Pokémon Gen 5 Gym Leaders
Review the two distinct Unova Gym routes, badges and practical counters.
BW uses Striaton, Lenora, Burgh, Elesa, Clay, Skyla, Brycen and Drayden/Iris. B2W2 uses Cheren, Roxie, Burgh, Elesa, Clay, Skyla, Drayden and Marlon.
Requirements
Select the correct game group before planning counters.
Remember the first BW leader changes with the chosen starter.
Black and White Gym Leaders
Original Unova badge order
| # | Leader | City | Type | Badge | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cilan / Chili / Cress | Striaton | Grass / Fire / Water | Trio | Faces the starter's weakness; use the Dreamyard gift |
| 2 | Lenora | Nacrene | Normal | Basic | Fighting coverage and status help |
| 3 | Burgh | Castelia | Bug | Insect | Fire and Flying pressure |
| 4 | Elesa | Nimbasa | Electric | Bolt | Ground alone must account for Emolga |
| 5 | Clay | Driftveil | Ground | Quake | Water and Grass with Excadrill caution |
| 6 | Skyla | Mistralton | Flying | Jet | Electric, Rock or Ice |
| 7 | Brycen | Icirrus | Ice | Freeze | Fire, Fighting, Rock or Steel |
| 8 | Drayden / Iris | Opelucid | Dragon | Legend | Ice and strong neutral damage |
Black 2 and White 2 Gym Leaders
Sequel badge order
| # | Leader | City | Type | Badge | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheren | Aspertia | Normal | Basic | Early neutral battle |
| 2 | Roxie | Virbank | Poison | Toxic | Ground or Psychic; watch status |
| 3 | Burgh | Castelia | Bug | Insect | Fire, Flying and Rock |
| 4 | Elesa | Nimbasa | Electric | Bolt | Ground plus answers to coverage |
| 5 | Clay | Driftveil | Ground | Quake | Water, Grass and Fighting for Excadrill |
| 6 | Skyla | Mistralton | Flying | Jet | Electric, Rock or Ice |
| 7 | Drayden | Opelucid | Dragon | Legend | Ice and durable neutral offense |
| 8 | Marlon | Humilau | Water | Wave | Electric and Grass with coverage caution |
Pokémon, Locations and Key Items
Super Potion
Paralyze Heal
Full HealCommon Mistakes
Mixing Cheren and Roxie into the original BW route.
Listing Iris as both White's final Gym Leader and the B2W2 Champion without game labels.
Related Gen5 Guides
FAQ
Who is the first Gym Leader in Black and White?
Cilan, Chili or Cress battles the player in Striaton City. The leader is selected to use the type strong against the player's starter.
Who is the first Gym Leader in Black 2 and White 2?
Cheren leads the Aspertia Gym as a Normal-type specialist.
This guide covers the original Nintendo DS Generation V games. Online services, distributions and external software are described in their historical context and are not presented as currently available normal gameplay.