And there’s plenty of them in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver worth catching. But which stand out the most? This list will outline the best Fire-type Pokémon to choose in your journey through the Johto Region. Strength, usefulness, and accessibility are all aspects taken into account when putting together this ranking, and primarily final-stage evolutions are considered but pre-evolutions are worth it too.
5. Magmortar
Admittedly, Magmortar is not very accessible in these games due to the Magmarizer not being accessible until Cinnabar Island – and it being a trade evolution. However, it’s pre-evolution Magmar is incredibly useful. And Magmar can be obtained relatively early in the game. Who wouldn’t want the funny looking fire duck on their team? How to get: Magmar can be found on the bottom floor of the Burned Tower in Ecruteak City.
4. Arcanine / Ninetales
This entry may be cheating a bit, but these two are version counterparts to each other. They have been two fan-favorites ever since their introduction in Generation I, and for good reason. They’re both decently bulky, and can be mixed attackers, which is what most players would likely look for in a typical playthrough. So both are tied on this list for decent options to pick up in the early to mid-game. How to get: You’ll first encounter Growlithe/Vulpix in the grasses of Route 36, 37, and 48.
3. Typhlosion
Was Cyndaquil your starter choice for your journey through the Johto Region? While all 3 starters are viable in their own ways, Typhosion comes in as one of the best Fire-types in the entire game. It hits hard, it’s very useful through the first few Gyms (and the early-game Sprout Tower and Ilex Forest), and you can have it well into the Elite Four. While this may not be your favorite starter of them all, it’s hard to argue that it doesn’t deserve a spot in this list. How to get: Pick Cyndaquil at the start of the game.
2. Entei
We all know about this Fire-type Legendary Beast that was revived in the Burned Tower (some speculate it used to be a Flareon). You first witness this Pokémon in the basement of the Burned Tower, just hanging out next to Suicune and Raikou. Due to its Legendary designation, it’s obvious that it will be one of the best to snag. Granted it’s also fairly difficult to catch one yourself… But if you can, it’s worth running on your team. And Entei is even one of the coolest Legendary Pokémon in the entire franchise, in my opinion. How to get: After it runs away from you in the Burned Tower, it can be found as a roaming Legendary. Make sure you have a strategy before running into it in the wild, or else it’ll run away & you’ll be left chasing it all over again.
1. Ho-oh
What could possibly top a Legendary Pokémon? Well… another Legendary Pokémon, of course! Ho-oh was introduced to the franchise all the way back in the first episode of the anime. But it was not officially released until it was the box-art Legendary on one of the Generation II games. I was a huge Lugia fan growing up. So I never indulged too deeply in Pokémon HeartGold, specifically. As an adult though, I see the grace and power that Ho-oh holds. And I might even say I personally prefer it now. Ho-oh can carry you through the Elite Four or the majority of the post-game Kanto Region, depending on when you’d be going after it. How to get: In Pokémon HeartGold, it can be found in the main game at the peak of the Bell Tower in Ecruteak City after obtaining the Rainbow Wing and defeating the Kimono Girls. In Pokémon SoulSilver, it’s obtained in the same place after receiving the Rainbow Wing in the post-game from a person in Pewter City.
