Pokémon Starters Unveiled: A Comprehensive Guide by Generation

The Pokémon franchise boasts a rich history of starter Pokémon, with each generation introducing a trio of Grass, Fire, and Water types. This comprehensive guide details all 27 starter lines across nine generations.

All Starter Pokémon by Generation

Generation I Starters

Gen 1 starters Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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The Kanto region's original trio – Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle – debuted in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. They've reappeared in remakes like FireRed and LeafGreen, Let's Go! Pikachu and Eevee, HeartGold and SoulSilver, and X and Y.

Starter Pokémon	Type	Evolutions
Bulbasaur	Grass/Poison	Ivysaur (Level 16) Venusaur* (Level 32)
Charmander	Fire	Charmeleon (Level 16) Charizard* (Level 36)
Squirtle	Water	Wartortle (Level 16) Blastoise* (Level 36)

Generation II Starters

Gen 2 starters Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile, hailing from the Johto region, starred in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, and their remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver. They've also appeared in later games, such as via Pokémon Sun and Moon's QR Scanner. Cyndaquil is also a starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Starter Pokémon	Type	Evolutions
Chikorita	Grass	Bayleef (Level 16) Meganium (Level 32)
Cyndaquil	Fire	Quilava (Level 14) Typhlosion (Level 36)
Totodile	Water	Croconaw (Level 18) Feraligatr (Level 30)

Note: Cyndaquil's Quilava evolution occurs at level 14 except in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. See Gen VIII for Legends: Arceus evolution details.

Generation III Starters

Gen 3 starters Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip, the Hoenn region's representatives, launched in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, and their remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. They are obtainable in various subsequent games and DLC.

Starter Pokémon	Type	Evolutions
Treecko	Grass	Grovyle (Level 16) Sceptile* (Level 36)
Torchic	Fire	Combusken (Level 16) Blaziken* (Level 36)
Mudkip	Water	Marshtomp (Level 16) Swampert* (Level 36)

Generation IV Starters

Gen 4 starters Turtwig, Piplup, and Chimchar in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup debuted in Gen IV's Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, and their remakes, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. While absent as starters in Legends: Arceus, they are catchable in that game, other mainline titles, and DLC.

Starter Pokémon	Type	Evolutions
Turtwig	Grass	Grotle (Level 18) Torterra (Level 32)
Chimchar	Fire	Monferno (Level 14) Infernape (Level 36)
Piplup	Water	Prinplup (Level 16) Empoleon (Level 36)

Generation V Starters

Gen 5 starters Oshawott, Tepig, and Snivy in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott, from the Unova region, appeared in Pokémon Black and White and their sequels. While remakes are unconfirmed, they are available in various other games and DLC. Oshawott is also a starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Starter Pokémon	Type	Evolutions
Snivy	Grass	Servine (Level 17) Serperior (Level 36)
Tepig	Fire	Pignite (Level 17) Emboar (Level 36)
Oshawott	Water	Dewott (Level 17) Samurott (Level 36)

Generation VI Starters

Gen 6 starters Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie debuted in Pokémon X and Y. Froakie's evolution, Greninja, gained an Ash-Greninja form via the Pokémon Sun and Moon demo. The Kalos starters are available in later games and DLC.

Starter Pokémon	Type	Evolutions
Chespin	Grass	Quilladin (Level 16) Chesnaught (Level 36)
Fennekin	Fire	Braixen (Level 16) Delphox (Level 36)
Froakie	Water	Frogadier (Level 16) Greninja (Level 36)

Generation VII Starters

Gen 7 starters Popplio, Litten, and Rowlet in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio launched in Pokémon Sun and Moon and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and are available in later DLC. Rowlet is also a starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Starter Pokémon	Type	Evolutions
Rowlet	Grass/Flying	Dartrix (Level 17) Decidueye (Level 34)
Litten	Fire	Torracat (Level 17) Incineroar (Level 34)
Popplio	Water	Brionne (Level 17) Primarina (Level 34)

Note: Dartrix's Decidueye evolution occurs at level 34 except in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. See Gen VIII for Legends: Arceus evolution details.

Generation VIII Starters

Gen 8 starters Sobble, Grookey, and Scorbunny in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Gen VIII, with Pokémon Sword and Shield and Pokémon Legends: Arceus, offered different starter options. Sword & Shield introduced Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble, also found in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's DLC.

Starter Pokémon	Type	Evolutions
Grookey	Grass	Thwackey (Level 16) Rillaboom (Level 35)
Scorbunny	Fire	Raboot (Level 16) Cinderace (Level 35)
Sobble	Water	Drizzile (Level 17) Inteleon (Level 35)

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Pokémon Legends: Arceus starters Cyndaquil, Rowlet, and Oshawott

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Pokémon Legends: Arceus featured Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott with Hisuian regional forms. Evolution levels vary slightly, and all three Sinnoh starters from Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum are also available.

Starter Pokémon	Type	Evolutions
Rowlet	Grass/Flying	Dartrix (Level 17) Hisuian Decidueye (Level 36)
Cyndaquil	Fire	Quilava (Level 17) Hisuian Typhlosion (Level 36)
Oshawott	Water	Dewott (Level 17) Hisuian Samurott (Level 36)

Generation IX Starters

Gen 9 starters Sprigatito, Quaxly, and Fuecoco in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly debuted in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. While trading is needed to obtain all three, past starters are available in the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC.

Starter Pokémon	Type	Evolutions
Sprigatito	Grass	Floragato (Level 16) Meowscarada (Level 36)
Fuecoco	Fire	Crocalor (Level 16) Skeledirge (Level 36)
Quaxly	Water	Quaxwell (Level 16) Quaquaval (Level 36)

With the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement and Pokémon Legends: Z-A in development, the Pokémon franchise's evolution continues. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC are currently available.