Opelucid City (Japanese: ソウリュウシティSoryu City) is a city in the northern and central area of the Unova region. The look of Opelucid City differs between versions. In Pokémon Black, the city has a technological appearance, while in Pokémon White, it has a natural appearance. The music reflects their respective appearances in both versions as well. Black 2 and White 2 maintains this difference as well.
During the storyline of Black 2 and White 2, the city is frozen by the Plasma Frigate, blocking the entrances to all but the Pokémon Center, Gym, and Drayden's house. During the credits the ice is shown to be thawing. It is implied that after the events of Pokémon Black and White, a landslide on the old Victory Road occurred and, as a safety precaution, the northern exit to Route 10 is sealed off; Route 10 therefore no longer exists in Black 2 and White 2, nor does the gate that once led to the route, having evidently been demolished.
Opelucid City is host to the final Gym Trainers challenge on their journey through Unova. The Gym Leader faced depends on the game version. In Pokémon Black, the player will battle Drayden; in Pokémon White the player will battle Iris. They both specialize in Dragon-types. In Black 2 and White 2, Drayden is the sole Gym Leader due to Iris becoming the Champion. After the player receives his/her badge, Opelucid City is frozen.
Battle House
The Battle House, located west of the entrance, is a building where the player can battle two Ace Trainers in Rotation Battles in Black, and Triple Battles in White. Unlike most Trainers in Black and White, these Trainers can be rematched, and will battle the player once per day.
The northern exit as it appears in Pokémon White 2.
The northern exit of the city differs between the two sets of games. In Black and White it exits to Route 10, however in Black 2 and White 2 this northern exit has been sealed off. This is due to the collapse of the old Victory Road.
This change removes Route 10 from Unova completely. Even if the player uses a cheating device to bypass through the sealed off area, it leads nowhere and plays the music from Route 6, 7, 8, 9, 17, and 18.
Demographics
Pokémon Black
Opelucid City has a population of 46.
Pokémon White
Opelucid City has a population of 52.
Variable scoring
In Black version, a synth track will be added to the background theme if the player is near a keytar player performing immediately west of the Pokémon Center. In White version, an erhu player stands in the same place and will add an erhu track.
Opelucid City is home to Opelucid Academy, a prestigious academy located near the Opelucid Gym. Iris was a former student at the academy. Iris was reunited here with her friend Martha for a short period of time. Drayden is the Academy President of Opelucid Academy and it was revealed that he handpicks the students to study at the academy. Opelucid City also appears to have a radio tower that towers over the city.
Trivia
Opelucid's Japanese motto is 過去と 未來が 絡みあう街.
The city is similar to Blackthorn City in that they are both host to a Dragon-type Gym, that Gym is the eighth Gym of the region at some point, that they both have the effort value checker and a Move Tutor for Draco Meteor, and that they are both located in the northern part of their respective regions.
This is the second city in Unova where the Gym Leader varies, though not in the same way as the Striaton Gym.
However this does not apply to Black 2 and White 2.
In Black 2 and White 2, if the player does not get the Ring Target or the Float Stone from the people in Drayden's house before Team Plasma freezes the city, they will only talk about how concerned they are for the city. Should this be the case, they will give the player the items after defeating the Elite Four and Champion.
In Black 2 and White 2, if the player does not collect the Max Potion from Route 11 and uses the Dowsing Machine by the city's eastern exit, it will reveal the presence of a hidden item. This disappears once the Max Potion is collected.
Name origin
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
ソウリュウシティ Soryu City
双龍文 sōryūmon, a type of Chinese pattern resembling two dragons. Also from 蒼竜 sōryū, a Japanese name for the Azure Dragon.
English
Opelucid City
From opacus (opaque sheets of clouds), perlucidus (sheets of cloud with small spaces), and possibly translucidus (translucent sheets of clouds). May also be from opal and lucid.
French
Janusia
From Janus, the Roman god of gates depicted with two faces, one facing the past, the other facing the future. Also a flower genus.
German
Twindrake City
From "twin" and "drake" (a term sometimes used to refer to European dragons).
Italian
Boreduopoli
From Bora, a northern katabatic wind in the Mediterranean area, and duo.
