Bringing back things from the dead is a staple of the series, but the Pokemon Black fossil Pokemon feel different. Maybe it’s because Gen 5 was a total soft reboot. You couldn't use your old favorites. No Geodude. No Zubat. Just a fresh start in the Unova region.
When you finally reach Relic Castle in the Desert Resort, you're faced with a choice that feels weirdly heavy for a handheld game from 2011. A backpacker stands there holding two rocks: the Cover Fossil and the Plume Fossil. You pick one. The other is gone.
Honestly, Unova's fossils—Tirtouga and Archen—represent one of the best mechanical balances Game Freak ever pulled off. They aren't just "rock monsters." They are extreme examples of risk and reward. One is a literal tank that refuses to die, and the other is a glass cannon that becomes useless if it takes a bad hit.
Finding the Pokemon Black Fossil Pokemon in the Unova Sands
Most people stumble upon these fossils while chasing Team Plasma through the sand. It's hot. The encounter rate is high. You’re just trying to find the exit when this NPC offers you a literal piece of history.
If you chose the Cover Fossil, you get Tirtouga. It’s a Water/Rock type. Think of it as the spiritual successor to Omanyte, but with more attitude and a much better physical movepool. It evolves into Carracosta at level 37. Carracosta is basically a walking fortress. With the ability Solid Rock, it takes reduced damage from super-effective hits. That's huge.
Then there’s the Plume Fossil. This gives you Archen, the First Bird Pokemon. Archen is a Rock/Flying type, but don't expect it to play like Pidgeot. It evolves into Archeops, a creature with a base Attack stat of 140. To put that in perspective, that’s higher than most Legendary Pokemon. But there is a massive catch: the Defeatist ability. If Archeops drops below half health, its offensive stats are cut in half. It’s the ultimate "hit fast or go home" strategy.
The Nacrene City Connection
You can’t just hatch these things. You have to take them to the Nacrene City Museum. Walk up to the scientist at the front desk, hand over the rock, and he’ll revive it instantly. It’s a bit jarring how fast it happens. No waiting, no side quests. Just a level 25 prehistoric bird or turtle added to your party.
✨ Don't miss: Your Network Setting are Blocking Party Chat: How to Actually Fix It
The level 25 starting point is actually quite high for where you are in the game. It makes them immediately viable for the upcoming gyms. Most players find themselves leaning on these ancient mons because the mid-game of Pokemon Black can be a bit of a grind.
Why Archeops is a Total Headache (And Why We Love It)
Archeops is frustrating. It really is.
Imagine you’re in a high-stakes battle against Ghetsis. You send out your Archeops. You’re ready to sweep with Acrobatics—a move that doubles in power if the user isn't holding an item. You click the button. But the opponent moves first, lands a lucky hit, and takes you down to 49% HP.
Suddenly, your prehistoric predator is hitting like a wet noodle.
This "Defeatist" mechanic is why the Pokemon Black fossil Pokemon are so debated in the competitive community. You have to play perfectly. You need a Choice Scarf to ensure you move first, or you need to run U-turn to pivot out before things get ugly. It’s stressful. But when it works? It’s glorious. Archeops can dismantle entire teams before they even realize what hit them.
Carracosta: The Shell Smash King
On the flip side, Carracosta is much more forgiving. It’s slow. Very slow. But it has access to Shell Smash.
🔗 Read more: Wordle August 19th: Why This Puzzle Still Trips People Up
Shell Smash is arguably one of the most broken boosting moves in Pokemon history. It lowers your Defense and Special Defense but raises your Attack, Special Attack, and Speed by two stages each. Because Carracosta has the Sturdy ability (usually), it can survive any single hit with 1 HP, get that Shell Smash off, and then proceed to wreck shop.
It’s a classic setup sweeper. You see it a lot in lower-tier competitive brackets like NU (Never Used) because it can punch way above its weight class.
The Rarity Factor and Post-Game Fossils
In the original Pokemon Black, you only get one of these fossils during the main story. To get the other, you have to trade. This was a classic move by Nintendo to get people talking.
However, once you beat the Elite Four and gain access to the Twist Mountain area, things change. There’s a worker there who will give you a random fossil from a previous generation every single day. You can get Aerodactyl, Kabuto, Lileep—all the classics. But Tirtouga and Archen remain the "True" Unova fossils.
Why Gen 5 Fossils Stand Out
Design-wise, these two are masterpieces. Tirtouga is based on Archelon, a massive prehistoric sea turtle that lived during the Late Cretaceous. Archen is clearly based on Archaeopteryx, the famous "missing link" between dinosaurs and birds.
They feel grounded in actual paleontology, which fits the more "mature" tone Pokemon Black and White were aiming for. The Unova region was modeled after New York City and the surrounding areas, so having these rugged, ancient creatures discovered in a desert-covered ruin feels like a nod to the natural history museums found in real-world metropolises.
💡 You might also like: Wordle Answers July 29: Why Today’s Word Is Giving Everyone a Headache
Practical Tips for Your Unova Playthrough
If you are currently playing through Pokemon Black and trying to decide which fossil to pick, consider your team composition.
- Pick Tirtouga if: You started with Snivy or Tepig. You need a bulky Water type that can switch into physical hits. If you're playing a "Nuzlocke" challenge, Tirtouga is the safer bet by a mile. Its survivability is legendary.
- Pick Archen if: You started with Oshawott. You’ll need the Flying coverage for fighting types, and you probably want something that can end battles quickly. Just remember to keep it away from Stealth Rocks; that entry hazard is an Archeops killer because it chips away the health you need to stay above the Defeatist threshold.
Don't bother with the "Soft Reset" method for shiny hunting these unless you have weeks of free time. The odds in Gen 5 are 1 in 8,192. It's brutal. Most people just want a Jolly nature for Archen or an Adamant nature for Tirtouga.
Move Sets That Actually Work
For Archen/Archeops, the strategy is simple: Acrobatics. Do not give it a held item. At level 25, when you get it, it already knows some decent moves, but once it hits level 28 and learns Acrobatics, it becomes a monster. Pair it with Rock Slide and U-turn.
For Tirtouga/Carracosta, focus on Aqua Jet. Since it’s slow, having a priority move is essential to finish off weakened opponents. Once you get the TM for Shell Smash or learn it at level 40, the game basically enters "easy mode" for most physical encounters.
Final Verdict on Unova's Ancients
The Pokemon Black fossil Pokemon aren't just Pokédex fillers. They are reflections of the game's broader philosophy: choice and consequence. Do you want the safety of a shell, or the volatile power of the first bird?
Most modern Pokemon games have made fossils easier to get, but there was something special about that guy in the basement of the Relic Castle. It felt like a secret.
To make the most of these Pokemon today, try pairing them with a "Shed Shell" or "White Herb" to mitigate their weaknesses. Or, if you're playing the sequels (Black 2/White 2), remember that you can get both fossils much more easily through the Join Avenue or the Antiques Shop.
What To Do Next
- Check your PC boxes. If you’re playing on original hardware, see which fossil you picked. If it's Archen, check its IVs—Speed is the only stat that truly matters for it.
- Head to Twist Mountain. If you've already beaten the game, make it a daily habit to talk to the Fossil Man. It’s the easiest way to complete your National Dex without using cheats or external tools.
- Experiment with Shell Smash. If you went with the Cover Fossil, take Carracosta to the Move Relearner and ensure it has Shell Smash. It changes the way you play the endgame entirely.