The franchise has been going strong for 24 years now, which really isn’t unusual for a fi♛🍰rst party Nintendo series, but it’s notable considering the infrequency with which reinvents itself. While the franc🔯hise has always been broken down into “Genera✃tions,” seldom actually evolves with each Generation– a pity considering how revolution🦋ary Gen II was.ও
Although Gen II took a step back as far as diffic൩ulty was concerned, Pokémon Gold, Silver, & Crystal all greatly improved on the foundation Red, Green, Blue, & Yellow left behind. Johto wa🎃s not only larger than Kanto, Kanto was actually included as part of the post-game. Gen II may not be the most challenging game in the series as far as battles are concerned, but catching every last Pokémon will prove a challenge– especially with Gen II’s often 𓄧low encounter rate.
10 Chansey
One of Generation II’s biggest problems is withholding Pokémon for the post-game. Not only are quite a few Johto Pokémon locked to Kanto for some reason, several Kanto favorites aren’t native to Johto. ꦛChansey in particular is one of the better Normal Types across Generations I and II, but she takes some effort to catch.
Found only on Kanto Routes 14 and 15, Chansey has a miniscule 1% encounter rate. As most Wild Pokémon are in their mid-20s𒆙, it’s unlikely Trainers will find anything of value to catch while waiting for Chansey to appear. If nothing else, Crystal does throw in𝕴 Venonats & Venomoths for some variety.
9 Dunsparce
Dunsparce isn’t exclusive to𝓰 any one version of Generation II and is available to catch as soon as Trainers reach the Dark Cave on Violet City’s side. Unfortunately, Dunsparce’s 1% encounter rate will perpetually♑ keep Trainers from seeing it. As the Dark Cave’s highest level Pokémon is Lv 4, it really isn’t worth the effort early on.
Unlik𝔉e with Chansey, however, there is a way to make catching a Dunsparce easier. When a swarm happens at Dark Cave, Dunsparce’s encounter rate will jump to 40%. That said, it should be pointed out that Dunsparce’s level will also go from a set 4 to a fluctuating 2-4. Not that it really matters.
8 Jynx
As the 🍨Ice Path is one of the few puzzle centric dungeons in the series, it stands out quite a bit. After a fairly comfortable✨ playthrough, Generation II challenges Trainers to use their brain and think about how they’re progressing. This also serves as an opportunity to stock up on Ice-Type Pokémon, with Jynx herself serving as a good option.
While her encounter rate can fluctuate to 10% on some floors, Jynx does drop down to 1% on Floor B1. Likewise, the time of day actually results i🤡n Jynx moving between floors. Her nightly encounter rate might drop to 0% on one floor while rising to 10% on another.
7 Pupitar
Larvitar’s ꧟evolved form, Pupitar 💜is exclusive to Mt. Silver’s summit in Pokémon Crystal. Similarly, where Larvitar once populated the cave with an encounter rate of 5%, they’ve all moved to the summit alongside Pupitar, now with a 9% encounter r🌌ate. All things considered, Trainers are better off catching Larvitar over Pupitar, but it’s worth noting the change.
While technically better, there’s no incentive to catc🅘h Larvitar over Pupitar, especially since they’re in the same level range (15-20.) The real shame of this all, though, is Crystal moving the Tyranitar line to the literal end of the game. Trainers will be f❀ace to face with Red, hunting for Pokémon.🍨
6 Marill
Marill features a generous enough 30% encounter rate in Mt. Mortar s🐬o long as Trainers are surfing in bodies of water, but for the most part, Marill remains a fairly difficult Pokémon to catch. In fact, anyone simply walking around Mt. Mortar will be subjected to a 1% encounter rate and a sea of Zubats.
Pokémon Crystal chooses to show a bit of mercy by increasing Marill’s encounter rate across the board, but the Pokémon is now exclusively locked to nights– whereas its 1% encounter rate wa🌞s always available. Similarly, Marill was added to Route 42, but, again, locked to nights.
5 Quagsire
A very interesting detail to note about Water-Type Pokémon in general ജis how their e𒈔ncounter rate fluctuates between land and sea. While Surfing or fishing, it’s not uncommon to see an obscure Water-Type’s encounter rate rise from the single digits to the double– but Surf and the best fishing rods are typically locked near the end of the game.
This goes double ღfor Quagsire who’s most commonly found in Kanto, not Johto. He’ll show up in the Ruins of Alph and🍌 Union Cave, but Trainers will be overwhelmed by other Pokémon in these areas. The audacity of giving a Johto Pokémon a 1% encounter rate in Kanto is too much to bear.
4 Snubbull
With roughly 100 new Pokémon added to the Pokédex, Generation II’s additions areꦑ not insignificant– but they’re not that accessible either. Some of the best designed and more unique Pokémon have pitifully low encounter rate𓆏s. In Gold and Silver, Snubbull is exclusive to Route 38 with an encounter r༺at🅷e of 1%.
Swarms do raise its encounter rate to 30🎐%, but that’s still not ꦆamazing. Pokémon Crystal at least had the decency to pepper more Snubbulls acros🔜s both Johto and Kanto (while ra🎉ising its encounter rate by a bit,) but the Pokémon is now locked to mornings. One step forward, two steps back.
3 Sneasel
Sneasel is a very inconvenient Pokémon to catch. Sneasel is found exclusively at night, and its encounter ♍rate never surpasses 10%. Like most of Johto’s best Pokémon, it’s most commonly found in Kanto– specifically Kanto Route 28 and the outside of Mt. Silver. That said, Sneasel can still be found in Johto.
Sneasels aren’t abundant, but they do show up at the Iceꦬ Path come nightfall. On B1F, their 1% encounter rate will result in most Trainers finding Delibirds, but B2F raises Sneasel’s encounter rate to 5%. Not ideal, but at least B3F raises it up to a comparatively generous 10%.
2 Yanma
Located at Johto Route 35 just outside of Goldenrod City, Yanma can be obtained fairly early into the game. So long as Trainers are lucky. Unfortunately, Yanma is also exclusively found at Johto Route 35, meaning that Trainers better get comfortable with the location. With a 1% encounter ra🧜te, anyone who wants an early Yanma should make peace with their fate.
The🐼 hardest part about grindin⛄g for a specific Pokémon early on is the lack of monster variety. Route 35 at least has Dittos to catch (especially useful considering the introduction of breeding in Gen II,) but that’s just one less Yanma to catch.
1 Zubat
🦂Hilariously, Zubat goes from being one of the most common Pokémon in Kanto to one of the most uncommon in Johto– albeit only in specific areas. In Johto Route ▨32 in particular, Gold and Silver feature Level 4 Zubats with a 1% encounter r𝔉ate (and only at night.) Route 32 haඣs much higher level Zubats to catch, with even higher encounter rates, which makes this Lv 4 Zubat stand out.
When it comes down to it, the encounter rate is just RNG and RNG can be used to punish players with bad luck. What’s worse luck than running into the lowest level Zubat possible? It’s not a Pokémon Trainers will ever want to hunt for, but this low level Zubat does have use– the lower the level, the earlier its friendship can✤ be maxed, and the sooner Trainers can make use of Crobat– one of Gen II’s better Poison-Types.