Best Team For Pokémon Gold And Silver: Top Johto Picks

Pokémon Gold and Silver expanded the world with 100 new Johto Pokémon and a full second region to explore after the Elite Four. Building a balanced team matters more here than in any earlier game, because your six Pokémon have to carry you through 16 gyms across two regions. The good news: Johto offers some of the best team members in the entire series, and most of them are available before the fourth gym.

Pick Cyndaquil: The Best Johto Starter

Choose Cyndaquil. Typhlosion’s Fire typing is invaluable in Johto — it destroys Bugsy’s Scyther, Jasmine’s Steel-types, and most of the Elite Four — while Chikorita struggles badly and Totodile, though solid, leaves you without an answer to the many Grass and Steel matchups. Cyndaquil has the best early game, the best late game, and the best type coverage of the three. There is no serious argument for the other two in a playthrough context.

Best Pokémon Gold and Silver Team Overview

This team covers every type you need, is fully obtainable before the post-game, and does not rely on trades or version exclusives. All six members are available in both Gold and Silver.

Pokémon	Type	Role	How to Get
Typhlosion	Fire	Main special attacker	Cyndaquil starter, evolves at levels 14 and 36
Ampharos	Electric	Water and Flying coverage	Mareep on Route 32, evolves at 15 and 30
Umbreon	Dark	Morty and Will counter	Eevee from Bill in Goldenrod, evolve at night via friendship
Golem	Rock / Ground	Physical tank and Normal check	Geodude on Route 46, trade Graveler or level to 42
Lapras	Water / Ice	Lance’s Dragonite killer	Gift in Union Cave on Fridays
Skarmory	Steel / Flying	Physical wall	Rare encounter on Route 45

Early Game (Gyms 1-4)

The first four gyms — Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney, and Morty — are where most Gold and Silver runs fall apart. Cyndaquil handles Falkner and Bugsy, and a Geodude catches early to handle Whitney’s Miltank, which is the single most famous gym roadblock in the series. Normal-type attacks bounce off Geodude and Golem completely, turning the Miltank fight from a nightmare into a free win.

For Morty’s Ghost-types, your Eevee evolved into Umbreon is the answer. Umbreon is immune to Ghost moves thanks to its Dark typing, and its decent bulk lets it chip through Gengar and Haunter while taking no damage. Ampharos, caught as Mareep on Route 32, covers the Water-types you will face heading into Cianwood and Olivine.

Mid Game (Gyms 5-8)

From the fifth gym onward, the team starts to click. Typhlosion tears through Chuck’s Fighting-types and Jasmine’s Steel-types, Golem handles Pryce’s Ice-types (Rock resists Ice), and Ampharos covers the Water-types around the Whirl Islands and Route 41. Skarmory, caught on Route 45, becomes your physical wall against everything that tries to wear the team down.

Lapras is the last major addition. It is gifted to you in Union Cave on Fridays, and its Ice Beam absolutely deletes the Dragon-type Pokémon you will need to beat at the end of the game. If you miss the Friday gift, you can wait a week or use Ice Punch on a Poliwrath — but Lapras is worth the wait.

Elite Four and Champion Lance Strategy

Will (Psychic): Umbreon sweeps his entire team. Dark moves are super effective and his Psychic attacks do nothing back.
Koga (Poison): Typhlosion and Golem handle his team. Be careful with his Forretress — keep Golem’s Rock moves ready.
Bruno (Fighting): Skarmory walls his whole team. Steel resists Fighting, and Skarmory’s high Defense shrugs off his hits.
Karen (Dark): Ampharos and Typhlosion cover her Dark-types. Her Umbreon is annoying — wear it down with super-effective hits.
Champion Lance (Dragon): Lapras is the MVP. Ice Beam one-shots all three Dragonites and his Aerodactyl falls to Ampharos.

Post-Game: Kanto and Red

After the Elite Four, the team remains strong for the Kanto gyms, though you will want to level everyone to at least 45. The final challenge is Red at Mount Silver, whose team is a gauntlet: Pikachu, Espeon, Snorlax, Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. Lapras handles Charizard and Blastoise, Umbreon walls Espeon, and Golem plus Typhlosion take care of the rest. For help finding every legendary before that fight, see our HeartGold and SoulSilver legendary Pokémon location guide.

Final Tips

Catch Mareep on Route 32 before the second gym — Ampharos is the single best team addition in Johto.
Evolve Eevee into Umbreon at night by raising friendship; there is no stone involved.
Keep a spare Moon Ball for the legendary dogs if you want them before the post-game.
For a similar team in the remakes, read our best team for Pokémon Crystal guide, or see how every starter ranks across generations in our starter rankings.