All Starter Pokémon by Generation

The journey for millions of trainers began with a single, crucial choice in Professor Oak's lab. The concept of a starter Pokémon was born here in the Kanto region, establishing the rock-paper-scissors dynamic of Grass, Fire, and Water types that would define the series. The Grass/Poison-type Bulbasaur offers a balanced start, effective against the first two gym leaders. The Fire-type Charmander presents a greater early-game challenge but evolves into the powerful Charizard. Finally, the Water-type Squirtle provides a solid, defensive option that adapts well to many of Kanto's challenges. This initial choice is more than just selecting a type; it's about choosing a partner that defines your entire early adventure.

The Johto region continued the tradition with a new set of starters, each offering a distinct playstyle. Professor Elm presents trainers with Chikorita, a pure Grass-type known for its defensive capabilities and support moves. For those preferring offense, the Fire-type Cyndaquil starts out shy but quickly grows into a formidable special attacker. These Pokémon built upon the foundation of their predecessors, offering new strategies and designs that captured the hearts of a new generation of fans. How do they measure up to the originals? The embedded Pokémon Comparator below lets you see for yourself. Compare Chikorita's defensive stats against Bulbasaur's, or see how Cyndaquil's speed stacks up against Charmander's.