Pokémon Starters: Generations 1-9 Guide

Every generation of Pokémon introduces a trio of starter Pokémon: Grass, Fire, and Water types. With nine generations, that's 27 starter lines! Let's explore them all.

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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.

All Starter Pokémon by Generation

Generation I Starter Pokémon

The original Kanto starters—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—debuted in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. They've reappeared in remakes like FireRed, LeafGreen, and Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, along with other mainline games including HeartGold, 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 Starter Pokémon

From the Johto region, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile starred in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, and their remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver. They've also appeared in later games, such as via the QR Scanner in Sun and Moon. Cyndaquil is even 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 is at level 14 in all mainline games except Pokémon Legends: Arceus. See Gen VIII starters for Legends: Arceus evolution details.

Generation III Starter Pokémon

Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip represent Hoenn in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, and their remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. They've also been featured in various 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 Starter Pokémon

Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup are the Sinnoh starters from Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, returning in the remakes, 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 Starter Pokémon

Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott represent Unova in Pokémon Black and White, and their sequels, Black 2 and White 2. All three are available in other mainline games and DLC. Oshawott is also a starter in Pokémon 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)

RELATED: All Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Trade Codes

Generation VI Starter Pokémon

Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie debuted in Pokémon X and Y, also featuring in the Pokémon the Series: XY anime. Froakie's final evolution, Greninja, even received a special Ash-Greninja form, available via the Sun and Moon demo. The Kalos trio is 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 Starter Pokémon

Pokémon Sun and Moon introduced Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio. They returned in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon and are available in DLC for later games. Rowlet is also a starter in Pokémon 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 evolves into Decidueye at level 34 in all mainline games except Pokémon Legends: Arceus. See Gen VIII starters for Legends: Arceus evolution details.

Generation VIII Starter Pokémon

Generation VIII saw a shift with Pokémon Sword and Shield, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The former introduced Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble, while the latter featured past starters with regional variants. The Galar starters (Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble) are also available in the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC for Scarlet and Violet.

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

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott returned as Hisuian starters, featuring altered evolution levels and regional forms. The original Sinnoh starters are also available.

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 Starter Pokémon

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduced Sprigatito (Grass), Fuecoco (Fire), and Quaxly (Water). While trading is needed to obtain all three, past starters are available in the 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 Generation IX underway and the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, the Pokémon franchise's journey continues, with Pokémon Legends: Z-A currently in development.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC are available now.