Pokemon Team Builder

Build your team for Generation 2: Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. Click on any Pokemon below to add it to your team. Share your team with friends and have fun exploring Johto and Kanto!

Blue tally marks indicate resistances, immunities, or STAB coverage. Red tally marks indicate weakness.

About Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal are the second generation of Pokemon games, released for the Game Boy Color. These games introduced players to the Johto region and revolutionized the Pokemon series with groundbreaking features that have become staples of the franchise.

Game Overview

Gold and Silver were released in 1999 (Japan) and 2000 (North America), with Crystal following in 2000 (Japan) and 2001 (North America). These games expanded the original 151 Pokemon to 251 total, introducing 100 new species while allowing players to revisit the Kanto region after completing the main story.

Generation 2 Features

The second generation introduced numerous features that have become essential to the Pokemon series:

  • Day and Night Cycle - The first games to feature time-based gameplay, affecting Pokemon encounters, shop hours, and story events
  • Pokemon Breeding - Introduced the breeding mechanic, allowing players to obtain Pokemon eggs and hatch them
  • Held Items - Pokemon could now hold items in battle, adding strategic depth
  • Genders - Pokemon now have gender differences, affecting breeding and evolution
  • Shiny Pokemon - Rare alternate-colored Pokemon made their debut
  • Two Regions - Players could explore both Johto and Kanto, battling 16 gym leaders total

Impact and Significance

Gold, Silver, and Crystal are widely regarded as some of the best Pokemon games ever made. They successfully expanded on the original concept while maintaining the core gameplay that made the series popular. The introduction of cross-generation trading and the day/night cycle created a more immersive and dynamic experience that set the standard for future Pokemon games. Our Pokemon Team Builder helps you take full advantage of these features when building your perfect team.

Johto Region Pokedex

The Johto regional Pokedex in Gold, Silver, and Crystal contains 251 Pokemon, including the original 151 from Kanto and 100 new species unique to Generation 2. This Pokemon Team Builder provides complete access to all available Pokemon, making it easy to understand which Pokemon are available in each version and through different methods of acquisition.

Available Pokemon Count

The Johto games feature one of the most diverse Pokedexes in the series, with Pokemon available through:

  • Wild Encounters - Over 200 Pokemon can be found in the wild throughout Johto and Kanto
  • Trading from Generation 1 - All 151 original Pokemon can be obtained through trading with Red, Blue, and Yellow via the Time Capsule feature
  • Special Events - Some Pokemon like Celebi were available through special Nintendo events
  • Breeding - Many Pokemon can be obtained through the new breeding mechanic

Version Differences: Gold vs Silver vs Crystal

Each version has unique Pokemon exclusives that affect team planning:

  • Pokemon Gold Exclusives - Pokemon like Growlithe, Seel, Scyther, and Mankey are only available in Gold version
  • Pokemon Silver Exclusives - Pokemon like Vulpix, Shellder, Pinsir, and Meowth are only available in Silver version
  • Crystal Edition Features - Crystal introduced the first playable female character option, enhanced animations, and the legendary Pokemon Suicune as a central story element. Certain Pokemon like Oddish, Bellsprout, and Electabuzz have different encounter rates or locations

Transfer Functionality

Gold, Silver, and Crystal marked the first time in the series that players could transfer Pokemon from previous games. Using the Time Capsule feature, trainers can trade Pokemon between Generation 1 (Red, Blue, Yellow) and Generation 2 games. However, note that:

  • Pokemon with moves or features not available in Generation 1 cannot be traded back
  • Certain held items cannot be transferred through the Time Capsule
  • This feature requires two Game Boy systems and a Game Boy Link Cable

Team Building Tips for Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Building an effective team in Gold, Silver, and Crystal requires consideration of the game's unique mechanics, dual-region structure, and the expanded Pokedex. Our Pokemon Team Builder offers advanced filtering and type analysis tools to help you make informed decisions. Here are strategic considerations for planning your perfect team.

Gym Challenge Recommendations

The Johto region features eight gym leaders with diverse type specializations:

  • Flying Type (Violet City) - Consider Electric or Rock types like Mareep or Geodude for early advantage
  • Bug Type (Azalea Town) - Fire, Flying, or Rock types work well against the Bug-type gym
  • Normal Type (Goldenrod City) - Fighting types like Machop are highly effective, though Normal types are generally versatile
  • Ghost Type (Ecruteak City) - Dark or Ghost types can counter effectively, though most teams will need to rely on type advantages
  • Fighting Type (Cianwood City) - Psychic or Flying types like Abra or Pidgey evolution lines excel here
  • Steel Type (Olivine City) - Fire, Fighting, or Ground types are essential for this challenging gym
  • Ice Type (Mahogany Town) - Fire, Fighting, Rock, or Steel types provide excellent coverage
  • Dragon Type (Blackthorn City) - Ice types are crucial, though Dragon types are rare in Johto. Consider training a Pokemon with Ice moves

Elite Four Team Recommendations

The Elite Four in Johto features Psychic, Poison, Fighting, and Dark type specialists, followed by the Champion:

  • Will (Psychic) - Dark types are immune to Psychic moves, and Bug or Ghost types can be effective
  • Koga (Poison) - Psychic or Ground types can handle Poison effectively
  • Bruno (Fighting) - Psychic, Flying, or Fairy-type moves work well, though the Normal/Fighting combination requires careful planning
  • Karen (Dark) - Fighting or Bug types can counter Dark types, though Karen's team has diverse secondary types
  • Champion Lance (Dragon) - Ice types are essential for this battle. Consider Ice Beam or other Ice-type moves on multiple team members

Additionally, players must battle the Kanto gym leaders and Red (the protagonist from Generation 1) in the post-game, requiring a versatile and well-balanced team.

Important Battle Considerations

  • Type Coverage - With access to both Johto and Kanto Pokemon, ensure your team has diverse type coverage to handle various opponents
  • Held Items - Take advantage of held items like the Choice Band, Leftovers, and type-enhancing items for strategic advantages
  • Day/Night Encounters - Some Pokemon like Hoothoot and Gastly only appear at specific times, affecting team planning
  • Evolution Timing - Consider when Pokemon evolve and whether evolution is beneficial for specific gym battles or the Elite Four
  • Move Variety - The expanded movepool in Generation 2 allows for more diverse move sets. Plan for moves that cover multiple types
  • Legendary Pokemon - Raikou, Entei, and Suicune are available in the wild and can be powerful additions to your team, though they require patience to capture

Frequently Asked Questions - Gold/Silver/Crystal

What Pokemon are version-exclusive in Gold, Silver, and Crystal?

Gold version has exclusive Pokemon like Growlithe, Seel, Scyther, and Mankey, while Silver version has Vulpix, Shellder, Pinsir, and Meowth. Crystal version has some unique encounter rates and story elements, with Suicune playing a central role. Our Pokemon Team Builder allows you to filter by version to see only the Pokemon available in your chosen game, making team building easier.

Can I transfer Pokemon from Red, Blue, and Yellow to Gold, Silver, or Crystal?

Yes! Gold, Silver, and Crystal introduced the Time Capsule feature, allowing you to trade Pokemon from Generation 1 games. However, Pokemon with moves or abilities that didn't exist in Generation 1 cannot be traded back. This feature requires two Game Boy systems and a Game Boy Link Cable.

How does the day and night cycle affect team building?

The day and night cycle affects which Pokemon you can encounter in the wild. Some Pokemon like Hoothoot and Spinarak appear primarily at night, while others like Sunkern are more common during the day. The cycle also affects when certain NPCs are available and when certain events occur, which can impact how you plan your playthrough.

Which starter Pokemon is best for team building?

Each starter (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile) has different strengths. Cyndaquil's Fire typing provides early game advantages, Totodile's Water typing offers good coverage, and Chikorita's Grass typing can be useful but faces challenges against many early gyms. The "best" choice depends on your preferred playstyle and the rest of your planned team composition.

Are shiny Pokemon available in these games?

Yes! Gold, Silver, and Crystal introduced shiny Pokemon, which are rare alternate-colored variants. While extremely rare (approximately 1 in 8,192 chance), shiny Pokemon can be part of your team planning. The red Gyarados at the Lake of Rage is guaranteed to be shiny, making it accessible for team building.

What makes Crystal different from Gold and Silver?

Crystal introduced several new features including the ability to play as a female character, enhanced battle animations, the Battle Tower facility, and an expanded story focusing on Suicune. Some Pokemon have different encounter rates or locations in Crystal compared to Gold and Silver.

How many gym leaders are there in Gold, Silver, and Crystal?

There are 16 gym leaders total - 8 in the Johto region and 8 in the Kanto region. After defeating the Elite Four and Champion, players can travel to Kanto to battle the remaining gym leaders. This dual-region structure makes team building more complex, as you need a team capable of handling diverse challenges.