Pokémon Gold & Silver: 10 Best Gen 2 Pokémon
1. Ho-Oh
As with the starters, this entry on the list is reserved for only the best legendary Pokémon introduced in generation two. There are five catchable legendary Pokémon to choose from, however the Tower Duo are a step above the Legendary Beasts (Ho-Oh is the Master of the Beasts, while Lugia is Master of the Legendary Birds).
There is very little between Lugia and Ho-Oh, as they were designed to be equal to each other. However Ho-Oh takes the crown by the slightest of margins. Both Pokémon are incredibly powerful, Lugia is a touch more defensive while Ho-Oh sacrifices a bit of speed for an increased special attack stat. But even with the reduced speed, there aren't many things that can out-pace the Rainbow Bird.
Ho-Oh also has the better type advantages, being weak to only Water, Electric and Rock type moves, and has a resistance against more types than Lugia.
In a tie this close, even the lore of the Pokemon comes into play, and this is one more aspect that Ho-Oh has better than any other in the history of the Pokemon series. Trainers had known about Ho-Oh since episode one of the TV series, and generation two finally gave those fans the chance to catch the Rainbow Bird after years of waiting.