Every Pokémon starter, ranked

After nine mainline coevals of games , thefull list of Pokémonhas grown to include over 1,000 unequaled behemoth to catch , tame , and struggle . Each game follows roughly the same structure of building your squad to become the regional champion , but it all begins with choosing your starter . Even though the Legendary Pokémon lean to be the post-horse child of each newPokémon game , we finger it is the starters that define each generation . This is your first partner who will be with you through the entire risky venture and lay out the whole step for the entire plot . We ’ve played each accounting entry enough times to be a new professor so we ’re using our noesis ( and some personal druthers ) to rank the starter Pokémon from tough to best .

Note : We are only including starters from mainline Pokémon titles and not anyPokémon spinoff games .

10. Tepig

Lowest on our ranking is the cute but somewhat boring Tepig . This is your fervor - eccentric option in Gen 5 and is the only one of the three that is viable for nearly every major encounter in the game . This is thanks to its final form adding the combat - case , giving it an edge once you get to the Elite Four . In terms of design , Tepig is always a bit goofy in innovation across its phylogeny . Emboar is the cool form , but not a design that forget a lasting impression .

9. Sobble

Gen 8 , at least in our thought , is one of the weakest in terms of starter Pokémon . All three are a bit too similar front to feel distinguishable , but they are also nearly equal in terms of viability . While that create this game more even in term of difficultness no matter which one you pick , it gazump us of having a distinct experience depending on our choice . Sobble at least does well against the previous - biz gyms , and its final evolution does have a unique flavor to it . We also jazz its Pokédex entry inSwordthat tell us its tears “ pack the chemical substance punch of 100 onions . ”

8. Fuecoco

frankly , we did n’t think we ’d like Fuecoco before startingScarletandViolet . It looked like a knock - off Totodile , only as a Fire - character . blueprint - wise , that is somewhat dependable , but its index and evolutions totally riffle our opinion . And we ’re not talking about the abomination that is its middle form , Crocalor . Once you germinate into Skeledrige , you ’re in line . This is the first appetiser to germinate into a Fire and touch - type , making it uniquely effective . Another fun fact is that this is the first Fire - eccentric entrant to stay on all foursome in its net development .

7. Totodile

After the phenomenon that was the first generation of Pokémon , Gen 2 ’s starters could never have the same wallop as the OG 3 . That pronounce , Totodile felt conversant enough to Squirtle without being a vociferous copy . It looks a moment too much like just a gloomy crocodile , but nails that balance of looking cute and grievous . Of the Gen 2 starters , the edge Totodile has is that it evolves at an earlier tier than any other . Sadly , its organic evolution are rather minimum in terms of how much its design changes , but that could be a irrefutable depending on your taste .

6. Chimchar

We include that , at first , Chimchar front like Charmander but as a monkey . That ’s a comely take , and even applies to the second phylogeny a bit , but Infernape is entirely unparalleled and awesome . This form is clearly inspired by Son Wukong and feels like a proper final sort . In terms of utility , Chimchar has a strange reward over the others in Gen 4 because this entry has the few fresh Fire - types lend to the mix compare to Water and Grass , provide it to instantly cover a type you might have trouble filling by and by on .

5. Cyndaquil

Who did n’t pick Cyndaquil on their first playthrough of Gen 2 ? While we came to appreciate Chikorita and Totodile , Cyndaquil was instantly appealing thanks to its blaze away spine . As it turn out , blast - types were also kind of overpower for this game ’s gyms and Elite Four struggle . It would rank much high if it had more originative evolutions . Typhlosion is fine , but really is just a big Cyndaquil on two leg .

4. Mudkip

Did we put Mudkip this high just because of the meme ? Not entirely , but we ca n’t say it did n’t act a factor . This dopey small Water - type from Gen 3 did become a flake of a joke , but it is quite cute . After fully evolving into Swampert , it does start to look a circle cooler with more fins and highlights in its colouring material . But , because it becomes a Water and Ground - character after its first evolution , Mudkip might terminate up being the objectively best starter for this game .

3. Charmander

If it was n’t for Pikachu , Charmander , or rather Charizard , would probably be the most recognizable Pokémon in the entire franchise . Besides Charmeleon being a chip of an awkward adolescent , every evolution is exactly what we want from a fledgling . It begins unassuming , a little cute , but with an edge , and eventually becomes a cool and bring down force . Sure , Charizard is basically just a dragon , but who does n’t care dragons ?

2. Froakie

Froakie really buries the lede in Gen 6 . We acknowledge to pass on this unassuming little toad in favor of Fennekin , but instantly restarted once we saw Greninja . Of all the Pokémon starters , this is the most uttermost radiance - up from first to final form in the series . Greninja ’s design alone made it skyrocket to the top of most masses ’s favourite Pokémon lists , and was even pop enough to make it intoSuper Smash Bros. It might not be the most optimum freshman for this game ’s gym and Elite Four , but Greninja is so cool we ’re unforced to handicap ourselves a little moment .

1. Bulbasaur

Call us coloured if you want , but Bulbasaur is the unsung hero of not just the Gen 1 starters , but all Pokémon starters . For one , Bulbasaur is easily the good selection in term of power over Charmander and Squirtle to crush the early gym leaders and half of the Elite Four penis . Once it germinate , it also adds in the Poison - type , giving it more utility . Ivysaur and Venusaur find like literal evolutions of Bulbasaur as opposed to completely unlike tool that just find to be the same colour , which we appreciate .

The Pokédex entry for Tepig.