Pokemon Gold and Silver were released on the Gameboy Color in 1999 and introduced the 2nd Generation of Pokemon to a waiting world. Riding the wave of enormous success from Pokemon Red and Blue, and set in the Johto region, these games were immediate hits.
Game Freak did not disappoint with the entries in the Gen 2 Regional Pokédex. Fans were thrilled with the new and exciting creatures they now had available to catch and train. However, not all Pokemon are created equal. So, let’s take a look at the strongest Gen 2 Pokemon from Gold and Silver, ranked by stats.
Updated November 18, 2021, by Kirkland Fortner: It’s time to expand this list. Originally, we listed the top 10 strongest entries in the Gold and Silver Pokedex. Fans want more! It’s not always easy to catch the top 10 and there are more Pokemon with amazingly strong stats to discuss. So, we’re now adding the next 5 strongest Pokemon to the list.
All 5 of these additional entries are incredibly strong. Each carries a total stat base of 500 and when combined with their individual Abilities and Movesets, these are formidable additions to any team. So with that said, let’s take a look at the 15 strongest Pokemon in Gold and Silver, based on stats.
15 Ampharos
Ampharos is a pure Electric-type Pokemon and is the final form of the Mareep line. It has a base stat total of 500. Ampharos breaks a lot of the traditions for Electric-types, being slow with decent offenses and very high Special Attack. So, Ampharos moves slower than most Electric-types, but when it does move, it packs quite a punch.
The first pre-evolved form of Ampharos (Mareep) can be found on Route 32, while Flaafy can be found on Routes 42 and 43. They become Ampharos at level 30. However, in Crystal, this entire line is unavailable and needs to be traded in from either Gold or Silver.
14 Donphan
Donphan is a pure Ground-type Pokemon and is the final evolution of Phanpy. It has a base stat total of 500. Donphan’s typing in pure Ground is certainly nothing to complain about, as it is super strong offensively and comes with immunity to Electric. In terms of the stats, its Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed are all really lacking, but the HP, Attack, and Defense are all really good, being 90, 120, and 120 respectively.
Probably the best thing about Donphan however, is getting one. Players can get Donphan’s first form, Phanpy, really early in the game if they are playing Crystal, as they are native to Route 45. Phanpy then needs to only be raised to level 25 for it to evolve. Players can only find Phanpy on Route 45 in Silver and in Gold, they cannot be found in the wild at all.
13 Scizor
Scizor is a Pokemon created to be a new evolution for Gen 1’s Scyther. It is a Bug/Steel-type and it has a base stat total of 500. There really isn’t anything about Scizor that isn’t outstanding. It boasts the amazing type combination that is Bug/Steel. This combination only has 1 weakness (Fire), 6 resistances, and immunity to Poison. The stats are solid as well. While it is on the slower side (typical for Steel-types), the Attack and Defense are so good that they more than compensate for it.
Wild Scyther can be caught at the Bug Catching Contest in National Park, which runs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Scyther must then be traded while holding a Metal Coat for it to turn into Scizor.
12 Heracross
Heracross is a Bug/Fighting-type Pokemon with no evolutions or pre-evolutions. Simply said, it is incredibly strong. Fighting is one of the best offensive types, as it hits 5 different types (Ice, Normal, Dark, Steel, and Rock) for super effective damage. This combines wonderfully with Heracross’s excellent stats. All of them are good minus the Special Attack, but the Attack stat is the real star here, as it has a massive 125 points inherently.
Another great thing about this Pokemon is that it’s pretty easy to find. Wild Heracross can be found at Azalea Town, and on Routes 33, 42, and 44 from Headbutt trees.
11 Houndoom
Houndoom is Dark/Fire-type Pokemon and the final form of Houndour. It has a base stat total of 500. Wild Houndour can be found at Route 7 at night. It then must be raised to level 24 for it to evolve into Houndoom.
Houndoom has the great type combination that is Dark/Fire, giving it only 4 weaknesses (Ground, Water, Rock, and Fighting) 6 resistances, and immunity to Psychic. It can function as a solid mixed attacker, as it has 90 points in its Attack stat and 110 in its Special Attack stat, meaning it can use both well.
10 Steelix
Steelix is a Steel/Ground-type Pokemon created as a new evolution for Onix, which became a fan favorite from Gen 1. Both of these creatures have a stat total of 510. Steelix has an incredible type combination in addition to its monstrous Defense stat. This essentially makes it a defensive, steel wall in battle.
Wild Onix can be found in the Union Cave, and then it needs to be traded holding a Metal Coat for it to evolve into Steelix.
9 Porygon2
Porygon2 is a pure Normal-type Pokémon created as a new evolution of Gen 1’s Porygon. Basically, everything about Porygon2 is fantastic. It has a base stat total of 515 that is distributed extremely well, giving it great defenses, HP, and Special Attack. Pure Normal is a great type to have because it only comes with 1 weakness and has an immunity to Ghost. Additionally, Porygon2 has a decently diverse Movepool, giving it a myriad of options to use when attacking.
Porygon2 is only obtainable by having 5,555 coins at the Celadon Game Corner to get its pre-evolution, and then trading it with an Up-Grade to evolve it.
8 Meganium, Umbreon, and Espeon
These are 3 of the all-time fan favorites because they are all so cute. Meganium is the final form of Johto’s Grass starter, Chikorita, while Umbreon and Espeon are 2 new evolutions created for Eevee in Generation 2. All 3 of them have a base stat total of 525.
Espeon is extremely similar to Alakazaam, in that it is very fast with an extremely high Special Attack. Umbreon functions as a good defensive Pokemon, but really isn’t going to stand out on the offensive side. Meganium in general struggles a bit in Gen 2. It was much more useful in later generations when it could be used in Double Battles, but those don’t exist as of this generation, and the typing doesn’t do it any favors.
Meganium evolves from the Grass-type starter for Gold and Silver, meaning you’re given the option to pick it right at the beginning of the game. If you picked another starter or want more Meganium, you need to trade members of the family in from other games.
There is a free Eevee from Bill in Goldenrod City that can be turned into either Espeon or Umbreon by leveling it up with high Friendship during the day for Espeon and during the night for Umbreon.
7 Feraligatr
Feraligatr is the final evolution of Johto’s Water starter, Totodile. With a base stat total of 530, it has pretty even stats across the board but really performs with physical Attack and Defense, which are notably higher. Pure Water is a fantastic typing, thanks to it only having 2 weaknesses. Feraligatr also has an above-average Movepool for Gen 2, so it has a good variety of attacks at its disposal.
Feraligatr evolves from the Water-type starter in Gold and Silver, meaning you’re given the option to pick it right at the beginning of the game. If you picked another starter or want more Feraligatr, you need to trade members of the family in from other games.
6 Typhlosion
Typhlosion is the final evolution of Johto’s Fire-type starter, Cyndaquil. With a base stat total of 534, Tyhplosion has high Speed and Special Attack with all of its other stats coming in as average. This makes for a heavily offensively focused Pokémon. Pure Fire is an excellent defensive typing as well. It has a pretty good Movepool, being able to learn some Ground, Electric, and Steel-type moves. The varied Moveset helps it to cover some of its weaknesses.
Typhlosion evolves from the Fire-type starter for Gold and Silver, meaning you’re given the option to pick it right at the beginning of the game. If you picked another starter or want more Typhlosion, you need to trade members of the family in from other games.
5 Crobat
Crobat is a Poison/Flying-type Pokémon and is a new evolution for Gen 1’s Golbat. Having 535 points in its base stat total, most of it is allocated to Speed, which is a whopping 130 to start, with everything else being decent. The incredible Speed is really what you’re after here, as the offensive movepool is really lacking, so Crobat works best in a more supportive role for your party than anything else.
Both Zubat and Golbat can be found in almost any cave in the game, with Dark Cave being the earliest opportunity to get them. Golbat will not evolve until it’s leveled up with a high Friendship stat.
4 Kingdra and Blissey
Kingdra is a Water/Dragon-type Pokémon created as a new evolution for Gen 1’s Seadra, while Blissey is a pure Normal-type Pokémon created as an evolution for Gen 1’s Chansey, both with a base stat total of 540.
Kingdra is a phenomenal Pokémon all-around. Water/Dragon is an amazing type combination and the stats are incredibly good, as it has no real weakness in any stat. Blissey is the ultimate Special Attack sponge. It has the highest HP stat of any Pokémon combined with an amazing Special Defense stat.
Kingdra’s base forms, Horsea and Seadra, are located at the Whirl Islands using the Super Rod or Surfing. Just remember that you need a Dragon Scale and trading access to fully evolve it.
Wild Chansey can be found on Routes 13, 14, and 15, requiring to be leveled up with high Friendship for evolution.
3 The Legendary Beasts
Raikou, Entei, and Suicune are the members that make up this legendary trio. They all have a base stat total of 580 and each of them uses that total in different ways. Raikou is an extremely fast special attacker that is Electric-type, Entei is a fast physical attacker with high HP that is Fire-type, and Suicune is a slow Pokémon with good defenses on both ends that is Water-type.
All 3 Legendary beasts will be roaming the Johto region after they’ve been awoken from the Burned Tower. There is a guaranteed encounter with Suicune if you’re playing Crystal.
2 Tyranitar and Celebi
Tyranitar is a Rock/Dark-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon, while Celebi Psychic/Grass-type Mythical Pokémon, who both share a base stat total of 600. The two have very half and half type combinations, as both of them come with a lot of resistance but also a lot of weaknesses. They both can also fill just about any role you want them to, as they have very even stats altogether.
Wild Larvitar can be found at Mt. Silver. It needs to be leveled up to level 55 to evolve into Tyranitar. If you’re playing Crystal, Larvitar can be bought at the Celadon Game Corner for 9,999 coins. Wild Pupitar can also be found at Silver Cave in Crystal.
Celebi is exclusively an event Pokémon and as such, cannot be obtained through legitimate gameplay.
1 Lugia and Ho-oh
Lugia and Ho-oh are the mascot legendary Pokémon of Gen 2, with Lugia representing Silver and Ho-oh representing Gold. They both share the same base stat total of 680 but use it differently. Lugia is a Psychic/Flying-type that acts as a fantastic fast and defensive beast, having insanely high HP, Defense, Special Defense, and Speed. Ho-oh is Fire/Flying-type and is a slower mixed attacker with very good Special Defense.
You can’t miss these two! Lugia and Ho-oh are the Mascot Legendaries for their respective games, meaning you have forced encounters with them in Gold for Ho-oh, and Silver for Lugia.
