Best Starter in Pokemon Gold and Silver
Totodile is our top pick for Gold and Silver: 13 of its 21 boss fights are wins, and not one is Tough. Cyndaquil wins 12 and evolves first, at Lv 14, but Chuck and Clair are Tough for it. Totodile also wins the most of the eight Kanto gyms you fight after the League.
Gold and Silver Starter Evolutions and Stats
Chikorita
Final form: Meganium
grassEvolution
Your rival takes Cyndaquil
Base statsMeganium
- Total
- 525
| Boss | Result and score out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Falkner | Tough, 41.4 |
| Bugsy | Tough, 37.4 |
| Whitney | Good, 57.8 |
| Morty | Even, 50.3 |
| Chuck | Even, 56.3 |
| Jasmine | Good, 58.6 |
| Pryce | Strong, 76.2 |
| Clair | Tough, 41.3 |
| Will | Good, 57.2 |
| Koga | Even, 44.5 |
| Bruno | Good, 67.8 |
| Karen | Even, 52.9 |
| Lance | Even, 43.4 |
| Lt. Surge | Good, 65.2 |
| Sabrina | Good, 57.7 |
| Erika | Even, 46.9 |
| Janine | Even, 46.4 |
| Misty | Strong, 77.5 |
| Brock | Strong, 92.5 |
| Blaine | Even, 54.9 |
| Blue | Even, 52.1 |
Wins 9 of 21
Cyndaquil
Final form: Typhlosion
fireEvolution
Your rival takes Totodile
Base statsTyphlosion
- Total
- 534
| Boss | Result and score out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Falkner | Even, 44.3 |
| Bugsy | Strong, 72.2 |
| Whitney | Even, 56.4 |
| Morty | Good, 69.4 |
| Chuck | Tough, 42.8 |
| Jasmine | Strong, 75.3 |
| Pryce | Good, 65.4 |
| Clair | Tough, 38.9 |
| Will | Good, 69.0 |
| Koga | Strong, 79.3 |
| Bruno | Good, 58.3 |
| Karen | Strong, 72.4 |
| Lance | Even, 48.7 |
| Lt. Surge | Good, 69.8 |
| Sabrina | Good, 60.4 |
| Erika | Strong, 85.1 |
| Janine | Strong, 72.4 |
| Misty | Even, 47.2 |
| Brock | Even, 49.1 |
| Blaine | Even, 55.9 |
| Blue | Even, 54.8 |
Wins 12 of 21
Totodile
Final form: Feraligatr
waterEvolution
Your rival takes Chikorita
Base statsFeraligatr
- Total
- 530
| Boss | Result and score out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Falkner | Even, 45.1 |
| Bugsy | Even, 54.6 |
| Whitney | Good, 58.5 |
| Morty | Good, 68.5 |
| Chuck | Even, 48.4 |
| Jasmine | Strong, 77.9 |
| Pryce | Good, 64.8 |
| Clair | Even, 44.7 |
| Will | Good, 60.1 |
| Koga | Good, 63.8 |
| Bruno | Good, 65.8 |
| Karen | Good, 65.9 |
| Lance | Even, 56.5 |
| Lt. Surge | Good, 66.7 |
| Sabrina | Good, 58.3 |
| Erika | Even, 49.4 |
| Janine | Good, 62.3 |
| Misty | Even, 52.6 |
| Brock | Strong, 82.6 |
| Blaine | Strong, 73.1 |
| Blue | Even, 56.4 |
Most wins: 13 of 21
- Strong
- Good
- Even
- Tough
- Bad
- Score 50
Gold and Silver Boss Fights, Rated for Each Starter
21 fights in story orderChikorita's trouble is all in Johto: Falkner and Bugsy at the first two badges, then Clair's dragons right before the League. Kanto goes much better, and Meganium is rated Strong against Misty and Brock.
Each cell is that starter's rating for the fight, scored 0 to 100. Tap a row for the boss team.
Ratings come from our matchup model: your starter's form, level, moves and stats at each fight against that boss team. Not a tier list.
| Boss |  Chikorita |  Cyndaquil |  Totodile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johto gyms · 8 | 3 won · 3 Tough | 4 won · 2 Tough | 4 won · 0 Tough |
Tough41.4 | Even44.3 | Even45.1 | |
Tough37.4 | Strong72.2 | Even54.6 | |
Good57.8 | Even56.4 | Good58.5 | |
Even50.3 | Good69.4 | Good68.5 | |
Even56.3 | Tough42.8 | Even48.4 | |
Good58.6 | Strong75.3 | Strong77.9 | |
Strong76.2 | Good65.4 | Good64.8 | |
Tough41.3 | Tough38.9 | Even44.7 | |
| Indigo Plateau · 5 | 2 won · 0 Tough | 4 won · 0 Tough | 4 won · 0 Tough |
Good57.2 | Good69.0 | Good60.1 | |
Even44.5 | Strong79.3 | Good63.8 | |
Good67.8 | Good58.3 | Good65.8 | |
Even52.9 | Strong72.4 | Good65.9 | |
Even43.4 | Even48.7 | Even56.5 | |
| Kanto gyms (after the League) · 8 | 4 won · 0 Tough | 4 won · 0 Tough | 5 won · 0 Tough |
Good65.2 | Good69.8 | Good66.7 | |
Good57.7 | Good60.4 | Good58.3 | |
Even46.9 | Strong85.1 | Even49.4 | |
Even46.4 | Strong72.4 | Good62.3 | |
Strong77.5 | Even47.2 | Even52.6 | |
Strong92.5 | Even49.1 | Strong82.6 | |
Even54.9 | Even55.9 | Strong73.1 | |
Even52.1 | Even54.8 | Even56.4 |
The Elite Four and Lance are rated at an assumed player level of 56. Kanto gyms are listed in the order the ratings assume.
Rival fights are not rated.
Best Team for Each Gold and Silver Starter
5 teammates per starter · all obtainable in Gold & SilverFour of the top six in Totodile's Gold and Silver ranking are on its team: Dragonite, Hypno, Lapras and Haunter. The Dratini for Dragonite is a Goldenrod Game Corner prize, yours before Whitney. Lapras shows up in Union Cave B2F on Fridays only.
- FalknerTough 41
- BugsyTough 37
- ClairTough 41
This team wins 20 of 21 boss fights. It wins 2 of Chikorita's 3 Tough or Bad fights; no teammate you can catch in time wins Falkner.
Between them, the team resists every type Chikorita is weak to.
Why not Geodude for Falkner? We rate that fight at Lv 7, and Geodude only learns Rock Throw at Lv 11.
- Haunter
ghost
poison6th of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Sprout Tower 2F, at nightWhen: Before Gym 1 (Falkner)Level: Lv 3 to 6
- MortyStrong 79
- ChuckGood 66
- JanineStrong 78
- Dragonite
dragon
flying1st of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Goldenrod Game CornerWhen: Before Gym 3 (Whitney)Level: Lv 10
You get Dratini. Dragonair at Lv 30, then Dragonite at Lv 55.
- ClairGood 62as Dragonair
- KogaStrong 78
- KarenStrong 76
- Hypno
psychic3rd of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Route 34When: Before Gym 3 (Whitney)Level: Lv 10 to 12
- MortyStrong 81
- ClairGood 59
- JanineStrong 79
- Lapraswater
ice4th of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Union Cave B2F, on FridaysWhen: Before Gym 5 (Chuck)Level: Lv 20
Doesn't evolve.
- ClairGood 59
- KarenGood 71
- JanineGood 72
electric
- ChuckTough 43
- ClairTough 39
This team wins 19 of 21 boss fights. It wins both of Cyndaquil's Tough or Bad fights.
Between them, the team resists every type Cyndaquil is weak to.
- Haunterghostpoison
6th of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Sprout Tower 2F, at nightWhen: Before Gym 1 (Falkner)Level: Lv 3 to 6
- ChuckGood 66
- MistyGood 70
- BrockStrong 84
- Sandslash
groundGood or Strong in 10 of 20 fights after you catch it (10 of 19 in Silver)
Gold Where: Union Cave 1FWhen: Before Gym 2 (Bugsy)Level: Lv 6
You catch Sandshrew. Sandslash at Lv 22.
Silver Where: Goldenrod Game CornerWhen: Before Gym 3 (Whitney)Level: Lv 10
- JasmineStrong 84
- BrockStrong 74
- BlaineStrong 73
- Dragonitedragonflying
1st of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Goldenrod Game CornerWhen: Before Gym 3 (Whitney)Level: Lv 10
You get Dratini. Dragonair at Lv 30, then Dragonite at Lv 55.
- ClairGood 62as Dragonair
- LanceGood 72
- BrockStrong 80as Dragonair
- Hypnopsychic
3rd of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Route 34When: Before Gym 3 (Whitney)Level: Lv 10 to 12
- ChuckStrong 72
- ClairGood 59
- BrockGood 67
- Golduckwater
8th of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Ilex ForestWhen: Before Gym 5 (Chuck)Level: Lv 15
You catch it as Golduck.
- JasmineStrong 76
- BrockStrong 82
- BlaineStrong 76
This team wins 19 of 21 boss fights.
Between them, the team resists every type Totodile is weak to.
- Haunterghostpoison
6th of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Sprout Tower 2F, at nightWhen: Before Gym 1 (Falkner)Level: Lv 3 to 6
- ChuckGood 66
- LanceGood 65
- MistyGood 70
- Dragonitedragonflying
1st of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Goldenrod Game CornerWhen: Before Gym 3 (Whitney)Level: Lv 10
You get Dratini. Dragonair at Lv 30, then Dragonite at Lv 55.
- LanceGood 72
- ErikaStrong 73as Dragonair
- BlueGood 67
- Hypnopsychic
3rd of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Route 34When: Before Gym 3 (Whitney)Level: Lv 10 to 12
- ChuckStrong 72
- LanceGood 65
- ErikaStrong 76
- Lapraswaterice
4th of 85 Gold and Silver teammates in our boss-fight scores
Where: Union Cave B2F, on FridaysWhen: Before Gym 5 (Chuck)Level: Lv 20
Doesn't evolve.
- LanceGood 69
- ErikaGood 70
- BlueGood 62
Every teammate is a wild catch or a Game Corner prize in Gold & Silver, with no trading between games. It counts only for fights after you can catch it, and an evolution only once you can reach its item. Teammates are ranked by how they do in the boss fights after you catch them, and a late catch ranks lower because it misses fights. At least two of the five join before a quarter of the boss fights are done. Every teammate is in the top third of that ranking. No two of the six (your starter and its five teammates) have exactly the same typing, and no type appears on more than two of them or hits more than two for super effective damage. The six always include a physical attacker, a special attacker, a fast Pokemon and a bulky one. Wins in your starter's Tough or Bad fights count extra, and legendary and mythical Pokemon are left out. Scores come from the Boss fights model, for the teammate's form at that fight.
Key Moves for Each Gold and Silver Starter
Totodile gets Water Gun at Lv 13, and Totodile's Gold and Silver page lists the rest. Croconaw's Bite at Lv 21 is special in Gen 2, as every Dark move was, so it runs off Croconaw's 59 Special Attack, not its 80 Attack.
| Lv | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Grass, Special, power 55 | grass Special | Special | 55 |
| 12 | Psychic, Status | psychic Status | Status | None |
| Evolves to Bayleef at Lv 16 | ||||
| 23 | Grass, Status | grassStatus | Status | None |
| 31 | Normal, Physical, power 85 |  normal Physical | Physical | 85 |
| Evolves to Meganium at Lv 32 | ||||
| 61 | Grass, Special, power 120 | grassSpecial | Special | 120 |
| Lv | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Fire, Special, power 40 | fireSpecial | Special | 40 |
| Evolves to Quilava at Lv 14 | ||||
| 21 | Normal, Physical, power 40 | normalPhysical | Physical | 40 |
| 31 | Fire, Special, power 60 | fireSpecial | Special | 60 |
| Evolves to Typhlosion at Lv 36 | ||||
| 45 | Normal, Physical, power 60 | normalPhysical | Physical | 60 |
| 60 | Fire, Special, power 95 | fireSpecial | Special | 95 |
| Lv | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Normal, Physical, power 20 | normalPhysical | Physical | 20 |
| 13 | Water, Special, power 40 | waterSpecial | Special | 40 |
| Evolves to Croconaw at Lv 18 | ||||
| 21 | Dark, Special, power 60 |  darkSpecial | Special | 60 |
| Evolves to Feraligatr at Lv 30 | ||||
| 38 | Normal, Physical, power 70 | normalPhysical | Physical | 70 |
| 58 | Water, Special, power 120 | waterSpecial | Special | 120 |
In Gen 1 to 3, a move's type decides if it is physical or special.
More Gold and Silver guides
Cyndaquil's own page covers the fastest start in Gold and Silver. If you'd rather build around something else, the best Pokemon in Gold and Silver are ranked for the whole game.
Starters in other games
Crystal's ratings are identical to these. Its teams aren't: Jynx from Ice Path and Jolteon from Bill's Eevee join the teams there, and neither appears here.