Choosing a starter Pokemon is the first real decision in any mainline game, and it shapes your first several hours of play more than almost any other choice. With three recent generations now available, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pokemon Legends Arceus, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, there is more to compare than ever. This guide walks through each generation’s starter trio, how they evolve, and what playstyle each one suits best.
Pokemon Sword and Shield: Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble
The Galar region’s starters keep their single starting type all the way through their final evolutions, which makes them straightforward picks for newer players. Grookey evolves into Thwackey and then Rillaboom, a pure Grass type built around high physical Attack and Defense, making it a strong and simple physical attacker. Scorbunny evolves into Raboot and then Cinderace, a pure Fire type with high Attack and Speed that became one of the most popular competitive picks of its generation thanks to its powerful Pyro Ball attack and useful abilities. Sobble evolves into Drizzile and then Inteleon, a pure Water type that leans into high Special Attack and Speed, playing more like a fast special sweeper than a bulky tank. Each evolves at level 16 into its middle stage and level 35 into its final form, giving a clean, predictable growth curve.
Pokemon Legends Arceus: Hisuian twists on classic starters
Legends Arceus broke from the pattern of introducing three brand-new starters and instead offered Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott, familiar faces from earlier generations, each gaining a new regional evolution unique to the Hisui region. Rowlet evolves into Dartrix and then Hisuian Decidueye, which becomes a Grass and Fighting dual type rather than its original Grass and Ghost typing. Cyndaquil evolves into Quilava and then Hisuian Typhlosion, shifting to a Fire and Ghost dual type. Oshawott evolves into Dewott and then Hisuian Samurott, becoming a Water and Dark dual type. These Hisuian forms give each starter a distinct type identity from their mainline counterparts, which matters if you plan to use them competitively after transferring them forward through Pokemon HOME.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly
The Paldea starters break from tradition by picking up a secondary type at their final evolution rather than staying mono-type or following an expected pairing. Sprigatito evolves into Floragato and then Meowscarada, gaining a Dark secondary type alongside Grass, turning it into a fast, trick-oriented attacker rather than a pure nature-themed Pokemon. Fuecoco evolves into Crocalor and then Skeledirge at level 36, becoming a Fire and Ghost dual type with strong bulk and a unique Torch Song signature move that boosts Special Attack with repeated use. Quaxly evolves into Quaxwell at level 16 and then Quaquaval at level 36, becoming a Water and Fighting dual type built for offense with dance-themed moves. All three final evolutions revolve around a performer theme, from Meowscarada’s magician design to Skeledirge’s lounge singer look to Quaquaval’s dancer aesthetic.
Comparing playstyles across generations
If you prefer a straightforward, high-Attack physical wall-breaker, Rillaboom from Sword and Shield remains one of the simplest and most reliably strong picks, and it has a long track record in competitive doubles formats. If speed and special power appeal to you more, Inteleon and Meowscarada both lean into fast special attacking roles, though Meowscarada adds Dark-type utility that gives it access to different coverage moves. Players who want a starter with strong defensive bulk alongside offense often gravitate toward Skeledirge, since its typing and higher HP and Defense stats let it take hits while still hitting back hard with special Fire and Ghost attacks. Quaquaval sits in between, offering solid physical Attack and Speed with Fighting-type coverage that helps against Rock, Steel, and Dark types that otherwise trouble Water attackers.
Type coverage matters more than raw stats
New players often pick a starter purely by appearance, which is a fine approach for a first playthrough, but it is worth understanding how each final evolution’s typing interacts with major gym leaders, Titans, or story bosses in whichever game you are playing. In Scarlet and Violet specifically, a Grass and Dark Meowscarada struggles against Fairy-type gyms, while a Fire and Ghost Skeledirge is vulnerable to strong Ground or Rock hits but resists common Normal and Fighting attacks that give other starters trouble. Knowing these matchups ahead of time can save you from getting stuck on an early boss fight.
Transferring starters between games
Thanks to Pokemon HOME, starters caught or evolved in one game are not necessarily locked to that title forever. Hisuian starter evolutions from Legends Arceus, for example, can be moved into later games through HOME, letting players use a Hisuian Typhlosion or Hisuian Samurott outside of the game they originated in, subject to each title’s compatibility rules. This cross-game movement is part of the same infrastructure that connects Pokemon GO to the mainline series, and it is worth checking compatibility before assuming a Pokemon can move freely between two specific titles.
Picking the right starter for you
There is no objectively wrong choice among any generation’s starters, since all three options in each trio are fully capable of completing the main story and holding their own in most in-game battles. The decision really comes down to whether you want a simple, powerful physical attacker, a fast special sweeper, or a dual-type Pokemon with broader coverage and utility. If competitive viability matters to you beyond the campaign, it is worth checking a starter’s current standing in Ranked Battle or VGC formats before committing, since some generations’ starters have aged into stronger competitive roles than others. For a broader look at how starters fit into the wider mainline series, our complete Pokemon guide covers additional generations and mechanics worth exploring.