Elite Four, N, Ghetsis and Alder: complete battle reference
Prepare for the first Unova League, N’s Castle, Ghetsis’s Hydreigon and the expanded Elite Four rematch before Champion Alder.
Story and late-game spoilers.
Original Black and White; their sequels have different routes and encounter availability.
6 characters · one picture per entry · open a picture for full size.
Character directory
First League and rematch are separate challenges
The first League visit uses four-member Elite Four teams and leads to N and Ghetsis. Alder is fought on the later League circuit, whose opponents have six Pokémon and much higher levels.
Shauntal
Dark attacks are useful across Shauntal’s team, and a Dark Pokémon avoids Psychic damage. Cofagrigus can burn a physical attacker; do not leave your only Dark response permanently weakened when status recovery is available.
Caitlin
Dark, Ghost and Bug attacks threaten Psychic Pokémon, but Caitlin’s coverage punishes careless switching. Reuniclus can use Focus Blast against Dark types, while Sigilyph uses Flying coverage and Ice Beam.
N’s Castle
The player encounters level 50 Reshiram in Black or level 50 Zekrom in White. N heals the party for his battle after the dragon encounter.
Ghetsis
Ghetsis is the final required story fight. Grass is especially effective against Seismitoad.
Champion Alder
Keep a reliable Fire option for Escavalier and a Rock answer for Volcarona. Volcarona can use Quiver Dance, so a drawn-out setup exchange can become dangerous.
N’s Castle
| Pokémon | Level | Version / typing note |
|---|---|---|
| Zekrom in Black; Reshiram in White | 52 | N owns the opposite dragon to the player |
| Carracosta | 50 | Water / Rock |
| Vanilluxe | 50 | Ice |
| Archeops | 50 | Rock / Flying |
| Zoroark | 50 | Dark; Illusion can disguise its appearance |
| Klinklang | 50 | Steel |
Ghetsis
| Pokémon | Level | Type | Main preparation concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cofagrigus | 52 | Ghost | Toxic, Protect and special attacks |
| Bouffalant | 52 | Normal | Head Charge plus Electric, Ground and Poison coverage |
| Seismitoad | 52 | Water / Ground | Water, Ground and Poison attacks |
| Bisharp | 52 | Dark / Steel | Metal Burst and physical attacks |
| Eelektross | 52 | Electric | Levitate plus diverse physical and Fire coverage |
| Hydreigon | 54 | Dark / Dragon | Dragon Pulse, Surf, Fire Blast and Focus Blast |
Champion Alder
| Pokémon | Level | Type | Useful offensive directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelgor | 75 | Bug | Fire, Flying or Rock |
| Bouffalant | 75 | Normal | Fighting; avoid feeding Sap Sipper with Grass |
| Druddigon | 75 | Dragon | Ice or Dragon |
| Vanilluxe | 75 | Ice | Fire, Fighting, Rock or Steel |
| Escavalier | 75 | Bug / Steel | Fire is especially effective |
| Volcarona | 77 | Bug / Fire | Rock is especially effective; also Water or Flying |
Quick notes
- Initial Elite Four teams and levels. These levels are shared by Black and White.
- Grimsley: Fighting answers and the Bisharp matchup. Fighting damage is particularly useful against Bisharp’s Dark / Steel typing.
- Marshal: Fighting does not mean a free Flying sweep. Flying and Psychic attacks are useful, but several Marshal Pokémon carry Rock coverage.
- Rematch Elite Four: every six-member roster. The expanded rosters add new defensive matchups.
Initial Elite Four teams and levels
| Trainer | Specialty | Complete initial team |
|---|---|---|
| Shauntal | Ghost | Cofagrigus 48; Jellicent 48; Golurk 48; Chandelure 50 |
| Grimsley | Dark | Scrafty 48; Liepard 48; Krookodile 48; Bisharp 50 |
| Caitlin | Psychic | Reuniclus 48; Musharna 48; Sigilyph 48; Gothitelle 50 |
| Marshal | Fighting | Throh 48; Sawk 48; Conkeldurr 48; Mienshao 50 |
Rematch Elite Four: every six-member roster
| Trainer | Complete rematch team |
|---|---|
| Shauntal | Cofagrigus 71; Jellicent 71; Froslass 71; Drifblim 71; Golurk 71; Chandelure 73 |
| Grimsley | Sharpedo 71; Liepard 71; Scrafty 71; Drapion 71; Krookodile 71; Bisharp 73 |
| Caitlin | Musharna 71; Sigilyph 71; Bronzong 71; Reuniclus 71; Gothitelle 71; Metagross 73 |
| Marshal | Breloom 71; Sawk 71; Throh 71; Toxicroak 71; Mienshao 71; Conkeldurr 73 |
Use the first League table before the ending and the level 71–77 tables only for the later rematch.