Johto is weird. Honestly, it’s the only region that feels like a direct sequel rather than a standalone world. When you think about the Pokemon Johto League champions, your mind probably goes straight to Lance. Red-haired, dragon-obsessed, and occasionally prone to making his Dragonite use Hyper Beam on actual human beings in the Mahogany Town hideout. But the "Champion" title in Johto is a messy, layered concept that spans two different games, multiple timelines, and a massive power jump that catches casual players off guard every single time.
The Johto League isn't just about the Elite Four. It’s about the soul of the Silver Conference.
The Dragon Master Controversy
Lance is the guy. If you’re playing Pokemon Gold, Silver, Crystal, or the HeartGold and SoulSilver remakes, he is the final wall. But here’s the kicker: Lance wasn't always the champion. He was an Elite Four member in the Kanto games, and he only stepped up because Red—the previous champion—decided to go live on top of a freezing mountain and ignore society.
Lance’s team is a nightmare if you aren't prepared. He carries three Dragonites. Yes, three. In the original 1999 releases, these Dragonites actually had moves they couldn't legally learn at those levels. One of them knows Blizzard, one knows Thunder, and one knows Fire Blast. It’s basically a lesson in elemental coverage. Most kids in the early 2000s got stuck here because they picked Typhlosion and didn't have a solid Ice-type. If you don't have a Lapras or a Mamoswine (in the remakes), Lance will systematically dismantle your entire team with Outrage.
It's actually kinda funny how Lance represents the peak of Johto trainer prestige, yet he uses Kanto Pokemon. Aside from his Charizard and Aerodactyl, he’s a Dragon specialist in a generation that only introduced one new dragon line: Kingdra. And he doesn't even use a Kingdra! That belongs to Clair, the 8th Gym Leader.
The Silver Conference and the Anime Shift
When we talk about Pokemon Johto League champions in the context of the anime, the conversation shifts toward the Silver Conference. This is where Ash Ketchum actually managed to beat his rival Gary Oak in one of the most iconic battles in the history of the show. However, Ash didn't win the whole thing. He lost in the quarter-finals to Harrison, a trainer from the Hoenn region who used a Blaziken—a Pokemon nobody had ever seen before.
The actual winner of that specific conference was a trainer named Jon Dickson. You probably don't remember him. He appeared for about thirty seconds of screen time, holding a trophy and a Rapidash.
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This highlights a massive divide in the fandom. In the games, being the Champion means you are the sitting king of the mountain until someone unseats you. In the anime, the "Champion" of a League is just the winner of a single tournament, who then earns the right to challenge the actual Elite Four. It’s a much more grounded, sports-like approach to the world, but it makes the title feel fleeting. Jon Dickson disappeared into the ether, while Lance remains a permanent fixture of Johto lore.
Why Johto’s Level Curve Changes Everything
You can't talk about the Johto Elite Four without talking about the math. Johto has the most notoriously "flat" level curve in the entire franchise. You spend the middle of the game fighting wild Pokemon that are level 15 while you’re trying to train for a gym leader that’s level 35. By the time you reach the Pokemon Johto League champions, your team is usually underleveled.
Lance’s ace Dragonite is level 50 in the original games. Your team? Probably mid-40s.
This creates a high-stakes environment where strategy outweighs raw power. You learn to love items. X-Attack, Full Restores, and Revives become your best friends. It’s a grind. A long, tedious, beautiful grind. The Indigo Plateau—which Johto shares with Kanto—is the ultimate test of endurance. You have to beat Will, Koga, Bruno, and Karen before you even get a whiff of Lance's cape.
The Underappreciated Karen
Karen is arguably the coolest member of the Johto Elite Four. She’s a Dark-type specialist, which was a brand new type at the time. Her Umbreon is a literal tank. It doesn't try to knock you out; it just sits there, confusing you and lowering your accuracy until you want to throw your Game Boy at a wall.
She also has the most famous quote in the series: "Strong Pokemon. Weak Pokemon. That is only the selfish perception of people. Truly skilled trainers should try to win with their favorites."
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People quote that constantly, but they forget that she follows it up by sending out a Gengar and a Houndoom that will absolutely wreck your favorites if you aren't careful. She’s the gatekeeper. If you can’t get past her technical playstyle, you have zero chance against Lance’s brute force.
The Remake Evolution
When HeartGold and SoulSilver dropped in 2009, the Pokemon Johto League champions got a massive glow-up. The developers realized that the original games were a bit too easy once you knew the type matchups. In the remakes, after you beat the Kanto gym leaders, the Elite Four gets a "rematch" mode.
Lance’s team in the rematch is terrifying.
- Salamence
- Garchomp
- Altaria
- Charizard
- Gyarados
- Dragonite
He stops being a "Dragonite spammer" and becomes a genuine competitive threat. He’s using Pokemon from Sinnoh and Hoenn. He’s using actual held items. It turned the Johto endgame from a nostalgia trip into a legitimate tactical challenge. This is the version of the Johto League that experts respect. It’s not just about spamming Ice Beam anymore; you have to worry about Speed stats and Dragon Dances.
Real-World Strategies for Beating Lance
If you're jumping back into Johto today, don't just pick a starter and hope for the best. You need a plan.
First, get a Choice Scarf if you’re playing the remakes. Putting a Choice Scarf on a Mamoswine with Icicle Spear or Ice Shard is basically a "Delete" button for Lance’s team. If you’re playing the originals, your best bet is actually an Electric-type like Ampharos to handle his Gyarados and Charizard, paired with a Lapras for the dragons.
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Also, don't sleep on status moves. A well-placed Thunder Wave can ruin Lance’s day. His Dragonites rely on being faster and hitting harder. If you take away their speed, they’re just big, orange targets.
The True Champion?
There’s a persistent debate: Is Lance the real champion of Johto?
Technically, yes. But the game doesn't end when the credits roll. After you collect all 16 badges—eight from Johto and eight from Kanto—you unlock Mt. Silver. There, standing in total silence, is Red.
Red is the final boss. His Pikachu is level 81 (or 88 in the remakes). While Lance holds the official title of the Pokemon Johto League champions, Red is the final mountain. Beating Lance is like winning the playoffs; beating Red is like winning the Super Bowl against a team of gods.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
To truly master the Johto League, you should change how you approach the game. Forget the standard "six strongest Pokemon" rule.
- Prioritize Entry Hazards: In the remakes, Stealth Rock is a godsend against Lance. It takes 25% of Charizard’s health and 50% of his Aerodactyl’s health just for switching in.
- The Red Gyarados: Do not trade it away. Use it. It comes with Dragon Dance and Ice Fang in the remakes, making it a perfect mirror-match counter for Lance.
- Farm the Phone System: Use the PokeGear to rematch trainers on specific days. It’s the only way to bypass the terrible wild-Pokemon level curve without spending 50 hours in the grass.
- Hold Items Matter: Don't enter the Elite Four without giving your team Berries or Leftovers. That small HP recovery every turn is often the difference between surviving a Hyper Beam and a total party wipe.
The Johto League is a bridge between two worlds. It’s a test of how well you’ve mastered the basics of Kanto while adapting to the complexities of the newer generations. Whether you're facing Lance’s illegal Dragonites or Karen’s tactical Dark-types, the journey to the top of the Indigo Plateau remains the most rewarding climb in the series.
Go get your 16 badges. The mountain is waiting.