Stats & Training
Everything pushes toward physical damage here. Archen's Attack does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 1 Attack EV per KO. Tough to catch, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It was revived from an ancient fossil. Not able to fly, it lived in treetops and hopped from one branch to another.
It was revived from an ancient fossil. Not able to fly, it lived in treetops and hopped from one branch to another.
Archen Weakness
Type-wise, Archen takes extra damage from Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, and Steel. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. The Rock/Flying typing picks up 5 resistances to work with.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Electric, Ice, Rock, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Fire, Poison, Flying, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift | ||
 Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Magnemite builds →Magnet Bomb 2x51-60% Thunder Shock 2x64-76% | ||
 Mareep Electric | D | |
 Psyduck Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Psyduck builds →Water Pulse 2x73-87% Water Gun 2x51-60% | ||
Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Oshawott builds →Razor Shell 2x78-93% Water Gun 2x51-60% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Magnemite builds →Spark 2x52-62% Mirror Shot 2x102-121%KO Magnet Bomb 2x49-59% Thunder Shock 2x65-77% | ||
 Dwebble BugRock | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Dwebble builds →Rock Slide 2x89-106%KO Rock Tomb 2x71-84% Smack Down 2x62-73% Rock Blast 2x34-40% | ||
Psyduck Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Psyduck builds →Water Pulse 2x71-84% Water Gun 2x49-59% | ||
Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Oshawott builds →Razor Shell 2x80-95% Water Pulse 2x71-84% Water Gun 2x49-59% Aqua Jet 2x43-51% | ||
Mareep Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Mareep builds →Power Gem 2x62-73% Thunder Shock 2x49-59% | ||
 Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Emolga builds →Spark 2x80-96% Shock Wave 2x75-89% Thunder Shock 2x53-63% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Magnemite builds →Spark 2x49-59% Mirror Shot 2x98-115%KO Magnet Bomb 2x47-56% Thunder Shock 2x62-73% | ||
Dwebble BugRock | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Dwebble builds →Rock Slide 2x84-99% Rock Tomb 2x69-82% Smack Down 2x58-69% Rock Blast 2x31-36% | ||
Psyduck Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Psyduck builds →Aqua Tail 2x87-102%KO Water Pulse 2x69-82% Water Gun 2x47-56% | ||
 Panpour Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Panpour builds →Scald 2x78-92% Brine 2x64-76% Rock Tomb 2x38-46% Water Gun 2x42-49% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Onix builds →Rock Slide 2x66-79% Rock Tomb 2x54-64% Rock Throw 2x47-55% Smack Down 2x47-55% | ||
 Aron SteelRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Aron builds →Iron Tail 2x118-140%KO Iron Head 2x96-114%KO Rock Slide 2x88-105%KO Rock Tomb 2x71-84% | ||
 Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Ferroseed builds →Mirror Shot 2x39-47% Metal Claw 2x50-58% Rollout 2x19-23% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Magnemite builds →Flash Cannon 2x120-143%KO Spark 2x50-58% Mirror Shot 2x99-117%KO Magnet Bomb 2x47-55% | ||
 Klink Steel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Klink builds →Mirror Shot 2x59-70% Gear Grind 2x51-61% Charge Beam 2x31-37% Thunder Shock 2x24-29% | ||
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Excadrill builds →Rock Slide 2x103-122%KO Rock Tomb 2x82-98% Metal Claw 2x104-122%KO | ||
 Cobalion SteelFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 13 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Cobalion builds →Iron Head 2x118-139%KO Metal Claw 2x75-89% | ||
Aron SteelRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Aron builds →Iron Tail 2x122-144%KO Iron Head 2x98-115%KO Rock Slide 2x91-108%KO Rock Tomb 2x73-86% | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Ferroseed builds →Iron Head 2x75-89% Mirror Shot 2x41-48% Metal Claw 2x49-58% Rollout 2x20-24% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x169-199%KO Flash Cannon 2x124-146%KO Discharge 2x124-146%KO Spark 2x49-58% | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | A | |
Obtain MethodRoute 22 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Terrakion builds →Rock Slide 2x151-178%KO Rock Tomb 2x122-143%KO Smack Down 2x102-120%KO | ||
Cobalion SteelFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 13 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Cobalion builds →Iron Head 2x119-141%KO Metal Claw 2x76-90% | ||
Aron SteelRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Aron builds →Iron Tail 2x122-143%KO Iron Head 2x98-115%KO Rock Slide 2x92-108%KO Rock Tomb 2x74-88% | ||
Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Ferroseed builds →Iron Head 2x76-90% Mirror Shot 2x41-48% Metal Claw 2x48-58% Rollout 2x21-25% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x170-201%KO Flash Cannon 2x125-148%KO Discharge 2x125-148%KO Spark 2x51-60% | ||
In Black 2 & White 2, Excadrill can KO Archen with Rock Slide (126-148%). Terrakion threatens a KO with Stone Edge (244-287%). Politoed's Scald also KOs at 119-140%.
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySandforce ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Archen View Excadrill builds →Rapid Spin21-25% Rock Slide 2x126-148%KO | ||
Terrakion RockFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Archen View Terrakion builds →Close Combat145-171%KO Stone Edge 2x244-287%KO | ||
 Politoed Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Archen View Politoed builds →Scald 2x119-140%KO | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemAir Balloon NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Archen View Magnezone builds →Thunderbolt 2x241-284%KO Flash Cannon 2x215-253%KO Volt Switch 2x188-221%KO | ||
 Mamoswine IceGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityThickfat ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Archen View Mamoswine builds →Ice Shard 2x161-190%KO Superpower160-189%KO | ||
Black 2 & White 2 Evolution
Archen is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Archeops. Check the evolution method below. A decent partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are slow to hatch. Evolving adds up to 166 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Archen with 45 breeding partners from the Flying and Water3 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Bite, Defog, Dragon Pulse and 4 more to offspring.
Black 2 & White 2 Archen Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 5.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Stall teams hate this. Archen can spread damage across 10 types, with Normal and Dragon punishing common defensive pivots. STAB from Head Smash and Stone Edge keeps the pressure honest on everything else.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Archen in Black 2 & White 2
Archen is a gift in this game. Pick it up at Nacrene City — no wild encounters or spawn rates to deal with. The details below cover exactly when it becomes available.
Best Locations to Catch Archen in Black 2 & White 2
Archen Guide
At 401 BST, Archen is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Archeops before bringing it to any serious fight.
Defeatist is the go-to ability for Archen. It halves Attack and Special Attack at 50% max HP or less. It's Archen's only ability.
Archen is a physical attacker with base 112 Attack. Fragile, can't afford to take many hits, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the attacker role.
In Black 2 & White 2, For a casual playthrough, Archen works as a placeholder. Rock/Flying coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Archeops. That's where the stats start mattering.
Game Availability
Since Black & White, Archen has been obtainable in 7 games. A Generation 5 debut means a shorter history, but Archen has appeared steadily across every generation since.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BWDebut
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves