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10 Pokémon GO Gen II heavyweights to catch

These are the strongest Gen II monsters for crushing Pokémon GO gyms.

เขียนโดย Damien McFerran

5 min readPublished on 23.12.2016 · 15:10 UTC

After a trailblazing start where it smashed all kinds of mobile gaming records, Pokémon GO is finally entering its Generation II phase, with a slow drip-feed of monsters taken from the second entry in the series, Pokémon Gold and Silver. Originally released in 1999 on the Game Boy Color, these titles introduced 100 new species of Pokémon and Niantic is slowly but surely feeding these 'mon into Pokémon GO – a process which will eventually bring the Pokédex up to 250 different beasts. With such a dazzling range of creatures to pick from, which ones should you make sure are in your gym-busting team? Fret not, as we've picked the 10 most potent examples from Gen II – all you have to do now is wait for them to appear in the game itself.

Heracross

This fearsome-looking bug type Pokémon is actually quite docile, despite the fact that it is strong enough to topple trees if the mood takes it. While it can't evolve into any other form, it is capable of Mega Evolving into Mega Heracross, although this ability was only introduced in Pokémon X & Y on the Nintendo 3DS, and it remains to be seen if Niantic will include this feature in Pokémon GO. Tough and strong, Heracross will make a fine addition to your roster.

Houndoom

Not quite man's best friend
© The Pokémon Company

If you thought Pokémon games only showcased cute and cuddly monsters, then you clearly haven't witnessed the hellish glory of Houndoom. In Japan, this beast is known as Hellgar, which is a particularly appropriate name for a horned dog capable of spitting toxic flames from its mouth. Houndoom is such a fearsome sight that even the most stout-hearted Pokémon will have second thoughts before engaging it in battle, which makes it a must-have team member. Just make sure you keep it on a leash.

Espeon

The purr-fect addition to your team
© The Pokémon Company

Pokémon GO players will already be familiar with the process of evolving Eevee into its three different forms – Jolteon, Flareon, and Vaporeon – and in Gen II, this talented feline-like monster gets three more options: Glaceon, Umbreon and Espeon. Out of these, psychic-type Espeon is the highlight; this slender, cat-like beast can predict incoming threats, a quality which comes in very handy during combat. As well as being a serious asset to your Pokémon team, Espeon has the added benefit of looking quite mean and moody as well.

Feraligatr

The final evolution of Totodile, Feraligatr looks like a crocodile that can walk, which makes it pretty intimidating even before you realise it has a ferocious temper and incredible brute strength. This tank of a beast can demolish any other Pocket Monster in double-quick time – just don't let it near your Pikachu, as it might give it a heart attack.

Entei

One of the three legendary-type Pokémon introduced in Gold and Silver, Entei is a fire-breathing lion sporting the kind of moustache that would make Tom Selleck envious. Capable of spewing red-hot magma from its mouth, it goes without saying that Entei is the kind of monster you want on your team rather facing off against it. It's going to be a tough one to find in Pokémon GO, though.

Scizor

This is exactly the kind of insect you don't want to find hiding at the bottom of your garden. Scizor evolves from Scyther, walks on two legs and has claws capable of cutting through steel. It also boasts impressive stats which make it very handy in a fight, and in more recent instalments of the mainline console series is capable of transforming into Mega Scizor – although we're not sure if that talent will be carried over to Pokémon GO as yet.

Tyranitar

Godzilla ain't got nothing on this guy
© The Pokémon Company

Comfortably one of the most impressive-looking Pokémon introduced during Generation II, Tyranitar has a real Godzilla vibe going on, which is no bad thing we're you're scouting for tough cookies to help take over rival gyms in your area. Extremely volatile and highly resistant to pretty much all forms of attack, Tyranitar is another 'mon which is capable of Mega Evolving, with its supreme form packing even more armour than normal. Let's hope this feature is included in Pokémon GO at some point.

Lugia

Taking to the skies.
© The Pokémon Company

When you make the cover of a Pokémon game then it's clear you're a pretty special monster, and that's certainly true of Lugia, Pokémon Silver's lead beast. Another Legendary 'mon, "guardian of the seas" Lugia is rarely seen in the wild and chooses to live in relative solitude due to its immense power; it is said that a single flap of its massive wings is powerful enough to tear down cliffs. Armed with excellent stats and the ability to harness the weather in battle, Lugia is the kind of Pokémon that gym defenders should be very scared of indeed.

Ho-Oh

Like Lugia, Ho-Oh is a Legendary Pokémon and fellow cover star, gracing the box of Pokémon Gold with its striking wingspan. An odd mix of phoenix and peacock, Ho-Oh has the power to resurrect the dead, which makes it a real hit at parties. Silly name and rather goofy appearance aside, this "guardian of the skies" is a formidable beast, and its devastating Sacred Fire move is sure to leave rival Pokémon feeling pretty burnt-out.

Raikou

Yep, it's another Legendary Pokémon. Raikou is a tiger-like incarnation of thunder, and many of its moves are based around the power of lightning. Its aggressive appearance – which includes massive teeth and deadly claws – makes it one of the most impressive-looking Pokémon from Gen II, although its headstrong nature means it is rather distrustful of humans. It therefore might be quite hard to get hold of when it eventually arrives in Pokémon GO.

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