Gen 2 Pokédex binder guide: filling Johto slots 152 to 251

Johto is the natural second chapter of a Pokédex binder. Once Kanto's 151 slots are closed or well underway, slots 152 through 251 pick up with Chikorita and end with Celebi. That is exactly 100 Pokémon, which makes it a tidy project: twelve pages at 9 pockets per page, with eight pockets to spare. (If you are still choosing a binder, see living dex card binder sizes and pages.)

This guide covers how Gen 2 differs from Kanto, which slots deserve planning, and how to pace the build. If you have not started Kanto yet, the Gen 1 binder guide is the place to begin.

What makes Johto different#

Gen 2 is a small generation with a few unusual features that show up in a binder.

First, it contains several Pokémon that are really additions to Kanto families. Crobat (169) evolves from Golbat, Steelix (208) from Onix, Scizor (212) from Scyther, Kingdra (230) from Seadra, Blissey (242) from Chansey, and Espeon (196) and Umbreon (197) join Eevee. Their cards are often released alongside the Kanto relatives, so a single set can fill slots in both chapters.

Second, Gen 2 introduced the first batch of baby Pokémon: Pichu (172), Cleffa (173), Igglybuff (174), Togepi (175), Tyrogue (236), Smoochum (238), Elekid (239), and Magby (240). Because the numbers are spread out, they are easy to overlook until you reach that spot in the binder.

Third, the generation has an unusual mix of eras. The Neo series (Neo Genesis, Neo Discovery, Neo Revelation, Neo Destiny) was built around Johto, so there are vintage options for many slots. Modern sets then revisit the same Pokémon, sometimes with very different art. For a closer look at the older cards, read using WOTC-era cards in a modern binder.

How deep the card pool is#

We counted the English cards in the DexBindr catalogue for every Johto Pokémon in October 2026. Three things stand out.

• No slot is thin. Every one of the 100 has at least 8 English cards. The average is about 23, against about 32 for Kanto.
• The babies have the fewest options. Tyrogue, Smoochum and Elekid have 8 English cards each, and Magby has 10.
• The favorites are spoiled for choice. Umbreon has 49 English cards, Tyranitar 48, Espeon 42 and Lugia 41. Unown has 97, because so many of its letters got a card of their own.

Deep pools also mean cheap entry points. At the time of writing, Espeon, Umbreon, Lugia, Ho-Oh and Celebi each had at least one English card priced under 50 cents. The expensive versions exist, but none of these slots forces you to buy one.

Group the slots before you buy#

A hundred slots is easier to manage if you break them into groups. This is one way to do it.

Starters and their lines (152 to 160)#

Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium, Cyndaquil, Quilava, Typhlosion, Totodile, Croconaw, and Feraligatr. The fully evolved forms and the basic forms generally attract the most attention. The middle stages are the quieter slots, so give yourself time to find a version of each that you like.

Early-route Pokémon (161 to 199)#

Sentret through Slowking is the longest stretch of ordinary Pokémon: Hoothoot, Ledyba, Spinarak, Chinchou, Mareep, Marill, Sudowoodo, Hoppip, Sunkern, Wooper, Murkrow, and so on. There is nothing difficult about most of these, and they are good for filling pockets cheaply while you wait on harder targets.

Eevee's two new evolutions (196 and 197)#

Espeon and Umbreon are two of the most popular Pokémon from the generation. If you want a particular modern illustration for either, treat them as save-up slots. If you only need a card that fits the slot, there are plenty of choices.

Mid-game Pokémon (200 to 235)#

This includes Misdreavus, Unown, Wobbuffet, Girafarig, Pineco, Gligar, Snubbull, Qwilfish, Shuckle, Heracross, Sneasel, Teddiursa, Slugma, Swinub, Corsola, Remoraid, Delibird, Mantine, Skarmory, Houndour, Phanpy, Stantler, and Smeargle. Unown (201) is a fun one: it has many letter forms, but your binder has one slot for it, so you get to pick the letter you like best.

Babies and the slots between them (236 to 242)#

Tyrogue, Hitmontop, Smoochum, Elekid, Magby, Miltank, and Blissey. Hitmontop (237), Miltank (241) and Blissey (242) sit in and around the babies, so check the number before you place a card.

Legendary beasts and the finale (243 to 251)#

Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar, Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Celebi. Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Celebi are the three obvious headline slots, and Raikou, Entei, and Suicune are a natural trio to buy together if you want matching art.

Choosing your standard for a slot#

The question the whole project turns on is what counts as a filled slot. A Pokédex binder shows one card per Pokémon, chosen from any era, so a slot might hold a vintage Neo card for one Pokémon and a recent illustration rare for the next. Decide your own rules up front:

• Do you want any English printing, or a specific style such as holos, full arts, or alternate arts?
• Will you accept Japanese cards? See Japanese versus English cards in a binder.
• Are you building one per Pokémon or collecting every version? The one-per-dex versus master set comparison can help you pick.

A consistent rule matters more than a strict one. Binders look best when the standard is clear, and it is a lot easier to track progress.

A pacing plan#

Johto is small enough to finish in stages. One reasonable approach:

1. Fill every slot with something affordable. A cheap card that matches the Pokémon is better than an empty pocket, and it gives you an accurate view of what remains.
2. Mark the slots where you want an upgrade, such as Lugia, Ho-Oh, Espeon, Umbreon, and Tyranitar.
3. Upgrade one or two slots per month, depending on your budget. If cost is a concern, the budget build guide covers how to stretch your spending.

If you are working through the whole Pokédex in order, the checklist by Pokédex number is a useful companion.

Keeping track#

By slot 200 it becomes hard to remember which cards you already own, which you plan to upgrade, and what you paid. You can see how a tracked binder looks in the example binder. DexBindr is free to browse, and a free account tracks your first 10 Pokémon with unlimited cards each. The Sync plan ($5 a month or $49 a year) removes the limit and adds multi-device sync and collection value tracking.

Final thoughts#

Gen 2 is 100 slots, a mix of vintage and modern options, and a handful of crowd favorites. Start by filling the pockets, then upgrade the ones you care about. Many collectors find that Johto feels more personal than Kanto, because the choices are less obvious. That is part of the appeal.