Every initial Pokémon
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This is our beginning Pokémon guide. In it, we examine every starter Pokémon in each generation and provide some context for why they would be a good choice or not.
Pokémon
Gen 1 starters
Since Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—or, in the case of Pokémon Yellow, Pikachu—are your first friends, it's safe to assume that trainers all over the globe have a particular place in their hearts for the original generation of starting Pokémon. An extra plus is that they're well-designed and provide the ideal water, fire, and grass'mon. Whoever you choose, you are dealing with a formidable beast.
Bulbasaur
Bulbasaur, the first-ever grass Pokémon starter and top Pokémon in the Pokédex, is perhaps the least well-liked of the three Kanto'mon, with Charmander and its third-stage evolution, Charizard, receiving a lot of support from fans. Even though I never select Bulbasaur when I go back to the original Pokémon Yellow, Red, and Blue, I can't help but believe that Venasaur, Bulbasaur's stage three evolution, is one of the greatest grass-types from the first generation. Against the likes of Vileplume, Exeggutor, and Victreebell, it holds its own.
Charmander
Charmander, who ranks fourth in the Pokédex, is my first choice whenever I visit Kanto. Well, most of the time. Occasionally, however, when I need a change of pace, I've been known to embrace Squirtle. There's a solid reason Charmander and, in the end, Charizard are such an integral part of my upbringing, carrying with them a wave of priceless 90s and early 2000s nostalgia wherever they go. You know, even though Charizard has been around for over 30 years, he is still one of the greatest fire Pokémon, and Charmander is not the only lovely creature in this world; Charmeleon is as endearing in a stroppy adolescent sense.
I still can't get over the 11th Pokémon episode, when Ash finds his first Charmander—a sad little guy whose tail was on the verge of being extinct—when he first discovers it. Oh, the thought of that makes my heart ache.
Squirtle
Alright, everyone who loves Pokémon is aware of the Squirtle team. The leader of that motley crew of Squirtles, who joins Ash, is the reason I fell in love with the water Pokémon. Upon observing Wartortle and Blastoise, I come to the conclusion that this evolutionary line is among the greatest water-types in Kanto, if not the best in the whole series. Blastoise, however, faces competition from Gyarados, Lapras, and Poliwrath in generation one. All three of those Pokémon are quite strong, particularly Gyarados. Nevertheless, Squirtle, the seventh Pokémon in the Pokédex, is a great choice for your very first Pokémon since it exudes charm and badassness.
Similar to Charmander, this cherished creature is featured in a highly regarded Pokéman episode. Oh, the Squirtle Squad, may you occupy my thoughts rent-free for eternity.
Gen 2 starter Pokémon
Selecting a starter from the second generation is as challenging as choosing from the gen 1 Pokémon. But unlike in Kanto, I believe there are truly just two options here, and one of the animals isn't worthy of being included in the Johto Pokédex.
Totodile
Observe this tiny Pokémon crocodile. Why didn't you choose him for your squad? Totodile, ranked 158 in the Pokédex, has excellent starting stats when you first begin your adventure in Johto, and its fierce evolution line further strengthens the case for you to take it into consideration as a potential water starter in generation two. Johto, however, is teeming with excellent water Pokémon; some are returning from Kanto (Gyarados, Lapras, and Starmie, to mention a few), while others are making their first appearances in this generation, such as Kingdra and Slowking, both of which are more than capable of holding the water-type position on your team. You win if you go with Totodile, but you may still get a good swimmer later if you go for an other beginning.
Accutane
How content does the Pokédex entry 155 seem to be? Your heart melts at the first glance. To be honest, my go-to second-generation starter is always Cyndaquil; in fact, I made it my Pokémon Legends: Arceus beginning Pokémon. Though its stage three evolution, Typhlosion, may win the cutest'mon ever contest, it's still one of the greatest fire-types in Johto. Give this man a try if you play Gold, Silver, or Crystal; you won't be sorry.
ChikoritaTikka Chicken. When someone says the name of this Pokémon, that's all I hear. I'll just state that I don't like everything. If I had to deal with a beginning Pokémon, I'd sooner pass on accepting it than enjoy the grass-type that's joining you in Johto. Why is that leaf, exactly? I don't think this is a very nice fashion statement, Chikorita, and it seems like your whole evolutionary line had a wardrobe malfunction. Additionally, you may purchase a Victreebell, Bellossm, Vileplume, or Venasaur. In all honesty, Johto has a decent number of grass varieties; the 152 Pokédex entry is not necessary.
Gen 3 starter Pokémon
When it comes to the starting Pokémon, I like the third generation selection. What appeals to me about their design is how straightforward it is. Treeko, Mudkip, Torchic, and their evolutions all have fantastic looks.
Torchic
All right, we're huge fans of Torchic at SmartRead, and it seems to be our go-to choice everytime one of us visits Hoenn. Torchic is not only adorable, but it can also be a very effective fire starter in the early game, taking out most of the'mon you encounter. It then evolves into Combsuken, who in turn becomes Blaziken, a strong fire-type that can also be defeated by using our fighting Pokémon weakness advice. Blaziken is a dual-purpose Pokémon. Sometimes you have to consider a starter's potential evolutions, particularly if they have a secondary type that might help you win fights.
Treecko
I'll admit that I tend to forget about Treecko. I'm simply not much of a grass-type lady, but I have nothing against this tiny peep. Treeko can perform well, and I have to say that it shames me for overlooking Treecko since its stage three evolution, Sceptile, is a lovely grass Pokémon that is deserving of your attention. I would appreciate it if someone could send me Grovyle or Sceptile instead of Treeko the next time I dive into Ruby or Sapphire.
Mudkip
Whenever I go to the Hoenn area, I have to make the difficult decision between Torchic and Mudkip. Since Mudkip ultimately evolves into Swampert, a water and ground Pokémon that provides for a novel mix, I try to divide my beginning Pokémon choices rather equally for this generation. Being a dual-type, it can be quite troublesome, which makes selecting Mudkip early in the game well worth the investment. Look at that face, too. Mudkip seems unfazed, and I need that vitality.
Pokémon
Gen 4 starter
When it comes to the beginning Pokémon, I must admit that the first few generations really hit it out of the park. Though one does stick out from the others, the Gen 4 entrants are all similar.
Piplup
In Diamond and Pearl, Piplup is the first Pokémon I usually choose. Take a look at this snarky monster as it enters the battlefield. It has a charming look and exudes the calm, self-assured personality with a little of haughtiness that comes with being a royal animal. Indeed, regal. Empoleon, its third evolution, is a force of nature that can be used as both a water and a steel Pokémon (read our article on steel Pokémon weakness to give yourself any chance against it). This gives Empoleon an advantage in combat. Its name is a mix of Emperor and Napoleon, and it wears a trident on its head. Let's just say that it's one of the finest Pokémon bird.
Chimchar
I am ready to embrace this bundle of energy that is the monkey Pokémon. If you're looking for a lively and entertaining companion, Chimchar is a good option. It cheers you up when you're depressed and brings tears of delight to your eyes and lips. Furthermore, Infernape, the third evolution of the character, is a fierce fighter who can match Mike Tyson for punches, much like Torchic and Blaziken. Chimchar is also quite nimble, so if you ignore its adorableness and happiness, you have a decent chance of using this beginning Pokémon to launch an offensive.
Turtwig
Turtwig has a certain appeal that lets me understand why some people chose it as their starting Pokémon in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, even if I'm not a fan of grass-types. Furthermore, the third iteration of the species, Torterra, has a formidable design capable of intimidating your adversaries. It also has a strong assault repertoire since it is a hybrid of the grass-ground kind. Take a look at that beast—its defensive number substantiates its status as an ultimate tank, even yet its offensive ability is nothing to sneeze at.
Gen 5 starter Pokémon
I think the Black and White starters are still rather good, even if some people may consider the gen 5 beginning Pokémon to be a minor step down in quality. To be exact, this is the first of two generations in which I believe the grass-type to be the greatest early-game choice.
Snivy
Snivy managed to entice me to choose it many times, something that even Bulbasaur couldn't do in five generations. Yes, in my opinion, Snivy is the finest Pokémon to learn when starting a game in Black and White. I find Tepig's design boring, and Oshwatt seems a little too dependent. I like the 'huh, yeah, I know I'm superior' feeling that Snivy exudes. That, along with the whole evolution line, exudes a royal vibe, and Serperior has one of the most exquisite designs of the entire series so far—superior, in fact. The status three monster does depend somewhat on its speed stat, but most of the time, being able to attack early wins the war.
Tepig
It is a swine. Look, Tepig is too basic, even if I like simple designs. It's somewhat unexpected that I don't like Tepig since I like the fire-type so much, along with dark Pokémon, ghost Pokémon, and psychic Pokémon. Furthermore, it adheres to the pattern of a fire starter's third stage evolving into a fighting type, and guess what? Compared to Emboar, Blaziken and Infernape are much more adept at it. At the very least, the stage three'mon seems more intriguing than Tepig. It has a rather lucha libre atmosphere, which is well supported by its greater attack stat.
Oshawott
I find it too dependent. Though I have sometimes selected Oshawott as my starting in the Black and White line of games, I can't say that I feel the same way about it as I do about Snivy. You're a good water Pokémon, Oshawott, friend. Please believe in yourself. At the conclusion, you transform into Samurott, a fierce aquatic type who is maybe the greatest swimmer of generation five. Samurott has an excellent design that is almost as distinctive as Servine's, but it lacks the 'I'm better than you and I know it' vibe.
Pokémon
Gen 6 starters
Alright, so this is the first generation in which I rate the starting Pokémon as at most decent. I'm going to examine these guys in the following order: nice, awful, and ugly.