{"id":126039,"date":"2022-06-24T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-24T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/#article-133457"},"modified":"2022-06-24T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T14:00:00","slug":"memory-pak-becoming-the-very-best-in-black-white-2s-pokemon-world-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2022\/06\/24\/memory-pak-becoming-the-very-best-in-black-white-2s-pokemon-world-tournament\/","title":{"rendered":"Memory Pak: Becoming The Very Best In Black & White 2’s Pok\u00e9mon World Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Pokemon
Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Walking out into the arena of Pok\u00e9mon Black & White 2<\/a>\u2019s Pok\u00e9mon World Tournament (PWT) for the first time, I had chills. The lights were dimmed, the crowd was watching, and the commentary was introducing me \u2013 my character \u2013 as if I were some sort of celebrity. Well, sure, I\u2019d saved Unova and become the Champion of the region. But here, right now, I was facing the best of the best. I couldn\u2019t fall flat on my face here.<\/p>\n

My character stepped onto the stage. I took one deep breath and my opponent, Cheren, the first Gym Leader, looked me dead in the eye. This was only the first fight, but I had<\/em> to win. I had to become the very best. Because what lay in waiting after beating all of Unova\u2019s Gym Leaders again was the chance for ultimate personal glory.<\/p>\n

\"300x\"
Even non-Leaders await you here (Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019m pretty confident in saying that, on the week of Pok\u00e9mon Black & White 2\u2019s 10th anniversary (it launched in Japan on 23rd June 2012), this Pok\u00e9 pair has one of the best postgames in the entire series. There\u2019s a phenomenal amount of content for you to dig into. The Battle Subway opens up, Black City and White Forest each have battle facilities, you can go and challenge Team Plasma\u2019s Colress to a final duel, and you can go and take on Pok\u00e9mon pretty boy N. Tons of new areas open up to be explored such as the Nature Preserve (for a lovely little shiny Haxorus). Heck, you don\u2019t even catch the box art legendaries in the main game, so you can go get those too!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m only scratching the surface here \u2013 there\u2019s so much here that Black & White 2\u2019s postgame can be pretty overwhelming \u2013 but what makes it truly special is the game\u2019s twist on the Battle Frontier: the PWT.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve never really been into the extra challenge that the Battle Frontier of generations 3 and 4 offered. New characters and other blank, throwaway NPCs aren\u2019t really enough to tempt me back onto the battlefield, and I\u2019m not really into team-building. Instead, one of my favourite things to do as a kid in Pok\u00e9mon was to go back around the region and challenge all of the old Gym Leaders and Elite Four members over and over again. I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve beaten the Hoenn Elite Four and Champion in Pok\u00e9mon Ruby & Sapphire<\/a>. And the Pok\u00e9gear in Gold & Silver<\/a> (and the remakes<\/a>) is one of my favourite parts of that game.<\/p>\n

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one of my favourite things to do as a kid in Pok\u00e9mon was to go back around the region and challenge all of the old Gym Leaders and Elite Four members over and over again<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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But an entire mode dedicated to taking on almost every single past Gym Leader and<\/em> Champion? I\u2019m in.<\/p>\n

After beating the Pok\u00e9mon League, I headed straight for Driftveil City, to the area where the Cold Storage facility used to be. There was a real sense of grandeur and celebration about it, from the electric atmosphere, the commentators, and that the fights themselves would be filmed for all to see. Black & White 2 (and the originals) are good at making you feel flashy \u2013 that New York inspiration ‘n’ all. But the level of adrenaline and the promise of a rematch against someone you\u2019ve beaten before was an irresistible combination.<\/p>\n

Just like the Battle Frontiers that came before it, during most of the PWT matches your Pok\u00e9mon are all capped at level 50, and you can choose any three of your Pok\u00e9mon. I burst through the front doors, and ran to the right-side desk, eager to revisit the Leaders of Johto and remind them who the best Pok\u00e9mon trainer was. Until I found out I had to unlock the right to battle them by re-beating the Unova Leaders first.<\/p>\n

Okay, fine, I thought. I\u2019ve just<\/em> shown the Unova region what I\u2019m made of. So, I selected my trusty trio of favourites for battle \u2013 Azure, Cinnamon, and Blaze (that\u2019s Samurott, Krookodile, and Chandelure) \u2013 and registered. Probably not the best team I could have picked, but I wanted to win with my favourites, just as I had done with the Pok\u00e9mon League.<\/p>\n

\"Pwtshop\"
Imagine me jumping up and down at this desk. (Image: The Pok\u00e9mon Company \/ via Serebii<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First up was Cheren and, despite memories of him being easy (first Gym Leader and all), I was surprised. With equal levels and EV-optimised Pok\u00e9mon, I quickly found out that Cheren was no pushover. It was a scrappy match-up, with his bulky Stoutland taking a few too many hits to take down. How I wished I\u2019d brought Mienshao with me! But I soon pushed aside his three Normal-types, and I had to recompose myself.<\/p>\n

There was a little surprise in the second round from Black & White<\/a>\u2019s Ice-type trainer Brycen. No longer a Leader \u2013 instead opting to go into acting \u2013 Brycen had an unfortunate day up against Chandelure, who melted through most of his party pretty effectively. And while I was beginning to enjoy the grittiness and strategy more than I ever had, Brycen\u2019s appearance was a taste of what I really wanted: an all-star tournament featuring all of my favourite characters. Or powerful characters who I wanted to see kiss the dirt again.<\/p>\n

Back to the current Unova, and Skyla was the last trainer, but Flying-type again fell foul of my Special loaded-out Chandelure. Blaze, is forever my MVP in Black & White 2, more so than her Black & White<\/a> counterpart. With that, I\u2019d won the first Specialty tournament, and unlocked a whole lot more.<\/p>\n