Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Which Starter Pokemon Is Best?

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is now available, and that means fans of the franchise are jumping in and exploring the Paldea region for themselves. While you'll definitely want to keep the starter evolutions in mind, knowing which starter Pokemon is best can also make your life much easier in the long run.

Not only can the starter Pokemon you choose help determine how easy the opening moments of the game are, but some of them also get access to moves and other abilities sooner than others, and some even have more strengths than others do. But exactly which starter Pokemon is the best? Well, that all comes down to how you plan to approach the game.

Which Starter Pokemon is the Best?

Players will get a chance to choose from one of three starter Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. However, unlike previous Pokemon games, there aren't set paths of progression you must follow in Scarlet and Violet—you can really start off the game with just about any starter Pokemon you like. However, if you really want to start strong, then going with something like Fuecoco isn't a bad bet.

The reason that many recommend Fuecoco as a starter Pokemon is because of the strength that Fire-types have against other Pokemon within the series. Fire-type Pokemon are strong against Grass-type, Bug-type, Steel-type and Ice-types, and they are resistant to Fire, Grass, Bug, Steel and Ice types.

Two of the first gyms you can approach (in regard to distance from the central city) are Grass-type and Bug-type gyms. This means that choosing Fuecoco immediately sets you up to be able to tackle both of those gyms with Fire-type moves.

But this doesn't make the other starter Pokemon weaker. In fact, both Quaxly and Sprigatito have their own pros, and the gyms that they are stronger against aren't that far off from the central city, either. But it is important to keep in mind that you'll want to round out your team with some of the other Pokemon types, including some of the version-exclusive Pokemon that you can find in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. There are also plenty of Legendary Pokemon to worry about, too.

If you do want to start off able to face two gyms quickly, though, going with the Fire-type starter Fuecoco is a great idea. This Pokemon evolves into two especially cute forms, which means it will look good while you battle with it, too.