The best Psychic type in a non-trading run of SoulSilver is Lugia. While it arrives late, its phenomenal offenses, strong matchup into the Elite Four, and high level make it a powerful option. Lugia is worse in HeartGold because it's only obtainable after reaching Pewter City.
If you're playing HeartGold or don't want to use a legendary, Kadabra and Girafarig are your best choices. Kadabra does what it does in every game: act as a fast special sweeper that boasts unreasonably high power in the early game. Its effectiveness is somewhat limited if you can't trade, but obtaining it before Goldenrod City lets it put in work against opponents like Morty and Chuck. Girafarig, by contrast, has lower Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed, but higher HP, Attack, and Defense. Its main draw is its typing, which makes it effective into Morty; it also gets a colourful movepool both physically and specially.
You'll note that neither Exeggutor nor Espeon are on this list so far, and that's for a few reasons:
- Espeon is harder to raise than its closest parallel, Kadabra, due to being a Friendship evolution that you need to plan around to get early Psychic STAB.
- Exeggutor is slow and ineffectual until it evolves, which itself requires a detour for a Leaf Stone. Its Slow levelling rate also makes it a pain to keep up to speed.
If you absolutely have to pick between Espeon and Exeggutor, I recommend Espeon because it's more immediately effective, even if you have to be decisive with raising its Friendship. However, I think you should consider Lugia, Kadabra, and Girafarig if you want a more effective Pokémon.
The following movesets assume you're playing up to Lance. When you obtain items like the Psychic TM, you'll probably want to slot them in over another move.
Lugia @ Choice Specs / TwistedSpoon
- Aeroblast (starting move)
- Extrasensory (starting move)
- Hydro Pump (starting move) / Surf (HM)
- (filler, coverage depending on rest of team)
Kadabra @ TwistedSpoon
- Psychic (Level 40)
- Recover (Level 30)
- (filler, coverage depending on rest of team)
- (filler, coverage depending on rest of team)
Girafarig @ TwistedSpoon / Silk Scarf
- Psychic (Level 37)
- Return (TM in Goldenrod City)
- Crunch (Level 46)
- (filler, coverage depending on rest of team)
Espeon @ TwistedSpoon / Choice Specs
- Psybeam (Level 36)
- Shadow Ball (TM from Morty)
- Quick Attack (Level 22)
- Cut (HM)
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver In-Game Tier List (Smogon)
