Version Exclusives: Gold, Silver and Crystal

Like Red and Blue before them, Gold and Silver split the Pokémon between them: some can only be caught in one version, forcing you to trade to complete the Pokédex. Crystal, released a year later, shuffles the deck again. Here is the full list, calculated from every wild encounter in the game.

Gold vs. Silver: the big differences

In Gold, you will run into Growlithe, Spinarak, Gligar, Mantine, Mankey, Teddiursa and their evolutions. In Silver, it is Vulpix, Meowth, Ledyba, Delibird, Skarmory and Phanpy. The legendary on the box art can be obtained in both versions, but not at the same time: Ho-Oh awaits you at level 40 in Gold and at level 70 in Silver, and the reverse for Lugia.

What Crystal changes

Crystal reuses the map of Gold and Silver but changes many encounters: it features both Gold and Silver exclusives, often in other places or at other times. Several Pokémon become easier to find there (Marill, Clefairy at night), while others are no longer wild and instead come from Game Corner prizes or from the Day-Care’s Mystery Egg.

As for legendaries, Crystal stands out clearly: Suicune becomes the thread running through the story and can be caught at the Tin Tower at level 40, Ho-Oh and Lugia are both at level 60, and Celebi is available with the GS Ball on the Virtual Console.

Pokémon given out depending on the version

Some in-game trades also differ from one version to another: the Machop in Goldenrod City is obtained for a Drowzee in Gold and Silver, but for an Abra in Crystal; in Blackthorn City, the female Dragonair is traded for a Rhydon or a Dodrio.

Pokémon	Location	How	Versions
Rapidash	Pewter City	Trade, for Gloom	Gold, Silver
Xatu	Pewter City	Trade, for Haunter	Crystal
Magneton	Abandoned Power Plant	Trade, for Dugtrio	Crystal
Machop	Goldenrod Dept. Store	Trade, for a Drowzee	Gold, Silver
Machop	Goldenrod Dept. Store	Trade, for an Abra	Crystal
Onix	Violet City	Trade, for Bellsprout	All
Voltorb	Olivine City	Trade, for Krabby	All
Aerodactyl	Route 14	Trade, for Chansey	All
Dodrio	Blackthorn City	Trade, for a female Dragonair	Crystal
Rhydon	Blackthorn City	Trade, for a female Dragonair	Gold, Silver