Pokemon Gold and Silverwere released on the Gameboy Color in 1999 andintroduced the 2nd Generation of Pokemonto a waiting world. Riding the wave of enormous success fromPokemon Red and Blue, and set in the Johto region, these games were immediate hits.
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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 Aug 10, 2025, 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 aremore Pokemon with amazingly strong statsto discuss. So, we’re now adding the next 5 strongest Pokemon to the list.
All 5 of these additional entries are incredibly strong. Each carriesa total stat base of 500and 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 the15 strongest Pokemon in Gold and Silver, based on stats.
15Ampharos
Ampharos is apure Electric-type Pokemonand 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.
14Donphan
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 inpure Groundis certainly nothing to complain about, asit 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 canonly find Phanpy on Route 45 in Silverand in Gold, they cannot be found in the wild at all.
13Scizor
Scizor is a Pokemon created to be anew 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.
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Wild Scyther can be caught at theBug 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.
12Heracross
Heracross is a Bug/Fighting-type Pokemon withno 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 44from Headbutt trees.
11Houndoom
Houndoom is Dark/Fire-type Pokemon andthe 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.
10Steelix
Steelix is a Steel/Ground-type Pokemoncreated 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.
9Porygon2
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 typeto 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.
8Meganium, 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.
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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.
7Feraligatr
Feraligatr is the final evolution ofJohto’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.
6Typhlosion
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, andSteel-typemoves. 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.
