The Johto Journey: Early-Game Advantage
Your journey through Johto begins with a choice between Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile, and this decision heavily influences your first few hours. Chikorita, the Grass-type starter, immediately faces an uphill battle. The first two Gyms, Falkner's Flying-types and Bugsy's Bug-types, are both super-effective against it, making for a difficult start without a well-rounded team.
On the other hand, Cyndaquil, the Fire-type, has a much easier time. It breezes through Bugsy's Gym and holds its own against most early-game challenges. Its evolution into Quilava provides a solid offensive presence early on.
Totodile, the Water-type, strikes a great balance. While it doesn't have a major advantage against the first two Gyms, it has no significant weaknesses either. Its access to moves like Bite early on proves incredibly useful against Morty's Ghost-type Gym in Ecruteak City, giving it a key mid-game edge.
- Cyndaquil offers the smoothest early-game experience, with advantages against several of the initial Gym Leaders.
- Totodile is a powerful all-rounder that grows into a physical powerhouse, Feraligatr, excelling in the late game and against the Elite Four.
- Chikorita presents the most significant challenge, often called 'hard mode,' due to type disadvantages against many key Johto trainers.
- Pokémon
- Chikorita
- Type
- Grass
- Total stats
- 318
- Pokémon
- Cyndaquil
- Type
- Fire
- Total stats
- 309
- Pokémon
- Totodile
- Type
- Water
- Total stats
- 314
| Pokémon | Type | Total stats |
|---|---|---|
| Chikorita | Grass | 318 |
| Cyndaquil | Fire | 309 |
| Totodile | Water | 314 |
Stats at a Glance
TYPE EFFECTIVENESS
Late-Game Powerhouses: Meganium, Typhlosion, and Feraligatr
As you approach the Elite Four and the Champion, your starter's final evolution becomes critical. Chikorita evolves into Meganium, a bulky defensive Pokémon, but its pure Grass typing leaves it vulnerable to Koga's Poison-types and Lance's multiple Dragonite. Typhlosion, Cyndaquil's final form, is a fast special attacker that can sweep through many opponents, though it may struggle against Bruno's Onix and Lance's Dragon-types.
This is where Totodile's final evolution, Feraligatr, truly shines. As a physical attacker with a fantastic movepool (including access to Ice-type moves via TM or breeding), it can effectively counter much of the Elite Four and is arguably the best choice for taking on Champion Lance's powerful team. Its raw power and versatility make it a top contender for the best overall Johto starter.
Don't just take our word for it. See how their base stats, abilities, and movepools stack up side-by-side.
[pokemon-comparator ids="152,155,158"]
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chikorita a bad starter?
Chikorita is not a 'bad' Pokémon, but it presents a significant challenge in the Johto region due to unfavorable type matchups against many Gym Leaders and the Elite Four. It's often considered the 'hard mode' choice for players looking for a tougher journey.
Which starter is best for the post-game against Red?
Feraligatr generally has the best matchup against Red's formidable team. Its high Attack stat and access to powerful Water and Ice-type moves give it an advantage against his Charizard and Venusaur, making it a very reliable choice for the final battle.