You’ve heard the stories. A meteor falls from the sky, a monster crawls out of the smoking rubble, and suddenly the residents of Lacunosa Town are locking their doors and windows at sunset. It sounds like a generic creepypasta, but in the context of Unova, the Giant Chasm Black 2 experience is probably the most atmospheric piece of storytelling Game Freak ever pulled off.
It isn't just a hole in the ground. Honestly, it’s the graveyard of a god.
If you’re revisiting the Unova region or playing through the sequels for the first time, you might think you know what to expect from a "legendary cave." You expect a straight path, maybe a few Strength boulders, and a big bird or dragon waiting at the end. Giant Chasm isn't like that. It’s a multi-layered, evolving piece of environmental storytelling that changes based on where you are in the plot. It’s dense. It’s confusing. And if you aren't prepared for the sheer level of high-tier wild encounters, it’ll chew you up.
The Meteorite and the Myth
The lore here is actually kinda dark for a Pokémon game. Local legend says that when the chasm was formed, the Pokémon Kyurem arrived inside that meteor. It didn't just sit there looking pretty. It was rumored to eat people and Pokémon alike. This is why the town nearby, Lacunosa, has those giant walls. People there were literally terrified for centuries.
In Pokémon Black 2, the chasm takes on a much more industrial, "war-zone" vibe than it did in the first game. You aren't just exploring a mysterious forest anymore. You’re invading a military base. Team Plasma, led by a increasingly unhinged Ghetsis, has parked their flying ship—the Plasma Frigate—right in the center of the crater.
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The contrast is wild. You have this ancient, prehistoric forest filled with thick grass and 50,000-year-old vibes, and then smack in the middle, there’s a high-tech frigate firing ice cannons that can freeze entire cities. It makes the location feel like it's actually part of the world's history rather than just a level to beat.
Navigating the Crater (It’s a Mess)
Let’s talk about the layout because, man, it can be a headache. You usually enter from Route 22. The first thing you'll notice is the "Outer Wall" cave. It’s pretty standard fare. You’ll need Surf and Strength. Don't be that person who gets halfway through and realizes their HM slave is in the PC.
The real meat is the Crater Forest.
In the original games, this was a maze of ledges. In Black 2, it’s a frozen wasteland for a good chunk of the story. The Plasma Frigate hovers over the center, and the ground is slick with ice. You have to slide around to find the entrance to the ship.
- The Hidden Grotto: There is a Hidden Grotto located here. It’s one of the best in the game because you can find Metang or even Ditto with its Hidden Ability, Imposter.
- High-Level Wilds: We're talking Piloswine, Vanillish, and even Mamoswine in the rustling grass. The levels hover in the late 40s and early 50s.
- The TM Haul: You can find TM13 (Ice Beam) and TM03 (Psyshock) here. Psyshock is tucked away in the southern part of the crater, and honestly, if you miss it, your Psychic-types are going to have a much harder time against special tanks.
That Confrontation with Ghetsis
When you finally get through the Plasma Frigate, you end up in the deepest part of the cave. This is where the game stops being a "catch 'em all" adventure and starts being a JRPG thriller.
Ghetsis doesn't just want to battle you. He tries to kill you. Literally. He orders Kyurem to use Glaciate on your character. It’s one of the few times in the entire franchise where the villain actually targets the human player directly with a lethal attack.
Then N shows up with Zekrom (if you’re playing Black 2), and things go south fast. Ghetsis uses the DNA Splicers—which is a terrifyingly clinical name for what happens—to forcibly fuse Kyurem and Zekrom into Black Kyurem.
You have to fight this thing. You can't catch it yet. That’s the mistake most people make. They waste their Ultra Balls trying to catch Black Kyurem during the story. Save your items. You literally cannot catch it in this state. You just have to beat it to separate the two dragons.
Post-Game: Catching the Remnant
Once the credits roll and Ghetsis has his total mental breakdown, the Giant Chasm changes again. The ship is gone. The ice has melted (mostly). Now, it’s just a quiet, eerie cave.
To actually catch Kyurem, you first have to go to Dragonspiral Tower and catch Zekrom. Only then will Kyurem return to the Giant Chasm.
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When you go back, Kyurem will be sitting there at Level 70. It’s a tough fight. It knows Glaciate, Dragon Pulse, and Imprison. If you’re trying to catch it without a Master Ball, bring a Pokémon with False Swipe and someone who can induce Sleep. Paralysis is okay, but at Level 70, Kyurem hits like a freight train, and you want it doing as little as possible while you chuck Dusk Balls.
Why the "Black 2" Version is Better
In the first Black and White, Giant Chasm felt like an optional side-quest. In Black 2, it is the climax of the entire Unova narrative. It ties together the meteor legend, the fall of Team Plasma, and the ultimate fate of the "Original Dragon."
The atmosphere is just... heavy. The music shift from the forest to the deep cave is haunting. It’s one of the few places in a Pokémon game that feels genuinely dangerous.
Actionable Steps for your Chasm Run
- Level Check: Ensure your team is at least Level 52 before heading into the crater for the Plasma fight. The Shadow Triad and Ghetsis do not play around.
- Item Prep: Grab TM13 (Ice Beam). It’s near the water in the entrance cave. You’ll need it for the dragon-heavy fights coming up.
- The Splicers: After you catch Kyurem in the post-game, check the floor right where it was standing. The DNA Splicers will be there as a dropped item. You need these to fuse Kyurem with Zekrom yourself.
- Hidden Grotto Reset: If you're looking for that Imposter Ditto, remember that Grottos have a 5% chance to regenerate every 256 steps. Maximize your steps by biking back and forth on Route 22.
- Move Tutor: There’s a Move Tutor in Humilau City nearby who can teach moves like Drill Run or Iron Head for shards. Stock up on the shards you find in the chasm's dust clouds to prep your team for the Elite Four.