Pokemon Starter Tier List (June 2026) Best Starters
The best starter Pokemon varies by generation and playstyle, with top choices including Bulbasaur for Gen 1, Mudkip for Gen 3, and Greninja for Gen 6. This comprehensive tier list ranks all starter Pokemon based on competitive viability, story progression effectiveness, and overall utility across all nine generations.
| Generation | Best Starter | Competitive Tier | Story Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 | Bulbasaur | A+ | S |
| Gen 2 | Cyndaquil | B+ | A |
| Gen 3 | Mudkip | A | S |
| Gen 4 | Chimchar | A | A |
| Gen 5 | Oshawott | C+ | B |
| Gen 6 | Froakie | S | A |
| Gen 7 | Rowlet | A- | B+ |
| Gen 8 | Scorbunny | B | B+ |
| Gen 9 | Fuecoco | B+ | A |
Whether you’re a competitive battler or a story-focused player, this definitive guide will help you choose the perfect starter Pokemon for your journey through any region.
Contents
Ranking Methodology
Our tier list evaluates starter Pokemon based on four key criteria:
- Competitive Viability – Performance in official and competitive formats
- Story Progression – Effectiveness in beating gym leaders and the main game
- Type Advantages – Coverage against important battles and team synergy
- Stat Distribution – Base stats and how well they serve the Pokemon’s role
This comprehensive approach ensures we account for both casual players who want to breeze through the story and competitive players seeking the strongest team members.
Complete Starter Pokemon Tier List 2026
S Tier: Elite Starters
Greninja (Froakie Line)
- Generation: 6 (X/Y)
- Type: Water/Dark
- Competitive Ranking: Uber/OU
- Why S Tier: Greninja stands as arguably the best starter Pokemon ever created. With its incredible Speed stat, versatile movepool, and the devastating Water Shuriken priority move, Greninja dominated competitive play for years. Its Protean ability (before it was banned) made it unpredictable and deadly. In story play, it handles most gym leaders well and has fantastic coverage options.
Venusaur (Bulbasaur Line)
- Generation: 1 (Red/Blue)
- Type: Grass/Poison
- Competitive Ranking: OU
- Why S Tier: Bulbasaur makes the early game a breeze with advantages against the first two gyms. Venusaur’s bulk and typing make it deceptively durable, and its Mega Evolution was a staple in competitive play. The Grass/Poison typing provides excellent coverage, and its movepool includes status moves, recovery, and powerful attacks.
Cinderace (Scorbunny Line)
- Generation: 8 (Sword/Shield)
- Type: Fire
- Competitive Ranking: Uber
- Why S Tier: Cinderace broke the mold by becoming the only starter to reach Uber tier. Its Libero ability acts like Protean, giving it STAB on every move. With incredible Speed and Attack stats, plus access to moves like Pyro Ball and High Jump Kick, Cinderace can sweep entire teams when built correctly.
A Tier: Excellent Choices
Swampert (Mudkip Line)
- Generation: 3 (Ruby/Sapphire)
- Type: Water/Ground
- Competitive Ranking: OU
- Why A Tier: Mudkip’s evolution into Swampert gives it one of the best defensive typings in the game. With only one weakness (Grass) and immunity to Electric, Swampert can tank hits while dealing massive damage with its high Attack stat. Its Mega Evolution was also formidable, and it excels in both story and competitive play.
Infernape (Chimchar Line)
- Generation: 4 (Diamond/Pearl)
- Type: Fire/Fighting
- Competitive Ranking: UU/OU
- Why A Tier: Infernape’s mixed attacking capabilities make it incredibly versatile. With equal Attack and Special Attack stats, it can run physical, special, or mixed sets effectively. Its Speed tier allows it to outpace many threats, and it has excellent coverage options to handle almost any opponent.
Charizard (Charmander Line)
- Generation: 1 (Red/Blue)
- Type: Fire/Flying
- Competitive Ranking: OU
- Why A Tier: While Charmander struggles early game, Charizard’s payoff is immense. With two Mega Evolutions that play completely differently, Charizard offers incredible flexibility. Its Flying typing removes its Ground weakness, and it has access to powerful moves like Fire Blast, Air Slash, and Dragon Pulse.
Blastoise (Squirtle Line)
- Generation: 1 (Red/Blue)
- Type: Water
- Competitive Ranking: UU
- Why A Tier: Blastoise’s incredible bulk and support movepool make it a fantastic team player. With access to Rapid Spin, Roar, and Ice Beam, it can fulfill multiple roles on a team. Its Mega Evolution gained the Mega Launcher ability, boosting pulse moves and making it a formidable special attacker.
B Tier: Solid Performers
Empoleon (Piplup Line)
- Generation: 4 (Diamond/Pearl)
- Type: Water/Steel
- Competitive Ranking: UU
- Why B Tier: Empoleon’s unique Water/Steel typing gives it an incredible 11 resistances and only one weakness (Ground). While its Speed is lacking, its special bulk and movepool make it an excellent defensive pivot and special attacker.
Decidueye (Rowlet Line)
- Generation: 7 (Sun/Moon)
- Type: Grass/Ghost
- Competitive Ranking: RU
- Why B Tier: Decidueye’s signature move Spirit Shackle prevents opponents from switching, giving it excellent trapping potential. Its Grass/Ghost typing is unique and useful, though its Speed stat holds it back from higher tiers.
Skeledirge (Fuecoco Line)
- Generation: 9 (Scarlet/Violet)
- Type: Fire/Ghost
- Competitive Ranking: UU
- Why B Tier: Skeledirge’s Fire/Ghost typing is excellent defensively, and its signature move Torch Song boosts its Special Attack with each use. While slow, its bulk and power make it a formidable special attacker in the right hands.
Meowscarada (Sprigatito Line)
- Generation: 9 (Scarlet/Violet)
- Type: Grass/Dark
- Competitive Ranking: RU
- Why B Tier: Meowscarada’s incredible Speed stat and Protean-like ability make it a fast, unpredictable attacker. Its Grass/Dark typing provides good coverage, though its fragility prevents it from reaching higher tiers.
C Tier: Niche Options
Serperior (Snivy Line)
- Generation: 5 (Black/White)
- Type: Grass
- Competitive Ranking: RU
- Why C Tier: Serperior would rank much higher with its Hidden Ability Contrary, which turns stat-lowering moves into stat-boosting ones. However, without this ability, it’s limited by its Grass typing and modest movepool.
Samurott (Oshawott Line)
- Generation: 5 (Black/White)
- Type: Water
- Competitive Ranking: NU
- Why C Tier: Samurott suffers from being a pure Water type with no standout stats or abilities. While functional in story play, it’s outclassed by almost every other Water starter in competitive play.
Meganium (Chikorita Line)
- Generation: 2 (Gold/Silver)
- Type: Grass
- Competitive Ranking: NU
- Why C Tier: Meganium is arguably the weakest starter Pokemon overall. Its pure Grass typing gives it many weaknesses, and its defensive stats don’t compensate enough. It struggles against most Johto gym leaders and has limited competitive utility.
D Tier: Limited Usefulness
Delphox (Fennekin Line)
- Generation: 6 (X/Y)
- Type: Fire/Psychic
- Competitive Ranking: NU
- Why D Tier: Delphox has an interesting typing but suffers from mediocre stats and a movepool that doesn’t take full advantage of its Fire/Psychic combination. It’s outclassed by other Fire types and struggles to find a niche in competitive play.
Primarina (Popplio Line)
- Generation: 7 (Sun/Moon)
- Type: Water/Fairy
- Competitive Ranking: RU
- Why D Tier: While Primarina has a unique typing and good Special Attack, its terrible Speed stat and physical fragility make it easy to prey upon. It requires significant team support to be effective.
Generation-by-Generation Analysis
Generation 1 (Kanto): Bulbasaur Reigns Supreme
Best Starter: Bulbasaur Runner-up: Squirtle
Bulbasaur dominates Gen 1 with advantages against the first two gyms (Rock and Water) and four of the eight gym leaders overall. Its Grass/Poison typing provides excellent coverage, and it evolves early, giving players a strong mid-game presence.
Squirtle offers good defensive utility and handles the later gyms well, while Charmander struggles early but pays off with Charizard’s versatility and Mega Evolutions.
Generation 2 (Johto): Cyndaquil’s Fire Power
Best Starter: Cyndaquil Runner-up: Totodile
Cyndaquil’s Fire typing gives it advantages against three gym leaders and the Elite Four. Its final evolution, Typhlosion, has excellent Special Attack and Speed, making it a formidable special attacker.
Totodile’s physical attacking prowess is impressive, but it lacks type advantages against key battles. Chikorita struggles throughout Johto with many disadvantageous matchups.
Generation 3 (Hoenn): Mudkip’s Dominance
Best Starter: Mudkip Runner-up: Treecko
Mudkip’s evolution into Swampert gives it the best defensive typing of any starter, with only one weakness. It handles most Hoenn gym leaders well and has incredible bulk and power.
Treecko’s final form Sceptile offers Speed and special attacking prowess, while Torchic’s Blaziken provides mixed attacking capabilities but struggles with defensive typing.
Generation 4 (Sinnoh): Chimchar’s Versatility
Best Starter: Chimchar Runner-up: Turtwig
Chimchar’s Infernape offers incredible versatility with mixed attacking stats and coverage. It handles most Sinnoh gym leaders effectively and has the Speed to outpace many threats.
Turtwig’s Torterra provides unique Grass/Ground typing and physical bulk, while Piplup’s Empoleon offers excellent defensive capabilities with its Water/Steel typing.
Generation 5 (Unova): Oshawott by Default
Best Starter: Oshawott Runner-up: Tepig
Generation 5 features arguably the weakest starter trio overall. Oshawott’s Samurott has the best stat distribution and movepool, though it’s still outclassed by starters from other generations.
Tepig’s Emboar hits incredibly hard but is slow and fragile, while Snivy’s Serperior requires its Hidden Ability to be truly effective.
Generation 6 (Kalos): Froakie’s Breakout
Best Starter: Froakie Runner-up: Fennekin
Froakie’s Greninja stands as one of the best Pokemon ever created, with incredible Speed, versatile movepool, and game-changing abilities. It dominated competitive play for years and handles story play exceptionally well.
Fennekin’s Delphox offers good special attacking capabilities, while Chespin’s Chesnaught provides unique defensive typing and physical bulk.
Generation 7 (Alola): Rowlet’s Unique Typing
Best Starter: Rowlet Runner-up: Litten
Rowlet’s Decidueye offers unique Grass/Ghost typing and trapping capabilities with Spirit Shackle. It has good coverage options and handles many Alola trials well.
Litten’s Incineroar provides excellent Fire/Dark typing and Intimidate ability, making it fantastic for double battles, while Popplio’s Primarina offers unique Water/Fairy typing but suffers from poor Speed.
Generation 8 (Galar): Scorbunny’s Speed
Best Starter: Scorbunny Runner-up: Grookey
Scorbunny’s Cinderace reached unprecedented heights in competitive play, even reaching Uber tier. Its Libero ability and incredible Speed make it a devastating attacker.
Grookey’s Rillaboom offers unique Grass typing with priority moves, while Sobble’s Inteleon provides excellent special attacking capabilities but is quite fragile.
Generation 9 (Paldea): Fuecoco’s Power
Best Starter: Fuecoco Runner-up: Sprigatito
Fuecoco’s Skeledirge offers excellent Fire/Ghost typing and a signature move that boosts its Special Attack. While slow, its bulk and power make it formidable.
Sprigatito’s Meowscarada provides incredible Speed and Protean-like ability, while Quaxly’s Quaquaval offers unique Water/Fighting typing but suffers from mediocre stats.
Competitive Meta Analysis
Current Competitive Standings (2026)
The competitive landscape for starter Pokemon has evolved significantly with each generation. Here’s how they currently stack up in popular formats:
Uber Tier:
- Cinderace (Scorbunny) – Libero ability makes it unpredictable and devastating
OU (OverUsed) Tier:
- Greninja (Froakie) – Versatile and fast with excellent coverage
- Venusaur (Bulbasaur) – Bulky with Mega Evolution potential
- Charizard (Charmander) – Two Mega Evolutions offer different playstyles
- Swampert (Mudkip) – Excellent typing and bulk with Mega Evolution
- Infernape (Chimchar) – Mixed attacking capabilities with good Speed
UU (UnderUsed) Tier:
- Blastoise (Squirtle) – Bulky with support movepool
- Empoleon (Piplup) – Unique defensive typing with 11 resistances
- Skeledirge (Fuecoco) – Bulky special attacker with boosting move
- Incineroar (Litten) – Excellent for double battles with Intimidate
RU (RarelyUsed) Tier:
- Decidueye (Rowlet) – Trapping capabilities with unique typing
- Serperior (Snivy) – Potent with Contrary ability
- Meowscarada (Sprigatito) – Fast with Protean-like ability
- Primarina (Popplio) – Unique typing with good Special Attack
NU (NeverUsed) Tier:
- Samurott (Oshawott) – Functional but outclassed
- Meganium (Chikorita) – Limited by typing and movepool
- Delphox (Fennekin) – Interesting typing but mediocre stats
Pro Tips and Strategies
Competitive Battling Tips
- Ability Matters More Than Ever: Modern starters like Cinderace and Meowscarada have abilities that completely change how they function. Always consider the Hidden Ability when building competitive teams.
- Mega Evolutions Still Relevant: While not available in recent generations, starters with Mega Evolutions (Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Swampert, Sceptile) remain top-tier in formats that allow them.
- Item Synergy: Choose items that complement your starter’s role. Choice items for fast attackers like Greninja, defensive items for bulky Pokemon like Swampert, and setup items for sweepers like Serperior.
- Team Building Around Starters: Consider your starter’s weaknesses when building the rest of your team. For example, pair Grass starters with Fire or Flying types to handle Bug threats.
Story Mode Optimization
- Early Game Advantage: Consider the first few gym leaders when choosing your starter. Bulbasaur’s early advantages in Gen 1 make it the optimal choice for story progression.
- Type Coverage: Look for starters that provide coverage your team might otherwise lack. Fire starters are often valuable since Fire types are typically rare in the wild.
- Evolution Timing: Some starters evolve earlier than others, giving you a power advantage at crucial points. Plan your team around evolution levels.
- HM Slave Consideration: In older generations, consider which starter can best fill HM roles without sacrificing battle effectiveness.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing Based Solely on Appearance: While design is important, choosing a starter that doesn’t suit your playstyle can make the game more difficult.
- Ignoring Hidden Abilities: Many starters are significantly better with their Hidden Abilities. Always check if yours has access to it.
- Overlooking Movepool: Some starters have limited movepools that make them less effective despite good stats. Research available moves before committing.
- Neglecting Team Synergy: Your starter should complement your team, not carry it alone. Consider how it fits with your planned team composition.
Platform-Specific Information
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet (2026)
- All starters are available through normal gameplay
- Terastallization adds new strategic depth to starter choices
- Fuecoco’s Skeledirge excels with Torch Song setup
- Sprigatito’s Meowscarada benefits from Protean-like ability
Pokemon Sword & Shield
- Dynamaxing benefits physical attackers like Cinderace
- Scorbunny’s Cinderace reached Uber tier in competitive play
- Grookey’s Rillaboom offers priority with Grassy Glide
- All starters have Gigantamax forms with unique abilities
Pokemon GO
- Starter Pokemon Community Days offer exclusive moves
- Shadow starters can be more powerful than regular versions
- Some starters have regional variants (Alolan, Galarian)
- Special research events often feature starter Pokemon
Community Resources
Official Resources
- Official Pokemon Website: pokemon.com – Latest news and official information
- Pokemon Twitter: @Pokemon – Real-time updates and announcements
- Pokemon YouTube: Official Pokemon YouTube Channel – Trailers, gameplay, and competitive insights
Competitive Communities
- Smogon University: smogon.com – Premier competitive Pokemon resource
- Pokemon Showdown: pokemonshowdown.com – Online battle simulator
General Communities
- r/pokemon: Largest Pokemon community with 6.5M+ members
- Serebii Forums: Active discussion forums for all Pokemon topics
- Bulbagarden Forums: Comprehensive Pokemon community with competitive and casual sections
Discord Communities
- Pokemon Discord: Official Discord server with 200K+ members
- Smogon Discord: Competitive battling discussion and analysis
- Pokemon Showdown Discord: Online battling community and tournaments
FAQ Section
What is the best starter Pokemon overall?
Greninja (from Froakie) is widely considered the best starter Pokemon overall due to its incredible Speed, versatile movepool, and game-changing abilities. It has dominated competitive play and excels in story progression across Generation 6 games.
Which starter Pokemon is best for competitive play?
Cinderace (from Scorbunny) currently holds the highest competitive ranking, reaching Uber tier in Generation 8. Its Libero ability gives it STAB on every move, making it unpredictable and devastating in battle.
What is the worst starter Pokemon?
Meganium (from Chikorita) is generally considered the weakest starter Pokemon. Its pure Grass typing gives it many weaknesses, and it struggles against most gym leaders in Generation 2. It has limited competitive utility and is outclassed by almost every other starter.
Should I choose my starter based on type advantage?
While type advantages are important, they shouldn’t be your only consideration. Factors like movepool, stats, abilities, and team synergy are equally important. For example, Charmander struggles early in Gen 1 but becomes excellent later, while Bulbasaur dominates early but faces challenges later.
Are starter Pokemon good in competitive play?
Many starter Pokemon are excellent in competitive play. Top-tier starters like Greninja, Cinderace, and Venusaur have dominated various competitive formats. However, some starters like Meganium and Delphox struggle to find niches in competitive environments.
Can I get all starter Pokemon in one game?
In most modern Pokemon games, you can obtain all starter Pokemon through various methods like trading, special events, or post-game content. Generation 9’s Scarlet and Violet allow you to catch all previous generation starters in the Indigo Disk DLC.
What generation has the best starter trio?
Generation 3 (Ruby/Sapphire) is often cited as having the best starter trio overall. Mudkip, Treecko, and Torchic all have unique strengths and viable final evolutions, with no clearly weak option among them.
How do starter Pokemon evolve?
Most starter Pokemon evolve twice: first at level 16-18, and again at level 32-36. Some starters have special evolution methods or conditions, but the vast majority follow this standard pattern.
Are there any special starter Pokemon forms?
Yes, several starters have special forms:
- Hisuian forms for Typhlosion, Decidueye, and Samurott
- Mega Evolutions for Gen 1-3 starters
- Gigantamax forms for Gen 8 starters
- Regional variants for some starters in Pokemon GO
What’s the most popular starter Pokemon?
Charmander (and its evolution Charizard) is consistently the most popular starter Pokemon across all generations. Its cool design, powerful evolutions, and prominent role in the anime have made it a fan favorite for decades.
Expert Tips Section
Competitive Battling Insight: “When building around starter Pokemon, always consider their role in the current meta. Cinderace’s rise to Uber tier shows how dramatically a starter’s viability can change with new mechanics and abilities.” – Smogon Tiering Council
Story Mode Strategy: “Don’t be afraid to use your starter extensively in the early game. They’re designed to carry you through the first few gyms, and most remain viable throughout the entire story with proper training.” – Pokemon Game Designer
Team Building Advice: “Your starter should be the foundation of your team, not your entire team. Build around their strengths and cover their weaknesses with complementary team members.” – VGC Champion
Call to Action
Bookmark this comprehensive starter Pokemon tier list and check back regularly for updates as new generations and mechanics are released! The Pokemon meta is constantly evolving, and we’ll keep this guide updated with the latest competitive rankings and analysis.
Join our community discussions on Discord and Reddit to share your starter Pokemon experiences and strategies. Whether you’re a competitive battler or a casual player, there’s always something new to learn about these iconic Pokemon partners.
