There are a lot of starter Pokemon in the franchise, and one of the most important questions for fans worldwide is what is the very best starter?
At the beginning of every Pokemon trainer’s journey, it is important to make one decision: ‘Which starter should you choose?’ Every generation and region has a trio of adorable ‘Mons to choose between that always feature a Grass, Water, and Fire type.
Starter Pokemon will always be special to players as they’re the first creatures to join you on your journey, even if they may not stay in your team for the entire game. Everyone has a favorite starter, but what ones are the very best?
10. Oshawott
Base Stats
| National Pokedex No. | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0501 | Water | 55 | 55 | 45 | 63 | 45 | 45 | 308 |
Evolution Chart
| Dewott (second-stage) | Samurott (third-stage) | Hisuian Samurott (third-stage) |
|---|---|---|
| Level required: 17Type: WaterAbilities: Torrent, Shell Armor (HA) | Level required: 36Type: WaterAbilities: Torrent, Shell Armor (HA) | Level required: 36 (Legends: Arceus only)Type: Water/DarkAbilities: Torrent, Shell Armor (HA) |
Pros and Cons
While many people dislike the design of Oshawott’s final evolution, Samurott is still a strong Pokemon that’s capable of taking down plenty of opponents, with solid 100 Attack and 108 Special Attack stats and decent bulk to carry it through most match-ups.
Throw in a wide-ranging move pool that provides excellent type coverage, and Samurott becomes the most balanced Pokemon in the Black & White starter trio. It does suffer from poor speed, but Hisuian Samurott went some way to fix that, as long as you can pull it from Pokemon Legends: Arceus or Pokemon Home.
9. Treecko
Base Stats
| National Pokedex No. | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0252 | Grass | 40 | 45 | 35 | 65 | 55 | 70 | 310 |
Evolution Chart
| Grovyle (second-stage) | Sceptile (third-stage) | Mega Sceptile (Mega Evolution) |
|---|---|---|
| Level required: 16Type: GrassAbilities: Overgrow, Unburden (HA) | Level required: 36Type: GrassAbilities: Overgrow, Unburden (HA) | Item required: SceptiliteType: Grass/DragonAbilities: Lightning Rod, Unburden (HA) |
Pros and Cons
Treecko often plays second-fiddle to Mudkip, which is widely regarded as the best Ruby & Sapphire starter, but it can easily stand on its own two feet as a solid Grass-type glass cannon with a huge 120 Speed stat and 105 Special Attack.
It might not have very good bulk or a secondary typing to help it out, but it is one of the fastest creatures in its generation, meaning it can hit fast and hard. The ability to learn False Swipes was also great for catching tricky Pokemon in the wild.
In the games where Mega Evolutions are present, Mega Sceptile can be a powerhouse. This is thanks to its Lightning Rod Ability, which not only nullifies Electric-type moves, but boosts Mega Sceptile’s Special Attack.
8. Rowlet
Base Stats
| National Pokedex No. | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0722 | Grass/Flying | 68 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 50 | 42 | 320 |
Evolution Chart
| Dartrix (second-stage) | Decidueye (third-stage) | Hisuian Decidueye (third-stage) |
|---|---|---|
| Level required: 17Type: Grass/FlyingAbilities: Overgrow, Long Reach (HA) | Level required: 34Type: Grass/GhostAbilities: Overgrow, Long Reach (HA) | Level required: 36 (Legends: Arcsus only)Type: Grass/FightingAbilities: Overgrow, Long Reach (HA) |
Pros and Cons
With the design of an archer and a unique Grass/Ghost-typing, Rowlet’s final evolution Decidueye is definitely one of the most interesting starter Pokemon, with many trainers choosing it based on its design alone.
Decidueye has a 107 Attack stat and a 100 Special Attack stat which means it can focus on either move type, while a 100 Special Defense stat provides some bulk. It was also a great starter in Legends Arceus, where it became a Grass/Fighting-type.
7. Chimchar
Base Stats
| National Pokedex No. | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0390 | Fire | 44 | 58 | 44 | 58 | 44 | 61 | 309 |
Evolution Chart
| Monferno (second-stage) | Infernape (third-stage) |
|---|---|
| Level required: 14Type: Fire/FightingAbilities: Blaze, Iron Fist (HA) | Level required: 36Type: Fire/FightingAbilities: Blaze, Iron Fist (HA) |
Pros and Cons
One issue many players have with Diamond & Pearl is the severe lack of decent Fire-types in the wild, which meant choosing Chimchar as your starter was almost a necessity. Fortunately, it’s also one of the best starter Pokemon in general.
104 Attack and 104 Special Attack stats push it above average when dishing out damage, while 108 Speed makes it pretty darn fast. It’s one of the best Pokemon you can have on your team for taking down the Elite Four, too.
6. Bulbasaur
Base Stats
| National Pokedex No. | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001 | Grass/Poison | 45 | 49 | 49 | 65 | 65 | 45 | 318 |
Evolution Chart
| Ivysaur (second-stage) | Venusaur (third-stage) | Mega Venusaur | Gigantamax Venusaur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level required: 16Type: Grass/PoisonAbilities: Overgrow, Chlorophyll (HA) | Level required: 32Type: Grass/PoisonAbilities: Overgrow, Chlorophyll (HA) | Item required: VenusauriteType: Grass/PoisonAbilities: Thick Fat, Chlorophyll (HA) | Item required: Dynamax BandType: Grass/PoisonG-Max Move: G-Max Vine Lash |
Pros and Cons
As the very first entry in the Pokedex – and the first starter Pokemon that many trainers ever chose – Bulbasaur has a huge following of loyal fans. Even the creators of Pokemon love it, having once said that it “exemplifies what Pokémon is all about”.
Part of the reason for its popularity was that it could easily take out the first two gym leaders in Red & Blue. It also helps that its final evolution, Venusaur, continues to be a top-tier Grass-type across multiple games, including Pokemon Go.
Mega Venusaur was one of the undisputed best Mega Evolutions in the game. Not only does this big boy get a stat boost, but its resistance to Fire and Ice-type moves is drastically increased, helping it to overcome two of the biggest threats to Grass-type ‘Mons.
Gigantamax Venusaur in Pokemon Sword & Shield and its expansions is just as impressive, so long as the player is able to set up sunny weather to boost it further than what its giant form allows.
5. Torchic
Base Stats
| National Pokedex No. | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0255 | Fire | 45 | 60 | 40 | 70 | 50 | 45 | 310 |
Evolution Chart
| Combusken (second-stage) | Blaziken (third-stage) | Mega Blaziken |
|---|---|---|
| Level required: 16Type: Fire/FightingAbilities: Blaze, Speed Boost (HA) | Level required: 36Type: Fire/FightingAbilities: Blaze, Speed Boost (HA) | Item required: BlazikeniteType: Fire/Fighting Abilities: Speed Boost |
Pros and Cons
There’s been an unusual amount of starter Pokemon that end up Fire/Fighting-type in their third stage, but the adorable Torchic’s final evolution Blaziken is by far the best one around (in our humble opinion).
This is partly because there aren’t many good Fire-types in the Hoenn region, but mainly because it has a brilliant combination of 120 Attack and 110 Special Attack, which allows it to hit incredibly hard with moves like Close Combat and Flare Blitz.
Mega Blaziken is one of the best Mega Evolutions in the series, thanks to a huge stat increase and Speed Boost making it gradually grow faster each turn. These benefits allow Mega Blaziken to punch through the competition with ease.
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4. Squirtle
Base Stats
| National Pokedex No. | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0007 | Water | 44 | 48 | 65 | 50 | 64 | 43 | 314 |
Evolution Chart
| Wartortle (second-stage) | Blastoise (third-stage) | Mega Blastoise | Gigantamax Blastoise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level required: 16Type: WaterAbilities: Torrent, Rain Dish (HA) | Level required: 36Type: WaterAbilities: Torrent, Rain Dish (HA) | Item required: BlastoisiniteType: WaterAbilities: Mega Launcher, Rain Dish (HA) | Item required: Dynamax BandType: WaterG-Max Move: G-Max Cannonade |
Pros and Cons
As one of the original Kanto starters, Squirtle was always going to be a top contender for a spot on this list. It’s got one of the greatest evolution lines and it’s made several memorable appearances in the anime – who could forget the Squirtle Squad?
While its final evolution may not be quite as popular as Charizard, there’s no denying that Blastoise is one of the coolest Pokemon ever. It’s also very bulky, with 100 Defense and 105 Special Defense, which lets it stick around for longer in battle.
Mega Blastoise gains a huge buff to its Attack and defensive stats. This is accompanied by the Mega Launcher Ability, improving the damage of Water Pulse and other Pulse moves. It’s just a shame that it’s outclassed by the incredible Mega Gyarados.
Gigantamax Blastoise can use Cannonade, which deals damage at the end of an opponent’s turn, chipping away at their health. This makes it a great choice for dealing with walls, like Snorlax, as it’s based on percentage.
3. Charmander
Base Stats
| National Pokedex No. | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0004 | Fire | 39 | 52 | 43 | 60 | 50 | 65 | 309 |
Evolution Chart
| Charmeleon (second-stage) | Charizard (third-stage) | Mega Charizard X | Mega Charizard Y | Gigantamax Charizard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level required: 16Type: FireAbilities: Blaze, Solar Power (HA) | Level required: 36Type: Fire/FlyingAbilities: Blaze, Solar Power (HA) | Item required: Charizardite XType: Fire/DragonAbilities: Tough Claws, Solar Power (HA) | Item required: Charizardite YType: Fire/FlyingAbilities: Drought, Solar Power (HA) | Item required: Dynamax BandType: Fire/FlyingG-Max Move: G-Max Wildfire |
Pros and Cons
Decades after it made its debut in Red & Blue in the 1990s, the adorable little Fire-type Charmander remains not just a fan-favorite starter Pokemon, but one of the most popular Pokemon full stop.
There’s a pretty obvious reason for this… its final evolution is Charizard. This fearsome creature is arguably the most iconic Pokemon of all time (after Pikachu), appearing in multiple games and spin-offs including Pokken and Super Smash Bros.
It’s got the stats to back that popularity up, with a huge 109 Special Attack that lends itself well to STAB attacks like Inferno and Air Slash, while a 100 Speed stat means it will often get to attack first. Bonus points are awarded for having one of the best Shinies available.
The popularity of Charizard can be seen in Pokemon X & Y, when it gained two Mega Evolutions. Charizard X finally gives it a Dragon-type and diminishes its crippling weakness to Stealth Rock, while Charizard Y’s natural Drought Ability means it’s boosting its own damage when it enters the battlefield.
Gigantamax Charizard has a similar attack to the other Gigantamax Kanto starters, with G-Max Wildfire dealing indirect damage over multiple turns. It still packs a punch when using Fire-type moves and is an excellent choice for a Dynamax evo during battle.
2. Froakie
Base Stats
| National Pokedex No. | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0656 | Water | 41 | 56 | 40 | 62 | 44 | 71 | 314 |
Evolution Chart
| Frogadier (second-stage) | Greninja (third-stage) | Ash-Greninja |
|---|---|---|
| Level required: 16Type: WaterAbilities: Torrent, Protean (HA) | Level required: 36Type: Water/DarkAbilities: Torrent, Protean (HA) | Type: Water/DarkAbilities: Battle Bond, Protean (HA) |
Pros and Cons
Okay, so Froakie might not be the most appealing starter in its base form – but when its final evolution is Greninja, who cares! It’s even been voted the world’s favorite Pokemon, in case its popularity was ever in doubt.
Greninja has the highest Speed stat of any starter Pokemon’s final evolution, living up to its ninja-inspired name, which means it can unleash brilliant attacks like Hydro Pump and Water Shuriken before your opponent knows what’s happening.
While Greninja never received a Mega Evolution, it did get a unique form with Ash-Greninja. If a Greninja has the Battle Bond Ability and KO’s an opponent, it will transform into Ash-Greninja, boosting its stats and the power of Water Shuriken.
Ash-Greninja was a great form. Unfortunately, it was cut from Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, with Battle Bond simply increasing Greninja’s stats.
1. Mudkip
| National Pokedex No. | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special Attack | Special Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0258 | Water | 50 | 70 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 310 |
Evolution Chart
| Marshtomp (second-stage) | Swampert (third-stage) | Mega Swampert |
|---|---|---|
| Level required: 16Type: Water/GroundAbilities: Torrent, Damp (HA) | Level required: 36Type: Water/GroundAbilities: Torrent, Damp (HA) | Item required: SwampertiteType: Water/GroundAbilities: Swift Swim, Damp (HA) |
Pros and Cons
As far as starter Pokemon go, Mudkip really does have it all; It’s ridiculously cute, it’s the best one to choose in its parent games Ruby & Sapphire, and it also becomes one of the strongest starter final evolutions of all time.
Yes, we’re talking about Swampert. This powerful Water/Ground-type Pokemon has a really great balance of stats across HP, Defense, and Attack, meaning it has decent bulk and can hit hard with some great moves.
Perhaps the best thing about Swampert is that its unique dual typing leaves it with only one weakness (Grass), which means it can perform well in the majority of scenarios without worrying too much about being taken out.
Mega Swampert is one of the best rain Pokemon in the game, thanks to Swift Swim boosting its Speed. The massive Attack boost it gets from its Mega Evolution means it can quickly crush opponents when an ally brings down rain.
That’s it for our list of the best starter Pokemon. For more content, make sure to check out our guides about the best Pokemon in Pokemon Go and the best ‘Mons in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.