Gen 5 Move Database

Pokémon Black & White Moves

TMs become reusable for the first time. No more hoarding Earthquake or Ice Beam. Teach them to your whole team. New moves like Scald and Wild Charge join the roster.

BLACK & WHITE MOVE LIST

Move Spotlight

Scald

#1 PickSpecial

Scald

WaterSpecial

Power80

Accuracy100%

PP15

Used by

Scald only does 80 damage. Modest. But its 30% burn chance turned every Water-type into a defensive nightmare in Black & White. Physical attackers risked halving their own Attack just by switching into the wrong matchup. Politoed, Jellicent, and Tentacruel all relied on Scald to punish aggression.

Scald (Water / Special)

Scald only does 80 damage. Modest. But its 30% burn chance turned every Water-type into a defensive nightmare in Black & White. Physical attackers risked halving their own Attack just by switching into the wrong matchup. Politoed, Jellicent, and Tentacruel all relied on Scald to punish aggression.

Volt Switch

#2 PickSpecial

Volt Switch

ElectricSpecial

Power70

Accuracy100%

PP20

Used by

Volt Switch arrived in Gen 5 and combined with U-turn to create the hit-and-switch archetype that still defines competitive play. Rotom-W and Thundurus dealt Electric-type damage and brought in a teammate in the same turn. Black & White teams were built around this momentum loop.

Volt Switch (Electric / Special)

Volt Switch arrived in Gen 5 and combined with U-turn to create the hit-and-switch archetype that still defines competitive play. Rotom-W and Thundurus dealt Electric-type damage and brought in a teammate in the same turn. Black & White teams were built around this momentum loop.

Shell Smash

—

#3 PickStatus

Shell Smash

NormalStatus

Power—

Accuracy—

PP15

Used by

Shell Smash was the most extreme setup move Pokemon had ever introduced. +2 Attack, +2 Special Attack, +2 Speed in one turn at the cost of both defenses. Cloyster went from forgotten to a top competitive threat overnight. One successful Shell Smash meant the game was probably over.

Shell Smash (Normal / Status)

Shell Smash was the most extreme setup move Pokemon had ever introduced. +2 Attack, +2 Special Attack, +2 Speed in one turn at the cost of both defenses. Cloyster went from forgotten to a top competitive threat overnight. One successful Shell Smash meant the game was probably over.

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Game Rules

How Moves Work in Black & White

A region of strangers

Until the postgame, Unova only offers brand-new species, which means brand-new learnsets everywhere. Nobody gets to coast on memorized movesets here, and checking what a teammate learns next becomes part of the route-to-route rhythm.

Formats multiply

Triple Battles and Rotation Battles debut in Gen 5, and both reward moves that hit multiple targets or reposition a fight. A spread attack that felt redundant in single battles earns its slot the moment three Pokémon share the field.

Debuts

New in Black & White

89 moves introduced in Generation 5

An enormous wave of new moves arrived with Unova to feed an all-new regional roster, and the quality bar is higher than its reputation suggests. Several went from local novelties to series fixtures the moment later games inherited them.

Questions

Pokémon Moves: Frequently Asked

Are TMs reusable in Pokémon Black and White?

Yes. Gen 5 made all TMs reusable for the first time in the series. You can teach a TM move to as many compatible Pokémon as you want without consuming the item. This was a permanent change that carried into all future games.

What new moves were introduced in Generation 5?

Gen 5 added many new moves including Scald, Volt Switch, Shell Smash, and Horn Leech. Volt Switch pairs with U-turn for momentum-based strategies, and Shell Smash is one of the best setup moves in the game.

How do HMs work in Black and White?

Black and White reduced HM requirements significantly compared to previous games. Only Cut and Surf are needed for the main story, with Strength, Waterfall, and Dive used for optional areas. This was a step toward the eventual removal of HMs in later generations.

Are there Move Tutors in Pokémon Black and White?

Black and White have very limited Move Tutors compared to Platinum or HGSS. The main tutors teach the elemental Pledge moves to starters and Draco Meteor to Dragon-types. Black 2 and White 2 greatly expanded tutor options.

What is the move Scald and why is it important?

Scald is an 80-power Water-type special move with a 30% chance to burn the target. It became one of the most important competitive moves because it lets Water-type walls threaten physical attackers with burn while dealing reliable STAB damage.