Pokémon Gold and Silver — known as the second generation — take us on an unforgettable journey through the Johto region. For many trainers, building a strong and reliable “travel team” is the key to enjoying the adventure smoothly.

In this guide, we’ll introduce the best recommended Pokémon for a travel team up to the Pokémon League. The criteria:

• Obtainable before the Pokémon League

• No single-event-only Pokémon, no legendaries, no version exclusives, and no trade evolutions required

• Easy to raise during the main adventure

Let’s dive in by type!

Normal Type: Miltank

• Location: Routes 38 & 39 (15% encounter rate, all day)

• Highlights:

  • Excellent stats with solid durability

  • Learns Milk Drink, a great recovery move for long trips

  • Powerful STAB options: Stomp and Return (up to 102 base power with high friendship)

  • Only one weakness: Fighting

• Note: Many trainers suffered against Whitney’s infamous Miltank — but on your side, it becomes one of the strongest allies.

Fire Type: Magmar

• Location: Burned Tower B1F (10% in daytime, 5% morning/night)

• Highlights:

  • Early access to great moves like Flamethrower and Fire Punch

  • Strong Special Attack makes it a reliable fire-type attacker

  • Evolves by level-up, no Fire Stone needed (stones are rare in Johto)

Water/Electric Type: Lanturn

• Location: Catch Chinchou with the Good Rod in Olivine City

• Highlights:

  • Unique Water/Electric typing, covering many weaknesses

  • HM utility: Surf, Whirlpool, and Flash

  • Support moves like Thunder Wave and Confuse Ray

  • Decent Special Attack and bulk to serve as both attacker and supporter

Electric Type: Ampharos

• Location: Mareep on Route 32 (20% encounter, morning/day)

• Highlights:

  • Available early, final evolution by level 30

  • Huge Special Attack (115), one of the best in Johto

  • Learns ThunderPunch naturally, and Fire Punch via TM for wider coverage

Grass Type: Jumpluff

• Location: Hoppip on Route 32 (20% encounter, morning/day)

• Highlights:

  • Extremely fast (110 Speed, equal to Gengar and Lugia)

  • Learns Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, and Leech Seed for support

  • Great as a capture assistant thanks to speed and status moves

• Downside: Limited offensive movepool

Ice/Water Type: Lapras

• Location: Union Cave B2F (every Friday, respawns weekly)

• Highlights:

  • Massive HP (130) and strong defenses

  • Access to Surf, Whirlpool, and Ice Beam by level-up

  • Easy to catch as a fixed encounter

Fighting Type: Machoke

• Location: Trade Drowzee (catchable on Route 34) in Goldenrod for Machop, then evolve

• Highlights:

  • Early access, great against Whitney’s Miltank

  • High Attack (100) once evolved into Machoke

  • Reliable moves like Karate Chop and Seismic Toss

• Note: Even without trading to Machamp, Machoke is more than strong enough for travel

Poison/Flying Type: Crobat

• Location: Zubat in Union Cave and many others (20% encounter)

• Highlights:

  • Blazing Speed (130), one of the fastest in the game

  • Useful support with Confuse Ray, Toxic, and Mean Look (great for catching legendaries later)

  • Evolves by high friendship (easy to track in Goldenrod City)

Ground/Water Type: Quagsire

• Location: Wooper appears early on in Johto

• Highlights:

  • Excellent typing: immune to Electric, few weaknesses except 4× Grass

  • Learns Earthquake by level-up (35)

  • Reliable HM user: Surf, Waterfall

  • Evolves early at level 20

Normal/Flying Type: Fearow

• Location: Receive Spearow with mail from a guard event

• Highlights:

  • Fast physical attacker (Attack 90, Speed 100)

  • Learns Drill Peck (80 BP, 100% accuracy) at level 40

  • Grows quickly thanks to boosted experience from NPC gift

Psychic Type: Espeon

• Location: Evolve Eevee during the day with high friendship

• Highlights:

  • Sky-high Special Attack (130) and Speed (110)

  • Learns Psychic at level 36, sweeping many teams

  • Can also heal with Morning Sun at level 52

Bug/Flying Type: Scyther

• Location: Bug-Catching Contest in National Park (5% encounter)

• Highlights:

  • Strong and fast attacker (Attack 110, Speed 105)

  • Learns False Swipe, perfect for catching other Pokémon

  • Can boost with Swords Dance and slice with Slash

Rock/Ground Type: Graveler

• Location: Geodude in early caves (30% encounter)

• Highlights:

  • Defense 115 makes it a strong physical wall

  • Perfect counter to Whitney’s Miltank (half damage from Normal moves)

  • Useful against Bugsy, Pryce, and Team Rocket’s Poison-types

Ghost Type: Haunter

• Location: Gastly in Sprout Tower (night, 30%)

• Highlights:

  • Strong Special Attack (115) and solid Speed (95)

  • Tricks like Curse, Mean Look, and Destiny Bond

• Note: Ghost-type moves are physical in Gen 2, limiting offensive power

Dragon/Flying Type: Dragonite

• Location: Dratini in Dragon’s Den (Good Rod 10%, Super Rod 30%) or Goldenrod Game Corner

• Highlights:

  • Legendary-level stats (Attack 134, great bulk)

  • Learns Outrage and Hyper Beam naturally

  • Requires patience to raise, but becomes a powerhouse

Dark Type: Umbreon

• Location: Evolve Eevee at night with high friendship

• Highlights:

  • Incredible defenses: 130 Special Defense, 110 Defense

  • The earliest Dark-type available in Johto

  • Excellent support moves to weaken enemies

Steel/Electric Type: Magneton

• Location: Magnemite on Route 38 (20% encounter)

• Highlights:

  • Outstanding resistances thanks to Steel typing

  • Strong Special Attack (120)

  • Learns Thunder Wave for capture support

  • Can use Lock-On + Zap Cannon for a guaranteed hit

Conclusion

A well-rounded travel team in Gold and Silver is about more than just raw power — it’s about coverage, durability, and utility.

The Pokémon listed above are not only strong in battle, but also bring valuable support like status moves, HM coverage, and capturing assistance. With the right mix, you’ll breeze through Johto and head into the Pokémon League with confidence.

So on your next adventure, try building your team around these reliable partners — and experience the journey like never before!