There are few Pokémon more identifiable than the starters that have appeared in every Pokémon game. Numerous fan-favorite Pokédex entries can be found among the Pokémon that serve as the first three starters and the last two.
While a trainer’s focus may shift to the more powerful Pokémon they encounter, later on, the starting Pokémon will always have a special place in their heart.
Generation 1: Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander
The original three-piece band. Among all Pokémon, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander are among the most well-known. It was a childhood dilemma for many of us to decide which starter to bring on our first trip outside of Kanto. As a result, these three are now staples of the Pokémon series, appearing in the vast majority of games.
Generation 1: Pikachu
It’s easy for players of later generations to overlook the fact that Pikachu was also a starter in the first. After the original Pokémon Red, Blue, and Green games came out, a new game called Pokémon Yellow was created, and Pikachu was the solely available starter.
Generation 2: Chikorita, Totodile, Cyndaquil
The second batch of Pokémon introduced as starters may not have the same level of success as the first, but they are beautifully realized nonetheless. Though many players favored Totodile and Cyndaquil because of their ultimate forms, the general consensus is that all of the starters are fun to use.
Generation 3: Treecko, Mudkip, Torchic
When Pokémon entered its third generation, things started to shift significantly. The visuals got a makeover, and the game’s Pokédex got a serious upgrade. Treecko, Mudkip, and Torchic, three of the best starters in Pokémon history, all hail from the Hoenn area.
Each of the three Pokémon reached a usable state before the end of its evolutionary process, making it an instant classic among trainers. As a result of their superior move sets and final type pairings, Torchic and Mudkip were deemed to be the superior starters.
Generation 4: Turtwig, Piplup, Chimchar
Pokemon veterans agree that Generation 4 and the Sinnoh area are among the franchise’s best. The area introduced a fantastic batch of new Pokémon, boasted an engaging backstory, featured a variety of climate zones, and featured an excellent trio of introductory Pokémon. All three of the appetizers are equally delicious, and their cuteness just adds to the difficulty of making a choice.
Generation 5: Snivy, Oshawott, Tepig
The quality of the starting Pokémon started to decline about this time. As a result of fans’ growing distaste for the Fire beginning, the previous two generations have also included the Fighting type in the starter.
That’s why some Pokemon enthusiasts were annoyed with Tepig and its evolved form, the Fire/Fighting type Emboar. Fans didn’t seem to appreciate the overall looks of the Gen 5 starters, thus they’re easier to forget than the generations before or after.
Generation 6: Chespin, Froakie, Fennekin
The most divisive name for a generation of starter Pokémon is Generation 6. Froakie is one of the most well-liked openers of all time, yet Fennekin is among the least well-liked. The responsibility lies not with Fennekin but with its last known evolutionary form, Delphox.
While there are Pokémon fanatics who will always defend Delphox, most trainers were unimpressed with another bipedal Firestarter. However, thanks to Froakie, Generation 6 is alive and well; after some training, it develops into Greninja, a Pokémon that is often considered a top-five starter. Unfortunately, Chespin lost a lot of ground to Froakie, and it never recovered.
Generation 7: Rowlet, Popplio, Litten
It’s interesting to observe how fans’ opinions on the three of Rowlet, Popplio, and Litten vary. To be honest, as Pokémon go, this trio isn’t exactly eye-catching.
We have Rowlet, who resembles an owl, Popplio, who resembles a seal, and Litten, who resembles a cat. Except for Rowlet’s bowtie, there isn’t a whole lot of originality. The Pokémon Sun and Moon series didn’t exactly break new ground with their beginning teams.
Generation 7: Eevee and Pikachu
The Pokémon Let’s Go games, set in a period of Generation 7 that has since been forgotten, were released before the eighth generation began with the release of Sword and Shield.
These games didn’t do particularly well with the public at large, but they did usher in a novel mode of gameplay. While Pikachu returned for a second round, Eevee debuted as a starter for the first time.
Generation 8: Grookey, Sobble, Scorbunny
The newest Pokémon main series game is to have a team of four starters in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, hence those Pokémon are known as Generation 8. To most spectators’ eyes, Grookey, Sobble, and Scorbunny in the starting lineup was a sight to behold.
There was originality in their construction. The creators took a conservative approach by not giving any of the starting Pokémon a secondary type in their ultimate evolved form. Though opinions on this choice vary, it’s hard to argue with the fact that Generation 8’s starters represented an improvement over previous generations.
Generation 8: Rowlet, Oshawott, Cyndaquil
Players have not seen much change from the standard gameplay cycle until Pokémon: Legends Arceus.
There was a new technique to capture and combat Pokémon, and players were given free reign to explore the area and undertake quests on their own. Many distinct generations were represented among the game’s starting lineup: Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet.
Generation 9: Sprigatito, Quaxly, Fuecoco
And now, at long last, the final generation of Pokémon and its respective starters. Earlier this year, Pokémon revealed the official names and artwork for the Scarlet and Violet starters. The public quickly became obsessed with the characters. Although, the Grass-type cat Pokémon Sprigatito won the hearts of the vast majority of people.
There are also admirers of the Fire-type dinosaur and the Water-type hat-wearing duck. There’s no way to know how people will react to Scarlet and Violet until they come out in November, so it’s hard to make any predictions about how well they’ll do.
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