Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver

Starters

Chikorita

Pros:

• It evolves into Meganium at Level 32, pretty early for a starter Pokémon
• Good defensive stats

Cons:

• Poor offensive movepool
• Poor offensive stats

Overall:

Considered the worst of three starters, due to limited offensive movepool and because many Gym Leaders have advantages for Grass-type Pokémon, making it a very hard difficulty.

Cyndaquil

Pros:

• It evolves into Quilava at Level 14, pretty early for a starter Pokémon
• High Sp. Attack and Speed
• Knows Shadow Claw, Aerial Ace and Solarbeam
• Can double as an HM whore with the below Abra/Kadabra strategy, as it learns Rock Smash, Rock Slide, Strength, and Cut.

Cons:

• Low HP and Defenses makes it a bit difficulty
• Poor special movepool
• Can learn Swift by leveling up, but not by move tutor

Overall:

One of useful starter Pokémon despite its limited special movepool. The Johto Gym Leaders have many disadvantages only a few advantages to Fire-type Pokémon.

Totodile

Pros:

• High HP/Attack/Defense
• Evolves for Feraligatr at Level 30, the earliest of 12 starters
• Can double as an HM whore with the below Abra/Kadabra strategy, as it learns Rock Smash, Rock Slide, Strength, and Cut
• Learns Dragon Dance and Swords Dance giving it amazing Attack
• Knows Surf by HM which always nice
• Can learn Ice moves (Ice Punch/Ice Beam/Blizzard) to counter Grass and Dragon Pokémon
• Good physical movepool
• Can learn almost every HM in the game

Cons:

• Evolves to Croconaw at Level 18, pretty late for a Starter Pokémon
• Its low speed makes Torrent a swepping difficulty

Overall:

Totodile is other useful starter Pokémon. With good physical movepool, good HP/ATK/DEF and canning boost its Attack with Swords Dance and Dragon Dance, it is considered of course the best starter Pokémon.

Legendary Trio

Raikou

Pros:

• Excellent Sp. Attack/Sp. Defense/Speed
• Good type for offensive

Cons:

• Limited movepool
• Ground is a very popular offensive type
• Poor physical defense

Entei

Pros:

• Excellent HP/Attack/Speed
• Good type for offensive

Cons:

• Limited movepool
• Low Sp. Defense
• Can't learn a powerful physical STAB move
• Weakness to common types

Suicune

Pros:

• Good HP and Defenses
• Knows Surf

Cons:

• Limited movepool
• Low Speed

Guardian Legendary

Lugia

Pros:

• Unique Aeroblast move
• Amazing Sp. Defense
• Higher Defense and Speed than Ho-Oh
• Diverse movepool

Cons:

• Pursuit and Stealth Rock weakness
• Mediocre offensive stats

Ho-Oh

Pros:

• Unique Sacred Fire move
• Amazing Sp. Defense
• Higher offensive stats than Lugia
• Diverse movepool

Cons:

• 4x Stealth Rock weakness
• Mediocre Defense and Speed