Pokemon Gold and Silver created a new flock of Pokemon fans, overhauled several of the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:previous games' battle mechanics, and most importantly for this list, introduced 100 new,☂ very interesting creatures: Steel-type 🀅and Dark-type Pokemon; Several new evolutions for Kanto Pokemon; The only non-Dragon-type pseudo-Legendary so far.

RELATED: 168澳洲幸运🦩5开奖网:The Best Kanto Pokemon For🍃 Competitive Battling

When looking at competitive standouts, Johto Pokemon are particularly interesting. Most of the Po🀅kemon listed here are defensive maestros, with Pokemon from other generations generally💎 being the best offensive threats of the meta. Either way, these few, after all these years, still rank among the best of the best.

Note: This list will not include Pokemon banned to Ubers or regional variants of Johto Pokemon.

15 Entei

Entei standing on a crystal cliff in the Pokemon anime

Without question, Entei’s main offensive weapon is Sacred Fire, a fantastic STAB attacking move that packs a lot of power and burns its target 50 percent of the time. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:The Legendary beast’s 115 Attack stat ensures that high power.

Its coverage for a physical attacker is excellent as well, making a Choice Band moveset very viable. That said, its defenses and Speed can be a little suspect, and that gets it completely neutralized against Water-types. Its reliance on a Choice Band instead of Heavy Duty Boots makes 🥀entry hazards a big problem, too.

14 Raikou

Pokemon Anime Raikou Sparking Electricity on Mountain top

Similar to Tapu Koko’s role in the wild west of OverUsed, Raikou plays a similar offensive pivot role in the middle tiers of Smogon Singles. Its MO is to threaten Pokemon with its strong offensive stats (115 in both Special Attack and Speed), then Volt Switch out of unfavorablꦜe matchups.

Its movepool is decently wide for 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:an Electric-type, with Scald, Aura Sphere, Shadow Ball, and even a set-up move in Calm Mind in its arsenal alongside Thunderbolt. That said, as is usual with Elect🔜ric-types, it’s completely walled off by and even unable to piv✨ot against Ground-types.

13 Steelix

A Steelix preparing to attack in Pokemon Anime

If the role of physical wall were completely embodied into one Pokemon, it would probably be the 200 Defense Steelix. It's especially helpful being a Steel-type, carrying one of the best defensive types in the game.

It's not too shabby offensively either, being one of the few Pokemon who can use Heavy Slam to its maximum effect. STAB Earthquake is an excellent move as well, and it's also a great candidate to teach Stealth Rock, making it a bulky but offensively capable hazard setter. For all its physical immovability though, its Special Defense is sorely lacking, so be careful.

12 Umbreon

Umbreon from the Pokemon Anime Cropped

Umbreon just takes the cake over Espeon here, having had a pretty long🎃 ongoing stint as the best defensive Eeveelution. It eats a lot of damage, especially on the special side thanks to its 130 Special Defense. It’s a great cleric as well, both for itself and its teammates with Wish, Moonlight, and Heal Bell.

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Its main weakness is its subpar offensive capabilities, which have kept it f൩rom higher tiers. Access to Foul Play is nice, not having to rely on its bad 65 Attack stat, but it doesn’t have viable coverage options other than chip damage from Toxic.

11 Porygon2

Pokemon Sword Shield Porygon2 Evolving Purple Light Background

The middle-man of the Porygon line is a good candidate for holding an Eviolite, already having a great defens⛄ive typing and not-bad bulk, to begin with. That boost makes it a great pivot in middle tiers, with an eclectic movepool to match.

It’s best pivoting with Teleport, eating guaranteed hits to keep switch-ins safe. It’s often seen with Recover for longevity, and it has its choice of inflicting status with either Thunder Wave or Toxic. Don’t expect it to be a world-class attacker, though; despite its wide attacking repertoire, its 105 Special Attack isn't much without any set-up moves.

10 Celebi

Celebi Pokemon Anime

The Grass/Psychic-typing is pretty easy to check on both ends, especially considering it gets eaten alive with just one U-Turn, making Celebi more than 🍌a🧜 little high-maintenance.

Still, its value in middle tiers as a strong offensive presence makes it a hard ‘mon to pass up. It’s best built as a Nasty Plot wallbreaker and does that job very well, with several good move choices. STAB moves like 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Psychic and Leaf Storm work great, Aura Sphere is an essential coverage move, and Recover isജ there should you🍷 prefer extra longevity.

9 Suicune

Pokemon Suicune Johto Kanto Roaming Legendary

The first thing you might notice with Suicune is its defensive potential, being a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:pure Water-type and having 115 in both defensive🎉 stats. That in itself is good, but it’s also utilized offensively as a strong, if somewhat limited, set-up sweeper.

Its main offensive core consists of Calm Mind and Scald, which turns one of the best utility attacking moves into a strong attacking move, period. Pair that with Substitute or Rest/Sleep Talk tactics, and you have a solid offensive weapon. Its Speed isn't threatening, though, and it's sorely lacking in coverage.

8 Heracross

Pokemon Gen 9 Evolutions 3 heracross

In terms🌳 of pure wallbreaking ability, Heracross is pretty hard to beat; it’s one of the best Bug-types in that regard. As Ultra Beasts Buzzwole and Pheromosa would come to realize, Bug/Fighting is a pretty sick offensive type combo.

RELATED: The B☂est Fighting-Type Pokemon For ꧃Competitive Battling

Heracross’s advantage💝 over those statistically superior counterparts is its access to Guts, an ability that further enhances its attacking power. Give it a moveset with strong moves like Guts-regular Facade and STAB Close Combat and Megahorn, and you have a strong offensive team member. Just be wary of its lackluster Speed and underwhelming defenses.

7 Crobat

Crobat from the Pokemon anime fluttering in a forest

At its core, Crobat is a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:speedy, defensive pivot, with its 130 Speed and underrated defensive typing. What you add to that basic blueprint will determine how well it does𒁃 its job in battle.

To list out its available moves, it does its pivoting via U-Turn, and its other utility and support options include Roost, Defog, Taunt, Toxic, Haze, and Whirlwind. It doesn't deal a ton of damage, but moves like Brave Bird and Super Fang don't hurt to have. It's ultimately at its best, though, complementing offensive powerhouses and keeping momentum up for your side via timely pivoting.

6 Azumarill

Azumarill smiling from a pile of rocks in the Pokemon Anime

Stats don't tell the whole story when it comes to competitive viability, and Azumarill is an apt example of that. Despite a measly 50 base Attack stat, it's one of the most feared physical attackers in the meta, because it has basically every other tool you would want.

The Huge Power ability does it a huge favor, and most sets give it a Choice Band, too. Its low Attack stat is made up for with great bulk, and its low Speed isn't that much of a problem thanks to its access to 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:priority Aqua Jet, among other attacking moves.