For a lot of Pokémon titles, the differences between the versions are fairly insubstantial. Some of the Pokémon you can catch between versions change, and... that's about it. Black 2 and White 2 buck this trend a bit by having some areas that are strikingly different between versions, and nowhere is this more obvious than in Black City and White Forest.
Sandwiched between Routes 14 and 15 and available only after you've completed the game, Black City and White Forest occupy the same space on the main map. If you're playing Black 2 you'll find Black City here, while White Forest is here in White 2. There are fairly substantial differences between the two, and we'll explore them here.
Black City
Making a return from Pokémon Black, Black City has the same mechanic as in the original game. The city starts out small, and over time you can increase its size - and population. The catch here is that Black City now grows when you complete floors of Black Tower, a special, randomized dungeon new to Black 2 that we will discuss momentarily.
The highlight of Black City is its marketplace, located west of the Pokémon Center. When you first arrive here you'll find numerous NPCs ambling around four empty market stalls. Once you complete floors of Black Tower, however, these spots will be populated by vendors who will sell a single, rare, evolutionary item each day. Which item it is depends on the day:
- The first vendor sells Thunderstones on weekdays and Protectors on the weekend.
- The second vendor sells Fire Stones on weekdays and Metal Coats on the weekend.
- The third vendor sells Dusk Stones on weekdays and Up-Grades on the weekend.
- The fourth vendor sells Dawn Stones on weekdays and Dubious Discs on the weekend.
The final spot of interest in Black City is, of course, Black Tower, located in the north. Since it serves a function identical to an area in White Forest, we'll save it for the end of the article.
White Forest
The White 2 counterpart of Black City, White Forest has changed a great deal from Pokémon White, and it is now much closer in function to Black City. The ability to catch wild Pokémon has been stripped out of the area, and is now replaced with four market stalls in the middle of the area, similar to the marketplace in Black City. Completing levels of White Treehollow, the dungeon of the area, will cause vendors to spawn in these stalls, from whom you can purchase the following items:
- The first vendor sells Leaf Stones on weekdays and DeepSeaTooths on the weekend.
- The second vendor sells Water Stones on weekdays and DeepSeaScales on the weekend.
- The third vendor sells Shiny Stones on weekdays and Dragon Scales on the weekend.
- The fourth vendor sells Oval Stones on weekdays and King's Rocks on the weekend.
White Forest has its own randomized dungeon, the aforementioned White Treehollow.
Black Tower and White Treehollow
The primary draw of both Black City and White Forest are their dungeon sections, Black Tower and White Treehollow. Consisting of randomized areas filled with trainers, Black Tower and White Treehollow are one of the more substantial endgame challenges in Black 2 and White 2.
Before you can access either dungeon you'll first need to make a trip to Floccesy Town. Pay Alder a visit and he will challenge you to a battle. Defeat the former Champion and his grandson, Benga, will show up and speak to you about Black Tower / White Treehollow. You can then follow him to Black City / White Forest and take up the challenge.
Both Black Tower and White Treehollow consist of ten randomly-generated floors, each becoming more dangerous and complex to navigate as you climb higher. In order to leave a floor and proceed to the next you need to find and defeat a Boss Trainer who will unlock the way for you. Seem simple? There are rules to abide by:
- Boss Trainers are located inside locked rooms. To access them you'll need to defeat a Gate Trainer, who is located somewhere on the floor. The other trainers will provide hints as to the identity of the Gate Trainer when defeated.
- You cannot use restorative items inside either dungeon. This does not include held items like Berries, and you can equip new held items while inside the dungeon.
- As with the layouts of the floors, the trainers inside are randomized. You'll never know exactly who - or what - you'll be running up against.
- Each floor has a Doctor (Black 2) or a Nurse (White 2) who will restore your team to full health. They will only do this once, so make sure you need the healing.
- As you rise through the levels the 'floors' will consist of multiple floors that you'll need to navigate to challenge a single Boss Trainer. You can use the entry elevator to move up a floor. You may also run into rooms with navigational blockades such as water or darkness (Black 2) and trees or boulders (White 2). If you have the proper HM applied to one of your Pokémon you can use these opportunities to skip sections of the floor, though you are never required to have HMs to progress.
- Unlike other, similar challenge areas in other Pokémon games, your team will gain money and experience as you defeat trainers. If you are defeated or retire early, however, all money you gained will be lost. You can give up on a floor by returning to the elevator at the entrance, or by using the 'RETIRE' option in the menu.
Whenever you complete an area you'll be returned to the lobby, and will earn an item. The first five floors will earn you a Vitamin, the sixth to ninth will earn you a Wing, and the tenth will earn you either a Berry or a Rare Candy. You can then speak to the NPC and challenge the next floor. If you complete the fifth area you'll receive either the Tower Key or the Treehollow Key, allowing you to access White Treehollow in Black 2 and Black City in White 2.
As you explore each floor of the dungeon for the first time you'll run into either a Scientist, who's investigating the place, or Benga, who appears to be climbing the dungeon on his own. The Scientist is mainly there for lore purposes, but Benga's appearances are prophetic, as he's the final trainer you'll face when you reach the top of Black Tower and White Treehollow.
Boss Trainer Benga
- Latias (Black 2) / Latios (White 2), level 80
- Garchomp (Black 2) / Dragonite (White 2), level 80
- Volcarona, level 80
Benga's a nasty opponent, though how nasty depends on how recently you managed to get your team healed. His Pokémon can cover a large number of weaknesses:
- Both Latios and Latias use the same moves, consisting of Draco Meteor, Psychic, Icy Wind, and Thunderbolt. Sending out an Ice-type Pokémon is probably best.
- Garchomp knows Outrage, Earthquake, Fire Blast, and Stone Edge. It's likely more dangerous than Dragonite given its speed, though an Ice-type move is still your best bet.
- Dragonite knows Outrage, Dragon Dance, Fire Blast, and Focus Blast. An Ice-type move will quickly take it down, though make sure your Ice-type is very fast so it can't get Fire Blast or Focus Blast off. Go for a OHKO before it can use Dragon Dance or your team is in trouble.
- Volcarona knows Quiver Dance, Bug Buzz, Fire Blast, and Psychic. Definitely dangerous, though a Rock-type move can wipe it out in a hurry.
Defeat Benga and you'll have finished off the tenth, and final, floor of either Black Tower or White Treehollow. If you challenge the tenth floor again he'll be replaced by a generic trainer.
Follow Benga's advice and head back to Floccessy Town, where you first met him. Speak to him in Alder's home and Benga will give you a Pokémon as congratulations for your win. If you're playing Black 2 Benga will give you a Gible, and if you're playing White 2 he'll give you a Dratini. Regardless of the Pokémon you receive it will be Shiny. Ooo.