In everyPokémongame, fans are offered a choice before stepping into a new region. Do you pick the Grass, Fire, or Water Starter? This age-old question is never guaranteed; sometimes players will choose Grass, and the next game, Water. It all depends on the design, stats, and competitive value of each starting Pokémon, not to mention the region and gym progression.
While the only thing that matters is if the player is happy with their Starter, there are better choices than others. That is whythis list ranks the best startingPokémonof every region, based onfan opinion of design, stats, competitive value, and usage in their specific region. It may be a tough choice, and if fans aren’t sure which Starter they should go for, this list offers a collective opinion.
Charmander - Charmeleon - Charizard
AsRed and Bluewere the very first games in the franchise, the Kanto region was many fans' first opportunity to explore Pokémon. As classics, each starter is universally beloved, making this choice even more difficult than it already was. However, the answer is obvious: Charmander, the Fire-type, wasmost fans' go-to option when picking a companion. Evolving into Charmeleon and Charizard, having a fire dragon was too good for most players to pass up on.
Squirtle and Bulbasaur have lots of value and are a great choice, butCharmander is too popular not to be the best starting Pokémon in Kanto. Both fans and The Pokémon Company love the little guy, as they plaster him on everything, and he always gets new forms whenever a new gimmick comes out. While some fans may be tired of seeing Charizard everywhere, its design, universal appeal, and popularity make it the best Fire-type Starter.
Cyndaquil - Quilava - Typhlosion
Following Kanto is many fans' favorite region, Johto, asHeart Gold and Soul Silverare arguably the bestPokémongames. This widespread love for Johto makes this choice even more critical. Unfortunately, the choice for Starters is not as good as other games, but that doesn’t mean these are bad Pokémon, as Cyndaquil is an excellent choice to start an adventure with.
Cyndaquil evolves into Quilava and Typhlosion, and while they may not be the strongest starters, they make up for it with theiradorable and distinct designs. This evolutionary line is also a solid choice because it is effective against many Gym Leaders and the Elite Four, adding more value to its name. Cyndaquil was alsothe Fire Starter inPokémon Legends: Arceus, one ofthe few truly perfect Pokémon games, where Typhlosion received the cool Ghost typing.
Mudkip - Marshtomp - Swampert
While other regions have a definitive choice, it isn’t so easy in Hoenn, as Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip are all phenomenal starters who evolve into equally incredible Pokémon. Despite each being among the best Starters of their respective type, Mudkip barely beats the others out to become the symbol ofRuby and Sapphire.
Mudkip earns a lot of points for beingthe cutest starter Pokémon, as no one can resist the adorable little mudskipper. Design aside, it evolves into the competitively viable Marshtomp and Swampert. It hasan ideal typing that resists many Pokémon, and its defensive stats make it a resistant tank. Swampert’s Mega Evolution is even more powerful, creating a nearly perfect water type with an outstanding design, fan love, and statistical dominance.
Turtwig - Grotle - Torterra
Like Hoenn, Sinnoh has three remarkable Starters, meaning fans can’t go wrong with the competitively strong Chimchar, the adorable Piplup, or tanky Turtwig. Even though many players believe Chimar, Monferno, and Infernape to be the best starter evolutionary line inDiamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Turtwig’s line gets the nod on this list. Evolving into Grotle and then Torterra,this memorable tank is an excellent companion.
Competitively, Torterra has strengths and weaknesses. Its bulky build lends it some of thebest defensive stats andalso boasts remarkable attack. However, its typing and speed restrict it from being the best option, even though it is pretty good in a playthrough. Moreover, Torterra gets extra points for its glorious design and the fact that it had a significant role in the anime alongside Ash. All in all, Torterra is one of thebest grass-type starters inPokémon.
Snivy - Servine - Serperior
Unlike the previous two regions, Unova inBlack and Whitedoesn’t offer the best selection of Starter Pokémon, andSnivy kind of wins just by process of elimination. Oshawott is cute, but fans hate Samurott’s design, and Emboar is the third Fire/Fighting type in a row, which is why many fans didn’t choose either. That only leaves Snivy, which evolves into Servine and Serperior.
Serperior may not have a great time in the game due to having many losing matchups, but the other two Starters' negative points are larger factors that played into fans' decisions. This line has a solid design, but it became the best Unova Starter due to its personality in the anime, making ita distinct and cherished character. Not only that, but Serperior presents a unique competitive value that sets it apart from other starting Pokémon.
Froakie - Frogadier - Greninja
After witnessing Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie, fans thought they were in store for another game of lackluster Starters inX and Y. While Chesnaught and Delphox are forgettable, Greninja saved Kalos by becoming one of the greatest starter Pokémon of all time. This water frog evolves from Froakie into Frogadier and then Greninja, becominga ninja frog that has stolen everyone’s hearts.
Greninja is the clear choice as the best Starter in Kalos, and arguably the easiest answer among all the regions. Greninja’s ninja design is badass, using the tongue as a scarf completes the look and makes it an all-timePokémoncreation. However, it is alsoa competitive beast with unmatched speed that hits hard. Not to mention its solid typing, which allows Greninja to blast through trainers in Kalos. It is also a key figure in the anime, has received a unique form, and appears as a fighter inSuper Smash Bros., further solidifying its iconic legacy by beingthe best starting water-type inPokémon.
Popplio - Brionne - Primarina
At first glance, fans may not believe Alola has that good of a selection, but just like theSun and Moongames, if fans look a bit deeper, they will see its value. Litten evolves into a notable competitive Pokémon, Incineroar, which is also heavily marketed. Rowlet and Decidueye are fan-favorites who also appear inPokémon Legends: Arceus. However, the unsuspecting Popplio takes this round as the best Alolan starter, which may surprise fans who would’ve assumed otherwise.
Popplio evolves into Brionne and then Primarina, and while they don’t have the popularity or as good of a design, it earns this spot because of its typing and role in the game.Water-Fairy is an overpowered typing, especially in Alola, making Primarina a competitively powerful Pokémon. This unique typing also gives it a notable role in the game, unlike the other starters. This distinct presence and solid design make Popplio an underrated starter who deserves more love despite being something ofa hated Pokémon.
Grookey - Thwackey - Rillaboom
Despite being the first games on a home console with the Nintendo Switch,Sword and Shieldare relatively unremarkable and forgettable. The starter trio is equally as underwhelming. Scorbunny is decent, but nothing special. Sobble has a great design, but evolves into the loathed Inteleon.Grookey is simply the lesser of the three evils, and Thwackey and Rillaboom are some decent evolutions.
Grookey itself has an outstanding design, simple yet effective. Sporting a fun personality and its little stick, it became a beloved starter until its final evolution changed the cute design into a gorilla with long green hair. Still, Rillaboom isn’t a bad starter. Its design is decent, but its biggest strength is itsvast moveset and impressive stats, making it a great competitive Pokémon. Grookey’s design, paired with Rillaboom’s stats, easily makes it the best evolutionary starter line in Galar.
Fuecoco - Crocalor - Skeledirge
AsPokémonGeneration 10 looms closer, fans shouldn’t forget about the most recent region, Paldea, as fans set out in the Spanish and Portuguese-inspiredScarlet and Violetgames. These games had a solid selection of Starters, and players wouldn’t go wrong if they chose Sprigatito or Quaxly. But this time, Fuecoco steals the spotlight with its fiery hot singing abilities when it evolves into Crocalor and Skeledirge.
Some players might not like this ranking because Skeledirge isn’t the most competitively viable, but it more than makes up for that due to its design and personality. Its design is easily the best in the generation, but its role in the anime is what captured everyone’s heart.Fuecoco is a lovable dork with a goofy personality, making it a cherished companion who adds a lot of entertainment to the anime and games.
