Top Starter Pokemon by Generation

The pivotal moment in any Pokémon game is choosing your starter Pokémon. That first encounter, locking eyes with the creature you’ll journey with, is a special experience. It's often based on intuition and preference, almost like a personality test. Yet, at the start, you have no idea how this choice will impact your path to becoming a Pokémon master, with the challenges of gyms, rivals, and regional secrets still ahead.

We've conducted thorough research, examining base stats, strengths, weaknesses, and evolutions of every starter Pokémon, matching them against their native regions. Our goal is to identify the best starter not just to breeze through the initial gyms but to conquer the Elite Four and beyond. This is your first step towards mastery across all Pokémon 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

While Charmander might initially seem appealing due to Fire types being scarce in Gen 1 and advantageous against many Flying and Ground types, Bulbasaur shines as the top choice for conquering the Kanto region. Bulbasaur's Grass typing is super effective against Brock’s Rock Pokémon, Misty’s Water collection, and Giovanni’s final gym line-up, making it the best starter to tackle the first two Elite Four members as well. The main hurdles for Bulbasaur trainers are Erika’s Grass type gym and Blaine’s Fire type gym, both manageable with strategic gameplay and the plentiful Water types in Kanto.

Bulbasaur trainers must navigate frequent encounters with Flying types like Pidgey and Spearow, and battles against rival Blue's Pidgeot and Charmander. However, Bulbasaur's well-balanced base stats and evolution into Venasaur, a Grass/Poison type, provide a significant edge over Charmander and Squirtle.

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

With only eight new Fire types introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver compared to ten Grass and eighteen Water types, choosing Cyndaquil adds diversity to your team. Cyndaquil excels against Bugsy’s Bug type gym and Jasmine’s Steel type gym, and its evolutions are vital for navigating Johto's challenges. While Totodile struggles with the lack of suitable gym matchups, and Chikorita faces difficulties against early Bug and Flying types, Cyndaquil's Fire typing is advantageous against many Elite Four members.

Pryce’s Ice gym poses a challenge for Cyndaquil, necessitating a well-rounded team. However, Cyndaquil's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, particularly when facing the Grass and Bug types in the Elite Four, making it a superior choice despite occasional struggles against Rock and Ground types.

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 might catch your eye for its charm, its Water typing offers strategic advantages in Ruby and Sapphire. Both Mudkip and Treecko are super effective against three gyms, but Mudkip's advantage shines brighter, particularly against Flannery’s Fire gym. Treecko, evolving into Sceptile, faces challenges with Flannery and Winona's Flying types, whereas Mudkip, evolving into Swampert, gains Ground typing, making it immune to Electric and highly defensive.

Swampert's well-balanced stats and type advantage make it a powerhouse, despite the challenge of Wattson’s Electric gym. The Hoenn region's abundance of water might make random encounters tedious, but Mudkip's overall advantages make it the top pick.

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

With only five new Fire types compared to fourteen Water and Grass types, Chimchar stands out as the best choice in Diamond and Pearl. Its Fire typing is super effective against Gardenia’s Grass gym, Byron’s Steel types, and Candice’s Ice types, setting it up for late-game success. Turtwig, evolving into Torterra, excels in the early stages but struggles later on, while Piplup's Empoleon doesn’t offer significant advantages against the gyms or Elite Four.

Chimchar's final evolution, Infernape, is perfect against Aaron’s Bug Pokémon in the Elite Four, and its advantages over Team Galactic’s frequent Bug types make it a clear winner despite the competition from Turtwig.

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 emerges as the standout choice. Snivy struggles with its limited gym advantages and vulnerability to Bug and Flying types, while Oshawott offers some benefits but lacks significant Elite Four advantages. Tepig's Fire typing and its final form, Emboar, with added Fighting type, ease the journey through Unova. Tepig effortlessly tackles Burgh’s Bug gym and Brycen’s Ice gym, and Emboar's Fighting type is super effective against Grimsley’s Dark types in the Elite Four.

Despite vulnerabilities to Caitlin’s Psychic types, Tepig's strong attacking stats and the presence of Team Plasma's Steel types make it the best choice to navigate the challenging double Elite Four encounters.

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 dominates in Pokémon X and Y, being super effective against three gyms and resistant to two more. Its final evolution, Delphox, gains Psychic typing, making it well-suited for the Fairy, Psychic, and Ice-based gyms. Froakie's Greninja struggles against Fairy and Grass types, while Chespin's Chesnaught faces challenges against Bug and Psychic types. Delphox's versatility and resistance to Diantha’s Gardevoir make it the best choice for navigating the balanced Elite Four.

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 continues the Fire type trend in Pokémon Sun and Moon, excelling in most trials despite initial struggles. Its evolution into Incineroar, a Fire/Dark type, is super effective against Mallow’s Grass trial, Sophocles’ Electric gym, and Acerola’s Ghost trial. While Rowlet and Popplio have early advantages, they lack the late-game edge that Litten provides. The diverse Pokémon League and the limited number of Fire types in Alola make Litten a crucial choice.

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. Each starter is effective against three gyms, but Sobble's advantages in the Champion Cup semi-finals and finals, especially against Bede's Fairy types, Nessa’s Water types, and Raihan’s Dragon team, give it a slight lead. The balanced nature of the Galar region's challenges and Sobble's evolution into Inteleon, with its well-rounded stats, make it the top pick.

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 emerges as the clear winner in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, despite the game's emphasis on player freedom. The non-scaling gym levels and the strategic advantages of Fuecoco's evolution into Skeledirge, a Fire/Ghost type, make it ideal for dominating the Paldea region. Skeledirge is particularly effective against Tulip’s Psychic/Fairy gym, Grusha’s Ice gym, and the Team Star bases, offering immunity to Fighting types and strong matchups against Dark and Poison types.

While Quaxly and Sprigatito have their strengths, Skeledirge's versatility and dominance in the Elite Four and beyond make Fuecoco the top choice for aspiring Pokémon masters.