Learn about the best Pokemon to beat the Elite 4 in Pokemon Black and White as well as the final battle with N and Ghetsis.

In Pokemon Black and White defeating the Elite Four does not lead to a fight with Champion Alder. Instead, for the first time in the series, the villains’ plot intertwines with the main story, and you must face the leaders of Team Plasma, N and Ghetsis, in back-to-back battles. Defeating the Elite Four as well as both N and Ghetsis will require some skill, as the only Pokemon available to you are those from the Unova Pokedex.
So, let’s see which Pokemon are best suited to take on these threats in the endgame of Pokemon Black and White.
Guide To Defeat Elite Four, N, and Ghetsis in Pokemon Black and White Overview
How To Defeat Ghost-type Elite Four Shauntal in Pokemon Black and White

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Cofagrigus | 48 | Mummy | Psychic, Will-o-Wisp, Shadow Ball, Grass Knot |
Jellicent | 48 | Cursed Body | Shadow Ball, Surf, Energy Ball, Brine |
Golurk | 48 | Iron Fist | Curse, Brick Break, Earthquake, Shadow Punch |
Chandelure | 50 | Flame Body | Fire Blast, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Payback |
Shauntal’s team of Ghost-types is deceptively bulky. Your best bet is to use a Dark-type against all of her Pokemon. Additionally, a Water-type with Surf or Scald will work well against her Golurk and Chandelure.
How To Defeat Dark-Type Elite Four Grimsley in Pokemon Black and White

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Scrafty | 48 | Moxie | Sand Attack, Poison Jab, Crunch, Brick Break |
Krookodile | 48 | Intimidate | Crunch, Dragon Claw, Earthquake, Foul Play |
Liepard | 48 | Limber | Fake Out, Attract, Aerial Ace, Night Slash |
Bisharp | 50 | Defiant | X-Scissor, Night Slash, Metal Claw, Aerial Ace |
The best way to deal with Grimsley’s team is to have a powerful Fighting-type with a move like Brick Break. However, Grimsley is a master of trickery, and each of his Pokemon has ways to handle Fighting-types. His Scrafty can use Sand Attack to lower accuracy, his Krookodile can lower Attack with Intimidate, and both his Liepard and Bisharp have Aerial Ace to deal super effective Flying damage.
How To Defeat Psychic-Type Elite Four Caitlin in Pokemon Black and White

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Reuniclus | 48 | Magic Guard | Energy Ball, Thunder, Focus Blast, Psychic |
Sigilyph | 48 | Wonder Skin | Air Slash, Shadow Ball, Ice Beam, Psychic |
Musharna | 48 | Synchronize | Shadow Ball, Psychic, Charge Beam, Reflect |
Gothitelle | 50 | Frisk | Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Psychic, Shadow Ball |
Caitlin’s Psychic-type team is easily swept by a Dark-type. Just be wary of Reuniclus’ Focus Blast, as it can cause problems. Additionally, having a strong Bug-type helps, as long as you can play around her Sigilyph’s Air Slash.
How To Defeat Fighting-Type Elite Four Marshal in Pokemon Black and White

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Throh | 48 | Guts | Stone Edge, Payback, Bulldoze, Storm Throw |
Sawk | 48 | Sturdy | Stone Edge, Karate Chop, Grass Knot, Retaliate |
Conkeldurr | 48 | Sheer Force | Stone Edge, Hammer Arm, Grass Knot, Retaliate |
Mienshao | 50 | Inner Focus | U-Turn, Jump Kick, Rock Slide, Retaliate |
In some ways, Marshal is the biggest threat of the entire Unovan Elite Four. While the best way to handle him is with a Psychic or Flying-type, his team is prepared for that. All of his Pokemon have Rock coverage for Flying-types, while his Throh and Mienshao have Payback and U-Turn respectively for Psychic-types.
Additionally, after his lead Throh, the rest of his Pokemon have Retaliate, which deals 140 damage after one of his Pokemon is KO’d. Consider bringing a Ghost-type for the immunity they provide.
How To Defeat N in Pokemon Black and White

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Zekrom (Pokemon Black) | 52 | Teravolt | Fusion Bolt, Zen Headbutt, Giga Impact, Light Screen |
Reshiram (Pokemon White) | 52 | Turboblaze | Hyper Beam, Fusion Flare, Extrasensory, Reflect |
Klinklang | 50 | Plus | Flash Cannon, Metal Sound, Hyper Beam, Thunderbolt |
Zoroark | 50 | Illusion | Flamethrower, Focus Blast, Night Slash, Retaliate |
Archeops | 50 | Defeatist | Stone Edge, Acrobatics, Dragon Claw, Crunch |
Carracosta | 50 | Sturdy | Stone Edge, Aqua Jet, Crunch, Waterfall |
Vanilluxe | 50 | Ice Body | Blizzard, Hail, Flash Cannon, Frost Breath |
The main threat on N’s team is the Legendary Pokemon he sends out first, Zekrom (Black) or Reshiram (White). However, you will have your own Box Art Legendary to counter it. Be wary of his Zoroark disguising itself as another Pokemon. Four of his Pokemon are weak to Fighting-type moves, while his Archeops can be neutralized after its HP drops below half thanks to its Defeatist ability.
How To Defeat Ghetsis in Pokemon Black and White

Pokemon | Level | Ability | Moves |
---|---|---|---|
Cofagrigus | 52 | Mummy | Toxic, Shadow Ball, Protect, Psychic |
Bouffalant | 52 | Reckless | Head Charge, Wild Charge, Earthquake, Poison Jab |
Seismitoad | 52 | Swift Swim | Muddy Water, Rain Dance, Earthquake, Sludge Wave |
Bisharp | 52 | Defiant | Night Slash, Stone Edge, X-Scissor, Metal Burst |
Eelektross | 52 | Levitate | Crunch, Flamethrower, Acrobatics, Wild Charge |
Hydreigon | 54 | Levitate | Dragon Pulse, Surf, Fire Blast, Focus Blast |
Ghetsis is the secret final boss of Pokemon Black and White and the hardest challenge in the game. All of his Pokemon are extremely dangerous. His lead Cofagrigus tries to stall with Toxic and Protect, his Seismitoad sets up rain to boost its speed with Swift Swim, and his Eelektross has no weaknesses. However, his biggest threat is Hydreigon. With a wide variety of coverage moves, playing around Ghetsis’ pseudo-Legendary is the toughest challenge you will face.
Fighting-types are almost essential against this Pokemon League, given how useful they are against Grimsley, N, and Ghetsis. Dark-types are also valuable for their utility against Shauntal and Caitlin.
Best Team To Defeat the Elite Four, N, and Ghetsis in Pokemon Black and White

Pokemon | Recommended Moves | Best Ability | Held Item | Nature(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Serperior | Coil, Leech Seed, Leaf Blade, Substitute | Overgrow | Shell Bell | Impish (+Def,-SpA) |
Simipour | Scald, Brick Break, Shadow Claw, Grass Knot | Gluttony | Expert Belt | Serious or Bashful (no effects on stats) |
Scrafty | Brick Break, Crunch, Rock Slide, Substitute | Moxie | Quick Claw | Adamant (+Atk, -SpA) |
Sigilyph | Psychic, Air Slash, Charge Beam, Shadow Ball | Magic Guard | – | Timid (+Spe,-Atk) or Modest (+SpA,-Atk) |
Galvantula | Thunder, Signal Beam, Sucker Punch, Volt Switch | Compound Eyes | Magnet | Timid (+Spe,-Atk) or Modest (+SpA,-Atk) |
Cofagrigus | Will-o-Wisp, Hex, Protect, Hidden Power Fighting | Mummy | – | Bold (+Def,-Atk) or Relaxed (+Def, -Spe) |
For N and Ghetsis, you will have access to the Box Art Legendary Reshiram (Black) or Zekrom (White).
Pokemon | Moves | Ability | Held Item | Nature |
---|---|---|---|---|
Reshiram | Dragon Breath, Fusion Flare, Extrasensory, Slash | Turboblaze | – | Varies |
Zekrom | Dragon Breath, Fusion Bolt, Zen Headbutt, Slash | Teravolt | – | Varies |
How To Use the Best Team To Defeat the Elite Four, N, and Ghetsis in Pokemon Black and White
- Serperior: Despite its Grass typing, Serperior’s 75/95/95 defenses give it solid bulk. With its 113 Speed stat, it is one of the fastest Pokemon in the game. Its main job is to set up Leech Seed for teammates and handle specific Pokemon like Ghetsis’ Seismitoad.
- Simipour: Simipour has decent overall stats, with a noteworthy Speed stat of 101. This lets it act as a secondary attacker, supported by its wide movepool. While it won’t sweep fights, it can participate effectively and pick up KOs.
- Scrafty: Scrafty can hit three members of the Elite Four, four of N’s team, and four of Ghetsis’ team with its dual STABs of Fighting and Dark. With the ability Moxie, Scrafty gains an Attack boost for every KO. Though slow, with Quick Claw activations and Substitute to block status, it can become the star of your Elite Four run.
- Sigilyph: Sigilyph is here to outspeed and KO Marshal’s Pokemon. It does need to play around the Rock coverage, especially because Marshal’s Sawk will survive one hit thanks to Sturdy. However, with enough bulk investment, it should survive a non-critical hit Stone Edge at full health.
- Galvantula: Galvantula is mainly here to spam powerful Compound Eyes and Magnet boosted Thunders. Additionally, it can use Signal Beam against all of Caitlin’s team except for Sigilyph and Grimsley’s Krookodile and Liepard.
- Cofagrigus: Cofagrigus is the team’s physical wall you can send in to heal your other teammates. It can also whittle away at the opponents with a Will-o-Wisp, Hex, and Protect combo.
- Reshiram/Zekrom: As your lead against N and Ghetsis, you must be ready to use them. Their signature moves (Fusion Flare/Fusion Bolt) become more powerful after the other Dragon’s move is used. Since your Dragon is at a lower level than N’s Legendary, it will move second. This makes the rest of N’s team easier to handle.
Best IVs and EVs To Train for This Team
All of your Pokemon should have max IVs except for Sigilyph and Cofagrigus in Attack, reducing damage from Grimsley’s Krookodile’s Foul Play.
Simipour, Sigilyph, and Galvantula should maximize Speed, with the latter two preferably maximizing Special Attack. Scrafty benefits from a high Attack investment, while Cofagrigus and Serperior should focus on defense investment.
Tips and Tricks To Defeat the Elite Four, N, and Ghetsis in Pokemon Black and White
- You can challenge the members of the Elite Four in whatever order you want. Battle the easier ones first, then handle the harder ones once you have more experience.
- Before facing N and Ghetsis, you must box a Pokemon to use Reshiram or Zekrom. Sigilyph is the best choice to remove, as Psychic coverage is not very useful in these fights, and both Tao Dragons carry a Psychic move if needed.

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