I’m diving into a playthrough of Pokémon Gold and Silver this month and I’m curious about the version exclusive Pokémon in each game. Gold features Mankey and Primape, Growlithe and Arcanine, Spinarak and Ariados, Teddiursa and Ursaring, Gilgar, and Mantine. Meanwhile, Silver has Meowth and Persian, Vulpix and Ninetales, Ledyba and Ledian, Phanpy and Donphan, Delibird, and Skarmory. I’m specifically looking at the advantages these Pokémon might have within the context of just these two versions, without considering Crystal or any later iterations. Are there Pokémon in these games that stand out because of their stats, abilities, or type advantages against Gym Leaders or Rivals? Or is it all just about preference? Also, there’s a bonus point about what Crystal misses out on, like Mareep and others. Did those omissions affect gameplay significantly? Was there anything that Gold and Silver did better than Crystal?
4 Answers
Mankey is way better early on than Meowth, especially for taking on Whitney with her tough Miltank. But remember, Mankey doesn’t show up until after you get the third badge, so I wouldn’t exactly call him early-game material.
Gold generally gives you access to some stronger options like Primeape, Gligar, and Mantine, which are solid for a playthrough. Meanwhile, Silver has the money-maker Persian and a strong defender in Skarmory. If raw power is your jam, Gold is the way to go; if you need that cash flow, Silver’s extras make a difference.
Yeah, Crystal is often praised just based on personal preference though. It introduces a little more story with Suicune but you might have to sacrifice some Pokémon you love to get it. If you truly want that Celebi, though, don’t hesitate to grab Crystal on the virtual console!
The differences aren’t that significant. Even though everyone loves Crystal, losing out on Mareep is a major heartbreaker. A fun detail to note is that while Ho-Oh and Lugia can be caught in all three games, only Gold’s Ho-Oh comes with Sacred Fire and Silver’s Lugia has Aeroblast. Interestingly, in Crystal, Suicune is buffed with Aurora Beam.
Honestly, I don’t think the differences are that massive between Gold and Silver. Most people lean towards Crystal, but missing out on Mareep is a big downside for there. It was a solid Pokémon with great Electric moves that can turn the tide in battles.
I get that some miss Mareep, but remember, the Odd Egg can hatch Elekid which learns Thunder Punch pretty quickly. It’s a good alternative if you don’t mind some grinding.
True, but Mankey’s advantage comes later in the game, for sure!