All Pokémon Starters by Generation (Gens 1-9)

The Pokémon franchise boasts nine generations, each introducing a trio of starter Pokémon: Grass, Fire, and Water types. This comprehensive guide explores all 27 starter lines, detailing their evolutions and appearances across various games.

Jump to: Gen 1 | Gen 2 | Gen 3 | Gen 4 | Gen 5 | Gen 6 | Gen 7 | Gen 8 | Gen 9

Note: Final evolutions marked (*) are capable of Mega Evolution in Generations VI and VII.

Starter Pokémon by Generation

Generation I: Kanto Region

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

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The original Kanto starters—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—debuted in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, and have since 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: Johto Region

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

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Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile, the Johto starters from Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, also appear in HeartGold and SoulSilver. They've been accessible in later generations via methods like the QR Scanner in Sun and Moon. 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 evolution to Quilava occurs at level 14 in all mainline games except Pokémon Legends: Arceus. See Gen VIII for Legends: Arceus evolution details.

Generation III: Hoenn Region

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

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Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip, the Hoenn starters from Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, reappear in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and are obtainable in other 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: Sinnoh Region

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

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Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup from Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum return in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. While absent as starters in Legends: Arceus, they are catchable in that game, as well as other 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: Unova Region

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

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Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott from Pokémon Black and White and their sequels are available in various other games and DLC. Oshawott is also a starter in 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: Kalos Region

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

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Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie from Pokémon X and Y are featured in the Pokémon the Series: XY anime. Froakie's final evolution, Greninja, has a special Ash-Greninja form obtainable via the Sun and Moon demo. The Kalos starters are available in other 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: Alola Region

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

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Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio from Pokémon Sun and Moon and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are available in later game DLC. Rowlet is also a starter in 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 evolution differs in Legends: Arceus. See Gen VIII for details.

Generation VIII: Galar Region

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

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Generation VIII introduced Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble in Pokémon Sword and Shield, also available in Scarlet and Violet DLC. Legends: Arceus featured past starters with regional variants.

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: Hisui Region

Pokémon Legends: Arceus starters Cyndaquil, Rowlet, and Oshawott

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Legends: Arceus featured Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott with unique Hisuian regional forms and altered evolution levels. Sinnoh starters from Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum are also catchable.

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: Paldea Region

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. Past starters are available via 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 announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A in development, the Pokémon journey continues. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC are currently available.