Playthrough tier listHeartGold & SoulSilver

Best Ice Pokémon in HeartGold & SoulSilver

Articuno (post-game) leads the 14 Ice Pokémon for beating HeartGold and SoulSilver.

14gradedNov 11, 2026updated
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  • Post-game
  • SoulSilver only
Rapid gradeTap a tier to start your own list · 14 Pokémon
STop1 PokémonCarries a HeartGold & SoulSilver run against most of the bossesClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
ArticunoArticunoPost-game
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
AStrong2 PokémonA strong pick for most of the game
MamoswineMamoswine
LaprasLapras
BSolid1 PokémonDoes the job with some help
SneaselSneaselPost-game
CSituational3 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
JynxJynx
CloysterCloyster
PiloswinePiloswine
DBottom7 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
DewgongDewgong
WalreinWalrein
DelibirdDelibirdSoulSilver only
SwinubSwinub
SmoochumSmoochum
SealeoSealeo
SphealSpheal

What each tier means

  • STop Carries a HeartGold & SoulSilver 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 Showing14/ 14

After the creditsNot graded here, because you can only get them after the credits: Weavile.

Board breakdown

Among Ice Pokémon in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Lapras does well in 7 of the 13 boss fights, Falkner to Lance, 5 fights have no Ice answer, and both versions play out the same.

Articuno only joins after the credits, so which Ice Pokémon carries the story?

During the story, Lapras does the most: 7 of 13 fights, starting with Jasmine.

A filled box is a fight the pick does well in: Lapras has 7 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
  • LaprasGym 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: does wellWill: does wellKoga: does wellBruno: no clear edgeKaren: does wellLance: does wellAfter badge 4Safari Zone rocky beachSurf20% of encounters
    Not yet: Falkner to MortyDoes wellJasminePryceClairWillKogaKarenLanceNo clear edgeChuck, Bruno
  • MamoswineGym 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: no clear edgeWill: does wellKoga: does wellBruno: does wellKaren: does wellLance: does wellAfter badge 7SwinubIce Path 1F40% of encounters#195SwinubLevel 33#196PiloswineKnows AncientPower#197Mamoswine
    Not yet: Falkner to PryceDoes wellWillKogaBrunoKarenLanceNo clear edgeClair
  • DewgongGym 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: has troubleGym 6 Jasmine: no clear edgeGym 7 Pryce: does wellGym 8 Clair: no clear edgeWill: does wellKoga: does wellBruno: no clear edgeKaren: does wellLance: does wellAfter badge 4SeelRoute 47Surf30% of encounters#178SeelLevel 34#179Dewgongfinal form by Clair
    Not yet: Falkner to MortyDoes wellPryceWillKogaKarenLanceHas troubleChuckNo clear edgeJasmine, Clair, Bruno
  • CloysterGym 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: has troubleGym 6 Jasmine: does wellGym 7 Pryce: does wellGym 8 Clair: no clear edgeWill: has troubleKoga: does wellBruno: does wellKaren: no clear edgeLance: no clear edgeAfter badge 4ShellderNew Bark TownGood Rod10% of encounters#171ShellderWater Stone#172CloysterWater Stone on Route 35
    Not yet: Falkner to MortyDoes wellJasminePryceKogaBrunoHas troubleChuck, WillNo clear edgeClair, Karen, Lance
  • JynxGym 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: does wellWill: does wellKoga: does wellBruno: no clear edgeKaren: no clear edgeLance: no clear edgeAfter badge 7Ice Path 1F10% of encounters by day
    Not yet: Falkner to PryceDoes wellClairWillKogaNo clear edgeBruno, Karen, Lance
NextWalrein 3

Best pair

Lapras + Cloyster8/13 togetherevery fight an Ice pick wins

After the creditsOnly after you beat LanceCounted in no fight

  • ArticunoAfter the Hall of Fame
  • SneaselAfter the Hall of Fame

Gym by gym, where does an Ice team run out of answers?

Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney, Morty and Chuck have no Ice answer: 5 gyms in a row.

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

Gyms

  1. Nothing yet

    Team

    1. PidgeyLv 9NormalFlying
    2. PidgeottoLv 13NormalFlyingAce

    No Ice pick you can have yet

    Full fight

  2. Nothing yet

    Team

    1. ScytherLv 17BugFlyingAce
    2. KakunaLv 15BugPoison
    3. MetapodLv 15Bug

    No Ice pick you can have yet

    Full fight

  3. Nothing yet

    Team

    1. ClefairyLv 17Normal
    2. MiltankLv 19NormalAce

    No Ice pick you can have yet

    Full fight

  4. Nothing yet

    Team

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

    No Ice pick you can have yet

    Full fight

  5. Closest: Lapras

    Team

    1. PrimeapeLv 29Fighting
    2. PoliwrathLv 31WaterFightingAce

    No clear edge (1)Lapras

    Has trouble (3)Dewgongas SeelCloysterWalrein

    Full fight

  6. Lapras+2 more

    Team

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

    Does well (3)LaprasMoves: Rock Smash and SurfWalreinMoves: Rock Smash and SurfCloysterMoves: Surf

    No clear edge (1)Dewgongas Seel

    Full fight

  7. Lapras+3 more

    Team

    1. SeelLv 30Water
    2. DewgongLv 32WaterIce
    3. PiloswineLv 34IceGroundAce

    Does well (4)LaprasMoves: Thunder and SurfWalreinMoves: Rock Smash and SurfCloysterMoves: Payback and SurfDewgongas SeelMoves: Thief and Surf

    Full fight

  8. Lapras+1 more

    Team

    1. GyaradosLv 38WaterFlying
    2. DragonairLv 38Dragon
    3. DragonairLv 38Dragon
    4. KingdraLv 41WaterDragonAce

    Does well (2)LaprasMoves: Thunder and BlizzardJynxMoves: Blizzard

    No clear edge (3)DewgongMamoswineCloyster

    Has trouble (2)WalreinDelibirdSoulSilver only

    Full fight

League

  1. Lapras+3 more

    Team

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

    Does well (4)LaprasMoves: Blizzard, Iron Tail and ThunderJynxMoves: Blizzard and ThiefDewgongMoves: Blizzard and ThiefMamoswineMoves: Blizzard, Rock Tomb and Earthquake

    Has trouble (3)CloysterWalreinDelibirdSoulSilver only

    Full fight

  2. Lapras+4 more

    Team

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

    Does well (5)LaprasMoves: Blizzard and Hydro PumpMamoswineMoves: Peck, Earthquake and BlizzardDewgongMoves: Blizzard and Aqua TailCloysterMoves: Blizzard and SurfJynxMoves: Confusion, Focus Punch and Blizzard

    No clear edge (2)WalreinDelibirdSoulSilver only

    Full fight

  3. Mamoswine+1 more

    Team

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

    Does well (2)MamoswineMoves: Peck and EarthquakeCloysterMoves: Blizzard and Surf

    No clear edge (3)LaprasJynxDewgong

    Has trouble (2)WalreinDelibirdSoulSilver only

    Full fight

  4. Lapras+2 more

    Team

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

    Does well (3)LaprasMoves: Rock Smash, Blizzard and Hydro PumpDewgongMoves: Blizzard, Thief and Aqua TailMamoswineMoves: Rock Smash, Blizzard and Earthquake

    No clear edge (4)WalreinDelibirdSoulSilver onlyJynxCloyster

    Full fight

  5. Lapras+3 more

    Team

    1. GyaradosLv 46WaterFlying
    2. DragoniteLv 49DragonFlying
    3. DragoniteLv 49DragonFlying
    4. AerodactylLv 48RockFlying
    5. CharizardLv 48FireFlying
    6. DragoniteLv 50DragonFlyingAce

    Does well (4)LaprasMoves: Thunder, Blizzard and Hydro PumpDewgongMoves: Blizzard and Aqua TailMamoswineMoves: Rock Tomb and BlizzardWalreinMoves: Rock Tomb and Blizzard

    No clear edge (2)CloysterJynx

    Has trouble (1)DelibirdSoulSilver only

    Full fight

What does an Ice team lose in HeartGold without Delibird?

Nothing: Delibird is SoulSilver only, and every fight has as many Ice answers in HeartGold as in SoulSilver.

Each card can change an Ice team: the two versions.

  • Fights match in both
    HeartGoldSoulSilver
    Only hereDelibird
    Same open fights in both versions
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