it mixed since Earth Power is its strongest Ground type option. And like you said, not the best encounter from either the Desert Resort or Reversal Mountain.

16. You overrate Gothitelle in my opinion. Psychics just don't eat well in the lategame ans The Gothita line evolves disgustingly late. The routes around Nimbase are where I personally take my Audino encounter.

17. Emolga slander. You run Acrobatics as your main damage source, Volt Switch for pivoting, and then two support moves of your choice out of TWave, Encore, Light Screen, Taunt, and Tailwind. It's a Pokemon that is unlikely to survive the run, but only because how much value a suicide support mon like it can create into a potentially scary fight.

18. Zoroark slander. It sweeps Shauntal and Caitlin in any mode by simply clicking Dark Pulse. Without ever taking damage because you disguise it as a Poison or Fighting type. Can even put in work against the rest of the E4 with its blazingly fast U-Turn. Easy S-tier, and on the higher and at that. Also you pick up your guaranteed Jellicent in Virbank City, not Driftveil. You can't surf in B2W2 Driftveil.

19. You A L W A Y S go for Foongus on Route 6. Not because of any Ammonguss stuff, but simply for setting up for your Mistralton Cave/Guidance Chamber encounters. Foongus is the best option for picking up both Aggron and Haxorus due to getting Ingrain with counters Aron's Roar.

20. Volcarona is kind of disappointing, at least with the ruleset I usually play with (no setup moves, no EVs, no Gems).It has a decent movepool on paper, but good lord is this pokemon back-loaded. Yes, Signal Beam from the move tutor helps, but the first Fire move better than Ember is Fire Blast from Lacumosa Town. It does nothing into any of the gym leaders, and even for the E4 there are usually better options. You won't imagine how many ranges Signal Beam misses compared to Bug Buzz. My most recent attempt to use Volcarona had it amount to nothing but dying to a Zen Headbutt crit on it's first switch in. And I say this with Volcarona being my #2 most favourite pokemon. It's a lot better with QD obviously, but even then it doesn't do anything before Colress 3.

21. In my most recent run, Galvantula almost made me wipe to Marlon because it missed a 91% Thunder against Wailord into getting burned by Scald. It then died to Colress 3 because it's frail as heck.

22. In my aforementioned snaplocke Probopass was actually one of the highest rated permitted Pokemon, and it sure backed up that rating. Dumb physical walls got a lot better in Gen 5 due to Rocky Helmet. It's actually one of the best checks to Iris' Haxorus in normal mode.

23. A fun meme with Aggron is Sturdy Metal Burst into any big dumb attacker that would usually OHKO it for a free kill.

24. Zebstrika is actually one of the few pokemon that can beat both of Iris' Archeops and Lapras. Obviously does great things against Skyla and Marlon as well. Tbh one of the more underrated pokemon in these games.

25. One fun option for Beartic is to go for the hidden grotto encounter. Swift Swim Beartic is actually deceptively fast with rain support. With the proper set it can essentially kill most of Iris' team before the rain runs out.

26. Unburden Drifblim can actually be a rather effective sweeper, especially if you allow for Gems. Acrobatics hit like a truck even from middling offenses, and after an Unburden boost it will outspeed essentially anything. If you go into the postgame it can also go for some stupid Substitute + Petaya Berry sets with Unburden, or even enable other pokemon with Baton Pass. Even Aftermath has a niche use by saccing it to Iris' Haxorus to break the Sash.

27. You can actually get Regenerator Tangrowth from a Hidden Grotto. Regenerator on a Pokemon like Tangrowth is stupidly good.

28. If you allow for PWT Items, Choice Scarf Wailord actually deals rather incredible damage with Water Spout, which Jellicent doesn't get until the lategame. With EVs, you can even go for specs Wailord, at which point it starts OHKOing any neutral targest which aren't especially specially defensive: Lvl 58 252 SpA Choice Specs Wailord Water Spout (150 BP) vs. Lvl 58 0 HP / 0 SpD Conkeldurr: 238-282 (114.9 - 136.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

29. Mienshao is actually my go-to fighting type bring for the E4. Wrecks Grimsley, is great against Iris, can even put in work against Marshal. HJK/Fake Out/U-Turn/Detect holding a Wide Lens is my go-to set.

30. 5 words: Hidden Grotto Poison Heal Gligar. Best pokemon in the game and it isn't even close. Also you can technically get a King's Rock from Pickup, so 50% of Lillipups. Also from Join Avenue if one allows for this gameplay element. But even without that it's the single best answer to Marshal (imo the hardest E4 member) with Acrobatics + Dig for Lucario on challenge mode.

31. Mamoswine is actually borderline trash in this game. It's the sole ground type that does nothing against Colress due to its Steel weakness, and since it doesn't have access to Ice Shard before the post-game it has to rely on the middling, inaccurate Ice Fang to get anything done. It needs good IVs, a plus Attack nature and maximum EV investment to have a guaranteed OHKO on Iris' Hydreigon, nor can it really switch into her Haxorus after a DD.

32. I don't see the case for Metagross in S-tier. It has no great type matchup into any of the E4 except Caitlin. It's stab moves are middling, Iron Head has perfect accuracy but Steel isn't a great offensive type while Zen Headbutt has that nasty 10% chance to miss. It's just a rather bland pile of stats when B2W2 have tons of piles of stats with much better taste.

Flygon in earlier vids: Crobat's better in later gens because of limited movepool in earlier gens.
Also Flygon: Crobat's not as good as it was in earlier gens because of power creep.
Crobat: Confused monkey meme.

Obviously the absolute best encounter is sandile because it’s 2 abilities are intimidate and moxie 2 abilities that are great for nuzlockes

Troll-bating, I know, but it's said like chemistry or character (ancient greek khasma).

May this foster engagement and The Algorithm's light shine upon you.

Now do a Nuzlocke using only D and F tier pokemon

Man black 2 just had infinitely better exclusive Pokémon

I will not accept this garbodor slander

As a man i can attest to the fact i also shave in the shower fully clothed

Something to note about Castelia Park Encounters; Although Lilligant is only an encounter for W2, Route 4 has an ingame trade, being Petilil/Cottonee; that game's version for the other's.

The first time I played Black 2 I only really used 3 Pokémon; Samurott, Krookodile and Leavanny. I had problems in the beginning of the game, but they were killer in the late game.

I would've put cinccino higher for the fact you can get a guaranteed minccino with skill link in the tutorial hidden grotto outdide nimbassa city. With tail slap, bullet seed, and rock blast, you have enough coverage there to deal reliable damage. The normal typing allows you to be relatively safer than other mons and those moves above could crit on a turn potentially

unfezant is also bad because it has a special moveset but a physical stat spread

I think Walrein would be pretty good, Water/Ice types are great for drayden and Iris, issue is Lapras is available right after

Thanos will remember this.

i agree 100% apart from swanna mate, like swanna is probably most underrated gen 5 pokemon. Hits hard and fast

Do Gen 6

Are you balding?

Zoroark in B tier is wild. I'd honestly put it in A, if not S. Illusion can make the psychic elite 4 spam psychic into it, which makes the fight entirely free. So it trivializes 2 of the elite 4 and is still very good into the rest (except fighting of course).
I had it in 2 of my runs and it one shot basically everything lategame.
Illusion is also entirely broken. Makes certain fights like the afore mentioned elite 4 psychic a joke.

Edit: didn't watch the full video and he literally puts it in A like 2 minutes after me writing the comment....

This video was fantastic to watch since I'm currently doing one and I'm on Drayden so far and I've had bad luck. Over 20 Pokemon dead and all I've really got is my Serperior carrying with Garbodor and Basculin. I won't die tho

S: Haxorus, Krookodile, Excadrill, Bisharp, Skarmory, Chandelure, Scrafty, Weavile, Drapion, Volcarona, Jellicent, Magnezone, Crustle, Metagross
A: Escavalier, Ferothorn, Mamoswine, Darmanitan, Lucario, Gliscor, Steelix, Aggron, Emboar, Sawk, Arcanine, Liligant, Lapras, Starmie, Mantine, Samurott, Vaporeon, Conkeldurr, Gothitelle, Reuniclus, Mienshao, Leavanny, Heracross, Galvantula, Jolteon, Vanilluxe, Stoutland, Cofagrigus, Raticate, Crobat, Azumarill, Braviary, Absol, Umbreon, Zoroark, Shuckle
B: Gigalith, Elektross, Serperior, Sawsbuck, Flygon, Drifblim, Scolipede, Sigyliph, Ampharos, Klingklang, Gurdurr, Espeon, Dewgong, Beartic, Walrein, Roserade, Tangrowht, Claydol, Banette, Magmortar, Electivire, Magmar, Electabuzz, Zebstrika, Bronzong, Throh, Weezing, Amoonguss, Boldore, Cincinno, Clefable, Druddigon, Mandibuzz, Sandslash, Floatzel, Octillery
C: Golurk, Altaria, Swanna, Probopass, Pinsir, Accelgor, Vespiquen, Bouffalant, Zangoose, Flareon, Basculin, Simisear, Simipour, Audino, Watchog, Muk, Pelliper, Emolga, Unfezant, Whimsicott, Simisage
D: Beheeyem, Golduck, Alomomola, Garbodor, Ninetales, Swoobat, Wailord, Grumpig, Lunatone, Solrock, Hydreigon, Liepard, Lopunny, Dunsparce, Corsola, Seviper
F: Camerupt, Maractus, Ditto, Sunflora, Onix, Delcatty, Delibird

Something notable about both Sawk and Throh: they are WAY stronger in BW1. If you get an Audino on Route 3, they're a guaranteed shaking grass encounter in pinwheel exterior. This is both a fighting type for Lenora's gym, as well as just a huge pile of stats for a sizable portion of the game, while also beating Excadrill. Unusable into Elesa and Skyla, but honestly solid throughout the entire rest of the game except the E4, both for boss battles as well as just random dungeons and routes. I've found it particularly useful between Clay and Skyla. You have two dungeons to clear before the gym (and probably a couple route optionals that you run into), one of which has everything near level cap. Having something you won't be using in the gym as an XP sink that still puts in work is really valuable.

Tbh if I had a shot at the metang encounter, that is an INSTANT master ball

Ferrothorn learns power whip on evolution

The way u pronounced magnemite.... only one ive heard in 26 years.

I always get Audino in my nuzlocke because of return and work up w either leftover or silk scarf. It does get refresh if youre doing no healing in battle.

onix suffers to having to be ranked separately from steelix by representing being an unevolvable mon. honestly, for the split you are using onix, it does really well. it was said that it beats elesa, but it also come in handy for burgh to an extent. there are plenty of other places to get an excadrill. by the time it falls off, it isn't supposed to be fighting the ground gym anyway, and then it's a steelix for skyla, picking up right where onix left off, and for drayden as well.

Me who soloed Burg with Dewott 😭

Great timing. I'm currently doing my first B2W2 nuzlocke. It seems my current team consist of mostly top tier mons so I should be fine.

Trapinch actually has a good chance to be encountered at the Desert Resort by repel manipulating at level 21. You'll get either Trapinch or Dwebble.

first time i heard someone call magnemite as "magnemity" and arcanine as "arcakneenay". not sure if baiting engagement but damn i fell for it i guess.

Lmao got both krookodile and magnezone in my first nuzlocke ever which was b2w2 and they basically won me the game flat xd

I refuse to start my hgss nuzelocke till your video on it comes out 😢

Question for comment section I've never played Black 2 and I've been wanting to play it since I have a copy I got for a cheap I want to use my boy Aggron but I see he doesn't learn any rock type moves, how early do you get Rock Slide/Stone Edge? I know I can look up location but I don't know the chronological order of the game is it like 4th 5th gym you get access to rock slide and are tm's finite in this game like Platinum?

Nah, delibird easy S tier. L streamer

I think you slept on Alomamola a little, Toxic, scald, wish + protect with regenerator is pretty nasty. I used it in conjunction with a ferrothorn to cripple and stall everything.

Zoroark is the only encounter in Driftveil, despite how he said there was a 'guaranteed jellicent' there. a jellicent can be guaranteed in either undella bay on certain days or as a Frillish in Virbank

The Avalugg line and, surprisingly, Cosmoem both get Sturdy.

My favorite games! Love to see Sandslash being really decent here, it does pretty well against Elesa, Clay, Drayden, Grimsley and Marshall! Also, Team Plasma abundance of Poison and Dark types, and it can handle half of Ghetsis's team, as well as Colress and the Shadow Triad!! 😃😇🦔🤎🪵

The first game I actually ever fully nuzlocked was Black 2! My Elite 4 team ended up becoming Emboar, Espeon, Weavile, Amoonguss, Excadrill and Cinccino!

F to N's Zoroark who, coincidently, died fighting Ghetsis

I love this video. Everytime i dont know what to watch i come back to it. Dont even know why

I think that sandslash is a bit lower than it should be. It is a fantastic counter to clays excadrill because of its fantastic physical bulk and it can even take some of haxourus’s attacks well.