Difficulty keys and Unova Link
Unlock and share Easy, Challenge, area and Regi chamber keys on the original DS cartridges.
Nintendo DS sequels; not the original Black and White story.
Obtain a key before selecting its setting
| Key | Original unlock |
|---|---|
| Challenge Key | Defeat Champion Iris in Black 2 |
| Easy Key | Defeat Champion Iris in White 2 |
| Tower / Treehollow keys | Version battle-area progression |
| Iron / Iceberg keys | Regirock and Underground Ruins sequence |
Use Unova Link’s Key System to select an available setting. Compatible local key sharing can supply a counterpart key. Receiving one does not replace the story requirements of the area it affects.
Challenge Mode changes more than level labels
Gym Leaders and League opponents can receive extra Pokémon, different moves and held items. The Gym, Elite Four and Champion browsers separate the recorded Normal and Challenge teams. The displayed difficulty-adjusted levels do not recalculate opponent stats as if they had been trained to those levels. Easy Mode is supported by the game; exact Easy rosters are outside the current source tables.
Keep the key with the save
Deleting a save also clears received keys. Unlocking Challenge Mode after one completed Black 2 save does not make a newly erased file retain the key. For a new run with a shared difficulty, arrange compatible key sharing after starting the new save.
Check your version, story progress and difficulty before using a location or battle record. These guides cover the original Nintendo DS sequels.