A Look at the Alolan Starters: Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio
The Alola region, introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon, welcomes new trainers with three distinct and charming starters: the Grass/Flying-type Rowlet, the Fire-type Litten, and the Water-type Popplio. Each has a unique design and personality that makes the initial choice difficult for many players.
Rowlet, the Grass Quill Pokémon, captures hearts with its round body and head that can swivel nearly 180 degrees. Litten, the Fire Cat Pokémon, presents a cool, collected demeanor, but its fiery spirit is undeniable. Finally, Popplio, the Sea Lion Pokémon, is a playful and dedicated performer, always eager to practice creating water balloons with its nose. While their base forms are adorable, their true potential and strategic value are revealed through their final evolutions.
- Primarina's Water/Fairy typing gives it a strong advantage in both casual playthroughs and competitive battles.
- Incineroar, with its Hidden Ability Intimidate, has become a dominant force in the VGC competitive scene.
- Decidueye offers a unique Grass/Ghost typing and a signature move, Spirit Shackle, that provides excellent tactical control.
- Pokémon
- Rowlet
- Type
- Grass, Flying
- Total stats
- 320
- Pokémon
- Litten
- Type
- Fire
- Total stats
- 320
- Pokémon
- Popplio
- Type
- Water
- Total stats
- 320
| Pokémon | Type | Total stats |
|---|---|---|
| Rowlet | Grass, Flying | 320 |
| Litten | Fire | 320 |
| Popplio | Water | 320 |
Compare Base Stats
TYPE EFFECTIVENESS
Final Evolutions: Where the Real Battle Begins
The final evolutions are where the strategic differences truly shine. Rowlet evolves into the sleek Ghost/Grass-type archer, Decidueye. Its signature move, Spirit Shackle, prevents opponents from switching out, offering great tactical control. Litten evolves into the formidable Fire/Dark-type wrestler, Incineroar. A powerhouse in competitive play, especially with its Hidden Ability Intimidate, Incineroar has dominated the VGC scene for years. Popplio evolves into the elegant Water/Fairy-type soloist, Primarina. This typing is fantastic both offensively and defensively, and its high Special Attack stat, combined with its signature move Sparkling Aria, makes it a devastating threat.
While Incineroar is often cited as the king of competitive battling, Primarina offers a smoother and more powerful experience for a standard in-game playthrough thanks to its excellent typing and special attacking prowess. Decidueye remains a fan favorite with a cool design and a unique role. To see how their base stats stack up, check out our Pokémon Comparator tool below.
[POKEMON_COMPARATOR_WIDGET: Decidueye, Incineroar, Primarina]
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Want to dive deeper into the stats? Use our Pokémon Comparator to see a side-by-side breakdown of Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina, or any other Pokémon you choose.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which starter is best for a casual Sun & Moon playthrough?
For a casual run, all three are excellent choices. However, Popplio's final evolution, Primarina, often has an edge due to its powerful Water/Fairy typing, which performs very well against many of Alola's trials and key battles. Its high Special Attack makes it a formidable offensive threat throughout the game.
Is Incineroar good without its Hidden Ability, Intimidate?
While Incineroar's standard ability, Blaze, is useful in a pinch by boosting Fire-type moves at low HP, its true competitive power is unlocked with its Hidden Ability, Intimidate. Intimidate lowers the Attack stat of both opponents upon switching in, making it a cornerstone of many VGC strategies. For a casual playthrough, Blaze is perfectly fine and Incineroar remains a strong physical attacker.