Playthrough tier listGold & Silver

Best Fighting Pokémon in Gold & Silver

Poliwrath (post-game) and Heracross lead the 11 Fighting Pokémon for beating Gold and Silver.

11gradedNov 11, 2026updated
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  • Post-game
  • Trade to evolve
  • Gift
  • Gold only
Rapid gradeTap a tier to start your own list · 11 Pokémon
STop0 PokémonCarries a Gold & Silver run against most of the bosses
No Pokémon is graded S.
AStrong2 PokémonA strong pick for most of the gameClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
PoliwrathPoliwrathPost-game
HeracrossHeracross
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
BSolid2 PokémonDoes the job with some help
MachampMachampTrade to evolve
PrimeapePrimeapeGold only
CSituational0 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
No Pokémon is graded C.
DBottom7 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
HitmonchanHitmonchanGift
HitmonleeHitmonleeGift
HitmontopHitmontopGift
MachokeMachoke
MachopMachop
MankeyMankeyGold only
TyrogueTyrogueGift

What each tier means

  • STop Carries a Gold & Silver run against most of the bosses
  • AStrong A strong pick for most of the game
  • BSolid Does the job with some help
  • CSituational Struggles against several bosses
  • DBottom Hard to use for beating the game
2 reads blended into one listreblend in Showing11/ 11

Board breakdown

Among Fighting Pokémon in Gold and Silver, Heracross does well in 5 of the 13 boss fights, Falkner to Lance, 8 fights have no Fighting answer, and the versions differ in 4 fights.

With Poliwrath out of reach until the credits, which Fighting pick should you raise?

During the story, Heracross does the most: 5 of 13 fights, starting with Jasmine.

A filled box is a fight the pick does well in: Heracross has 5 of 13, first at Jasmine.

Gym 1, FalknerGym 2, BugsyGym 3, WhitneyGym 4, MortyGym 5, ChuckGym 6, JasmineGym 7, PryceGym 8, ClairElite Four, WillElite Four, KogaElite Four, BrunoElite Four, KarenChampion, Lance
  • HeracrossGym 1 Falkner: not on your team yetGym 2 Bugsy: not on your team yetGym 3 Whitney: no clear edgeGym 4 Morty: has troubleGym 5 Chuck: no clear edgeGym 6 Jasmine: does wellGym 7 Pryce: does wellGym 8 Clair: no clear edgeWill: does wellKoga: has troubleBruno: does wellKaren: does wellLance: has troubleAfter badge 2Route 29Headbutt30% of encounters
    Not yet: Falkner, BugsyDoes wellJasminePryceWillBrunoKarenHas troubleMorty, Koga, LanceNo clear edgeWhitney, Chuck, Clair
  • PrimeapeGym 1 Falkner: not on your team yetGym 2 Bugsy: not on your team yetGym 3 Whitney: not on your team yetGym 4 Morty: not on your team yetGym 5 Chuck: no clear edgeGym 6 Jasmine: does wellGym 7 Pryce: does wellGym 8 Clair: no clear edgeWill: no clear edgeKoga: no clear edgeBruno: does wellKaren: does wellLance: no clear edgeAfter badge 4MankeyRoute 4230% of encounters#134MankeyLevel 28#135Primeapefinal form by Chuck
    Not yet: Falkner to MortyDoes wellJasminePryceBrunoKarenNo clear edgeChuck, Clair, Will, Koga, Lance
  • MachampGym 1 Falkner: not on your team yetGym 2 Bugsy: not on your team yetGym 3 Whitney: not on your team yetGym 4 Morty: no clear edgeGym 5 Chuck: no clear edgeGym 6 Jasmine: does wellGym 7 Pryce: does wellGym 8 Clair: no clear edgeWill: has troubleKoga: no clear edgeBruno: does wellKaren: does wellLance: no clear edgeAfter badge 3MachopGoldenrod CityTrade a Drowzeeor Mt. Mortar 1f backafter badge 435% of encounters#140MachopLevel 28#141MachokeTrade#142Machamp
    Not yet: Falkner to WhitneyDoes wellJasminePryceBrunoKarenHas troubleWillNo clear edgeMorty, Chuck, Clair, Koga, Lance
  • HitmonchanGym 1 Falkner: not on your team yetGym 2 Bugsy: not on your team yetGym 3 Whitney: not on your team yetGym 4 Morty: not on your team yetGym 5 Chuck: not on your team yetGym 6 Jasmine: not on your team yetGym 7 Pryce: not on your team yetGym 8 Clair: not on your team yetWill: no clear edgeKoga: no clear edgeBruno: does wellKaren: does wellLance: no clear edgeAfter badge 8TyrogueMt. Mortar B1FLv 10#143TyrogueLevel 20 (Atk < Def)#145Hitmonchanfinal form by Will
    Not yet: Falkner to ClairDoes wellBrunoKarenNo clear edgeWill, Koga, Lance
  • HitmonleeGym 1 Falkner: not on your team yetGym 2 Bugsy: not on your team yetGym 3 Whitney: not on your team yetGym 4 Morty: not on your team yetGym 5 Chuck: not on your team yetGym 6 Jasmine: not on your team yetGym 7 Pryce: not on your team yetGym 8 Clair: not on your team yetWill: no clear edgeKoga: has troubleBruno: does wellKaren: does wellLance: has troubleAfter badge 8TyrogueMt. Mortar B1FLv 10#143TyrogueLevel 20 (Atk > Def)#144Hitmonleefinal form by Will
    Not yet: Falkner to ClairDoes wellBrunoKarenHas troubleKoga, LanceNo clear edgeWill
  • HitmontopGym 1 Falkner: not on your team yetGym 2 Bugsy: not on your team yetGym 3 Whitney: not on your team yetGym 4 Morty: not on your team yetGym 5 Chuck: not on your team yetGym 6 Jasmine: not on your team yetGym 7 Pryce: not on your team yetGym 8 Clair: not on your team yetWill: has troubleKoga: has troubleBruno: does wellKaren: does wellLance: has troubleAfter badge 8TyrogueMt. Mortar B1FLv 10#143TyrogueLevel 20 (Atk = Def)#146Hitmontopfinal form by Will
    Not yet: Falkner to ClairDoes wellBrunoKarenHas troubleWill, Koga, Lance

Best pair

Gold
Heracross + Primeape5/13 togetherevery fight a Fighting pick wins
Silver
Heracross + Hitmonchan5/13 togetherevery fight a Fighting pick wins

After the creditsOnly after you beat LanceCounted in no fight

  • PoliwrathAfter the Hall of Fame

On the road from Falkner to Lance, which fights leave Fighting with no answer?

Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney, Morty, Chuck, Clair, Koga and Lance are the fights with no Fighting answer.

The best Fighting pick you can have by each fight, Falkner to Lance. First with none: Falkner.

Gyms

  1. Nothing yet

    Team

    1. PidgeyLv 7NormalFlying
    2. PidgeottoLv 9NormalFlyingAce

    No Fighting pick you can have yet

    Full fight

  2. Nothing yet

    Team

    1. MetapodLv 14Bug
    2. KakunaLv 14BugPoison
    3. ScytherLv 16BugFlyingAce

    No Fighting pick you can have yet

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Heracross

    Team

    1. ClefairyLv 18Normal
    2. MiltankLv 20NormalAce

    No clear edge (1)Heracross

    Full fight

  4. Closest: Machamp

    Team

    1. GastlyLv 21GhostPoison
    2. HaunterLv 21GhostPoison
    3. GengarLv 25GhostPoisonAce
    4. HaunterLv 23GhostPoison

    No clear edge (1)Machamp Trade to evolve

    Has trouble (1)Heracross

    Full fight

  5. Closest: Heracross

    TeamFighting-type team

    1. PrimeapeLv 27Fighting
    2. PoliwrathLv 30WaterFightingAce

    No clear edge (3)HeracrossMachamp Trade to evolvePrimeapeGold only

    Full fight

  6. HeracrossGold +2 moreSilver +1 more

    Team

    1. MagnemiteLv 30ElectricSteel
    2. MagnemiteLv 30ElectricSteel
    3. SteelixLv 35SteelGroundAce

    Does well (3)HeracrossMoves: Rock SmashPrimeapeGold onlyMoves: Dig and Dynamic PunchMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Dig and Dynamic Punch

    Full fight

  7. HeracrossGold +2 moreSilver +1 more

    Team

    1. SeelLv 27Water
    2. DewgongLv 29WaterIce
    3. PiloswineLv 31IceGroundAce

    Does well (3)HeracrossMoves: Fury Cutter and Rock SmashPrimeapeGold onlyMoves: Thunder and Dynamic PunchMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Thunder Punch and Dynamic Punch

    Full fight

  8. GoldClosest: Primeape
    SilverClosest: Heracross

    Team

    1. DragonairLv 37Dragon
    2. DragonairLv 37Dragon
    3. DragonairLv 37Dragon
    4. KingdraLv 40WaterDragonAce

    No clear edge (3)PrimeapeGold onlyHeracrossMachamp Trade to evolve

    Full fight

League

  1. Heracross

    Team

    1. XatuLv 40PsychicFlying
    2. JynxLv 41IcePsychic
    3. ExeggutorLv 41GrassPsychic
    4. SlowbroLv 41WaterPsychic
    5. XatuLv 42PsychicFlyingAce

    Does well (1)HeracrossMoves: Thief and Megahorn

    No clear edge (3)Hitmonchan GiftHitmonlee GiftPrimeapeGold only

    Has trouble (2)Machamp Trade to evolveHitmontop Gift

    Full fight

  2. Closest: Machamp

    Team

    1. AriadosLv 40BugPoison
    2. VenomothLv 41BugPoison
    3. ForretressLv 43BugSteel
    4. MukLv 42Poison
    5. CrobatLv 44PoisonFlyingAce

    No clear edge (3)Machamp Trade to evolvePrimeapeGold onlyHitmonchan Gift

    Has trouble (3)HeracrossHitmonlee GiftHitmontop Gift

    Full fight

  3. HeracrossGold +5 moreSilver +4 more

    Team

    1. HitmontopLv 42Fighting
    2. HitmonleeLv 42Fighting
    3. HitmonchanLv 42Fighting
    4. OnixLv 43RockGround
    5. MachampLv 46FightingAce

    Does well (6)HeracrossMoves: Rock SmashHitmonlee GiftMoves: High Jump KickPrimeapeGold onlyMoves: Cross ChopHitmonchan GiftMoves: Dynamic PunchMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Cross ChopHitmontop GiftMoves: Rock Smash

    Full fight

  4. HeracrossGold +5 moreSilver +4 more

    Team

    1. UmbreonLv 42Dark
    2. VileplumeLv 42GrassPoison
    3. GengarLv 45GhostPoison
    4. MurkrowLv 44DarkFlying
    5. HoundoomLv 47DarkFireAce

    Does well (6)HeracrossMoves: Megahorn, Thief and Rock SmashPrimeapeGold onlyMoves: Cross Chop, Fire Punch and ThiefMachamp Trade to evolveMoves: Cross Chop, Fire Blast and ThiefHitmonchan GiftMoves: Dynamic Punch, Fire Punch and ThiefHitmonlee GiftMoves: High Jump Kick and ThiefHitmontop GiftMoves: Rock Smash and Thief

    Full fight

  5. GoldClosest: Primeape
    SilverClosest: Hitmonchan

    Team

    1. GyaradosLv 44WaterFlying
    2. DragoniteLv 47DragonFlying
    3. DragoniteLv 47DragonFlying
    4. AerodactylLv 46RockFlying
    5. CharizardLv 46FireFlying
    6. DragoniteLv 50DragonFlyingAce

    No clear edge (3)PrimeapeGold onlyHitmonchan GiftMachamp Trade to evolve

    Has trouble (3)HeracrossHitmonlee GiftHitmontop Gift

    Full fight

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