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Recommended Teams by Phase

Team building options for each stage of the game. Not the 'best' teams—just solid choices that work.

Use these as a starting point, not a rulebook.

Early Johto (Violet City to Goldenrod City)

Goal: Beat Falkner, Bugsy, and Whitney without overleveling.

Core Picks

Starter (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile) Your starter carries early game. All three are viable. Cyndaquil is easiest because Fire beats Bugsy.

Geodude (Route 46, Union Cave) Handles Falkner and Bugsy cleanly. Helps vs Whitney but beware Defense Curl + Rollout and Stomp. Rock Throw and Magnitude carry early gyms. Evolves to Graveler at Lv. 25. Keep it until Jasmine.

Mareep (Route 32) Electric coverage. Thunder Shock handles Hoothoot and pressures Pidgeotto; beware Mud-Slap from Falkner’s ace. Evolves to Flaaffy at Lv. 15, Ampharos at Lv. 30.

Flex Slots

Gastly (Sprout Tower) Ghost utility and speed. Note: Whitney’s Miltank has Scrappy, so Normal moves hit Ghosts; use Hypnosis/Curse carefully. Evolves to Haunter at Lv. 25.

Heracross (Headbutt trees on Route 33, Azalea Town) Rare spawn but worth it. Brick Break deletes Whitney. Megahorn comes later. Bug/Fighting gives great coverage.

Bellsprout/Oddish (Routes 31-32) Grass coverage. Razor Leaf beats Geodude and Onix. Sleep Powder locks down fights. Evolves to Weepinbell/Gloom at Lv. 21.

Sample Team

  • Quilava (Fire)
  • Graveler (Rock/Ground)
  • Flaaffy (Electric)
  • Gastly (Ghost/Poison)

This team beats Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney, and Morty with minimal grinding.

Midgame (Ecruteak City to Mahogany Town)

Goal: Beat Morty, Chuck, Jasmine, and Pryce. Handle Team Rocket.

Core Picks

Starter (evolved form) By now your starter should be Lv. 25-30. Meganium, Typhlosion, or Feraligatr. All three are still viable.

Ampharos (evolved from Flaaffy) Thunderbolt deletes Water- and Flying-types. Power Gem and Thunder Wave round out coverage/control. Keep it until endgame.

Heracross or Machamp (Headbutt trees, Union Cave) Fighting coverage. Brick Break, Low Kick, or Karate Chop. Chuck, Jasmine, and Pryce all have Pokémon weak to Fighting.

Flex Slots

Espeon or Umbreon (Eevee from Bill, evolve with friendship) Espeon beats Chuck and Koga. Umbreon walls Morty and Karen. Both are excellent.

Lapras (Union Cave on Fridays, or Slowpoke Well post-Rocket) Water/Ice coverage. Surf and Ice Beam. Beats Chuck, Clair, and Lance. Bulky and strong.

Crobat (evolved from Golbat with high friendship) Flying/Poison. Fast. Acrobatics, Wing Attack, or Fly. Beats Chuck, Bruno, and Grass-types.

Magneton (Route 38, 39) Electric/Steel. Magnet Pull traps Steel-types; some builds can have Levitate instead, so plan coverage. Thunderbolt and Flash Cannon are staples. Excellent into Skarmory/Forretress/Scizor.

Sample Team

  • Typhlosion (Fire)
  • Ampharos (Electric)
  • Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
  • Espeon (Psychic)
  • Lapras (Water/Ice)

This team has answers to every gym from Morty to Pryce.

Late Johto (Blackthorn City to Elite Four)

Goal: Beat Clair and the Elite Four. Prepare for Kanto.

Core Picks

Starter (final evolution) Still viable. Meganium struggles more than Typhlosion or Feraligatr at this point, but all three work.

Ampharos Still the best Electric-type in the game. Thunderbolt, Power Gem, Thunder Wave.

Heracross or Machamp Fighting coverage for Bruno and Karen. Brick Break, Close Combat, or Megahorn.

Lapras or Cloyster Ice coverage for Clair and Lance. Ice Beam, Surf, or Icicle Spear.

Flex Slots

Dragonite (Dratini from Dragon's Den or Game Corner) Dragon/Flying. Outrage, Dragon Dance, Fly. Beats Clair, Lance, and Blue. Late-game powerhouse.

Togetic or Clefable (Togetic from Elm's aide, Clefairy from Mt. Moon) Fairy coverage. Moonblast or Dazzling Gleam. Beats Clair, Lance, and Karen.

Gengar (evolved from Haunter via trade) Ghost/Poison. Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb, Thunderbolt. Beats Will and Koga.

Scizor (Scyther from Bug-Catching Contest or National Park, evolve with Metal Coat) Bug/Steel. Bullet Punch, X-Scissor, U-turn. Beats Will and Karen.

Sample Team

  • Feraligatr (Water)
  • Ampharos (Electric)
  • Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
  • Lapras (Water/Ice)
  • Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)
  • Gengar (Ghost/Poison)

This team has coverage for all five Elite Four members and Champion Lance.

Kanto (Post-Elite Four)

Goal: Beat Kanto gym leaders. Prepare for Blue and Red.

Core Picks

Your Elite Four team still works. By now you should have:

  • Fire coverage (Typhlosion, Arcanine, Magmar)
  • Water coverage (Feraligatr, Lapras, Vaporeon)
  • Electric coverage (Ampharos, Jolteon, Magnezone)
  • Fighting coverage (Heracross, Machamp, Lucario)
  • Ice coverage (Lapras, Cloyster, Mamoswine)
  • Dragon coverage (Dragonite, Kingdra, Garchomp)

Flex Slots

Tyranitar (Larvitar from Mt. Silver or Safari Zone) Rock/Dark. Stone Edge, Crunch, Earthquake. Walls Sabrina. Beats Blue's Alakazam and Pidgeot.

Metagross (Beldum from Steven in Silph Co., postgame) Steel/Psychic. Meteor Mash, Earthquake, Zen Headbutt. Walls Erika and Sabrina.

Garchomp (Gible from Safari Zone) Dragon/Ground. Earthquake, Outrage, Dragon Claw. Beats Brock, Lt. Surge, and Blaine.

Sample Team

  • Typhlosion (Fire)
  • Feraligatr (Water)
  • Ampharos (Electric)
  • Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
  • Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)
  • Tyranitar (Rock/Dark)

This team beats all eight Kanto gyms and Blue.

Postgame (Red on Mt. Silver)

Goal: Beat the highest-level fight in the game.

Red's team is Lv. 80+. You need a team at Lv. 75+ with perfect coverage.

Feraligatr or Blastoise (Water) Surf, Ice Beam, Waterfall. Beats Red's Charizard and Snorlax.

Ampharos or Magnezone (Electric) Thunderbolt, Signal Beam, Power Gem. Beats Red's Blastoise and Lapras.

Heracross or Lucario (Bug/Fighting) Megahorn, Close Combat, Stone Edge. Beats Red's Snorlax and Lapras.

Dragonite or Garchomp (Dragon/Ground) Outrage, Earthquake, Fire Punch. Beats Red's Pikachu and Venusaur.

Tyranitar or Metagross (Rock/Dark or Steel/Psychic) Stone Edge, Crunch, Earthquake. Beats Red's Charizard and Espeon.

Gengar or Alakazam (Ghost/Poison or Psychic) Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, Focus Blast. Beats Red's Venusaur and Snorlax.

Sample Team

  • Feraligatr (Water)
  • Ampharos (Electric)
  • Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
  • Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)
  • Tyranitar (Rock/Dark)
  • Gengar (Ghost/Poison)

This team has type coverage for all six of Red's Pokémon.

General Team-Building Advice

Type Coverage

Your team should cover at least 10 of the 18 types. You can't cover everything, but you can cover the important ones:

  • Water: Mandatory. Surf is an HM and the best Water move.
  • Electric: Kills Water and Flying. Ampharos is the best option.
  • Fire: Kills Grass, Bug, Steel, Ice. Typhlosion or Arcanine.
  • Fighting: Kills Normal, Rock, Steel, Dark, Ice. Heracross or Machamp.
  • Ice: Kills Grass, Ground, Flying, Dragon. Lapras or Mamoswine.
  • Dragon: Kills Dragon. Dragonite or Garchomp.

Physical vs. Special

Polished Crystal uses the physical/special split from Gen 4+. Moves are physical or special based on the move, not the type.

  • Physical attackers need high Attack. Heracross, Tyranitar, Garchomp.
  • Special attackers need high Special Attack. Ampharos, Gengar, Alakazam.
  • Mixed attackers need both. Dragonite, Feraligatr, Lucario.

Check your Pokémon's stats before you teach moves. Don't teach Flamethrower to a Pokémon with 50 Special Attack.

Abilities

Abilities matter. Some Pokémon are useless without the right ability.

  • Heracross: Guts or Swarm. Guts is better.
  • Gyarados: Intimidate. Mandatory.
  • Gengar: Ability varies by build — Levitate (Polished) or Cursed Body (Faithful). Don’t assume Ground immunity on Faithful.
  • Dragonite: Multiscale. Survives one hit at full HP.

Check abilities before you commit to training a Pokémon.

Related: Abilities Guide

Held Items

Every Pokémon should have a held item. No exceptions.

  • Leftovers: Heals 1/16 HP per turn. Best general-use item.
  • Choice Band/Specs/Scarf: Boosts Attack, Special Attack, or Speed, but locks you into one move.
  • Type-boosting items (Charcoal, Mystic Water, Magnet, etc.): +20% damage to moves of that type.
  • Berries: Cure status or restore HP in a pinch.

Don't leave the held item slot empty. It's free stats.

Related: Items

Don't Overlevel

Polished Crystal uses modern EXP scaling: overleveled Pokémon gain less EXP, and enemies do not scale to your level.

Stay roughly within a few levels of the leader. Use coverage and tempo, not raw levels.

Related: Difficulty Scaling

These Aren't the Only Teams

These are examples. You can beat the game with Ledian and Unown if you want. The game is flexible.

If you want to use a specific Pokémon, use it. Just make sure your team has type coverage and you're not relying on one Pokémon to do everything.

title: 'Recommended Teams by Phase' description: "Team building options for each stage of the game. Not the 'best' teams—just solid choices that work." publishedAt: '2026-01-02' updatedAt: '2026-01-02' author: 'PolishedDex' category: 'strategy' tags: ['teams', 'strategy', 'pokemon', 'progression'] featured: true

Use these as a starting point, not a rulebook.

Early Johto (Violet City to Goldenrod City)

Goal: Beat Falkner, Bugsy, and Whitney without overleveling.

Core Picks

Starter (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile) Your starter carries early game. All three are viable. Cyndaquil is easiest because Fire beats Bugsy.

Geodude (Route 46, Union Cave) Handles Falkner and Bugsy cleanly. Helps vs Whitney but beware Defense Curl + Rollout and Stomp. Rock Throw and Magnitude carry early gyms. Evolves to Graveler at Lv. 25. Keep it until Jasmine.

Mareep (Route 32) Electric coverage. Thunder Shock handles Hoothoot and pressures Pidgeotto; beware Mud-Slap from Falkner’s ace. Evolves to Flaaffy at Lv. 15, Ampharos at Lv. 30.

Flex Slots

Gastly (Sprout Tower) Ghost utility and speed. Note: Whitney’s Miltank has Scrappy, so Normal moves hit Ghosts; use Hypnosis/Curse carefully. Evolves to Haunter at Lv. 25.

Heracross (Headbutt trees on Route 33, Azalea Town) Rare spawn but worth it. Brick Break deletes Whitney. Megahorn comes later. Bug/Fighting gives great coverage.

Bellsprout/Oddish (Routes 31-32) Grass coverage. Razor Leaf beats Geodude and Onix. Sleep Powder locks down fights. Evolves to Weepinbell/Gloom at Lv. 21.

Sample Team

  • Quilava (Fire)
  • Graveler (Rock/Ground)
  • Flaaffy (Electric)
  • Gastly (Ghost/Poison)

This team beats Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney, and Morty with minimal grinding.

Midgame (Ecruteak City to Mahogany Town)

Goal: Beat Morty, Chuck, Jasmine, and Pryce. Handle Team Rocket.

Core Picks

Starter (evolved form) By now your starter should be Lv. 25-30. Meganium, Typhlosion, or Feraligatr. All three are still viable.

Ampharos (evolved from Flaaffy) Thunderbolt deletes Water- and Flying-types. Power Gem and Thunder Wave round out coverage/control. Keep it until endgame.

Heracross or Machamp (Headbutt trees, Union Cave) Fighting coverage. Brick Break, Low Kick, or Karate Chop. Chuck, Jasmine, and Pryce all have Pokémon weak to Fighting.

Flex Slots

Espeon or Umbreon (Eevee from Bill, evolve with friendship) Espeon beats Chuck and Koga. Umbreon walls Morty and Karen. Both are excellent.

Lapras (Union Cave on Fridays, or Slowpoke Well post-Rocket) Water/Ice coverage. Surf and Ice Beam. Beats Chuck, Clair, and Lance. Bulky and strong.

Crobat (evolved from Golbat with high friendship) Flying/Poison. Fast. Acrobatics, Wing Attack, or Fly. Beats Chuck, Bruno, and Grass-types.

Magneton (Route 38, 39) Electric/Steel. Magnet Pull traps Steel-types; some builds can have Levitate instead, so plan coverage. Thunderbolt and Flash Cannon are staples. Excellent into Skarmory/Forretress/Scizor.

Sample Team

  • Typhlosion (Fire)
  • Ampharos (Electric)
  • Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
  • Espeon (Psychic)
  • Lapras (Water/Ice)

This team has answers to every gym from Morty to Pryce.

Late Johto (Blackthorn City to Elite Four)

Goal: Beat Clair and the Elite Four. Prepare for Kanto.

Core Picks

Starter (final evolution) Still viable. Meganium struggles more than Typhlosion or Feraligatr at this point, but all three work.

Ampharos Still the best Electric-type in the game. Thunderbolt, Power Gem, Thunder Wave.

Heracross or Machamp Fighting coverage for Bruno and Karen. Brick Break, Close Combat, or Megahorn.

Lapras or Cloyster Ice coverage for Clair and Lance. Ice Beam, Surf, or Icicle Spear.

Flex Slots

Dragonite (Dratini from Dragon's Den or Game Corner) Dragon/Flying. Outrage, Dragon Dance, Fly. Beats Clair, Lance, and Blue. Late-game powerhouse.

Togetic or Clefable (Togetic from Elm's aide, Clefairy from Mt. Moon) Fairy coverage. Moonblast or Dazzling Gleam. Beats Clair, Lance, and Karen.

Gengar (evolved from Haunter via trade) Ghost/Poison. Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb, Thunderbolt. Beats Will and Koga.

Scizor (Scyther from Bug-Catching Contest or National Park, evolve with Metal Coat) Bug/Steel. Bullet Punch, X-Scissor, U-turn. Beats Will and Karen.

Sample Team

  • Feraligatr (Water)
  • Ampharos (Electric)
  • Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
  • Lapras (Water/Ice)
  • Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)
  • Gengar (Ghost/Poison)

This team has coverage for all five Elite Four members and Champion Lance.

Kanto (Post-Elite Four)

Goal: Beat Kanto gym leaders. Prepare for Blue and Red.

Core Picks

Your Elite Four team still works. By now you should have:

  • Fire coverage (Typhlosion, Arcanine, Magmar)
  • Water coverage (Feraligatr, Lapras, Vaporeon)
  • Electric coverage (Ampharos, Jolteon, Magnezone)
  • Fighting coverage (Heracross, Machamp, Lucario)
  • Ice coverage (Lapras, Cloyster, Mamoswine)
  • Dragon coverage (Dragonite, Kingdra, Garchomp)

Flex Slots

Tyranitar (Larvitar from Mt. Silver or Safari Zone) Rock/Dark. Stone Edge, Crunch, Earthquake. Walls Sabrina. Beats Blue's Alakazam and Pidgeot.

Metagross (Beldum from Steven in Silph Co., postgame) Steel/Psychic. Meteor Mash, Earthquake, Zen Headbutt. Walls Erika and Sabrina.

Garchomp (Gible from Safari Zone) Dragon/Ground. Earthquake, Outrage, Dragon Claw. Beats Brock, Lt. Surge, and Blaine.

Sample Team

  • Typhlosion (Fire)
  • Feraligatr (Water)
  • Ampharos (Electric)
  • Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
  • Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)
  • Tyranitar (Rock/Dark)

This team beats all eight Kanto gyms and Blue.

Postgame (Red on Mt. Silver)

Goal: Beat the highest-level fight in the game.

Red's team is Lv. 80+. You need a team at Lv. 75+ with perfect coverage.

Feraligatr or Blastoise (Water) Surf, Ice Beam, Waterfall. Beats Red's Charizard and Snorlax.

Ampharos or Magnezone (Electric) Thunderbolt, Signal Beam, Power Gem. Beats Red's Blastoise and Lapras.

Heracross or Lucario (Bug/Fighting) Megahorn, Close Combat, Stone Edge. Beats Red's Snorlax and Lapras.

Dragonite or Garchomp (Dragon/Ground) Outrage, Earthquake, Fire Punch. Beats Red's Pikachu and Venusaur.

Tyranitar or Metagross (Rock/Dark or Steel/Psychic) Stone Edge, Crunch, Earthquake. Beats Red's Charizard and Espeon.

Gengar or Alakazam (Ghost/Poison or Psychic) Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, Focus Blast. Beats Red's Venusaur and Snorlax.

Sample Team

  • Feraligatr (Water)
  • Ampharos (Electric)
  • Heracross (Bug/Fighting)
  • Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)
  • Tyranitar (Rock/Dark)
  • Gengar (Ghost/Poison)

This team has type coverage for all six of Red's Pokémon.

General Team-Building Advice

Type Coverage

Your team should cover at least 10 of the 18 types. You can't cover everything, but you can cover the important ones:

  • Water: Mandatory. Surf is an HM and the best Water move.
  • Electric: Kills Water and Flying. Ampharos is the best option.
  • Fire: Kills Grass, Bug, Steel, Ice. Typhlosion or Arcanine.
  • Fighting: Kills Normal, Rock, Steel, Dark, Ice. Heracross or Machamp.
  • Ice: Kills Grass, Ground, Flying, Dragon. Lapras or Mamoswine.
  • Dragon: Kills Dragon. Dragonite or Garchomp.

Physical vs. Special

Polished Crystal uses the physical/special split from Gen 4+. Moves are physical or special based on the move, not the type.

  • Physical attackers need high Attack. Heracross, Tyranitar, Garchomp.
  • Special attackers need high Special Attack. Ampharos, Gengar, Alakazam.
  • Mixed attackers need both. Dragonite, Feraligatr, Lucario.

Check your Pokémon's stats before you teach moves. Don't teach Flamethrower to a Pokémon with 50 Special Attack.

Abilities

Abilities matter. Some Pokémon are useless without the right ability.

  • Heracross: Guts or Swarm. Guts is better.
  • Gyarados: Intimidate. Mandatory.
  • Gengar: Levitate. Immune to Ground.
  • Dragonite: Multiscale. Survives one hit at full HP.

Check abilities before you commit to training a Pokémon.

Related: Abilities Guide

Held Items

Every Pokémon should have a held item. No exceptions.

  • Leftovers: Heals 1/16 HP per turn. Best general-use item.
  • Choice Band/Specs/Scarf: Boosts Attack, Special Attack, or Speed, but locks you into one move.
  • Type-boosting items (Charcoal, Mystic Water, Magnet, etc.): +20% damage to moves of that type.
  • Berries: Cure status or restore HP in a pinch.

Don't leave the held item slot empty. It's free stats.

Related: Items

Don't Overlevel

Polished Crystal scales enemy levels based on your team. If you're Lv. 60 and fighting Clair, her team will be Lv. 60. You're not getting an advantage by grinding.

Stay within 3-5 levels of the gym leader or Elite Four member. Use strategy, not levels.

Related: Difficulty Scaling

These Aren't the Only Teams

These are examples. You can beat the game with Ledian and Unown if you want. The game is flexible.

If you want to use a specific Pokémon, use it. Just make sure your team has type coverage and you're not relying on one Pokémon to do everything.

Related: Common Beginner Mistakes