When I rolled credits on Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch, I knew what I had to do, and I had the power to do it. I got out my old Pokemon X and Y Special Edition Nintendo 3DS and booted up Pokemon HeartGold. To this day, Johto remains my favorite region, Totodile remains my favorite Starter (and Water-Type), and Pokemon HeartGold is the best Pokemon game of all time, to me anyway.
The 86 hours referenced in the headline only refer to my latest playthrough. I played the original Gold as a kid, HeartGold at launch, and both HeartGold and SoulSilver multiple times over the years.
And as such, I’ve decided to rank the original Johto Pokemon. I know the Original 151 is so important to a lot of players, but this is exclusively Pokedex numbers 152-251 (save Celebi since its mythical status extends to its availability). In Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, it is possible to get new Pokemon and evolutions not present in the original Johto region (Togekiss, Mamoswine). For simplicity’s sake, I am including the new evolutions of Johto Pokemon because they still feel like Johto Pokemon to me.
Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver’s Exclusive Pokemon Make the Better Version Easy to Pick
Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver’s selection of version exclusive Pokemon make the better game obvious when looking at them as a whole.
Overall, also for simplicity’s sake, this ranking includes only the final stage of the Pokemon and considers strength in the region + cool factor. Placement under the tier is irrelevant, and this is in the context of a HeartGold playthrough, not competitive battling.
S-Tier: S is for S-Definitive Johto Pokemon That Dominate the Region
- Ampharos
- Mamoswine
- Slowking
- Kingdra
- Espeon
- Lugia
- Tyranitar
- Raikou
The S-Tier represents powerful Pokemon that can potentially carry a team. The Electric-Type is super useful in Johto, against several Gyms and the Elite Four, and Ampharos is strong, super cool, and useful. Even before Mega Ampharos was introduced into Pokemon, Ampharos was a solid one to bet a team on. Raikou is another possibility if someone doesn’t like Ampharos. Meanwhile, Tyranitar is one of the coolest Pseudolegendary Pokemon and is effective in Johto despite his possibly late status (it is possible to get a Larvitar at the Safari Zone), while the Psychic-type remains overtuned at large. A strong Psychic Pokemon like Slowking and Espeon can dogwalk the Elite Four, as even the Psychic counters there aren’t that effective.
A-Tier: A is for A Solid Pokemon Important to the Johto Experience
- Typhlosion
- Feraligatr
- Steelix
- Yanmega
- Lanturn
- Hitmontop
- Heracross
- Quagsire
- Donphan
- Scizor
- Xatu
- Honchkrow
- Umbreon
- Ho-Oh
- Ambipom
- Crobat
- Togekiss
- Mismagius
- Houndoom
- Porygon2
- Blissey
- Entei
- Suicune
This tier represents some of the best in their class, even if their class isn’t exactly universal, they are outplayed, or they have some odd limitations. For example, Pokémon like Porygon2 and Togekiss are obtained so late in the game that they aren’t really useful for a playthrough. In contrast, a lot of these Johto Pokemon are worth catching early to establish an early team. Another limitation could come down to stat distribution. Umbreon is one of the best Walls in competitive Pokemon, but there’s hardly any reason to Wall an NPC. This represents the cream of the crop that can help fill a team well. And of course, Feraligatr and Typhlosion are both here, representing Pokemon HeartGold‘s starters.
B-Tier: B Is for Not Bad, But Could Be Better Pokemon
- Meganium
- Politoed
- Magcargo
- Delibird
- Girafarig
- Skarmory
- Noctowl
- Sudowoodo
- Corsola
- Weavile
- Shuckle
- Dunsparce
- Ursaring
- Azumarill
- Gligar
- Octillery
- Mantine
- Granbulll
- Miltank
Pokemon in the B-Tier here are good if you want them, but you could probably do better. And there’s obviously no hate to the Pokemon here (or anywhere on this list). There are just some clear power or vibe considerations to make, and most of the time, another Johto Pokemon would make more sense to use for a Pokemon HeartGold or Soulsilver playthrough. Shuckle is a beloved Pokemon and great in competition, but it’s also a mid-game pickup that’s really unnecessary in a standard playthrough. And after getting beaten by Whitney, one of the strongest Gym Leaders in Pokemon, it might make sense to grab a Miltank, but they fall short in the long run.
Find all 10 pairs
Find all 10 pairs
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Two important things to note in this tier are how Magcargo is a Johto Pokemon, but everyone thinks they are a Hoenn Pokemon. That just hurts their vibes’ consideration. Secondly, this is not hate to Meganium. It’s just…there’s a reason Mega Meganium was highly demanded by fans—it needed something to push it over the edge.
It’s worth noting that, with some proper training, any Pokemon can pretty much slot into a team and help beat the game.
C-Tier: C is for Could Easily Swap These Pokemon for Something Better
- Baby Pokemon: Cleffa, Igglybuff, Smoochum, Elekid, Magby, Tyrogue
- Unowns
- Ledian
- Ariados
- Forretress
- Furret
- Jumpluff
- Sunflora
- Stantler
- Bellossom
- Qwilfish
- Smeargle
C-Tier is Pokemon that really should be swapped as soon as possible. Obviously, no one intends to run a Baby Pokemon through Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver (unless they are doing some kind of challenge), but most of these Baby Pokemon turn into Kanto Pokemon. And this is a Johto Pokemon tier list. Meanwhile, Psychic types in Johto are really strong…except for Unowns. They’re more a gimmick Pokemon than a defining aspect of Johto.
Meanwhile, with very few exceptions listed in higher tiers, the Grass and Bug Pokemon of Johto are incredibly weak (even by the typing’s standards). Forretress is easily a cool Pokemon in design and something I considered moving up, but its lack of offenses and incredible weaknesses make it too hard to justify.
New Questions Added!
GameRant Quiz
Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)Permadeath (5s)
Take This As You Sign to Go Play Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver
All the Major Differences Between Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver vs. Gold/Silver/Crystal Explained
Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver make deep-cut changes and drastic improvements over the original Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal.
That said, Johto is a solid and beloved genre for a reason. These Pokemon are all great additions to the ever-growing Pokemon Pokedex, and all of them feel like they belong. I mean, that can’t be said of every Pokemon ever added to the line-up, and all of this is to say that the buck ends with C-tier as a reason. D-Tier would require there to be a bad Pokemon in Johto, and quite frankly, that’s simply not the case.
Finally, while I openly admit to my Johto/HG/SS bias, it’s always worth playing through. And if you’ve beaten Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen on Switch, then Johto in any form is a great chaser.
- Released
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March 14, 2010
- ESRB
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e
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
