Choosing a starter in Pokémon is a crucial component to being a Pokémon master! But which starter is the worst and which one is the best to choose when beginning a Pokémon journey? What starter will help a player out throughout their entire adventure as well as show people up competitively? And what starter will make players shake their heads in frustration? There are plenty of capable starters in just about every generation. Whether it’s a Water, Fire, or Grass type, a person’s playstyle helps determine what starter is the most useful for them.
Let’s look at Pokémon that are capable of the most usage, whether battling the Elite Four or a real-life Pokémon pro. The best Pokémon have amazing move sets and are among the best Pokémon in their respective generations while the worst’s cuteness can’t save them from having poor base stats and limited move lists. Just because a Pokémon is low on the list doesn’t mean it’s bad—it just can’t compare to the other starters on this list when it comes to their stats, move sets, and other important qualities involved in helping players become Pokémon masters.
Updated on October 14th, 2021 by George Chrysostomou: The debate continues surrounding the best starter Pokémon and with the release of more games, there are further options to choose from. Each of these creatures offers up something unique for the player to take advantage of on an adventure, but ultimately there are no wrong choices; it's all about how the player wants to experience the title.
Eevee
Eevee acts as a starter in Let's Go Eevee, a spin-off of the Pokémon Go title. The character is certainly adorable but there's also a lot of flaws to having an Eevee as a starter. Their based stats are not very impressive in comparison to the other choices usually on other.
An Eevee has the benefit of evolving into any type that the player could want, but this isn't always completely controllable and it can sometimes be hard to get the choice the player actually wants. Eevee is all about potential but as a starter, it's lacking a little.
Chikorita
This isn’t really a surprise. Chikorita is at the bottom of most lists ranking starter Pokémon. They may start out cute, but that really can’t make up for a poor move list and mediocre stats that don’t really improve when they evolve into a Bayleef and finally Meganium (which is a lot less “Mega” than it sounds).
This Grass type stand out in the worst ways possible. It stays as a purely Grass Pokémon, unlike Bulbasaur, who has Grass and Poison. At least it doesn’t get any extra weaknesses, but it also doesn’t get a lot of types to be particularly strong against. It can learn Reflect and Light Screen to help it stand up against its weaknesses, but the gyms in the Johto region still seem to have it out for Chikorita. It never really gets a chance to shine in the early game. Also, its moves are mostly ive in nature, so if a heavy hitter is desired, definitely don’t go with this ittedly adorable ive player who still gets some love despite its flaws.
Pikachu
Despite being the mascot for Pokémon and a pivotal part of Ash Ketchum’s team, Pikachu is one of the worst starters considering the only game he was a starter in: Pokémon Yellow. Unlike every other starter, the player is forced to choose Pikachu and he will never evolve. Not even if he's given the Thunder Stone (unless some trading is done).
As a Pikachu, his stats really aren’t all that. Sure, he’s the only electric type on this list, but that just makes the first gym in Pokémon Yellow even harder. Ash wouldn’t have even won with Pikachu if not for a sprinkler going off in the show. Pikachu also doesn’t learn his great Iron Tail move until later generations. Pikachu really isn’t a worthwhile starter.
Oshawott
Another cutie, Oshawott is definitely the worst of the Water starters. Like Chikorita, they stick to one type throughout even when evolving. The moves it can learn are limited to Water and normal type moves that leave trainers with a lot to be desired. Except maybe Razor Shell.
Its base stats have OK attack and special attack, but everything else is pretty well-balanced and fails to stand out. Its combined base stats when it evolves from a Dewott into a Samurott are also the lowest of any Water starter. The other starters, Snivy and Tepig, are better choices for the player. Especially since players can easily get some pretty good Water types, like Palpitoad and its evolved form Seismitoad. If players really want that Razor Blade, they can hunt down a Shellder.
Totodile
Another pure Water type, Totodile starts out adorable and evolves into Croconaw and then the ferocious-looking Feraligatr. Unfortunately, this Pokémon known for biting really doesn’t have much bite to it. Totodile’s physical damage is its best stat, yet its best Water moves are special attacks. And sadly, its special attack stat was rather mediocre.
Even though Totodile has a more varied move set, this variety isn’t very helpful. Just like how his special Water attacks are depowered thanks to its average special attack stat, so are the dark type attacks this Pokémon learns, like Bite (though in Sun it did become a physical attack). And the only ice attacks it can learn must be taught and are also hindered by being special ranged attacks. Then there are the handful of moves it learns like scary face and screech, which can be hard to use effectively. So why have Totodile as a Water type when there's Quagsire or Poliwrath instead?
Piplup
While Dawn from Diamond & Pearl may be able to utilize her Piplup well in contests, they’re a bit harder to love as a battler. Piplup’s evolved forms Prinplup and Empoleon do learn decent Water type moves like Whirlpool and Hydro Pump, but its stats don’t really help these moves stand out.
The final evolution of this Pokémon, Empoleon, is a Water and Steel type, which can be a bit tricky to use with great effect. However, this starter's opponents are likely to get their hits in first, since Piplup’s stats for every evolution are the lowest in speed. Their special attack and defense are the highest stats they have, which is problematic if looking for a physical Steel powerhouse.
Snivy
As a Grass type, Snivy does do a lot with its Grass move set. Water and Ground Pokémon better watch out for its leaf storm and Giga Drain. Unfortunately, most other types can take down Snivy and its other evolutions, Servine and Serperior, pretty easily. This graceful Grass type definitely can’t take the heat.
Like Chikorita, Snivy isn’t very useful in a lot of the gyms that players go up against in the game. However, it’s much better speed-wise than Chikorita and its final evolved form Serperior would leave Meganium in the dust. But the rest of its stats are pretty balanced… and lackluster. Players might as well use Lilligant if looking for an effective Grass type. Or maybe the adorable and deadly Whimsicott or the prickly Ferrothorn. Just maybe not Snivy…
Chespin
Chespin is the worst option of Generation six, an unfortunate fate that has befallen a few of the Grass starters on this list. However, Chespin can become more useful as it evolves from Quilladin into Chesnaught, a Grass and Fighting type. This Pokémon has a great physical attack stat, so the physical moves it learns can certainly pack a punch. However, with more types comes more weaknesses than if Chespin were just a plain Grass type Pokémon.
Even worse, because of how slow Chesnaughts can be, it’s likely that a type with an advantage over them is also going to get the first hit. Especially if they’re using special attacks, since it is Chesnaught’s physical defense that excels - not its special defense. Even though this Pokémon can hit hard, it will have difficulty hitting anything if it has fainted.
Popplio
The worst of the latest generation of Pokémon, Popplio is a Water Pokémon who does have the advantage and disadvantage of evolving from Brionne to Primarina, becoming a Water and fairy type. It also has pretty decent special attack and special defense stats. Unfortunately, its attack and defense are just decent and it is a slow-moving Pokémon that is more likely to be taking the damage rather than doling it out.
For a Pokémon that starts out as a pure Water type, it'd be logical to think Popplio would have better Water moves. But even fully evolved, the only decent Water moves it learns are Aqua Jet (for the early game) and Hydro Pump (for the later game). They make up for it a little bit with a great fairy type move - moonblast - but really, the move list leaves a lot to be desired.
Treecko
Treecko may be cool in the TV show, but between Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip, few were really fighting to get a Treecko over the other two starters. The only one of the three starters to stay one type, Treecko is a pure Grass Pokémon, even when it evolves into Grovyle and then Sceptile. The best Grass move they learn in their premiere appearance is leaf blade, but they don’t learn any other Grass type moves past that.
They don’t have really great special attack and speed, but they learn a lot of physical type moves that really don’t pair as well with his physical strength. Even worse? Their defense is really low, so a Fire Pokémon like Torchic could easily take down a Treecko.
