Top Starter Pokemon by Generation

The pivotal moment in any Pokémon game is the initial choice of your partner Pokémon. This decision, often based on personal vibes and taste, feels like a personality test for many fans. You'll spend countless hours bonding with, raising, and battling alongside this chosen companion, yet at the start, you're unaware of how this choice will shape your journey toward becoming a Pokémon master. The gyms, rivals, and secrets of the region lie ahead, waiting to be discovered.

Our comprehensive research dives deep into the base stats, strengths, weaknesses, and evolutions of every starter Pokémon across all generations. We've analyzed their performance against the unique challenges of their native regions, not just to help you breeze through the initial gyms, but to conquer the Elite Four and beyond. This analysis is your first step to mastering Pokémon across all iterations.

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

Bulbasaur is the clear choice to tackle the first gym in Pokémon Red and Blue, as Grass beats Rock. But beyond that, Bulbasaur stands out as the best starter to dominate the entire Kanto region. While Charmander might seem appealing due to the scarcity of Fire types and its advantage against Flying and Ground types, Bulbasaur's advantages shine through the majority of the game. It's super effective against Brock's Rock Pokémon, Misty's Water collection, and Giovanni's final gym lineup, making it the optimal choice for the first two members of the Elite Four. The challenges for Bulbasaur include Erika's Grass type gym and Blaine's Fire type gym, but these can be overcome with strategic play and the abundance of Water types in Kanto.

Bulbasaur trainers will face issues with Pidgeys and Spearows in tall grass, but caves filled with Ground and Rock types offer ample opportunities for leveling up. Frequent encounters with Blue's Pidgeot and Charmander can be mitigated with a Water type on your team. Bulbasaur's evolution into Venusaur, a Grass/Poison type, adds another layer of advantage over Charmander and Squirtle, thanks to its well-balanced base stats.

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

In Pokémon Gold and Silver, Cyndaquil emerges as the best starter due to the limited number of Fire types introduced, only eight compared to ten Grass and eighteen Water types. This rarity adds significant diversity to your team. Cyndaquil and its evolutions excel against Bugsy's Bug type gym and Jasmine's Steel type gym, while Totodile struggles with no direct type advantages against the gyms. Chikorita would thrive against Pryce's Ice gym but faces early challenges with Bug and Flying types and Morty's Poison type gym. Cyndaquil's Fire typing is advantageous against the Grass and Bug types in the Elite Four, making it a strong contender despite the challenges posed by Pryce's gym and Lance's Dragon/Flying types.

Choosing Cyndaquil does come with issues, such as frequent Rock and Ground type encounters in caves and strategic planning needed for Lance's team. However, these challenges pale in comparison to 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

Mudkip stands out in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire not just for its cuteness but for its strategic advantages. Both Mudkip and Treecko are super effective against three of the eight gyms, with Mudkip excelling against Flannery's Fire gym and Treecko against Wallace's Water gym. However, by the time you reach Wallace, Treecko will likely have evolved into Sceptile, but its Grass typing leaves it vulnerable to Flannery's Fire and Winona's Flying types. Mudkip only struggles with Wattson's Electric type gym, whereas Torchic is at a disadvantage against most gyms, particularly Wallace's.

Mudkip's evolution into Swampert, gaining Ground typing, provides a defensive boost and immunity to Electric types, making it a powerhouse against the Elite Four. Despite potential grinding challenges due to the abundance of water in Hoenn, Mudkip's overall advantages make it the superior 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

In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Chimchar's Fire typing gives it a significant edge over Turtwig and Piplup, with only five new Fire types introduced compared to fourteen for Water and Grass. Chimchar is super effective against Gardenia's Grass type gym, Byron's Steel types, and Candice's Ice types. While Turtwig can handle Roark's Rock type and Crasher Wake's Water type gyms, its strengths peak early, whereas Chimchar's abilities shine in the late game.

Chimchar's final evolution, Infernape, is perfect against Aaron's Bug Pokémon in the Elite Four, where Turtwig's final form, Torterra, would struggle. Piplup's Empoleon is resilient but doesn't have significant advantages over many of the gym leaders or the Elite Four. Chimchar's edge is further highlighted by frequent battles with Team Galactic's Bug types, making it the best overall 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

Tepig is the standout starter in Pokémon Black and White, offering the most strategic advantages. Snivy is disadvantaged with only one gym advantage and struggles against Bug and Flying types, while Oshawott is the best choice against Clay's Ground type gym but lacks significant advantages over the Elite Four. Tepig's Fire typing and its final form, Emboar, also being a Fighting type, make it ideal against Burgh's Bug gym and Brycen's Ice gym. Emboar's Fighting type is super effective against Grimsley's Dark types in the Elite Four, despite its vulnerability to Caitlin's Psychic types.

Tepig's strong attacking stats and the presence of Team Plasma's Steel types further bolster its case, especially given the challenge of facing the Elite Four twice.

Gen 6: Fennekin

Games: Pokémon X & Y

Starter options: Chespin (grass), Fennekin (fire), Froakie (water)

Full guide: IGN's Pokémon X and Y guide

In Pokémon X and Y, Fennekin emerges as the top choice among the new starters. Its Fire typing is super effective against three gyms and resistant to two more, making it a formidable choice even into the late game. Fennekin's final evolution, Delphox, gains Psychic typing, which is advantageous against the final three Fairy, Psychic, and Ice-based gyms. Froakie's Greninja, a Water/Dark type, struggles against Fairy and Grass types, while Chespin's Chesnaught, a Grass/Fighting type, is at a disadvantage against Psychic and Fairy types.

The balanced nature of the Elite Four in X and Y means Delphox just edges out, able to resist Diantha's Gardevoir's attacks.

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 standout choice in Pokémon Sun and Moon, despite early struggles in the trials. Its Fire typing is super effective against Mallow's Grass trial and Sophocles' Electric trial with its Steel and Bug types. By the time you reach Acerola's Ghost trial, Litten can evolve into Incineroar, a Fire/Dark type, making it super effective against the entire lineup. Litten's counterparts, Rowlet and Popplio, shine in early trials but falter later on, with Rowlet's Decidueye gaining Ghost typing and Popplio's Primarina gaining Water/Fairy typing but not significantly impacting their performance in later battles.

The diverse challenges in the Pokémon League after becoming champion make Litten's ability to clear the trials even more crucial. With only eight Fire types introduced compared to thirteen for Grass and Water, choosing Litten early is a strategic advantage.

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 narrowly edges out Grookey and Scorbunny. All three starters are effective against three gyms, but Sobble and Grookey excel against Gordie and Raihan's Rock and Ground gyms, while Scorbunny is ideal for Melony's Ice gym and Opal's Fairy gym. The first three gyms being Grass, Water, and Fire typed provide no initial advantage, but Raihan's final gym gives a slight edge to Sobble and Grookey.

In the Champion Cup, Sobble's final evolution, Inteleon, just inches past Grookey due to its balanced stats and favorable matchups against Bede's Fairy Pokémon, Nessa's Water types, and Raihan's Fire and Ground heavy Dragon team. Other factors like Team Yell's Dark types and reduced random encounters due to overworld Pokémon have less impact, further solidifying Sobble's slight advantage.

Gen 9: Fuecoco

Games: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Starter options: Sprigatito (grass), Fuecoco (fire), Quaxly (water)

Full guide: IGN's Pokémon Scarlet and Violet guide

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Fuecoco emerges as a clear winner despite the game's focus on player freedom. The non-scaling gyms mean you can return to tackle them when stronger, but Fuecoco's advantages against Katy and Brassius' Bug and Grass type gyms, and its Ghost type final evolution, Skeledirge, against Tulip's Psychic/Fairy and Grusha's Ice type gyms, make it a top choice. Quaxly gains a Fighting type as Quaquaval, which is useful against Larry's Normal type gym, while Sprigatito's Meowscarada is effective against Tulip's and Ryme's Ghost gyms.

The Team Star base raids further emphasize Fuecoco's importance, with its Fire/Ghost typing being advantageous against Dark and Poison types and immune to Fighting types. While Quaquaval and Meowscarada can handle Rika's Ground types in the Elite Four, Skeledirge's advantages against Poppy's Steel team and beyond make it the superior starter.

The Best Starter Pokémon