A thriving metropolis hidden in the rain, Virbank City is a nicer place than it looks at first glance - though you know immediately that you'll have stuff to do here. After a call from your mom and a run-in with gym leader Roxie and her sea captain dad, you'll have the run of the land. Get to work.
The first thing to note here is the Pokémon Center. Though it looks basically identical to the ones you've already seen, there are far more items that you can purchase from the two vendors. This includes a greater, stronger variety of Poké Balls, Super Potions, and various status-restoring items. Consider grabbing a handful of Antidotes, as Virbank's gym is loaded down with Poison-types.
If you want, you can skip right to the gym leader's basement hideout and fight Roxie. For this article, though, we're going to spend some time looking around Virbank City, as there are a bunch of items to pick up:
- The first house to the east of the Pokémon Center has a Poké Toy.
- Just south of the old man on the eastern bridge there's a break in the railing, with stairs leading down. Follow this path west, south and back east to a dead end. A Pearl is hidden on the last square before you hit a dead end.
- The man outside the Virbank Gym will give you Poké Balls.
- A woman in the daycare center (blue house south of the Pokémon Center) will give you a Burn Heal.
- The trash can outside and to the left of the daycare center contains an Antidote.
There's more to be found, but you need Surf to get it all. Time to head to the Virbank Complex your mom mentioned for some more training.
Virbank Complex Pokémon
- Audino - Common, Rustling Grass, All Seasons
- Elekid - Uncommon, Tall Grass, All Seasons - White 2 Only
- Growlithe - Uncommon, Tall Grass, All Seasons
- Koffing - Uncommon, Tall Grass, All Seasons
- Magby - Uncommon, Tall Grass, All Seasons - Black 2 Only
- Magnemite - Uncommon, Tall Grass, All Seasons
- Patrat - Uncommon, Tall Grass, All Seasons
In the southern half of the city you'll come across grass, and immediately know you're in the Complex. This is an excellent place to train your Pokémon in preparation for Roxie, as you may not be strong enough to challenge her gym at your current levels. Before you go too far south, though, go down the stairs to your right. They lead to a man who will trade a Great Ball for a Poké Ball once a day, and if you follow the path past him - there are some blind walkways, so just keep walking - you'll find an awesome Silk Scarf for your Normal-type move users. You can't see the Silk Scarf, but it's there.
To the immediate west of the main road into the Complex is a patch of grass. Grab the X Accuracy, then head south and into the Complex proper. To the left of the entrance is a tree you'll have to Cut down later. For now, talk to the bald man you see by the tree and agree to 'fire up' his workers for him. Carry on south to face your first trainer on the road.
Youngster Masahiro
- Lillipup, level 13
Reward: 208 P
South of the trainer you'll see grass on your right side, and a conspicuous gap in the grass. Check the gap for a Great Ball. Keep going east and then north to find a scientist investigating an oil tower in the dark grass; talk to him and he'll run off. Nearby there's a small gap in the grass with a TinyMushroom hidden on the ground. Go back to the main path and check to the west of where you emerged; the scientist will be there again. Talk to him and he'll run off. Follow him one last time, to the lookout in the south, and he'll give you an Ether for being so interested. Also here is another trainer for you to face.
Lass Daya
- Woobat, level 13
Reward: 208 P
Wandering near Daya is a blonde woman who wants to see a complete Habitat List for Virbank Complex. See all of the Pokémon in this area and she'll give you five Great Balls.
Return to the main path and go up the stairs to your left. Follow the path east to the thin pipes - walk rather than run, so you don't fall off - and take the pipe to the east and down to the waterside. You'll find the first of the workers.
Worker Isaac
- Magby, level 12
- Koffing, level 12
Reward: 480 P
Down the stairs from Isaac you'll find TM46 Thief. Grab it, then return to the pipes. Make your way north to find the next worker.
Worker Mitchell
- Patrat, level 12
- Elekid, level 12
Reward: 480 P
Go west from this worker to the next oil drum, and continue along the pipes over the grassy area. If you're careful you can find another trainer above the next worker.
Youngster Waylon
- Patrat, level 13
Reward: 208 P
Hop down into the grass from here to face off against the final worker.
Worker Nathan
- Riolu, level 12
- Lillipup, level 12
Reward: 480 P
After trouncing all of the workers, return to the man at the entrance. In gratitude for... beating up his employees... he'll give you TM94 Rock Smash, which you can equip on a Pokémon to destroy rocks out of battle. Rock Smash is not a great battle move, so don't use the TM on your permanent team.
Before you leave, check the oil tower in the northeast of Virbank Complex. There's a narrow path along the eastern wall that will get you there. Check the bare spot near the tower to find a hidden TinyMushroom, then speak to the nearby Scientist. He'll run off. Follow him west to the white-and-orange smokestacks and he'll run off again. Follow him south to the spherical gas containers and, impressed by your knowledge of processing techniques, he'll give you an Ether.
Once you've taken out everyone in the Virbank Complex you'll be ready to spar with Roxie. Go back to the Pokémon Center in Virbank City, heal your Pokémon, buy some Antidotes, and prepare yourself for a visit to the poisonous Virbank Gym.
Return Trip
Once you have Surf you can sail north through Virbank City, under the bridges, to a small spot beside the Pokémon Center. Here you'll find a Rare Candy.