Unova is weird. Well, the second trip to Unova is weird. When Game Freak dropped Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 back in 2012, they weren't just making a "third version" like Emerald or Platinum. They were building a genuine sequel. Because of that, the game feels stuffed. It’s like the developers knew this was the swan song for the 2D era on the DS and decided to just leave all the presents under the tree at once. Honestly, the sheer volume of Pokemon Black and White 2 gift pokemon is staggering compared to almost any other entry in the franchise. You aren't just catching things in the tall grass; the game basically hands you a competitive-grade roster if you know where to look.
Most players remember the big ones. You get a starter, obviously. But the way B2W2 handles gifts is different. It’s less about "here is a weak monster to fill your Pokedex" and more about "here is a specialized tool to help you dismantle the Elite Four."
The Early Game Power Trip
You start in Aspertia City. It’s a quiet corner of the map. After you grab your Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott from Bianca, the game doesn't wait long to start throwing high-value assets at you. In Floccesy Town, you run into Alder. He’s the former Champion, looking a bit more relaxed these days. After you do a bit of training, he doesn't just give you advice. If you come back after beating the game, he hands over a Shiny Gible (in Black 2) or a Shiny Dratini (in White 2).
Wait. Let’s back up.
Giving away a guaranteed Shiny pseudo-legendary is a massive flex. Usually, you’d spend weeks breeding or soft-resetting for a pink Dratini. Here? You just have to beat Alder’s grandson, Benga, at the bottom of the Black Tower or the White Treehollow. It’s a grind, sure, but the reward is a literal trophy that breathes fire.
But even before the post-game, you’ve got N’s Pokémon. These aren't technically "gifts" in the traditional "menu-pop-up" sense, but they function as such. If you used the Memory Link feature to connect your original Black or White save file, you can find N’s old team members scattered throughout the wild. They have a unique entrance animation—green sparkles, very distinct—and they have N as their Original Trainer (OT). Their IVs are set to 30 across the board. That is nearly perfect. In a casual playthrough, catching a Sigilyph or a Zorua with those stats is basically like finding a cheat code.
The Mystery of the Level 25 Deerling
Seasonality was a huge gimmick back then. You remember the changing leaves? The snow in Icirrus City? On Route 6, there’s the Weather Institute. Talk to the researchers there, and they’ll give you a Deerling.
It’s level 25. It has its Hidden Ability, Serene Grace.
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Now, Serene Grace is normally terrifying on something like Togekiss or Jirachi because it doubles the chance of secondary effects. On a Deerling? It’s... okay. It’s fine. But the cool factor is that this Deerling changes forms based on the month you’re playing in. It’s a living calendar. Most people shove it in the PC and forget about it, but it represents that specific era of Pokémon design where Game Freak was obsessed with the passage of real-world time.
Why the Shiny Haxorus Isn't a Participation Trophy
People talk about the Pokemon Black and White 2 gift pokemon list and always mention the Shiny Haxorus at the Nature Preserve. Technically, you "catch" it, but it’s a scripted encounter that requires a specific permit. You get that permit from Professor Juniper after seeing every Pokémon in the Unova Pokédex.
It’s a black dragon. It looks incredible.
The interesting thing about the B2W2 gift economy is how it rewards "completion" rather than just showing up. You want the Shiny? See the world. You want the Dratini? Conquer the battle facility. It’s a stark contrast to modern games like Sword and Shield or Scarlet and Violet, where gifts are often just Mystery Gift codes you type into a menu while sitting on your couch. In Unova, you earned your keepers.
Magikarp: The 500 Poké Dollar Scam (That Isn't)
On Marvelous Bridge, there’s a guy. We’ve seen him before. He’s the salesman who has been trying to sell you a "rare" Magikarp since the Kanto days. In most games, this is a joke. You’re paying 500 bucks for something you can pull out of any puddle with an Old Rod.
In Black 2 and White 2, he’s actually doing you a solid.
The Magikarp he sells you is guaranteed to have 31 IVs in Speed. In the world of Pokémon, a 31 is "Perfect." If you're looking to breed a competitive Gyarados, this guy is actually the best deal in the game. It’s a subtle nod to the hardcore players. It tells you that the developers were thinking about the "hidden" numbers that make a Pokémon strong.
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The Forgotten Fossil Choice
Go to Nacrene City. You’ll find Lenora, the former Gym Leader, at the museum. She gives you a choice between the Plume Fossil and the Cover Fossil.
- Archen (Plume): A glass cannon. High attack, but its Defeatist ability makes it useless once its HP drops below half.
- Tirtouga (Cover): A tanky turtle that can setup with Shell Smash and sweep.
Choosing between them feels heavier than it should. You’re picking a prehistoric teammate that hasn't seen the sun in millions of years. Most players go for Archen because of the high offensive stats, but Tirtouga is the reliable choice for a "Nuzlocke" run where staying alive is the only thing that matters.
The Strange Case of Zorua
In the original Black and White, getting a Zorua was a nightmare. You needed a special event Celebi from a movie promotion. It was a gatekept Pokémon.
In the sequels, they just give it to you.
In Driftveil City, one of the former Team Plasma sages (Rood) is watching over N’s old Pokémon. He hands you N's Zorua. It’s level 25. It has a Hasty nature. It has that 30 IV spread I mentioned earlier. This thing is a monster in the mid-game. Because it’s an "outside" Pokémon (the OT is N), it gains boosted experience points. It levels up faster than your starter. It disguises itself as the last Pokémon in your party, messing with the AI's head. It is, arguably, the most useful "free" Pokémon in the entire Unova region.
Eevee and the Hidden Ability Hunt
Once you beat the game and enter the Hall of Fame, head to Castelia City. Go to Amanita’s house. She’s the one who runs the PC storage system in Unova. She’ll give you an Eevee.
This isn't a normal Eevee. It has its Hidden Ability, Anticipation.
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This was a big deal at the time. Getting Hidden Abilities (HAs) was usually restricted to the Dream World, a web-browser-based mini-game that doesn't even exist anymore. This Eevee was a gateway. If you evolved it into Espeon, you got Magic Bounce. If you went for Sylveon (well, not in this generation, obviously), you’d eventually get Pixilate. In Gen 5, a Magic Bounce Espeon was a meta-defining threat that could reflect status moves back at the opponent. All from a simple "talk to the NPC" interaction.
Happiny and the Breeding Loop
Early on in Nacrene City, an NPC gives you a Happiny Egg. It’s easy to miss. You have to walk a few thousand steps for it to hatch.
Is Chansey good? Yes. Is Happiny annoying to level up? Also yes.
The gift is a bit of a trap for new players who don't realize how much of a grind Chansey can be without the right items (like Eviolite). But it provides a reliable special wall for anyone trying to build a balanced team without relying on luck in the grass.
How to Actually Use These Gifts
If you're jumping back into Black 2 or White 2 today, don't just hoard these. The game is designed for you to rotate your team. The level curve in the Unova sequels is steeper than in the originals.
- Prioritize N's Zorua: Use it for the Driftveil Gym and beyond. The Illusion ability is broken against the AI.
- Save the Magikarp for Breeding: Don't just evolve it immediately. Use its perfect Speed IV to pass down to other Pokémon later.
- Clear the Hollow/Tower: Don't sleep on the Shiny Gible/Dratini. Even if you don't like shinies, a Garchomp or Dragonite with high-tier stats makes the post-game much smoother.
The beauty of these Pokemon Black and White 2 gift pokemon is that they tell a story. They aren't random. They represent the legacy of N, the generosity of former champions, and the scientific curiosity of the region. They make the world feel lived-in. Instead of just catching a wild animal, you're taking on a responsibility passed down from another character.
Next time you're in Castelia or Driftveil, stop and talk to everyone. You might just walk away with a legendary-tier dragon or a perfectly-bred fish for the price of a conversation. Unova is generous like that. It wants you to win. It wants you to see everything it has to offer, and it gives you the tools to do it. Just make sure you have an empty slot in your party. There is nothing worse than being offered a gift and having to awkwardly run to a PC to make room while a Sage waits for you.