Who are the starter Pokémon? Every generation introduces three new starters that you get to choose from at the start of the game, and these creatures help to form some core childhood memories for trainers around the world. Admittedly, some are a bit more iconic than others, but every single one has at least a few fans. So, let’s look at all of the Pokémon starters by generation.
Every trainer knows that the Starter Pokémon fall under one of three types: grass, water, and fire, but there are many more types of ‘mon out there. To help you prepare for any creatures you may encounter, we have psychic Pokémon weakness, dark Pokémon weakness, and ghost Pokémon weakness guides. We have one for every category, so don’t worry if it’s a bug- or dragon-type giving you trouble instead.
Here’s our guide to all of the starter Pokémon:
Gen 1 starter Pokémon
The Kanto starter Pokémon are truly special, being the very first ‘mon you get to choose from, and to this day, they remain three of the best. The designs of all three are fantastic, heavily leaning into their respective types, and the fact that their subsequent evolutions are just as awesome is a nice bonus.
Bulbasaur
The first ever grass Pokémon starter (and number one in the Pokédex), Bulbasaur, is admittedly the least popular of the three Kanto ‘mon, with many people showing a lot of love to Charmander and its third-stage evolution, Charizard. However, while I never choose Bulbasaur myself when I revisit the OG Pokémon Yellow, Red, and Blue, I can’t help but look at its stage three evolution Venasaur and think of it as one of the best grass-types in the first generation. It stands tall against the likes of Victreebell, Vileplume, and Exeggutor.
Charmander
Number four in the Pokédex, Charmander is my go-to starter any time I’m in Kanto. Well, most of the time, I’m known to embrace Squirtle on the odd occasion if I need a change of pace. Charmander and, ultimately, Charizard are a huge part of my childhood, bringing a wave of precious 90s and early 200os nostalgia with them wherever they may go, and there’s good reason for that. You see, not only is Charmander one of the most adorable creatures in this world, Charmeleon is just as charming in a stroppy teenager way, while Charizard remains one of the best fire Pokémon even after nearly 30 years.
To this day, I’m still not over the 11th Pokémon episode in which Ash first finds his Charmander, a poor little guy who was abandoned, his tail nearly extinguishing. Oh, my heart hurts just thinking about it.
Squirtle
Okay, all Pokémon fans know about the Squirtle squad. That ragtag group of Squirtles (the leader of which joins Ash) made me fall in love with the water Pokémon. Then I look at Wartortle and Blastoise and realize this evolution line is one the best water-types in Kanto, perhaps across the series as a whole. However, Blastoise has Gyarados, Lapras, and Poliwrath to compete with in generation one, and nobody can deny how powerful those three are, especially Gyarados. Still, Squirtle, the seventh entry in the Pokédex, is oozing with charm and badassery, making it a solid pick for your first-ever Pokémon.
Just like with Charmander, there’s a very popular episode of Pokéman featuring this beloved creature. Ah, the Squirtle Squad, may you forever live in my head rent-free.
Gen 2 starter Pokémon
The generation two starter Pokémon are just as incredible as the gen 1 Pokémon, for the most part. While there are undoubtedly some trainers who love the grass-type, for us, it’s only ever a question of do we pick the water- or fire-type. Anytime I play Gold, Silver, or Crystal, it’s a difficult decision.
Totodile
Look at this little crocodile Pokémon. It had some big shoes to fill after Squirtle, but Totodile rose to the occasion, holding its own as one of the best water starter Pokémon in the entire franchise. For some early power, Totodile is perhaps the best of the three, going on to evolve into another two formidable Pokémon. Perhaps the only downside for Totodile is that there are some fantastic water-types in Johto, including the likes of Kingdra and Politoed, so you’re not short on options should you pick Cindaquil or Chikorita instead.
Cyndaquil
Cyndaquil fills me with joy; it just looks so happy every time you look at it. Clearly, this is a creature who loves life and is simply happy to be here, and that’s the kind of energy we all need. As much as I love Totodile, it’s rare that I don’t choose to start my Johto journey with Cyndaquil, especially as it eventually becomes Typhlosion, and I really need the reminder of how cool that beast was before Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Chikorita
Chicken Tikka. I’m sorry, but that’s all I hear anytime someone utters this Pokémon’s name. So not only does Chikorita leave me disappointed anytime I look at it, but it also leaves me craving a curry. I’m just going to say it. What is up with that leaf on its head? I’m not exactly fashion savvy, but its entire evolution line clearly doesn’t know what to do with its wardrobe. Stop trying to make ‘leaf’ happen, Chikorita. It’s not going to happen. Plus, as if that isn’t enough, there are some really good grass-types you can get later, like Bellossom, which eliminates the need to pick Chikorita in the first place.
Gen 3 starter Pokémon
Game Freak was on a roll with the starter Pokémon, as the gen three entries are almost as loveable as the first two. The simplistic design choices of all three are charming, and once again, you can’t really lose regardless of which ‘mon you pick. None of them remind me of curry, so that’s a good start.
Torchic
Torchic is awfully popular among the PT team, being the most common starter choice when any of us pick up Ruby or Sapphire and return to Hoenn. For starters, Torchic is one of the cutest ‘mon across the entire franchise, and watching it grow up to be the incredibly powerful Blaziken is nothing short of a pleasure. Speaking of Blaziken, not only does Torchic start life as a solid fire-type, but its final evolution becomes a fighting Pokémon (seriously, you may need our fighting Pokémon weakness guide to beat it). When picking a starter, sometimes you need to look ahead to what its evolutions are like, especially if they have a secondary typing that can aid you in battles.
Treecko
Treecko isn’t my first choice, or even my second, in Hoenn, but that’s not because it’s a bad starter Pokémon. It’s more because it’s very rare for me to want a grass-type on my team; any that I do want don’t tend to be starters – that’s not to say a couple haven’t wormed their way into my heart, mind you. Treecko and its final evolution, Sceptile, do deserve your attention and they are worth having if you want a solid grass-type for the duration of your adventure.
Mudkip
Anytime I visit the region of Hoenn I’m faced with a tough choice – Torchic or Mudkip? This is the generation that I tend to split who I pick as my starter Pokémon quite evenly, for Mudkip eventually evolves into Swampert, a water and ground Pokémon that makes for a unique combination. It can cause a lot of trouble, thanks to being a dual-type, which makes choosing Mudkip at the beginning of the game more than worth it. Plus, look at that face. Mudkip looks unbothered, and I need that energy.
Gen 4 starter Pokémon
Again, we have a really solid lineup when it comes to starter Pokémon in generation four, with Game Freak continuing to put out good designs that make it tough to choose your first pal in Sinnoh. However, there is one that stands out from the rest.
Piplup
Piplup is another fan-favorite starter Pokémon, holding a place in the hearts of many trainers due to its adorable look and nature. It’s a penguin, so while it looks cute, it has a demeanor that exhumes confidence and demands respect, something that makes a lot of sense when you consider that its final stage, Empoleon is based on an emperor penguin and gets part of its name from Napoleon. Plus, this powerful ‘mon has a trident on its head, an item that usually demands respect when it comes to the sea.
Chimchar
This monkey Pokémon is a ball of energy and I’m here for it. Chimchar is a solid pick if you’re after a fun and vibrant companion. It picks you up when you’re down, makes you laugh, smile, and maybe cry with joy. Plus, in a similar vein to Torchic and Blaziken, its stage three evolution, Infernape, is a badass that can throw punches with Mike Tyson. Furthermore, if you put aside cuteness and joy, Chimchar is very agile, meaning you have a good shot at striking first in battle with this starter Pokémon.
Turtwig
Though grass-types aren’t for me, there’s something charming about Turtwig that makes me understand why some choose it as their starter Pokémon in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Not only that, but its stage three evolution, Torterra, has a fierce design that can strike fear into the hearts of your enemies. It also happens to be a grass-ground-type hybrid, giving it a good arsenal of attacks. Look at it; that beast is an absolute tank, and its defense stat supports that statement, though its attacking prowess is nothing to sniff at.
Gen 5 starter Pokémon
Here is where we begin to see a decline in the quality of the starter Pokémon. The design choices feel a bit lazy in places here, but there is one that still manages to show the other two how it’s done. It’s also the first of just two generations in which I consider the grass-type to be the best option.
Snivy
After five generations, Snivy burst onto the scene and into my heart, being the first grass-type to make a huge impact on me, which is pretty impressive considering not even Bulbasaur managed that. As with any time you pick a starter Pokémon, it comes down to personal preference, but Snivy is always my go-to in Unova. Tepig’s design bores me, and Oshwatt looks a bit too needy. Snivy gives a ‘hmm, yes, I know I’m superior’ kind of vibe, and I dig it. That and its entire evolution line give off a regal feel, with Serperior boasting one of the most elegant designs in the series so far – superior, indeed.
Tepig
It’s a pig. Look, I like a simplistic design, but Tepig is too simplistic. I’m a huge lover of the fire-type; alongside dark Pokémon, ghost Pokémon, and psychic Pokémon, it’s one of my favorites, which is why it’s so surprising that I have no love for Tepig. Plus, it follows the trend of a fire starter’s third stage becoming a fighting-type, too, and you know what? Blaziken and Infernape do it so much better than Emboar. However, the stage three ‘mon at least looks more interesting than Tepig. It gives a bit of a lucha libre vibe, something that it’s higher attack stat supports entirely.
Oshawott
Too needy for me. Don’t get me wrong, Oshawott is cute, and I have chosen it as my starter in the Black and White line of games a couple of times, but it doesn’t fill me with the same confidence that Snivy does. Oshawott, buddy, you’re a good water Pokémon; believe in yourself, please. You turn into Samurott at the end, a badass water-type that’s arguably the best swimmer generation five has to offer. Samurott also boasts a great design that’s nearly on par with Servine for how unique it looks, but it just doesn’t give the ‘I’m better than you and I know it’ energy.
Gen 6 starter Pokémon
As much as I love the final stage of one of the sixth generation starter Pokémon, the lineup is mediocre at best. I don’t want to say it’s awful, but it doesn’t meet the standards of the previous generations, especially the first three.
Froakie
The good. Without a doubt, Froakie is the best starter Pokémon in Kalos, for me at least – I’ve never chosen either of the other two, and I’ve played through both X and Y a few times. Perhaps it’s those big yellow eyes, but something about this frog Pokémon pulls me in. It’s almost hypnotic. To be honest, I’m not sure if I’m actually the one in charge. However, as much as I like Froakie, the real reason anyone should choose it is Greninja, its third stage evolution. By far, Greninja is one of the best water-types you can get, but it doubles as a dark Pokémon, too, meaning it’s wise to read our dark Pokémon weakness to overcome this unique combo.
Fennekin
The bad. This is such a bland design for a starter Pokémon, and its subsequent evolutions do nothing to change my mind. Honestly, this generation confuses me; I’d rather pet the frog than the fox. Its stage three evolution, Delphox, gives off witchy vibes, which is explained by its fire and psychic Pokémon dual typing. To see what your future holds with this starter, check out our psychic Pokémon weakness guide.
Chespin
The ugly. What is this thing? Seriously, Chespin, why are you wearing a hat? I wish I could say the design gets better further down the line, but Chestnaught is in a permanent state of looking like it wants a hug but also giving off a ‘come near me and I’ll rip your head off’ vibe. It’s a bizarre evolution line that I’m not hurry to pick. However, Chestnaught does have a unique grass and fighting Pokémon dual-type, so you might want to choose it for that unique combo.
Gen 7 starter Pokémon
Two out of three isn’t bad, and even the third is still an improvement over some of the previous starter Pokémon. Plus, they belong to the region based on Hawaii; they get points for that alone.
Rowlet
Rowlet is possibly the cutest bird Pokémon in the entire series. One look at that bowtie and my heart just melts; then it has those cute eyes and adorable beak. Rowlet is the total package, but I still don’t tend to choose it, as I don’t gravitate toward grass-types too often. However, I can certainly see why many consider it the best option in Alola. If you add Decidueye, its final stage, to the mix, it becomes even more clear why Rowlet is so popular.
Litten
I like fire and I like cats, what more do I need? Litten goes back to basics, offering a simplistic design done right. It’s so full of mischief, and just like a real cat, it can throw some fast punches in battle. Speaking of which, its stage three evolution, Incineroar, is no slouch either, combining two of my favorite types – fire and dark. When you first look at its final state, Inciniroar, you might think that Game Freak has pulled the same ‘fire starter becomes fighting-type’ stunt again, I certainly did, but I’m so grateful that’s not the case.
Popplio
Okay, so while I like Popplio, I don’t think it matches up to Litten and Rowlet in terms of cuteness, though it’s a good water-type with a strong evolution line. However, while I appreciate the design of Decidueye and Incineroar, I can’t say the same for Primarina – I don’t like the look of this Pokémon at all. Still, I can’t deny that its dual-type as a water and fairy Pokémon does make it quite formidable in battle. Perhaps you should read our fairy Pokémon weakness guide for tips on how to beat it.
Gen 8 starter Pokémon
It was going so well, then we head to Galar in generation eight. Now, I think Sword and Shield are a lot better than people give them credit for, but the starter Pokémon leave much to be desired. Except for Scorbunny, I love that little guy.
Grookey
Grookey is very cute, I have no problem saying that. However, its evolution line took a turn I simply wasn’t ready for. Look, I’m English. I know Britain is known for its love of rock and roll, but I don’t need to see strange monkeys running around smacking things with sticks. Then, when you reach the final evolution, Rillaboom, it’s just a gorilla playing drums, essentially. No, just no. Mind you, this isn’t the worst of the bunch in the generation eight starters.
Scorbunny
Scorbunny is an adorable bunny Pokémon that represents the energy the youth of Britain have through their love of football. With a solid design and a good evolution line, I have no problem saying Scorbunny is my number one pick in Sword and Shield, especially since Cinderace doesn’t look into my soul and give me nightmares (more on that in a moment). Rather, Cinderace is my buddy, my pal. I feel comradery and love with the fire-type. In the late game, Cinderace can cause some serious damage if used right, making Scorbunny a solid choice as a starter Pokémon.
Sobble
At first, that crying Pokémon held my heart. I nearly chose Sobble, but I ultimately went with Cinderace, and boy, am I glad I did. Don’t get me wrong, Sobble can give you a good water Pokémon in the early going while on your journey in Galar, but when I reached that fight with Leon, boy, was I happy to have Cinderace by my side. In front of me was Inteleon, Sobble’s final evolution, and the gangly thing gave me nightmares. Look, I understand the ties to espionage, and that’s great and all, but no.
Gen 9 starter Pokémon
Here we are, the most recent generation. One I love, one I like, and one I hate.
Quaxly
What is with the hair? I don’t get it. There’s Sprigatito and Fuecoco looking all cute, full of hope and promise for the future, and then there’s Quaxly. This duck fills me with dread whenever I look at it. The first time I saw it, something felt off, and when I finally set foot in Paldea for the first time, I understood why. Its final stage, Quaquaval, is god-awful. I have nothing nice to say about it, and as my mother said, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
Fuecoco
This sweet little dino is a great starter Pokémon, one that’s bound to make the lives of many trainers easier in the early going of the game. Plus, not only is it cute, but its first evolution, Crocalor, wears a sombrero, and that might just be the best thing I’ve seen in a Pokémon game in years. However, it loses the hat when it ascends to Skeledirge, which upsets me greatly. It does have ghost-type moves at its disposal, though, which is always great to see.
Sprigatito
Sprigatito is the second-ever grass-type to hold my heart. I chose my darling Sprigs without hesitation and never looked back. I admit to being a bit disappointed that Meowscarda stands on two feet, but I learned to love the stage-three ‘mon over time, too. Mainly because it causes an obscene amount of damage against most creatures it comes across, thanks to being a grass and dark-type hybrid.
While none of these starters quite make our list of the strongest Pokémon in Paldea, we can’t deny that Meowscarda is one of the best grass-types in the region.
Which Starter Pokémon is best?
It doesn’t matter who you ask, you’ll get different answers. Among the PT team alone, the answer switches between Totodile, Cyndaquil, Treecko, Charmander, and Froakie. Our advice when choosing who to use is just to go with whoever you like best, though maybe consider who they eventually evolve into.
Is Bulbasaur the only dual-type starter?
No, Bulbasaur isn’t the only dual-type starter, as Rowlet is a grass- and flying-type.
How many starter Pokémon are there?
We’d forgive you for thinking that there are only 27 starter Pokémon, three for each generation. However, thanks to the Let’s Go games on Nintendo Switch, that number is actually 29, as you start with either Pikachu or Eevee, depending on which game you get. Plus, we can’t forget the fact that Pikachu is the starter Pokémon in Yellow, meaning it’s technically been one of the first partner ‘mon since 1998.
Well, that’s it, Pokémon trainers! All of the current starter Pokémon. Make sure you check out our Indigo Disk starter locations guide to track them all down in the Scarlet and Violet DLC. Oh, and why not check out more Pokémon content with our rock Pokémon, normal Pokémon, dragon Pokémon, ice Pokémon, and poison Pokémon guides?