Best Pokemon Team for SoulSilver and HeartGold: The Ultimate HGSS Guide

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver (HGSS) remain the gold standard for many fans, blending the beloved Johto region with updated mechanics from the DS era. Building the best SoulSilver team requires more than just high stats; it demands a strategic balance of typing, HM utility, and early-game availability to conquer the Elite Four and ultimately defeat Red on Mt. Silver.

While the Johto Pokedex offers hundreds of combinations, some Pokémon provide a clear competitive edge. This guide breaks down the most reliable team builds based on base stat totals, move pools, and encounter rates to ensure your journey through Johto and Kanto is as efficient as possible.

The Most Efficient Team for a SoulSilver and HeartGold Playthrough

Feraligatr

Choosing Totodile as your starter provides a significant advantage due to the Physical/Special split introduced in Generation 4. Feraligatr excels because its high Attack stat perfectly complements its natural Physical move pool, including Ice Fang and Aqua Tail. Unlike Typhlosion, which often struggles with a shallow move pool during the mid-game, Feraligatr offers immediate utility against early Rock and Ground types. This makes it a foundational member of any optimised SoulSilver team, allowing you to save your HM slots for other versatile teammates.

Pokedex Data

• National #: 160
• Type: Water
• Species: Big Jaw
• Height: 2.3 m
• Weight: 88.8 kg//195.8 lbs
• Abilities:
  1. Torrent
  2. Sheer Force
• Local #: 009

Female Geodude

The reason why we mention a specifically female Geodude is because of the fact that it is completely resistant to the Attract attack. You can pick one up on Route 46, which just falls north of Route 29.

For a truly expert HGSS run, catching a female Geodude on Route 46 is a pro-tier strategy. This specific encounter provides a hard counter to Whitney’s infamous Miltank. Since her Miltank relies on the move Attract, a female Geodude is immune to the infatuation status, while its Rock typing provides 4x resistance to Rollout. Beyond the Goldenrod Gym, Geodude’s early access to Rock Throw at level 11 ensures you can breeze through Falkner and Bugsy, providing the essential defensive “pivot” needed for a successful Johto campaign.

Now, the thing about Geodude is that its advantage mainly lies in the fact that it has a type advantage over other Pokémon. Further up in the game, try to get a Heracross, and when the Geodude seems like an option that is holding you back, just switch it with a Heracross that not only has good attack stats but also a very nice movepool that you will be able to use for an advantage.

Pokedex Data

• National #: 074
• Type: ROCK, GROUND
• Species: Rock Pokémon
• Height: 0.4 m
• Weight: 20.0 kg/44.1 lbs
• Abilities:
  1. Rock Head
  2. Sturdy
  3. Sand Veil
• Local #: 034

Crobat

Having a Flying-type Pokémon in your quest for the Pokémon SoulSilver best team will give you an advantage over the Grass-type Pokémon. You need something that is able to use and utilise HM02 Fly, and when it comes to this, you have options such as Zubat, Togetic, Fearow, or even Pidgeot.

Our suggestion here is to catch a Zubat in the Dark Cave that falls north of Route 30. Now, keep in mind that it will have weak attacks, but it becomes a strong Pokémon when it has learnt Bite and  Wing Attack. Once your Zubat has learned these new moves, it can be further evolved and evolve into a Crobat, which has a decent set of stats. Not only does it fall in the Flying type category, but it also shines when it comes to Poison types. In the middle of the game, it can learn Poison Fang and Cross Poison, which are both great attacks against your opponents.

We also suggest being careful while using a Crobat, as it doesn’t have a one-hit takedown attack and is also relatively frail.

Pokedex Data

• National #: 169
• Type: POISON, FLYING
• Species: Bat Pokémon
• Height: 1.8 m
• Weight: 75.0 kg/165.3 lbs
• Abilities:
  1. Inner Focus
  2. Infiltrator
• Local #: 039

Espeon/Alakazam

It is a great idea to have an Espeon or an Alakazam on your team in order to cover the lack of special attackers on your team. Choosing one from Espeon or Alakazam will be crucial to have an efficient Pokémon SoulSilver best team.

You can score an Eevee by speaking with Bill in Ecruteak in Goldenrod City. The Eevee will evolve into an Espeon at level 15. While it may be hard to get to level 15 for the Eevee to become an Espeon, the rewards far outweigh the efforts you’ll put in. Espeon also has a great move pool with a special attack as well as speed.

Alakazam, on the other hand, has a higher special defence statistic. Catching an Abra is a bit tricky because they can Teleport but then again, we suggest either an Espeon or an Alakazam to be on your quest to have the best team for HeartGold.

Pokedex Data – Espeon

• National #: 196
• Type: PSYCHIC
• Species: Sun Pokémon
• Height: 0.9 m
• Weight: 26.5 kg/58.4 lbs
• Abilities:
  1. Synchronize
  2. Magic Bounce
• Local #: 188

Pokedex Data – Alakazam

• National #: 065
• Type: PSYCHIC
• Species: Psi Pokémon
• Height: 1.5 m
• Weight: 48.0 kg/105.8 lbs
• Abilities:
  1. Synchronize
  2. Inner Focus
• Local #: 091

Magmar or Typhlosion

At the burned tower, you can also pick up a Magmar. While they are rare, they can be found out and about in the morning. They are speedy fire-type Pokémon, and they also have really powerful moves. A Magmar will only evolve after the postgame, but they aren’t to be taken casually as a good choice for your team.

Another option is picking up a Totodile, which will evolve into a Typhlosion, which can be a better option too, as compared to a Magmar as well. You are peachy if you go for either a Magmar or a Typhlosion.

Pokedex Data – Magmar

• National #: 126
• Type: FIRE
• Species: Spitfire Pokémon
• Height: 1.3 m
• Weight: 44.5 kg/98.1 lbs
• Abilities:
  1. Flame Body
  2. Vital Spirit
• Local #: 153

Pokedex Data – Typhlosion

• National #: 157
• Type: FIRE
• Species: Volcano Pokémon
• Height: 1.7 m
• Weight: 79.5 kg/175.3 lbs
• Abilities:
  1. Blaze
  2. Flash Fire
• Local #: 006

Ampharos

Last but not least, we suggest having an Ampharos in your team. While this Pokémon has nothing special to offer, it will fill up a gap where you miss out on the Electric types in your team. It takes a bit of time to train it, but once it gets the Thundershock attack, it becomes a great Pokémon with great Special Attack statistics.

Pokedex Data

• National #: 181
• Type: ELECTRIC
• Species: Light Pokémon
• Height: 1.4 m
• Weight: 61.5 kg/135.6 lbs
• Abilities:
  1. Static
  2. Plus
• Local #: 055

Frequently Asked Questions

Top Alternative HGSS Team Comps for Specialised Runs

TEAM 1

• Feraligatr
• Arcanine
• Jolteon
• Heracross
• Donphan
• Dragonite/Gyarados

TEAM 2

• Typhlosion
• Ampharos
• Heracross
• Vaporeon
• Donphan
• Crobat

When it comes to Pokémon SoulSilver’s best team, both of these teams mentioned above can prove to be great and help you out in traversing HeartGold and SoulSilver quite easily with fun battles.

Conclusion

As mentioned in this post’s introduction, there is no one single specific best team for HeartGold or SoulSilver. You yourself can come up with a team of your own, but if you need help, go with the main team we have mentioned. To spice things up, maybe try mixing and matching the teams with the other two alternative teams mentioned here as well.