Picking between the three Pokemon Legends ZA starters can feel like a pretty big deal. Whichever one you choose will act as your first companion on your adventure around Lumiose City, and all three bring something different to the table.
In this guide, we'll teach you all about each of the three starters, their strengths and weaknesses, what they evolve into, and more, so you can work out what the best Pokemon ZA starter is to help you fill out your .
Here's everything you need to know about the Pokemon Legends Z-A starters:
What are the Pokemon Legends Z-A starters?
The Pokemon Legends Z-A starters are Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile. You get to pick one of these three pretty early on in the game, following your introduction to Taunie or Urbaine when you first arrive in Lumiose City.
Here's an overview of each of the three Pokemon Legends Z-A starters:
Pokemon Legends Z-A Chikorita
Kalos Pokédex no: 001
Type: Grass
Category: leaf Pokemon
Strengths: water, ground, rock
Weaknesses: fire, ice, poison, flying, bug
"A sweet aroma gently wafts from the leaf on its head. It is docile and loves to soak up sun rays."
Chikorita is a gen 2 Pokemon with a gentle personality. It's capable of shooting out super sharp leaves, but it also emits a sweet fragrance that can calm other Pokemon.
Here are Chikorita's base stats:
- HP: 45
- Atk: 49
- Def: 65
- Sp.Atk: 49
- Sp.Def: 65
- Spd: 45
Pokemon Legends Z-A Tepig
Kalos Pokédex no: 004
Type: Fire
Category: Fire pig Pokemon
Strengths: grass, ice, bug, steel
Weaknesses: water, ground, rock
"It can deftly dodge its foe's attacks while shooting fireballs from its nose. It roasts berries before it eats them."
Tepig is a surprisingly nimble gen 5 Pokemon that breathes fire from its nose. It uses its agility to evade enemy attacks, while simultaneously launching fireballs from both of its nostrils.
Here are Tepig's base stats:
- HP: 65
- Atk: 63
- Def: 45
- Sp.Atk: 45
- Sp.Def: 45
- Spd: 45
Pokemon Legends Z-A Totodile
Kalos Pokédex no: 007
Type: Water
Category: big jaw Pokemon
Strengths: fire, ground, rock
Weaknesses: grass, electric
"It is small but rough and tough. It won't hesitate to take a bit out of anything that moves."
Totodile may be small, but this gen 2 water Pokemon is also surprisingly tough and won't hesitate to take a bite out of anything. It has powerful jaws and razor-sharp teeth, allowing it to chomp down on its enemies with ease.
Here are Totodile's base stats:
Pokemon Legends Z-A starter evolutions
Naturally, each of the three starters evolves into different Pokemon at specific levels.
Here are each of the Pokemon Legends Z-A starters' evolutions:
Pokemon Legends Z-A Chikorita evolutions
Chikorita evolves into Bayleef at level 16, then into Meganium at level 32. Bayleef is a unique leaf Pokemon that emanates an energizing aroma from its neck, while Meganium can fire a tremendously powerful solar beam from its four flowers.
Mega Meganium is a grass / fairy type Pokemon that's still weak to five types, but also gains resistance to six types and complete immunity to dragon types.
Pokemon Legends Z-A Tepig evolution
Tepig evolves into Pignite at level 17, then into Emboar at level 36. Pignite is a powerful fire / fighting type Pokemon, and only gets stronger when it evolves into the mega fire pig Pokemon Emboar, which has an arsenal of powerful fighting moves.
Mega Emboar remains a fire / fighting type, but gains a funky staff, a new haircut, and a bunch of buffed stats that make it even stronger.
Pokemon Legends Z-A Totodile evolution
Totodile evolves into Croconaw at level 18, then into Feraligatr at level 30. Croconaw is an impressive water Pokemon with 48 fangs lining its mouth. Feraligatr remains a water Pokemon that moves slowly outside of battle, but moves at a blinding speed when it attacks and bites its prey.
Mega Feraligatr is easily the most powerful of the three starters' mega evolutions, boasting an exceptionally high attack stat. It's a water/dragon type Pokemon, meaning it also performs very well both offensively and defensively, and it's only weak to dragon and fairy.
What's the best Pokemon Legends Z-A starter?
Pokemon Legends ZA's best starter depends on personal preference, but we generally recommend Totodile. This balanced little water 'mon is a great all-rounder, and its evolution is really solid. However, don't worry if you prefer the other two - they still have their strengths!
Here are each of the Pokemon Legends Z-A starter's strengths:
Totodile has high stats across the board, beating both Chikorita and Tepig in many areas. It also evolves into its final form earlier than the other two options, and Mega Feraligatr is an incredibly powerful 'mon with great attack and very few weaknesses.
Chikorita isn't the hardest hitter and has quite a few weaknesses, but it has the highest speed and defense stats out of the three, making it a solid option if you prefer to take a more defensive, tactical approach to combat. It can chip away at enemies slowly while keeping its own HP topped up through healing abilities like Giga Drain and Leech Seed, which can be a great strategy in long battles.
Tepig starts off with the highest HP of the three, making it a pretty dependable option. It has pretty low defenses, but it also has solid attack stats and access to a broad selection of moves through its evolutions.