Summary
Picking a starter Pokemon can be a defining moment for any budding trainer. The first partner that the player has on their journey can be crucial in any save. Starting withPokemon Red & Bluein 1999,starter Pokemon have been aroundsince the beginning.
Some Pokemon are incredible and have great movesets and typings, but others are less than favorable among fans. At the start of each game, the player will get a choice of a Grass, Water, or Fire Pokemon, and these are some of the best.
Updated August 06, 2025 by Ben Painter:Choosing the first starter Pokemon in a Pokemon game is a rite of passage. The concept has existed since the franchise’s debut in Pokemon Red & Blue. Usually, gamers would choose a Grass, Water, or Fire-type, but in some cases, Pikachu & Eevee are starters. The franchise has changed the name from “Starter Pokemon” to First Partner Pokemon in recent media, but in the case of this list, it will remain with its iconic name.
If gamers have the latest entry,Pokemon Scarlet & Violet,then they can capture every starter in the Indigo Disk DLC. They just need to spend some Blueberry Points in the Blueberry Academy Terrarium to unlock the ability to do so. This update adds five more of the best starting Pokemon.
1Tepig
Starting Pokemon In Pokemon Black, White, Black 2 & White 2
It can deftly dodge its foe’s attacks while shooting fireballs from its nose. It roasts berries before it eats them.
Tepig continued the trend of Ash Ketchum owning a Starter Pokemon, and the lovable little fire pig is certainly one of the best in the franchise. Fans did criticize this one as it eventuallybecame a Fire/Fighting Pokemonwith Pignite and Emboar, making it the fourth of its kind in a row.
However, looking past this, Tepig is a cute Pokemon and a really solid option for a playthrough of a Unova game. What gives the Fire Pig Pokemon an edge over its Unovan siblings is the fact it gains a secondary typing in its final stage, having access to some strong STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) Fighting moves.
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2Grookey
Starting Pokemon In Pokemon Sword & Shield
When it uses its special stick to strike up a beat, the sound waves produced carry revitalizing energy to the plants and flowers in the area.
The three starter Pokemon fromPokemon Sword & Shieldwere somewhat criticized, mainly due to a lack of secondary types, but Grookey certainly has a lot going for it. Its design is awesome: a cute grass monkey who has a fondness for using a stick as a weapon.
This stick eventually becomes a set of drumsticks in its final form: Rillaboom, who is a full-on drummer who references the United Kingdom’s music scene. All three starters represent a part of UK culture, which the Galar region is based on. Rillaboom also has the benefit of a Gigantamax form, which is a nice bonus for choosing Grookey.
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3Cyndaquil
Starting Pokemon In Pokemon Gold, Silver, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Legends: Arceus
Cyndaquil protects itself by flaring up the flames on its back. The flames are vigorous if the Pokémon is angry. However, if it is tired, the flames splutter fitfully with incomplete combustion.
The Johto region brought the next set of Pokemon Starters, which did not quite hit the same as the original trio, but Cyndaquil is still awesome, especially thanks to being a member of Ash’s team for the Silver Conference travels.
Typhlosion is its final form, despite its 3D models being lackluster and the recent unsettling leaks about it, it is still a great Pokemon to use. InPokemon Legends: Arceus, it returned as a First Partner Pokemon, and Typhlosion was given a Hisuian form, which gained themuch-needed secondary typing of Ghost. Since Fire types are hard to come by in Johto, Cyndaquil is a really solid option.
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4Bulbasaur
Starting Pokemon In Pokemon Red, Blue, FireRed & LeafGreen
Bulbasaur can be seen napping in bright sunlight. There is a seed on its back. By soaking up the sun’s rays, the seed grows progressively larger.
It’s one of the most iconic Pokemon in the franchise, not just the Starters. Bulbasaur was one of Ash’s first Pokemon in the anime, a trait that is shared by many fans across the world.
Bulbasaur is potent to use in the Kanto games as it is strong against the first two Gyms, and it resists the third. It is the easy option in the game. It also comes with a secondary typing of Poison from the off, giving it an edge here. The Seed Pokemon eventually becomes the bulking Venusaur who has access to a Mega Evolution and a Gigantamax Form; they certainly do favor the originals.
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5Squirtle
Its shell is not just for protection. Its rounded shape and the grooves on its surface minimize resistance in water, enabling Squirtle to swim at high speeds.
Squirtle, famed for its anime appearances as a member of the Squirtle Squad with its iconic glasses, is one of the best starting Pokemon in the franchise. Useful for the first gym, where its Water attacks are 4x effective against Brock’s Rock/Ground Pokemon and remain solid throughout a Kanto playthrough.
It becomes the unit Blastoise, which is one of the best-designed Pokemon ever, with its massive water cannons that come out of its shell. Squirtle has no faults, and it has been many fans' go-to and first Pokemon since its inception in 1999. In future generations, Blastoise gained the advantage of aMega Evolution and a Gigantamax form, which only adds to its appeal.
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6Oshawott
Starting Pokemon In Pokemon Black, White, Black 2, White 2 & Pokemon Legends: Arceus
This otter Pokemon was a star in the anime under the control of Ash Ketchum, but he did not evolve it until its final form, the samurai Samurott. Although it does not gain a different type, it is still an awesome Pokemon to use in a playthrough of a Unova game.
It is also one of the starting Pokemon inLegends: Arceus, a game set in the ancient Hisui.This version of Samurott gains the Dark typing, also giving it a bonus for STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), Dark moves, and a whole host of advantages in-game. Oshawott would be a noble choice for any run, and it isone of the best starting Pokemonin the franchise.
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7Litten
Starting Pokemon In Pokemon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Alola has some awesome starting Pokemon and Litten is no exception. The fiery cat looks cute, but it has a mean streak to it. This is confirmed when it becomes its final form, the dirty wrestler Incineroar. This ‘mon also gains the Dark typing, striking opponents hard with its signature move, Darkest Lariat.
Incineroar is a very popular Pokemon, gamers may recognize it from Ash’s use of it in the anime and also as a playable character inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. Litten is one of the best starting Pokemon, gamers will need to boost the biodiversity in the Canyon Biome in the Blueberry Terrarium inPokemon Scarlet & Violetif they want to use it in the latestPokemongame.
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8Totodile
Starting Pokemon In Pokemon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold & SoulSilver
The lovable, energetic, and adorable Totodile was famous for Ash’s use in the anime. He used a lot of starters throughout his journey. Its final form, Feraligatr, is a beast to use in the game. Although it remains a mono Water-type, this isn’t a bad thingas it has just two weaknessesin Grass and Electric.
The Johto starters, as a trio, are fairly solid, but Totodile is the most favored among fans, and it deserves its ranking among the best first-partner Pokemon in the franchise. There is a strong case that Totodile should have received a Dark typing alongside Water. Maybe inPokemon Legends Z-Ait will receive a regional form and gain another type as one of the starter Pokemon in the next game.
9Turtwig
Starting Pokemon In Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond & Shinning Pearl
The Grass starter of Sinnoh completes an awesome trio of starters. All three have their placings among the best Pokemon of the franchise, but Turtwig is the weaker of the three. It evolved into the mighty Torterra, a tortoise with a landscape growing on its back, including trees.
In its final form, it gains the Ground type, making it 4x weak to Ice, but it allows for powerful Ground moves such as Earthquake and an immunity to Electric moves. Turtwig is also another Pokemon that was owned by Ash and a plot point of the anime was it learning how to make use of its extra weight upon evolving.
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10Torchic
Starting Pokemon In Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Surprisingly, Ash did not use Torchic in the anime. Instead, his traveling companion May made use of the fire chick, evolving it all the way into its final form, Blaziken,to aid her in her contests. The Fire/Fighting started the trend of three of the same type combination in a row.
It kicked it off with a bang with a solid final design, a signature move in Blaze Kick, and eventually received a Mega Evolution when the remakes ofRuby & Sapphirecame around in Generation 6. The Hoenn starters are regularly tipped as the best three in the franchise, and Torchic is certainly amongthe best starters in the Pokemon games.
