Nimbasa City

050Diglett.png This article is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Needs complete layout in BW and B2W2 of all seasons

Nimbasa City ライモンシティ
Raimon City
"Lit by the Flash of Lightning!"
Nimbasa City Summer B2W2.png
None.png
Nimbasa City in {{{variable2}}}.
Map description
A bustling city of entertainment, with many theme parks.
Nimbasa City Gym - Unova Gym #4
Elesa
Elesa
Electric-type
specialist Gym
Bolt Badge
Bolt Badge
Nimbasa City Gym - Unova Gym #4
[[File:{{{leadersprite2}}}|{{{leader2}}}|link={{{leader2}}}]]
[[{{{leader2}}}|{{{leader2}}}]]
Electric-type
specialist Gym
Bolt Badge
Bolt Badge
Nimbasa City Gym - Unova Gym #4
[[File:{{{leadersprite3}}}|{{{leader3}}}|link={{{leader3}}}]]
[[{{{leader3}}}|{{{leader3}}}]]
Electric-type
specialist Gym
Bolt Badge
Bolt Badge
[[| League]]
[[File:{{{elite1sprite}}}|64px|{{{elite1}}}|link={{{elite1}}}]]
Elite Four
[[{{{elite1}}}|{{{elite1}}}]]
[[File:{{{elite2sprite}}}|64px|{{{elite2}}}|link={{{elite2}}}]]
Elite Four
[[{{{elite2}}}|{{{elite2}}}]]
[[File:{{{elite3sprite}}}|64px|{{{elite3}}}|link={{{elite3}}}]]
Elite Four
[[{{{elite3}}}|{{{elite3}}}]]
[[File:{{{elite4sprite}}}|64px|{{{elite4}}}|link={{{elite4}}}]]
Elite Four
[[{{{elite4}}}|{{{elite4}}}]]
[[File:{{{championsprite}}}|{{{champion}}}|link={{{champion}}}]]
Champion [[{{{champion}}}|{{{champion}}}]]
[[| League]]
[[File:{{{elite1sprite2}}}|64px|{{{elite12}}}|link={{{elite12}}}]]
Elite Four
[[{{{elite12}}}|{{{elite12}}}]]
[[File:{{{elite2sprite2}}}|64px|{{{elite22}}}|link={{{elite22}}}]]
Elite Four
[[{{{elite22}}}|{{{elite22}}}]]
[[File:{{{elite3sprite2}}}|64px|{{{elite32}}}|link={{{elite32}}}]]
Elite Four
[[{{{elite32}}}|{{{elite32}}}]]
[[File:{{{elite4sprite2}}}|64px|{{{elite42}}}|link={{{elite42}}}]]
Elite Four
[[{{{elite42}}}|{{{elite42}}}]]
[[File:{{{championsprite2}}}|{{{champion2}}}|link={{{champion2}}}]]
Champion [[{{{champion2}}}|{{{champion2}}}]]
Route 5
Nimbasa City
Route 16
 
Route 4* and Join Avenue*
 
Location
Unova Nimbasa City Map.png
Location of Nimbasa City in Unova.

Nimbasa City (Japanese: ライモンシティ Raimon City) is a city located in central Unova. There are three routes connecting to it: to the south of the city is Route 4 and the vast Desert Resort, to the west is Route 5, and to the east is Route 16. Nimbasa City is the most populous city in the Unova region and the fourth-most populous in the Pokémon world, behind Kalos's Lumiose City, Galar's Wyndon, and Paldea's Mesagoza. In contrast to Castelia City, which is the heart of business and economy in the region, Nimbasa serves as the heart of leisure and entertainment. Nimbasa City is well known for its grand-scale landmarks such as the Musical Theater, Gear Station, Big Stadium and Small Court, Battle Institute, and the Rondez-View Ferris Wheel and amusement park.

Nimbasa City in spring in Black and White

Elesa is the Gym Leader of Nimbasa City. She specializes in the Electric type and hands out the Bolt Badge upon defeat.

Slogan

Lit by the Flash of Lightning! (Japanese: 稲妻きらめく 輝きの街 Shining city where lightning sparkles.)

Places of interest

Musical Theater

Main article: Pokémon Musical

The Musical Theater (Japanese: ミュージカルホール Musical Hall) is where the Pokémon Musical takes place, located in the north of Nimbasa. In Pokémon Black and White, the player meets Bianca here upon their first arrival.

Inside, the owner of the theater will give the player a Prop Case and show them how to dress up their Pokémon.

Gear Station

Main article: Battle Subway

Gear Station is the central hub of the Battle Subway. All eight lines of the Battle Subway are accessed through Gear Station, including the only available route to Anville Town. The stats judge which can appraise a Pokémon's IVs is located in Gear Station as well.

Big Stadium and Small Court

Main article: Big Stadium and Small Court

Nimbasa City's sports venues, Big Stadium and Small Court, are where sportspeople and sports fans go to practice and engage in both Pokémon battles and the sport of their choosing. They are also the places where sporting events are hosted in the Unova region. Big Stadium hosts sports requiring fields, specifically baseball, soccer, and football; meanwhile, Small Court hosts sports requiring courts, specifically tennis and basketball.

Trainers may be battled daily at both facilities except during event hours.

Battle Institute

Main article: Battle Institute

The Battle Institute is a facility located west of the Pokémon Center. Once the player has completed the main game, they can take part in a Battle Test at the facility to have their battling skills rated.

Rondez-View Ferris Wheel

The Rondez-View Ferris Wheel is a couples-only Ferris wheel.

Trainers may be battled here daily; the Trainer varies with the season and the gender of the player. The Trainers' Japanese names are related to the season they appear in; however in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Hiker Natsumi (Andy in English) appears in autumn even though his name contains natsu (summer). The English names occasionally relate to the seasons, with some containing months (such as Maya and Augustine) and others having more indirect relationships (such as Aurora appearing in the autumn like its real life counterpart, and Persephone being named after the Greek goddess with an association to spring).

After the battle, the Trainer will accompany the player on the Ferris wheel. In the Japanese version, the conversations on the Ferris wheel are laced with double entendres. In the Japanese and French versions of Black 2 and White 2, Nursery Aide June admits to being a man disguised as a woman in order to be a Nursery Aide, but this dialogue is cut from the English translations.

In Pokémon Black and White, N is battled here as part of the main storyline. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, after entering the Hall of Fame, special non-battleable characters will appear on certain days of the week prior to the Trainers that would normally be there; with the player's rival appearing on Tuesdays, Bianca appearing on Wednesdays, N appearing on Fridays, and Cheren appearing on Saturdays. After meeting certain requirements, Yancy*/Curtis* can be met in front of the Ferris wheel to trade with the player daily. If both Yancy/Curtis and a special character are at the Ferris wheel at the same time, then the former will get priority and will remain there until they are interacted with. The special character will appear afterwards, followed by a standard Trainer.

Pokémon Black and White

These Trainers can only be battled after defeating Elesa.

  If the player's gender is male:

Trainer Pokémon
 
Lass Maya
ミハル Miharu
Reward: $400
Spring only
  Gothita Lv.25
No item
 
Hiker Andy
ナツミ Natsumi
Reward: $800
Summer only
  Boldore Lv.25
No item
 
Clerk ♀ Trisha
チアキ Chiaki
Reward: $1000
Autumn only
  Minccino Lv.25
No item
 
Preschooler Winter
フユカ Fuyuka
Reward: $96
Winter only
  Solosis Lv.24
No item

  If the player's gender is female:

Trainer Pokémon
 
Dancer Dirk
ハルオ Haruo
Reward: $800
Spring only
  Darumaka Lv.25
No item
 
Ace Trainer Austin
ナツキ Natsuki
Reward: $1620
Summer only
  Swoobat Lv.27
No item
 
Waitress Aurora
アキラ Akira
Reward: $1000
Autumn only
  Swadloon Lv.25
No item
 
Rich Boy Martin
フユタ Fuyuta
Reward: $3840
Winter only
  Tranquill Lv.24
No item

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

  If the player's gender is male:

Trainer Pokémon
 
Lass Persephone
ハツハル Hatsuharu
Reward: $384
Spring only
  Liepard Lv.24
No item
 
Nursery Aide June
エナツ Enatsu
Reward: $960
Summer only
  Swadloon Lv.24
No item
 
Clerk ♀ Trisha
チアキ Chiaki
Reward: $960
Autumn only
  Minccino Lv.24
No item
 
Beauty December
マフユ Mafuyu
Reward: $1344
Winter only
  Flaaffy Lv.24
No item

  If the player's gender is female:

Trainer Pokémon
 
Dancer Dirk
ハルオ Haruo
Reward: $768
Spring only
  Darumaka Lv.24
No item
 
Clerk ♂ Augustin
ヒロナツ Hironatsu
Reward: $960
Summer only
  Tranquill Lv.24
No item
 
Hiker Andy
ナツミ Natsumi
Reward: $768
Autumn only
  Boldore Lv.24
No item
 
Guitarist January
フユミ Fuyumi
Reward: $768
Winter only
  Whirlipede Lv.24
No item

Nimbasa City Gym

Main article: Nimbasa Gym

The Nimbasa Gym is the official Gym of Nimbasa City, specializing in Electric-type Pokémon. In Pokémon Black and White, it contains a series of roller coasters. In Pokémon Black and White 2, the Gym moved from its original location (which is still explored by the player before visiting the official Gym) and is now a runway for models. The Gym Leader is Elesa, who gives out the Bolt Badge and TM72 (Volt Switch) upon being defeated.

Demographics

  This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Population in Black 2 and White 2

Pokémon Black and White

Nimbasa City is the most populous city in the Unova region with a population of 150 (239, including all Trainers in the Big Stadium and Small Court). It surpasses the urbanized Castelia City in terms of population.

Poké Mart

Upper cashier
Technical Machine department
(Lower cashier)


Items

Item Location Games
  Bicycle From the Day-Care Man at the city entrance after defeating the Team Plasma Grunt  B  W 
  HM04 (Strength) From an Ace Trainer in the building northwest of the Pokémon Center  B  W 
  Soothe Bell From a Socialite in the building northwest of the Pokémon Center, after showing her a Pokémon with high friendship  B  W 
  Vs. Recorder From an Ace Trainer exiting the Battle Subway  B  W 
  X Attack South of the Rondez-View Ferris Wheel  B  W 
  Super Repel Southeast of the Rondez-View Ferris Wheel (hidden)  B  W 
  Sun Stone From an Ace Trainer in the building north of the Pokémon Center  B  W  B2  W2 
  Macho Brace From a man in the eastern gate  B  W  B2  W2 
  Vs. Recorder From Nate/Rosa after defeating Ingo and Emmet in a Multi Battle  B2  W2 
  Red Shard ×10 From the Gentleman in the Pokémon Center  B2  W2 
  Soothe Bell From a Socialite in the building northwest of the Pokémon Center  B2  W2 
  Thunderstone Near the Pokémon Center (hidden)  B2  W2 
  Revive In the trash can near the Rondez-View Ferris Wheel (hidden)  B2  W2 
  Parlyz Heal Near the large Audino figure in the amusement park  B2  W2 
  Dropped Item Near the flowers in the amusement park  B2  W2 
  Rare Candy  B2  W2 
  RageCandyBar  B2  W2 
  Lava Cookie  B2  W2 
  Old Gateau  B2  W2 

Pokémon

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

After returning the Dropped Item to the owner and calling them 15 times, Curtis (if the player chosen was Rosa) or Yancy (if the player chosen was Nate) will trade the player a different Pokémon each day in the following order (but only after the previous one has been traded). The Pokémon are different depending on the gender of the player. Each Pokémon has its Hidden Ability and can be either male or female.

After all Pokémon have been traded they will be offered all over again.

Pokémon Games Location Levels Rate
If the player's gender is male
  Meowth
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Wobbuffet
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Ralts
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Shieldon
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Rhyhorn
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Shellos
West Sea
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Mawile
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Spiritomb
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Snorlax
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Teddiursa
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Spinda
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Togepi
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
If the player's gender is female
  Mankey
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Wobbuffet
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Ralts
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Cranidos
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Rhyhorn
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Shellos
East Sea
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Sableye
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Spiritomb
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Snorlax
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Phanpy
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Spinda
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
  Togepi
B2 W2
  Trade
Any Pokémon
50 One
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.


Trainers

Pokémon Black and White

Trainer Pokémon
 
Team Plasma Grunt
Reward: $720
  Watchog Lv.18
No item
  Trubbish Lv.18
No item




Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

The player will team up with Nate or Rosa in a Multi Battle against the two Subway Bosses.

  If the player chose Snivy:





  If the player chose Tepig:





  If the player chose Oshawott:









Trainer Pokémon
After earning the Bolt Badge
 
Team Plasma Grunt
Reward: $1080
  Trubbish Lv.27
No item
 
Team Plasma Grunt
Reward: $1080
  Watchog Lv.27
No item


Trainer Tips

Trainer Tips
Games occur at specific times in Big Stadium and Small Court! You might be able to have a Pokémon battle with your favorite athlete!


Trainer Tips
The Musical Theater is always looking for participants! You might get more wonderful Props if you participate repeatedly!

In the anime

 
Nimbasa City in the anime

Nimbasa City is nicknamed "Battle Central" because of the many battle facilities the city has to offer. It also has Unova's largest Pokémon Center, which featured deluxe facilities, including Pokémon spa treatments and a large vault meant to keep Poké Balls. Nimbasa City is also an entertainment hub and has a large amusement park. The city is not be confused with the much older Nimbasa Town, which lies southeast of Nimbasa City.

Nimbasa City was first mentioned in Zoroark: Master of Illusions, when Grings Kodai entered the "Nimbasa Legends" team for the Pokémon Baccer World Cup. However, this team of Legendary beasts was later revealed to be a sham created by using holograms.

Nimbasa City first appeared at the beginning of Reunion Battles In Nimbasa! for a short time, where Team Rocket arrived on a mission; and again in Club Battle Finale: A Heroes Outcome!, where the trio were riding the Ferris wheel. While they put their plan into motion, Meowth befriended and joined Ash and his friends in Meowth's Scrafty Tactics!. However, it was revealed in Crisis from the Underground Up! that Meowth was still a part of Team Rocket, with the real plan being to steal the group's Pokémon. Team Rocket hijacked the Battle Subway, using a ghost train to steal all of the Pokémon at the Pokémon Center. They distracted Ash and his friends with several decoy trains and the destruction of the Driftveil Drawbridge's controls. By the end of Battle for the Underground!, Subway Bosses Emmet and Ingo teamed up with the group to disrupt Team Rocket's scheme, and they recovered all of the stolen Pokémon.

In Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader!, Bianca took on Gym Leader Elesa, only to be defeated by Elesa's Zebstrika. Ash won his Gym battle against her in Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym!.

While the Driftveil Drawbridge was still being repaired, the group explored Nimbasa City's famous attractions, such as the Ferris Wheel and the sport parks, which were featured in Lost at the Stamp Rally!. Meanwhile, Cilan competed in the Subway Bosses' Stamp Rally in a bid to battle either Ingo or Emmet. He became sidetracked by Erina, who had lost her Axew and was missing one vital stamp. Irina gave up her only stamp as gratitude for finding Axew, while Emmet and Ingo agreed to have a special Tag Battle against Cilan and Ash.

In Piplup, Pansage, and a Meeting of the Times!, Dawn was revealed to have visited Nimbasa City to watch a Musical show in order to get inspiration for her future Pokémon Contests. She also watched one of Elesa's fashion shows.

Gallery

Pokémon Center Musical Theater Gear Station
     
Big Stadium Small Court Nimbasa Gym
     

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

 
Nimbasa City in Pokémon Adventures

Black & White arc

Nimbasa City was first mentioned in Battle at the Museum, where the mayor of Nimbasa contacted the BW Agency and requested them to come up with a new attraction for the city to deal with its lowering tourism rates. White suggested establishing a Pokémon Musical, an idea that the mayor considered to be excellent.

The city debuted in To Make a Musical, where Black and White arrived there. The Musical Theater's construction had just been completed when they arrived, and White immediately resumed working on her grand idea, preparing everyone involved for the opening ceremony. After Elesa had done her bit in the opening ceremony, she led Black towards her Gym for their Gym battle.

While Black was going through the Nimbasa Gym, White encountered N aboard the Ferris Wheel, finding out his status as the king of Team Plasma. To White's shock, N revealed that White's Tepig, Gigi, had more interest in battles than the BW Agency acting business she was making it go through. White jumped off the Ferris Wheel to escape, but to her shock, Gigi decided to stay with N. The harsh landing and the emotional shock combined caused White to fall unconscious.

Black eventually won his battle with Elesa, and spent the rest of the evening looking for White. White was found by Marshal, who handed her to Black and excused himself. Once White had recovered enough to talk, she and Black went to Route 5, where she told the details of what had happened, including how N had left his Servine with her. They then met Baker Chris, who took them to see Nimbasa City's other new attraction: the Battle Subway. While visiting it, they saw Marshal having a battle with Alder, the Champion of Unova.

In A New Perspective, White agreed to be the one to trial run the Battle Subway before its official opening. As such, she caught herself a Deerling and agreed to borrow Black's Braviary in order to have three Pokémon on hand before she boarded the subway train. Black, meanwhile, caught himself a Tirtouga that Marshal had previously released.

Gallery

Nimbasa Gym Musical Theater Gear Station Ferris Wheel
       

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Nimbasa City in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Related cards
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a silver background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Krookodile   Plasma Freeze   70/116 Spiral Force   036/051
Rattata   Plasma Freeze   87/116 Spiral Force   040/051
N Su Noble Victories   92/101 Red Collection   066/066
Dark Explorers   96/108 Reshiram-EX Battle Strength Deck   016/018
 


Trivia

  • As Unova is based on New York City, it is possible that Nimbasa City is meant to represent Coney Island. Coney Island has an amusement park on it, is home to one of New York's largest subway stations (which, like Gear Station in Nimbasa City, is connected to all of the subway lines in the city), and, being part of Brooklyn, is relatively close to some of New York's professional sports venues.
  • There is a large Pikachu balloon in the amusement park, even though Pikachu are not native to Unova. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, a Pichu is also shown next to it.
  • Nimbasa City is one of two cities that is more populous than the largest city in its region, the other being Celadon City. They are more populous than Castelia City and Saffron City, respectively. This also happens in Sinnoh, but only in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl where Hearthome City is more populous than Jubilife City.
  • The trade with Curtis or Yancy is the first way a Spiritomb could be obtained through normal gameplay without requiring external hardware such as the Pokéwalker or another Nintendo DS with additional copies of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum to reach the goal of talking to other players in the Underground 32 times.
  • In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Nimbasa City is mentioned to be Lacey's hometown.

Name origin

Language Name Origin
Japanese ライモンシティ Raimon City From 雷文 raimon (meander) and 雷 rai (thunder)
English Nimbasa City From nimbus (rain cloud) and cumulonimbus (clouds associated with thunderstorms)
German Rayono City From rayo (Spanish for thunderbolt)
Spanish Ciudad Mayólica From mayólica (maiolica)
Ciudad Nimbasa* From its English name
French Méanville From méandre (meander) and ville (city)
Italian Sciroccopoli From scirocco (sirocco, Mediterranean wind blowing from the Sahara) and the suffix -poli (city)
Korean 뇌문시티 Noemun City From 뇌문 (雷文) noemun (meander) and 뇌 (雷) noe (thunder)
Chinese (Mandarin) 雷文市 Léiwén Shì From 雷文 léiwén / lèuihmàhn (meander) and 雷 léi / lèui (thunder)
Chinese (Cantonese) 雷文市 Lèuihmàhn Síh
Polish Miasto Nimbasa From its English name
Brazilian Portuguese Cidade de Nimbasa From its English name
Thai ไรมอนเมืองแห่ง Raimon City Transcription of its Japanese name
Vietnamese Thành phố Raimon Transcription of its Japanese name



Unova
               
               
Settlements
Nuvema TownAccumula TownStriaton CityNacrene CityCastelia CityNimbasa CityAnville Town
Driftveil CityMistralton CityIcirrus CityOpelucid CityPokémon LeagueLacunosa TownUndella Town
Black CityWhite ForestAspertia CityFloccesy TownVirbank CityLentimas TownHumilau City
Routes
1234567891011121314151617181920212223
Bridges and tunnels
Skyarrow BridgeDriftveil DrawbridgeTubeline BridgeVillage BridgeMarvelous BridgeMarine Tube
Landmarks
DreamyardWellspring CavePinwheel ForestLiberty GardenDesert ResortRelic CastleBattle SubwayLostlorn Forest
Cold StorageMistralton CaveChargestone CaveCelestial TowerTwist MountainDragonspiral TowerMoor of Icirrus
Challenger's CaveVictory Road (BWB2W2) • N's CastleRoyal UnovaGiant ChasmUndella BayAbyssal Ruins
Abundant ShrinePoké Transfer LabP2 LaboratoryEntralinkUnity TowerFloccesy RanchPledge GroveVirbank Complex
Pokéstar StudiosCastelia SewersJoin AvenueCave of BeingPokémon World TournamentReversal MountainPlasma Frigate
Clay TunnelUnderground RuinsStrange HouseRelic PassageSeaside CaveWhite TreehollowBlack Tower
Access to
Nature Preserve
Other
Blueberry AcademyTerarium


  This article is part of Project Cities and Towns, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every city and town in the Pokémon world.