Pokemon Black vs White comes down to the dragon on the box, 21 wild Pokemon each, and one place you can only visit in your own version. Reshiram belongs to Black and Zekrom belongs to White, and the Unova story around them is the same.
A city in Black and a forest in White
!A screenshot from Pokemon Black
These were the first games in the series with version-exclusive locations: Black City in Black and White Forest in White. The place you cannot visit is the place your friend can, which is a good reason to keep a friend who owns the other one.
Which Pokemon only one version has
!A screenshot from Pokemon White
Black's list includes Gothitelle, Mandibuzz, Honchkrow and Breloom. White's includes Reuniclus, Braviary, Butterfree and Lilligant. Several of them are old Pokemon from earlier regions, which the Unova story only lets you meet after you beat it.
| Only in Black | Only in White | |---|---| | Gothita | Solosis | | Gothorita | Duosion | | Gothitelle | Reuniclus | | Vullaby | Rufflet | | Mandibuzz | Braviary | | Reshiram | Zekrom | | Tornadus | Thundurus | | Weedle | Caterpie | | Kakuna | Metapod | | Beedrill | Butterfree | | Murkrow | Paras | | Honchkrow | Parasect | | Houndour | Misdreavus | | Houndoom | Mismagius | | Shroomish | Poochyena | | Breloom | Mightyena | | Plusle | Minun | | Volbeat | Illumise | | Cottonee | Petilil | | Whimsicott | Lilligant | | Throh | Sawk |
Reshiram or Zekrom, and the wind and thunder pair
!A screenshot from Pokemon Black
You find your dragon at the top of Dragonspiral Tower at level 50. The Forces of Nature follow the same split, since Black has Tornadus and White has Thundurus, both found on Route 7 at level 40.
The Opelucid Gym changes leader
!A screenshot from Pokemon White
Opelucid City has Drayden in Black and Iris in White. Their teams are the same, with Fraxure and Druddigon at level 41 and Haxorus at level 43, so the swap is about the character and not the challenge.
A trade that points the other way
!A screenshot from Pokemon Black
In Nacrene City an NPC trade swaps the two grass Pokemon. In Black you hand over a Cottonee and receive a Petilil, and in White you do the reverse with a Petilil. It gives each game a way to reach the other's Pokemon without a friend.
Which one should you buy?
Buy Black if you would rather have Reshiram and Honchkrow. Buy White if you would rather have Zekrom and Braviary. The games play the same, so let the dragon and the one or two team members you cannot do without decide it. We lean White for Braviary, who looks like it has somewhere to be.
Black vs White FAQ
Can you play Black and White without the other version?
Yes. Both games have the full story, and a trade covers the Pokemon you are missing.
Is one version harder than the other?
No. What changes is the Opelucid Gym Leader and the dragon N uses, and the teams are the same strength.
