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.
Said to be an ancestor of bird Pokémon, they were unable to fly and moved about by hopping from one branch to another.
Revived from a fossil, this Pokémon is thought to be the ancestor of all bird Pokémon.
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)
 Tirtouga WaterRock | C | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Tirtouga builds →Ancient Power 2x66-78% Water Gun 2x43-52% Aqua Jet 2x57-67% Rollout 2x43-52% | ||
 Roggenrola Rock | C | |
 Omanyte RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Omanyte builds →Water Gun 2x60-72% Rollout 2x29-36% | ||
 Blitzle Electric | D | |
 Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Anorith builds →Metal Claw 2x52-62% Water Gun 2x26-31% | ||
Tirtouga WaterRock | C | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Tirtouga builds →Ancient Power 2x62-74% Water Gun 2x43-51% Aqua Jet 2x58-69% Rollout 2x43-51% | ||
Roggenrola Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Roggenrola builds →Smack Down 2x66-78% Rock Blast 2x34-42% | ||
Omanyte RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Omanyte builds →Water Gun 2x62-74% Rollout 2x31-37% | ||
Blitzle Electric | D | |
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Anorith builds →Metal Claw 2x52-62% Water Gun 2x26-31% | ||
 Shieldon RockSteel | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift | ||
Omanyte RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Omanyte builds →Rock Tomb 2x51-60% Water Gun 2x57-68% Rollout 2x27-32% | ||
 Kabuto RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift | ||
 Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Anorith builds →Rock Tomb 2x88-104%KO Metal Claw 2x49-59% Water Gun 2x23-27% | ||
Shieldon RockSteel | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Shieldon builds →Ancient Power 2x54-64% Rock Tomb 2x54-64% | ||
Omanyte RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Omanyte builds →Scald 2x118-139%KO Brine 2x96-114%KO Rock Tomb 2x51-61% Water Gun 2x61-71% | ||
Kabuto RockWater | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Kabuto builds →Scald 2x81-96% Rock Tomb 2x81-96% Aqua Jet 2x57-68% | ||
Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Anorith builds →Ancient Power 2x51-61% Rock Tomb 2x94-111%KO Metal Claw 2x52-62% Water Gun 2x24-29% | ||
 Ferroseed GrassSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Ferroseed builds →Mirror Shot 2x43-51% Metal Claw 2x51-61% Rollout 2x21-26% | ||
 Zebstrika Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Zebstrika builds →Volt Switch 2x95-112%KO Spark 2x105-124%KO Shock Wave 2x84-99% Charge Beam 2x70-83% | ||
 Minun Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Minun builds →Volt Switch 2x91-109%KO Spark 2x56-67% Charge Beam 2x67-80% | ||
Shieldon RockSteel | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Shieldon builds →Ancient Power 2x54-64% Rock Tomb 2x54-64% | ||
 Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Plusle builds →Volt Switch 2x100-118%KO Spark 2x65-77% Charge Beam 2x72-86% | ||
 Cobalion SteelFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodMistralton Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Cobalion builds →Iron Head 2x116-137%KO Flash Cannon 2x116-137%KO Volt Switch 2x67-80% Metal Claw 2x74-87% | ||
 Stunfisk GroundElectric | C | |
Obtain MethodIcirrus City Super Rod Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Stunfisk builds →Thunder 2x146-172%KO Thunderbolt 2x120-143%KO Surf 2x81-95% Discharge 2x106-125%KO | ||
Zebstrika Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Zebstrika builds →Thunder 2x143-169%KO Thunderbolt 2x118-140%KO Discharge 2x106-125%KO Volt Switch 2x93-111%KO | ||
 Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Crustle builds →Rock Slide 2x123-146%KO Rock Tomb 2x99-117%KO Smack Down 2x83-99% Rock Blast 2x44-52% | ||
Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Plusle builds →Thunder 2x150-178%KO Thunderbolt 2x123-146%KO Volt Switch 2x96-114%KO Spark 2x61-73% | ||
Cobalion SteelFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodMistralton Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Cobalion builds →Iron Head 2x117-138%KO Flash Cannon 2x117-138%KO Volt Switch 2x69-81% Metal Claw 2x74-88% | ||
Stunfisk GroundElectric | C | |
Obtain MethodIcirrus City Super Rod Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Stunfisk builds →Thunder 2x146-173%KO Muddy Water 2x81-96% Thunderbolt 2x121-143%KO Surf 2x81-96% | ||
Zebstrika Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Zebstrika builds →Thunder 2x146-173%KO Thunderbolt 2x121-143%KO Discharge 2x108-127%KO Volt Switch 2x95-112%KO | ||
Crustle BugRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Crustle builds →Rock Slide 2x126-149%KO Rock Tomb 2x101-119%KO Smack Down 2x85-101%KO Rock Blast 2x45-53% | ||
Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Archen View Plusle builds →Thunder 2x153-181%KO Thunderbolt 2x126-149%KO Volt Switch 2x99-117%KO Spark 2x63-74% | ||
In Black & White, 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 & White 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 & White 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
Breeding's the move. Bite and Defog give Archen options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 8 types already covers a decent range on top of Head Smash and Stone Edge. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Archen in Black & White
Archen is handed to you at Nacrene City. No encounter rates or random spawns involved, so there's nothing to grind. Check the location details below for the exact conditions to trigger it.
Best Locations to Catch Archen in Black & White
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 & White, 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