In the huge world of Pokรฉmon, there are hundreds of Pokรฉmon for you to catch, however, all Pokรฉmon starters have a special place in your heart as they go on a great adventure with you, their trainer.
Here is a list of all starter Pokรฉmon by generation. This list covers the core series and side games as well. We also created a full list of all Legendary Pokรฉmon by Generation for you to check out.
Bulbasaur / Charmander / Squirtle
Pokรฉmon Red, Green, Blue, FireRed, and LeafGreen
Generation 1
The most iconic of all pokรฉmon starters are these 3. Found in the original Pokรฉmon Red, Blue, and Green are Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle.
This always seemed like the most important decision of your life, who would you pick? Grass, Fire, or Water-type? Regardless of which character you chose, I’m sure you enjoyed roaming Kanto with your new pokemon starter.
Pokรฉmon Red was also the first game to be played on Twitch by as many as 1.1 million players at the same time (yes, they all played the game together using commands on Twitch.tv).
Pikachu
Pokรฉmon Yellow
Generation 1
Pokรฉmon Yellow took you on an adventure where you could only really pick one pokรฉmon starter… It was Pikachu! The most iconic Pokรฉmon of all time. Even your mom will know who this electric mouse is.
Just looking at the art itself from 1998, you can see how much Pikachu has changed over time from looking like a real feisty electric mouse to its current more round cute looking rabbit/mouse creature.
You can relive the adventure of Pokรฉmon Yellow on the newer Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu / Eevee, though these are not part of the core series.
Chikorita / Cyndaquil / Totodile
Pokรฉmon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver
Generation 2
Welcome to Generation 2. Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile were the first new starters to the 100 new additional Pokรฉmon that came along with Pokรฉmon Generation 2.
Many new features were introduced with Pokรฉmon Gold and Silver, including a whole new region of Johto to explore.
Treecko / Torchic / Mudkip
Pokรฉmon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire
Generation 3
Pokรฉmon Ruby and Sapphire brought the series to Generation 3, adding 135 new Pokรฉmon and 3 new starters to choose from.
The Pokemon world really started to get big here, adding yet again a new region to the world. The region of Hoenn and a bunch of new features never seen before in a Pokemon game.
Turtwig / Chimchar / Piplup
Pokรฉmon Diamond and Pearl, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Generation 4
Of all Pokรฉmon starters, these 3 have to be my personal least favorite. The designs seemed to change drastically and Pokรฉmon seemed to be designed to be less unique.
Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup brought the series to Generation 4, adding 107 additional Pokรฉmon to the Pokรฉdex and adding the new region of Sinnoh for you to explore.
Pokรฉmon Diamond and Pearl were also the first of the main series to be released on the Nintendo DS.
The enhanced remakes Pokรฉmon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are out now on the Nintendo switch.
Snivy / Tepig / Oshawott
Pokรฉmon Black and White
Generation 5
Pokรฉmon Black and White is the first generation of Pokรฉmon games to open up a ‘National Pokรฉdex’ after completing the main story.
There were so many great additions to Pokรฉmon Black and White. Seasons were finally a thing, and there is the new region of Unova to explore.
Of all Pokรฉmon starters before these, this would be the first time I personally would choose the grass Pokemon Snivy as my starter (I usually pick the water type as my starter).
Chespin / Fennekin / Froakie
Pokรฉmon X and Y
Generation 6
Generation 6 explores the region of Kalos and Hoenn. Choose between one of 3 interesting starter Pokรฉmon. Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie each offer something unique.
X and Y are often referred to as Black and White 2 as it takes place 2 years after the original Black and White games.
Rowlet / Litten / Popplio
Pokรฉmon Sun and Moon
Generation 7
Perhaps one of the most ‘common’ looking Pokรฉmon starters of all time. Rowlet, which looks like a normal owl, Litten, which looks like a cat, and Popplio, which looks like a seal will be your eternal partners in Sun and Moon as you explore the region of Alola.
There are some other boring-looking catchables which include Mudbray, which looks like a donkey, and Toucannon, which you can guess looks exactly like a Toucan.
Grookey / Scorbunny / Sobble
Pokรฉmon Sword and Shield
Generation 8
Sword and Shield brought in many changes, and these starters are the icons of the latest Pokรฉmon game in the main series.
Released on the Nintendo Switch in 2019, Sword and Shield are the first games since Generation 2 that don’t include any dual typed starters.
Rowlet / Cyndaquil / Oshawott
Pokรฉmon Legends: Arceus
Generation 8
Legends Arceus is one of the most entertaining and unique Pokรฉmon games we have seen in some time. Not only are the battle and capturing mechanics a strict departure from mainline games, but many new regional forms were introduced!
The starters of Legends Arceus are Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott; each of which evolves into a different Hisuian variant!
Sprigatito / Fuecoco / Quaxly
Pokรฉmon Scarlet and Violet
Generation 9
Legends Arceus is one of the most entertaining and unique Pokรฉmon games we have seen. Not only are the battle and capturing mechanics a strict departure from mainline games, but many new regional forms were introduced!
The starters of Legends Arceus are Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott; each of which evolves into a different Hisuian variant!
Side Games
That does it for the nine Generations of mainline Pokรฉmon games. However, with Pokรฉmon being such a popular franchise, there are many spinoff games out there!
In most of these spinoff games, the player will choose one or several starter Pokรฉmon to join them on their adventure.
So, let’s take a look at the starter Pokรฉmon of each spinoff game!
Pikachu / Eevee
Pokรฉmon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee
Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee are Generation One remakes (yes, againโฆ) for the Nintendo Switch.
Depending on which game you purchase, either Pikachu will return as a Starter Pokรฉmon, similar to his appearance in Pokรฉmon Yellow, or Eevee can be chosen as your partner.
Pokรฉmon Mystery Dungeon
Pokรฉmon Mystery Dungeon Blue and Red Rescue Team / DX / Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky / Gates to Infinity / Super Mystery Dungeon / Blazing, Stormy, and Light Adventure Squad
We’ll have to take a departure from our original formatting for this entry! Pokรฉmon Mystery Dungeon is the most popular Pokรฉmon spinoff franchise with approximately ten games! Despite half of these titles being parallel versions of the same game, there is certainly a lot to love with this franchise as, aside from Pokkรฉn, this is the only time we can play as a Pokรฉmon!
In most Mystery Dungeon games, you will be transformed into a Pokรฉmon based on your answers to a questionnaire. You will then have the option of choosing a partner Pokรฉmon. The available choices of starter and partner Pokรฉmon vary between games so check out the information below for clarification!
Red and Blue Rescue Team and Rescue Team DX
- Bulbasaur
- Charmander
- Squirtle
- Pikachu
- Meowth*
- Psyduck*
- Machop*
- Cubone*
- Eevee*
- Chikorita
- Cyndaquil
- Totodile
- Treecko
- Mudkip
- Torchic
- Skitty
* Not available as a partner in Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team.
Explorers of Time and Darkness
- Bulbasaur
- Charmander
- Squirtle
- Pikachu
- Meowth*
- Chikorita
- Cyndaquil
- Totodile
- Treecko
- Torchic
- Mudkip
- Skitty*
- Turtwig
- Chimchar
- Piplup
- Munchlax*
* Not available as a partner.
Explorers of Sky
- Bulbasaur
- Charmander
- Squirtle
- Pikachu
- Vulpix
- Eevee
- Chikorita
- Cyndaquil
- Totodile
- Phanpy
- Treecko
- Torchic
- Mudkip
- Skitty
- Turtwig
- Chimchar
- Piplup
- Shinx
- Riolu
Gates to infinity
- Pikachu
- Snivy
- Tepig
- Oshawott
- Axew
Super Mystery Dungeon
- Bulbasaur
- Charmander
- Squirtle
- Pikachu
- Chikorita
- Cyndaquil
- Totodile
- Treecko
- Torchic
- Mudkip
- Turtwig
- Chimchar
- Piplup
- Riolu
- Snivy
- Tepig
- Oshawott
- Chespin
- Fennekin
- Froakie
Blazing Adventure Squad
- Charmander
- Vulpix
- Growlithe
- Eevee
- Cyndaquil
- Teddiursa
- Torchic
- Buneary
- Chimchar
Stormy Adventure Squad
- Squirtle
- Totodile
- Wooper
- Phanpy
- Mudkip
- Azurill
- Wynaut
- Piplup
- Riolu
Light Adventure Squad
- Pikachu
- Meowth
- Psyduck
- Pichu
- Togepi
- Mareep
- Elekid
- Shinx
- Pachirisu
Eevee / Umbreon / Espeon
Pokรฉmon Colosseum / Pokรฉmon XD: Gale of Darkness
When it comes to underrated classics, none are more deserving of the title than the Gamecube Pokรฉmon spinoffs! If you have ever wanted to play as Team Rocket, this is perhaps the closest you will ever get.
These games incorporated many unique mechanics such as capturing your opponent’s Pokรฉmon, purification, and constant double battles. The double battles were much more challenging than their mainline counterparts, as each trainer would utilize in-game mechanics such as weather effects or Protect/Earthquake strategies. In Colosseum, you were started with an Umbreon and an Espeon while, in XD, you could select your desired “Eeveelution” after receiving the starting Eevee!
Luxio / Gabite / Staravia โข Dragonair / Rhyhorn / Pidgeotto
Pokรฉmon Battle Revolution
Pokรฉmon Battle Revolution was a major disappointment, especially to those hoping for the long-awaited sequel to the beloved Pokรฉmon Stadium franchise. PBR turned out to be nothing more than a battle simulator, and while the battle animations were well executed, the game felt very shallow.
Still, when entering Pokรฉtopia, depending on the gender of the player, they will receive three of six Pokรฉmon.
If the player is a male, they will receive:
- The Sinnoh middle starter evolutions, Luxio, Gabite, and Staravia.
If the player is a female, they will receive:
- The Kanto middle starter evolutions, Dragonair, Rhyhorn, and Pidgeotto.
Charmander / Squirtle / Bulbasaur / Pikachu
Pokรฉmon GO
Pokรฉmon GO took the world by storm, and, while the hype has certainly died down by now, it still continues to be played by people across the globe.
Pokรฉmon GO allows players to select any Kanto starters as their first Pokรฉmon. However, if the player ignores these Pokรฉmon and walks a set distance, they will eventually find a Pikachu!
Pikacahu
Pokรฉmon Masters EX
Pokรฉmon Masters is a mobile gacha game in which players will summon for sync pairs of famous trainers plus their Pokรฉmon, as opposed to only collecting the Pokรฉmon themselves.
Pokรฉmon Masters EX starts new players with Pikachu as their partner.
Pokรฉdex 3D
Pokรฉdex 3D
Again, we’ll have to break the formatting rule here to list the many starter Pokรฉmon of Pokรฉdex 3D.
Pokรฉdex 3D is a free application that lets you collect data on more than 150 Pokรฉmon from the Pokรฉmon Black and White.
In Pokรฉdex 3D, the player can receive the following Pokรฉmon:
- Snivy
- Servine
- Serperior
- Tepig
- Pignite
- Emboar
- Oshawott
- Dewott
- Samurott
- Audino
- Scraggy
- Minccino
- Emolga
- Foongus
- Axew
- Hydreigon
Magikarp
Magikarp Jump
Finally, let’s discuss Magikarp Jump, released for Android and iOS devices as a casual spinoff game.
Naturally, this game starts the player off with the legendary, godly, fish itself – Magikarp!
Once you’ve finished the all starter pokemon it’s time to view the cat pokemon and the pokemon type chart to help understand their strengths and weaknesses
A gaming lover from a very young age, Justin has always had a keen eye for building his own computers or racing sims so that he can race his identical twin (and usually lose at the actual race).
Justin in the founder of BeStreamer and sees it as a free resource to help all gamers around the world