Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Various Notes

Tags: pokemon-black-and-white, in-depth-guides

Contents

• Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Personality ID
• Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Nature
• Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Kinds of Stats
• Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Stat Formulas
• Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Individual Values
• Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Base Stats (Effort Values)
• Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Growth Rates
• Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Fishing
• Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Breeding
• Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Form Differences

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Personality ID

Each Pokémon comes with an unsigned 32-bit integer ID, generated at random, which determines significant information about the uniqueness of the Pokémon. (This ID is sometimes called "Personality Value" or "Personality ID". It is not to be confused with a Pokémon’s Trainer ID.)

Ability

A Pokémon’s initial Ability is determined by whether the personality ID divided by 65536, rounded down (here called the "high ID") is odd or even. If it’s even, it has the first Ability, and if odd, the second Ability.

Some Pokémon, such as Pokémon befriended in the Pokémon Dream World, can have different Abilities known as "Hidden Abilities" or, as many people call them, "Dream World Abilities." Such Pokémon have a special flag set for them, which is not based on the personality ID. (This is necessary because some Pokémon, such as Starly, have the same Hidden Ability as their usual Ability.) Most Pokémon species can each have one possible Hidden Ability. If a Pokémon with the Hidden Ability flag evolves, it receives the Hidden Ability for its new species.

If a Pokémon is transferred or traded from one game to another, it keeps its Ability, even if its high ID and Hidden Ability flag indicate that it would have a different Ability in the game it’s traded to. If a Pokémon evolves in Pokémon Black Version, Pokémon White Version, and later, it receives the Ability conforming to its personality ID and Hidden Ability flag.

Gender

• 12.5% female - If gender value is 0 through 30, the Pokémon is female; otherwise, male.
• 25% female - If gender value is 0 through 63, the Pokémon is female; otherwise, male.
• 50% female - If gender value is 0 through 126, the Pokémon is female; otherwise, male.
• 75% female - If gender value is 0 through 190, the Pokémon is female; otherwise, male.
• Always male - Always male regardless of gender value.
• Always female - Always female regardless of gender value.
• Gender-unknown - Unknown gender, regardless of gender value.

Unown form

1. Set Y to the personality ID.
2. Set A to the remainder of Y divided by 4.
3. Divide Y by 256 and round down.
4. Set B to the remainder of Y divided by 4, then multiply B by 4.
5. Divide Y by 256 and round down.
6. Set C to the remainder of Y divided by 4, then multiply C by 16.
7. Divide Y by 256 and round down.
8. Set D to the remainder of Y divided by 4, then multiply D by 64.
9. Set X to A plus B plus C plus D.
10. Set X to the remainder of X divided by 28.

Wurmple

For a given Wurmple, if the remainder of the personality ID’s high 16 bits divided by 10 is less than 5, it will evolve into Silcoon; else Cascoon.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Nature

Each Pokémon can have one of 25 different natures, which is randomly chosen as it’s generated. Most natures raise one stat by 10% and lower another stat by 10%. Shown here are the stats to increase and decrease. In Pokémon Black Version, Pokémon White Version, and later, a Pokémon’s nature is not based on its personality ID.

A Pokémon with a Bashful, Docile, Hardy, Quirky, or Serious nature doesn’t experience any special increase or decrease in a particular stat.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Kinds of Stats

There are six different kinds of stats:

HP (Hit Points)

A Pokémon with high HP is expected to last longer during battle. When a Pokémon’s HP reaches 0, the Pokémon faints and can’t fight until it is revived.

Attack

The Attack stat affects the damage inflicted by physical attacks. If Attack is greater than the target’s Defense, the physical attack’s power is boosted. An attack is generally physical if either it involves physical contact with the target (such as tackles, punches, or kicks) or the attack’s execution follows a law of physics (such as throwing objects and triggering a waterfall).

Defense

The Defense stat affects the damage received from physical attacks. If Defense is greater than the attacker’s Attack, the physical attack’s power is reduced.

Special Attack

The Special Attack stat affects the damage inflicted by special attacks. If Special Attack is greater than the target’s Special Defense, the special attack’s power is boosted. An attack is generally special if it either involves elemental magic such as fire, water, wind, and electricity, or if the attack’s execution doesn’t necessarily follow a law of physics, such as psychic power and powerful beams.

Special Defense

The Special Defense stat affects the damage received from special attacks. If Special Defense is greater than the attacker’s Special Attack, the special attack’s power is reduced.

Speed

The Speed stat determines which Pokémon will strike first. In battle, in general, the Pokémon with the highest Speed attacks first in a particular turn.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Stat Formulas

The game uses these formulas to find a Pokémon’s stats. In these formulas, each multiplication and division is rounded down.

HP = ((A*2+B+(C/4))*D/100)+D+10
Other Stats = (((A*2+B+(C/4))*D/100)+5)*E

where:

• A = Pokémon’s Race Value
• B = Pokémon’s Individual Value
• C = Pokémon’s Base Stat (EV)
• D = Pokémon’s Level
• E = 1.1 if the Pokémon’s nature raises the stat; otherwise, 0.9 if the nature lowers the stat; otherwise, 1.

As an exception, Shedinja’s maximum HP is always 1 (its Base HP is 1).

A Pokémon’s stats are calculated upon creation. A Pokémon’s stats are recalculated whenever its base stats (EVs) rise or fall, and whenever it gains a level. Its stats are also recalculated when it changes to a form with different race values within the same game (this includes if Deoxys changes to the same form). A Pokémon’s stats are not recalculated when it’s traded.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Individual Values

Individual Values, or IVs, range from 0 through 31. These values can differ between two Pokémon of the same species and define a particular Pokémon’s stat potential rather than the stat potential of its species. There are six Individual Values for Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed, and HP. A Pokémon begins with randomly determined Individual Values. The official guides use the term "inherent strength" to refer to these values.*

For a level 100 Pokémon, each Individual Value contributes that many stat points to the corresponding stat.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Base Stats (Effort Values)

Base Stats (EVs) indicate the amount of training that a Pokémon has made. Here are the basics on base stats (EVs).

• How base stats (EVs) are raised - Whenever a Pokémon earns Exp. Points in battle, usually by defeating foe Pokémon, it earns a number of base stat points (EVs) depending on the species of the Pokémon defeated. After the Pokémon earns base stat points (EVs), all its stats are recalculated. Even a Pokémon at level 100 will earn base stat points (EVs) in battle if it would have earned Exp. Points at a level less than 100. A Pokémon’s base stats (EVs) are not raised while it’s deposited in the Day-Care or when a Rare Candy is used on it.
• Limits - Each base stat (EV) ranges from 0 to 255. A Pokémon starts with base stats (EVs) of 0 for all stats, and its base stat (EV) total can’t exceed 510. (The six stats are HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. base stat points (EVs) are also earned in that order.) A Pokémon with 510 base stat points (EVs) has "put in a great effort" according to the girl in Opelucid City, north of the Pokémon Center.
• The "box trick" - When a Pokémon is placed in a PC storage box, the game stores, among other things, its Exp. Points (to calculate its level), its individual values, and its base stats (EVs). When the Pokémon is removed from the storage system, its stats are recalculated based on its base stats (EVs), without actually gaining a level. This effect is sometimes called the "box trick."
• Base stats (EVs) and stats - For a level 100 Pokémon, every 4 base stat points (EVs) correspond to 1 stat point. Because of this, only 508 base stat points (EVs) overall and 252 base stat points (EVs) in a certain stat (for a stat increase of 63) are required to raise a Pokémon’s stats as much as possible.

Some kinds of items can affect Base stats (EVs):

• Nutritious drinks - There are six nutritious drinks, also known as "vitamins", that increase the base stat (EV) of the corresponding stat by 10, but not to more than 100. Each nutritious drink only takes effect if the base stat (EV) for that stat is less than 100. After a nutritious drink is used and takes effect, all the Pokémon’s stats are recalculated.
  • HP - HP Up (won’t have any effect on a Shedinja, however)
  • Attack - Protein
  • Defense - Iron
  • Special Attack - Calcium
  • Special Defense - Zinc
  • Speed - Carbos
• Wings - Using a wing on a Pokémon raises the base stat (EV) of the corresponding stat by 1, but not to more than 255. After a wing is used and takes effect, all the Pokémon’s stats are recalculated.
  • HP - Health Wing (won’t have any effect on a Shedinja, however)
  • Attack - Muscle Wing
  • Defense - Resist Wing
  • Special Attack - Genius Wing
  • Special Defense - Clever Wing
  • Speed - Swift Wing
• Stat-reducing Berries - Certain kinds of Berries decrease the base stat (EV) of the corresponding stat by 10. (They can’t lower the base stat (EV) by more than 10, unlike earlier versions.) If such a Berry reduces the base stat (EV) this way, all the Pokémon’s stats are recalculated.
  • HP - Pomeg Berry (Won’t have any effect at all on a Shedinja, not even friendship gain)
  • Attack - Kelpsy Berry
  • Defense - Qualot Berry
  • Special Attack - Hondew Berry
  • Special Defense - Grepa Berry
  • Speed - Tamato Berry
• "Power items" - Certain items commonly known as "Power items" will add 4 base stat points (EVs) of the appropriate stat to Pokémon that hold them whenever they earn base stat points (EVs) (of any kind) in battle. The additional base stat points (EVs) are added before they’re doubled by Pokérus (see below).
  • HP - Power Weight
  • Attack - Power Bracer
  • Defense - Power Belt
  • Special Attack - Power Lens
  • Special Defense - Power Band
  • Speed - Power Anklet
• Macho Brace - The Macho Brace will double the base stat points (EVs) that a Pokémon holding it will earn in battle.
• Pokérus - Although Pokérus is not an item, it too will double the base stat points (EVs) that a Pokémon infected with it will earn in battle, even after it’s cured of Pokérus. This effect, however, doesn’t apply if the Pokémon didn’t participate in the battle against the opposing Pokémon, even if it’s holding Exp. Share.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Growth Rates

Each Pokémon species belongs in one of six growth rates. Each growth rate determines the number of Exp. Points required to level up, from level 1 through 100.

The Exp. Points table shows the number of Exp. Points for each growth rate and level.

The Growth Rates list shows which Pokémon species belong in which growth rates.

Here are the six growth rates:

• Erratic - Max: 600,000 Exp. Points
  • Formula for levels 1-50: Level*Level*Level*(100-Level)/50
  • Formula for levels 51-68: Level*Level*Level*(150-Level)/100
  • Formula for levels 69-97: Level*Level*Level*(N+(10*(Level-68)/3)-(Level*10))/1000 where N is 1501 if Level is divisible by 3, and 1500 otherwise
  • Formula for levels 98-100: Level*Level*Level*(160-Level)/100
• Fast - Max: 800,000 Exp. Points
  • Formula: (Level*Level*Level*4/5)
• Medium - Max: 1,000,000 Exp. Points
  • Formula: (Level*Level*Level)
• Parabolic - Max: 1,059,860 Exp. Points
  • Formula: (Level*Level*Level*6/5)-15*Level*Level+100*Level-140
• Slow - Max: 1,250,000 Exp. Points
  • Formula: (Level*Level*Level*5/4)
• Fluctuating - Max: 1,640,000 Exp. Points
  • Formula for levels 1-15: Level*Level*Level*(24+((Level+1)/3))/50
  • Formula for levels 16-35: Level*Level*Level*(14+Level)/50
  • Formula for levels 36-100: Level*Level*Level*(31+Level/2)/50

A Pokémon at level 1 starts with 0 Exp. Points, despite the formulas given above.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Fishing

Each area has a specific fishing success rate for each rod, for example, 50%. Once the player has the rod ready, the game waits about 3 and a half seconds. Then, at the chance given by the success rate, an exclamation point appears over the player. As soon as that happens, the player must press the A button within the next second to land the Pokémon, or the Pokémon will get away. The fishing attempt will also fail if the player presses the A button too soon while fishing. If the first Pokémon in the party isn’t an Egg and has Sticky Hold or Suction Cups, the fishing success rate is doubled.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Breeding

These are notes related to discovering Pokémon Eggs, commonly known as "breeding", in Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version.

Egg Waiting Time

The waiting time depends on the species and 32-bit Trainer ID of the Pokémon (the OT names and OT genders of each Pokémon are not considered). The species and ID will set a value, called X, as follows:

• Same species, different ID: X=70% ("The two seem to get along very well!")
• Same species, same ID: X=50% ("The two seem to get along.")
• Different species, different ID: X=50% ("The two seem to get along.")
• Different species, same ID: X=20% ("The two don’t really seem to like each other much.")

However, if the Pokémon are incompatible, X will be 0% instead. This will happen if:

• Both Pokémon are male or both are female.
• Both Pokémon are Ditto.
• One or both of the Pokémon are gender-unknown, unless either Pokémon is a Ditto.
• The two Pokémon don’t have an Egg group in common, unless either Pokémon is a Ditto.
• One or both of the Pokémon are in the "undiscovered" Egg group, even if either Pokémon is a Ditto.

If the Pokémon are incompatible, the message shown is, "The two prefer to play with other Pokémon more than with each other."

If the Pokémon are compatible, then every 256 steps after the two Pokémon are placed in the Day-Care, an Egg will be ready at the percent chance given by X. The Pokémon hatched from the Egg, as well as its personality ID, will be calculated as soon as the Egg is received.

After an Egg is received, an "Egg counter" for that Egg is set to the " steps to hatch Egg " divided by 256. Every [255] steps after an Egg is taken or rejected from the Day-Care Man, the game reduces the "Egg counter" of each Egg in the player’s party by 1, or if a Pokémon with Magma Armor or Flame Body is in the player’s party, by 2. If an Egg’s "Egg counter" reaches 0 or less, it hatches[, and the "Egg counters" of Eggs that follow it in order in the player’s party are not reduced]. When an Egg hatches, its 32-bit Trainer ID, OT name, and OT gender change to those of the player, and the player will be allowed to nickname the newly hatched Pokémon.

The Trainer Memo gives an estimate of how long before a given Egg hatches:

• Egg counter is 41 or greater: "'The Egg Watch' It looks like this Egg will take a long time to hatch."
• Egg counter is 11-40: "'The Egg Watch' What will hatch from this? It doesn’t seem close to hatching."
• Egg counter is 6-10: "'The Egg Watch' It appears to move occasionally. It may be close to hatching."
• Egg counter is 5 or less: "'The Egg Watch' Sounds can be heard coming from inside! It will hatch soon!"

Species

1. One of the Pokémon can be a Ditto, but not both. In that case, the Egg will be the species that isn’t the Ditto, in the lowest evolutionary stage.
2. If the Egg’s species would be Nidoran female, instead it’s either Nidoran male or Nidoran female.
3. If the Egg’s species would be Illumise, instead it’s either Illumise or Volbeat.
4. If neither Pokémon in the pair is holding a Lax Incense and the Egg’s species would be Wynaut, the Egg’s species is Wobbuffet instead.
5. If neither Pokémon in the pair is holding a Sea Incense and the Egg’s species would be Azurill, the Egg’s species is Marill instead.
6. If neither Pokémon in the pair is holding a Rose Incense and the Egg’s species would be Budew, the Egg’s species is Roselia instead.
7. If neither Pokémon in the pair is holding a Pure Incense and the Egg’s species would be Chingling, the Egg’s species is Chimecho instead.
8. If neither Pokémon in the pair is holding a Rock Incense and the Egg’s species would be Bonsly, the Egg’s species is Sudowoodo instead.
9. If neither Pokémon in the pair is holding an Odd Incense and the Egg’s species would be Mime Jr., the Egg’s species is Mr. Mime instead.
10. If neither Pokémon in the pair is holding a Luck Incense and the Egg’s species would be Happiny, the Egg’s species is Chansey instead.
11. If neither Pokémon in the pair is holding a Wave Incense and the Egg’s species would be Mantyke, the Egg’s species is Mantine instead.
12. If neither Pokémon in the pair is holding a Full Incense and the Egg’s species would be Munchlax, the Egg’s species is Snorlax instead.
13. If the Egg’s species would be Manaphy, the Egg’s species is Phione instead.

If the Egg’s species is [Basculin,] Burmy or Shellos, the Egg inherits its alternate form from the female Pokémon in the pair, if one exists, or Ditto otherwise. (For Ditto, the Egg will be [Basculin Red-Striped Form,] Burmy Plant Cloak or west sea (pink) Shellos, respectively, since Ditto doesn’t come in different forms.)

Moves

The Egg begins at level 1 (with 0 Exp. Points) and initially has all moves it would have at level 1. The Egg can inherit other moves from the Pokémon left in the Day-Care, in this order:

1. The Egg will inherit all moves that the male Pokémon* knows and that are Egg moves for the Egg’s species.
2. The Egg will inherit all moves that the male Pokémon* knows and that can be taught to the Egg’s species through a TM or HM.
3. The Egg will inherit all moves that both Pokémon left in the Day-Care know and that the Egg’s species could learn by leveling up.
4. If either Pokémon in the pair is a Pikachu or Raichu and holds a Light Ball and the Egg is a Pichu, the Egg will learn Volt Tackle.

If the Egg would have more than four moves this way, moves from the top of the list are deleted and all duplicates except the last are removed until four moves remain.

*In these two cases, if one of the Pokémon in the pair is a Ditto, moves will be inherited by the Pokémon that isn’t Ditto, but only if it’s male or gender-unknown.

Personality ID

A Pokémon’s personality ID, is generated when the Egg is received, as part of generating the Pokémon that will hatch from the Egg. If both Pokémon in the pair originate from different language versions and a Shiny Egg would not be created, the game tries four additional times to generate a new personality ID at random until a Shiny Egg would be created. This is known as the "Masuda method."

[As a Manaphy Egg hatches, if it would be a Shiny Pokémon, the game generates a new personality ID at random until it would not be a Shiny Pokémon. This occurs before its Trainer ID changes to the Trainer ID of the player who caused the Egg to hatch.]

Ability

Normally, the Ability is randomly generated, indirectly by generating a personality ID. However, if neither Pokémon in the pair is a Ditto and the female has the Hidden Ability flag, there is a [40%] chance that the Egg will have the Hidden Ability flag.

Individual Values

The Egg receives random individual values (IVs), then it inherits a random IV for a random stat and from a random Pokémon in the pair. If either or both Pokémon in the pair each hold a Power Weight, Power Bracer, Power Belt, Power Lens, Power Band, or Power Anklet, the game chooses one of those Pokémon at random, and the Egg inherits the IV for HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, or Speed, respectively, from that Pokémon instead. Then the Egg inherits a random IV from a random Pokémon in the pair, but the stat can’t be the same as that of the first IV inherited. Then the Egg inherits another random IV from a random Pokémon in the pair, but the stat can’t be the same as that of the first or second IV inherited.

Nature

A random nature is chosen for the Egg. However, there is a (32767/65536) chance that the Egg will gain the nature of one of the holders of Everstone.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Form Differences

A few Pokémon species have different forms with different charactistics in their race values, types, moves, and Abilities. (Only the different forms of Deoxys, Shaymin, Giratina, Meloetta, Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus, and sometimes Rotom use the special term "Forme".)

* Has Telepathy as a Hidden Ability.

** Has Levitate as a Hidden Ability.

Height and Weight

Only values that differ between forms of the same species are shown.

• Giratina Altered Forme - 4.5 m, 750 kg
• Giratina Origin Forme - 6.9 m, 650 kg
• Shaymin Land Forme - 0.2 m, 2.1 kg
• Shaymin Sky Forme - 0.4 m, 5.2 kg

Base Stat (EV) Raises

Only values that differ between forms of the same species are shown.

• Deoxys Normal Forme - 1 Attack, 1 Speed, 1 Special Attack
• Deoxys Attack Forme - 2 Attack, 1 Special Attack
• Deoxys Defense Forme - 2 Defense, 1 Special Defense
• Deoxys Speed Forme - 3 Speed
• Wormadam Plant Cloak - 2 Special Defense
• Wormadam Sandy Cloak - 2 Defense
• Wormadam Trash Cloak - 1 Defense, 1 Special Defense
• Shaymin Land Forme - 3 HP
• Shaymin Sky Forme - 3 Speed
• Darmanitan Standard Mode - 2 Attack
• Darmanitan Zen Mode - 2 Special Attack
• Meloetta Aria Forme - 1 Speed, 1 Special Attack, 1 Special Defense
• Meloetta Pirouette Forme - 1 Attack, 1 Defense, 1 Speed

The form a Pokémon had when it fainted is used for the purpose of determining base stat (EV) raises.

Base Experience

Only values that differ between forms of the same species are shown.

• Rotom (normal) - 154
• Rotom (other) - 182
• Darmanitan Standard Mode - 168
• Darmanitan Zen Mode - 189

The form a Pokémon had when it fainted is used for the purpose of calculating Exp. Points.

Other Notes

Deerling and Sawsbuck change their form automatically according to the game’s season. Thus their forms are called Autumn, Spring, Summer, and Winter. There is no difference among these forms in gameplay or in battle, except that each form will be added to the Pokédex once it’s encountered.

The Red-Striped Form of Basculin can rarely hold a DeepSeaTooth in the wild, and the Blue-Striped Form can rarely hold a DeepSeaScale.

Rotom can take on one of several forms depending on the motor it has entered. When Rotom enters a motor, it learns a move depending on the motor it entered. If there is no room for the move and the player chooses not to delete another move, Rotom doesn’t enter the motor. (However, the move can later be deleted without losing the new form.)

• Microwave oven - Heat Rotom - Overheat
• Electric fan - Fan Rotom - Air Slash
• Refrigerator - Frost Rotom - Blizzard
• Washing machine - Wash Rotom - Hydro Pump
• Lawnmower - Mow Rotom - Leaf Storm

The motors that allow Rotom to change form can be found in a special room, which is located in the shopping mall on Route 9. Once in that room, inspect one of the cardboard boxes while a Rotom is in the party. A Rotom already in a special form can also enter a different motor or be brought back to its normal form this way.

Unlike in previous versions, Rotom will always retain its form in all cases, unless the player chooses to change the form as directed above. When Rotom reverts to its normal form, it forgets the move associated with its previous form, then if it has no moves, it learns ThunderShock. When Rotom enters a different motor, it forgets the move associated with its previous form, then learns the move associated with the new form.

Giratina is in its Origin Forme if it’s holding Griseous Orb, and in its Altered Forme otherwise.

Keldeo is in its Resolute Form if it knows Secret Sword, and in its Ordinary Form otherwise.