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Pokémon Legends: Arceus starters

Choose from the Pokémon Legends: Arceus starters! Find out which one is for you with this guide, including their stats, evolutions, movesets, and much more

Pokemon Legends Arceus starters: A screenshot from Pokemon Legends Arceus shows the starters Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawatt

Pokémon spin-off and Nintendo Switch exclusive, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, released on January 28, 2022. Along with a brand new game comes an all-new selection of Pokémon to choose from, and this also includes the starters you get to pick from at the beginning of the game. Whilst there may be more to be announced, this is what we know for now.

There are three Pokémon Legends: Arceus starters to choose from and, interestingly enough, these fan favourites are from three different generations altogether. To get into specifics, they are the grass/flying-type Rowlet, fire-type Cyndaquil, and water-type Oshawott, and we’ve got everything you need to know about these starters below – from evolution, to stats, to moveset, and more.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is focused on putting together the first Pokédex for the region of Hisui, an ancient version of Sinnoh. With this goal in mind, the game focuses on bringing in different generations to the region via the Galaxy Expedition Team to lead the path for discovery. If you want to know about what other fresh features this title has, you can check out our Pokémon Legends: Arceus Ginko Guild, Pokémon Legends: Arceus noble Pokémon and Pokémon Legends: Arceus wardens guides, or our  Legends: Arceus new Pokémon list.

So, without further ado, here are all the adorable Pokémon Legends: Arceus starters and their evolutions.

Pokémon Legends Arceus starter, Rowlet

Pokémon Legends: Arceus starters Rowlet

Rowlet is a generation seven flying and grass Pokémon starter from Pokémon Sun and Moon, making it the newest generation from the pick of starters.

Rowlet evolution

Rowlet evolves into Dartrix at level 16, and then into Hisuian Decidueye at level 36.

The evolution of Rowlett into Dartrix and then Hisuian Decidueye in Pokemon Legends Arceus.

Rowlet Stats

These are the base stats for Rowlet of the classic Pokédex and may be updated if different from the Hisui Pokédex. They also don’t reflect on the evolution stats of Dartrix and Decidueye, which will be higher.

Level Health Points Attack Defence Special attack Special defence Speed
Base level 68 55 55 50 50 42
Level 50 128-175 55-117 55-117 50-112 50-112 42-103
Level 100 246-340 103-229 103-229 94-218 94-218 80-201

Rowlet moveset

Some of Rowlet’s classic moves include growl, peck, nasty plot, and sucker punch. If you choose Rowlet, the below table highlights what moves you unlock at which levels.

Level Ability
One Growl
Two Tackle
Three Leafage
Six Astonish
Nine Peck
12 Shadow Sneak
15 Razor Leaf
18 Synthesis
21 Pluck
24 Nasty Plot
27 Sucker Punch
30 Leaf Blade
33 Feather Dance
36 Brave Bird

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Rowlett weaknesses

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Rowlett is weak to the following:

Pokémon Legends Arceus starter, Cyndaquill

Pokémon Legends: Arceus starters Cyndaquil

Pokémon Gold and Silver’s fire-type Cyndaquil is swooping up the pecking order as the second of our new starters.

Cyndaquil Evolution

Cyndaquil evolves into Quilava at level 14 and Hisuian Typhlosion at level 36.

The evolution of Cyndaquil into Quilava and then Hisuian Typhlosion in Pokemon Legends Arceus.

Cyndaquil stats

Please bear in mind these are Cyndaquil’s first stage stats and will change with evolution.

Level Health Points Attack Defence Special attack Special defence Speed
Base level 39 52 43 60 50 65
50 99-146 52-114 43-104 58-123 50-112 65-128
100 188-282 98-223 81-203 112-240 94-218 121-251

Cyndaquil Moveset

As with all Pokémon, different moves become available as you level up. For Cyndaquil, they look a little something like this.

Level Ability
One Leer
One Tackle
Six Smokescreen
Ten Ember
13 Quick Attack
19 Flame Wheel
22 Defence Curl
28 Flame Charge
31 Swift
37 Lava Plume
40 Flamethrower
46 Inferno
49 Rollout
55 Double-edge
58 Burn Up
64 Eruption

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Cyndaquil weaknesses

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Cyndaquil is weak to the following move types:

Pokémon Legends Arceus starter, Oshawott

Pokémon Legends: Arceus starters Oshawott

Osha-who? Oshawott! Generation five starter Pokémon Oshawott comes from Pokémon Black and White.

Oshawott evolution

Oshawott evolves into Dewott at level 17 and then Hisuian Samurott at level 36.

The evolution of Oshawott Samurott in Pokemon Legends Arceus.into Dewott and then Hisuian

Oshawott stats

These stats indicate Oshawatt’s figures and not those of its evolution stages.

Level Health points Attack Defence Special attack Special defence Speed
Base level 55 55 45 63 45 45
50 115-162 55-117 45-106 63-126 45-106 45-106
100 220-314 103-229 85-207 117-247 85-207 85-207

Oshawott moveset

Finally, we’ve got Oshwaott’s moves, which change as it levels up.

Level Ability
One Tackle
Five Tail Whip
Seven Water Gun
11 Water Sport
13 Focus Energy
17 Razor Shell
19 Fury Cutter
23 Water Pulse
25 Revenge
29 Aqua Jet
31 Encore
35 Aqua Tail
37 Retaliate
41 Swords Dance
43 Hydro Pump

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Oshawott weaknesses

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Cyndaquil is weak to the following move types:

Will the Pokémon Legends: Arceus Starters have regional evolutions?

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The Pokémon Company has confirmed that all three starters for Pokemon Legends: Arceus will receive new regional evolution forms, much like Alolan Exeggutor and Galarian Weezing. While we don’t know exactly what they look like just yet, Nintendo has released silhouettes of the new forms to tease fans ahead of release.

Silhouettes are shown of the new regional evolutions for Dartix, Quilava, and Dewott

It remains to be seen if these are new Pokémon or regional variants, but from the silhouettes, we’d hazard a guess that these are just variants. We’ll update you with the new types as soon as we have the game in our hands.

That’s all we know about the Pokemon Legends: Arceus starters for now. We’ll be sure to update you when we know more after the game’s released. For now, you can find out everything we know so far about the Switch exclusive in our Pokemon Legends: Arceus release date guide.

For more information on how to defeat the various types, check out our dark Pokémon weakness, ice Pokémon weakness, fire Pokémon weakness, dragon Pokémon weakness, poison Pokémon weakness, steel Pokémon weakness, and ghost Pokémon weakness guides. We can also tell you what the future holds with our psychic Pokémon and psychic Pokémon weakness articles.