The most pivotal moment in any Pokémon game is the initial choice of your partner Pokémon. This decision, often made based on personal taste and intuition, sets the stage for your entire journey to becoming a Pokémon master. It's a moment filled with anticipation and excitement, as you select the creature you'll nurture, bond with, and battle alongside for countless hours. Yet, at the outset, you're unaware of how this choice will influence your encounters with gyms, rivals, and the hidden secrets of each region.
We've conducted extensive research, analyzing base stats, strengths, weaknesses, and evolutions of every starter Pokémon across their respective regions. Our goal is to pinpoint the optimal starter choice to not only conquer the initial gyms but also to triumph over the Elite Four and beyond. This analysis serves as your first step towards mastering the Pokémon world across all generations.
Gen 1: Bulbasaur
Games: Pokémon Red & Blue, FireRed & LeafGreen
Starter options: Bulbasaur (grass), Charmander (fire), Squirtle (water)
Full guide: IGN's Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow guide
Selecting Bulbasaur is the obvious choice for tackling the first gym in Pokémon Red and Blue, given that Grass types are super effective against Rock types. However, Bulbasaur's advantages extend far beyond the initial challenge, making it the top pick for dominating the Kanto region. While Charmander might seem appealing due to the scarcity of Fire types and its immunity to Ground attacks in the final gym, Bulbasaur's strengths shine throughout the game.
Bulbasaur excels against Brock’s Rock Pokémon, Misty’s Water types, and Giovanni's final gym lineup. It's also the best choice to face the first two members of the Elite Four. The main hurdles for Bulbasaur are Erika's Grass type gym, requiring strategic gameplay to overcome "not very effective" attacks, and Blaine's Fire type gym, which can be navigated with the help of abundant Water types in Kanto.
Bulbasaur trainers will need to navigate challenges posed by frequent encounters with Flying types like Pidgey and Spearow, but ample Ground and Rock types in caves offer excellent XP farming opportunities. Bulbasaur's evolution into Venusaur, which gains the Poison type, further enhances its advantage over Charmander and Squirtle, thanks to well-balanced base stats and additional type coverage.
Gen 2: Cyndaquil
Games: Pokémon Gold & Silver, Crystal, HeartGold & SoulSilver
Starter options: Chikorita (grass), Cyndaquil (fire), Totodile (water)
Full guide: IGN's Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal guide
Pokémon Gold and Silver introduced only eight new Fire types, making Cyndaquil a valuable addition to your team for its diversity. Cyndaquil proves to be the best match for most Johto gyms and Elite Four members. Its Fire moves easily defeat Bugsy's Bug type gym and Jasmine's Steel type gym. In contrast, Totodile struggles due to the absence of Fire, Ground, or Rock gyms, while Chikorita faces challenges against early Bug and Flying type gyms and Morty's Poison type gym.
Cyndaquil's evolution into Typhlosion provides an edge against the Grass and Bug types in the Elite Four, though Pryce's Ice gym will require a well-balanced team. Despite challenges like Rock and Ground Pokémon in caves and Lance's Dragon/Flying types, Cyndaquil's advantages outweigh those faced by Chikorita and Totodile.
Gen 3: Mudkip
Games: Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Starter options: Treecko (grass), Torchic (fire), Mudkip (water)
Full guide: IGN's Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald guide
While Mudkip's charm might be a compelling reason to choose it, its Water type offers strategic advantages in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Mudkip is super effective against three gyms: Roxanne's Rock/Ground, Tate & Liza's Psychic, and Flannery's Fire. Treecko, though a strong contender, struggles against Flannery's Fire gym and Winona's Flying types. Torchic, meanwhile, has no significant gym advantages.
In the Elite Four, Treecko's evolved form, Sceptile, has an edge against Glacia's Ice/Water types, but Mudkip's evolution into Swampert gains Ground typing, offering immunity to Electric attacks and well-balanced stats. Despite the abundance of water in the Hoenn region leading to challenging random encounters, Mudkip's overall advantages make it the best choice.
Gen 4: Chimchar
Games: Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Starter options: Turtwig (grass), Chimchar (fire), Piplup (water)
Full guide: IGN's Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum guide
Continuing the trend of limited Fire types, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl introduce just five new Fire Pokémon, making Chimchar a strong contender. Chimchar's Fire typing is advantageous against Gardenia's Grass gym, Byron's Steel gym, and Candice's Ice gym. Turtwig, while effective against early Rock and Water gyms, sees its strengths wane later in the game. Piplup's evolved form, Empoleon, doesn't have significant advantages over many gyms or the Elite Four.
Chimchar's final evolution, Infernape, excels against Aaron's Bug types in the Elite Four, though Turtwig's evolved form, Torterra, handles Bertha's Water and Ground types well. Chimchar's overall gym battle prowess and effectiveness against Team Galactic's Bug types make it the superior choice.
Gen 5: Tepig
Games: Pokémon Black & White
Starter options: Snivy (grass), Tepig (fire), Oshawott (water)
Full guide: IGN's Pokémon Black and White guide
In Pokémon Black and White, Tepig stands out as the best choice due to its Fire and Fighting type capabilities. Tepig easily handles Burgh's Bug gym and Brycen's Ice gym. While Oshawott has some advantages, such as against Clay's Ground gym, it doesn't have significant Elite Four advantages. Snivy struggles with only one gym advantage and numerous Bug and Flying types in Unova.
Tepig's evolution into Emboar provides strong attacking stats and effectiveness against Grimsley's Dark types in the Elite Four. Despite vulnerabilities to Caitlin's Psychic types, a well-rounded team can overcome this. Emboar's advantages against Team Plasma's Steel types further solidify its position as the best starter.
Gen 6: Fennekin
Games: Pokémon X & Y
Starter options: Chespin (grass), Fennekin (fire), Froakie (water)
Full guide: IGN's Pokémon X and Y guide
Fennekin emerges as the standout starter in Pokémon X and Y, where Fire types continue to dominate. Fennekin's Fire typing is super effective against three gyms and resistant to two more. Its evolution into Delphox, gaining Psychic typing, makes it well-suited for the final three gyms: Fairy, Psychic, and Ice. Froakie's evolution into Greninja struggles against Ramos' Grass types and Clemont's Electric types, while Chespin's evolution into Chesnaught faces challenges against Viola's Bug gym and later Psychic and Fairy types.
In the Elite Four, Delphox has an edge due to its resistance to Diantha's Gardevoir. Although the Elite Four battles are more balanced, Fennekin's overall gym performance and type advantages make it the best choice.
Gen 7: Litten
Games: Pokémon Sun & Moon
Starter options: Rowlet (grass), Litten (fire), Popplio (water)
Full guide: IGN's Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon guide
Litten is the clear choice for Pokémon Sun and Moon, despite early challenges in the trials. Litten's Fire typing is super effective against Mallow's Grass trial, and its evolution into Incineroar (Fire/Dark) excels against Sophocles' Electric and Acerola's Ghost trials. Rowlet and Popplio have advantages in the early trials but lack significant late-game advantages.
The Alola region's diverse post-champion battles make Litten's trial-clearing abilities even more crucial. With only eight Fire types introduced compared to thirteen Grass and Water types, choosing Litten early provides a strategic advantage throughout the game.
Gen 8: Sobble
Games: Pokémon Sword & Shield
Starter options: Grookey (grass), Scorbunny (fire), Sobble (water)
Full guide: IGN's Pokémon Sword and Shield guide
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Sobble edges out Grookey and Scorbunny in a close race. All three are effective against three gyms, but Sobble's advantages against Gordie's Rock and Raihan's Ground gyms, combined with its performance in the Champion Cup against Bede's Fairy types, Nessa's Water types, and Raihan's Dragon team, give it a slight edge. The balanced stats of Sobble's final evolution, Inteleon, further support its selection.
Gen 9: Fuecoco
Games: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Starter options: Sprigatito (grass), Fuecoco (fire), Quaxly (water)
Full guide: IGN's Pokémon Scarlet and Violet guide
Fuecoco is the clear winner in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, despite the game's focus on player freedom and non-linear progression. Fuecoco's Fire typing is advantageous against Katy and Brassius' Bug and Grass gyms, and its evolution into Skeledirge (Fire/Ghost) excels against Tulip's Psychic/Fairy and Grusha's Ice gyms. Quaxly's evolution into Quaquaval (Water/Fighting) and Sprigatito's evolution into Meowscarada (Grass/Dark) have some advantages, but Skeledirge's performance against Team Star's bases and the Elite Four sets it apart as the best choice.
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