Each time a newPokémongame is released, fans have a major decision to make. Each game comes with three brand new starter Pokémon, the Pokémon that you receive immediately after beginning the game. The first three starter Pokémon ever to be added to the franchise were Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander. Since then, each generation has added three new Pokémon - one Water-type, one Fire-type, and one Grass-type.
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When it comes to deciding which Pokémon to pick as your starter, it can be a tough decision. That’s the Pokémon you’re going to have for the rest of the game and that you’ll be using to battle other Pokémon trainers and to catch wild Pokémon. Each starter Pokémon is a different type, meaning that they each have different strengths and weaknesses.
Trying to decide which Pokémon to use as your starter inSword and Shield? Keep reading to see 10 things to consider before you pick!
10Remember That There’s No “Wrong” Choice
The first and most important thing to remember is that there’s really no “wrong” choice when it comes to picking your starter Pokémon. Although there are some Pokémon that may fit your playstyle better than others, all three options are great. If you pick Scorbunny but later realize that your party is missing a Water-type and wish you had gone with Sobble instead, it’s okay!
The main thing to remember is the fact that your starter Pokémon is a completely personal choice. There’s no such thing as choosing the “wrong” starter Pokémon. They each have their own unique look and strengths and weaknesses, meaning that each one is an excellent choice.
9Think About Each Type
Each of the starter Pokémon is a different type. One thing that hasn’t changed inSword and Shieldis the fact that the starter Pokémon are Water, Fire, and Grass-types. Each different Pokémon type has its own strengths and weaknesses against other types. For instance, Fire-type Pokémon are really strong against Grass and Ice-types, while they’re weak against Water and other Fire-type Pokémon.
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Thinking about each Pokémon type before you make a decision is definitely something that can help make your decision a little easier. If you’re used to using Water-type starters and Pokémon in the other games, you might find it easiest to pick another Water-type starter in this game, too.
8What Other Pokémon Do You Like?
Think beyond the starter Pokémon that you’re choosing. Think about the other Pokémon in the game that you’re going to be looking for to add to your party later on. If your favorite Pokémon in the entire Pokédex is a Grass-type Pokémon, you’re probablynotgoing to want to go with Grookey, the Grass-type starter.
Because you may have a variety of different Pokémon with you all the time in your party, it’s important to ensure that youkeep a variety of types. That will make it easy to face off against any Pokémon trainer that you encounter or any wild Pokémon that you want to catch.
7Don’t Forget The Galarian Pokémon
Just like in Generation VII of thePokémonfranchise, some of the Pokémon have been given drastic new looks and new types inSword and Shield. For instance, instead of being a Fire-type like in all the previous games, Ponyta in the Galar region is a Psychic-type Pokémon.
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So, if you normally keep Ponyta in your team as the Fire-type Pokémon that you keep with you, you might want to reconsider and choose Scorbunny as your starter Pokémon. The changes to some of our favorite Pokémon that have come with this new region can definitely help you to make a decision!
6Think About Their Evolutions
Although you’ll be choosing from the three starters - Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble - they won’t look like that forever. As you travel through the Galar region and use your Pokémon in battles, they’ll gain experience and evolve. When you’re choosing your starter Pokémon, ensure you take a look atwhat they’ll be when they evolve.
Though you may love a certain starter now, you might not be such a fan of the Pokémon’s look after it evolves. Before you choose your starter, make sure you look at its future evolution phases to ensure that you still like the look of the Pokémon later on.
5Don’t Forget The Pokédex Cuts
One disappointing thing to make fans of thePokémonfranchise is the fact thata lot of Pokémon have been cutfrom the Pokédex. This hasn’t necessarily always been an issue in past games because of the fact that the missing Pokémon have been available to transfer or trade in from previous games. But since this is no longer possible, you need to think about the missing Pokémon just as much as the present ones.
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When you’re choosing your starter Pokémon, take a minute to look over all the Pokémon that have been cut from the Pokédex. Thinking about which of your favorite past Pokémon won’t be present might help you narrow it down.
4Think About The Moves
One of the best ways to decide which starter Pokémon you should go with is to think about the moves that each Pokémon is capable of. For instance, if you’re thinking about picking Sobble as your starter Pokémon, you should think about the differentmoves water Pokémon can learn.
Although choosing a Pokémon based simply on how they look is definitely a perfectly fine way to choose your starter Pokémon, it’s also good to consider their special abilities and pick the one that you think will be the strongest member of your party.
3Don’t Think Too Hard
Although picking a starter Pokémon can be somewhat stressful, it’s important to remember that it’s reallynotthat big of a deal. It’s important to think about your choice, but remember that after you choose, you can move on with the rest of the game and really get into it.
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If you end up not totally loving the starter Pokémon that you chose, you could always put it in your box and not keep it in your party. Plus, nothing is stopping you from playing the game again and choosing a different Pokémon once you’re done!
2Try Branching Out
Have you played otherPokémongames in the past? If so, what starters have you chosen in them? If you think about the starter Pokémon that you’ve picked in previous games, it might be able to help you pick between these three new ones as you start your journey through the Galar region.
If you normally pick Water-type Pokémon for your starters, maybe you should try branching out. You may be immediately drawn to Sobble because you always go for the Water-types, but it could be fun to choose between Grookey and Scorbunny this time instead.
1Go By Aesthetics
After you’ve put so much thought into the different types, moves, and evolutions, you’ve likely narrowed your choice down from the three Pokémon to the one that will be the best fit for your party. But, what if you haven’t? What if you’ve thought about all the types and you’ve looked at the moves and thought about the other Pokémon and you still don’t know what to do?
Why not put all of that aside and just pickthe one that looks the best? Although it may not be such a deep and technical choice, it’s still a fine way to choose a Pokémon. Just take a look at the three options and pick the one that you think looks the best and that you want to see each time you look at your party.
