What counts as a starter Pokémon?
Every mainline Pokémon game opens the same way: the Professor offers you a choice of three first-partner Pokémon, one Grass type, one Fire type and one Water type. Those trios are the starters. Across nine generations there are 27 official starters, and by default this tool rolls from exactly those 27, from Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle right up to Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly.
Pikachu and Eevee also act as starters in Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee, where they are your partner Pokémon. If you would rather treat any species as your starter, for a Nuzlocke twist or a wild randomizer run, tick Any Pokémon as a starter and the pool opens up to the full Pokédex.
Starter Pokémon by generation
Here is every official starter trio and its final evolution, generation by generation:
| Gen / Region | Grass | Fire | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 · Kanto | Bulbasaur → Venusaur | Charmander → Charizard | Squirtle → Blastoise |
| Gen 2 · Johto | Chikorita → Meganium | Cyndaquil → Typhlosion | Totodile → Feraligatr |
| Gen 3 · Hoenn | Treecko → Sceptile | Torchic → Blaziken | Mudkip → Swampert |
| Gen 4 · Sinnoh | Turtwig → Torterra | Chimchar → Infernape | Piplup → Empoleon |
| Gen 5 · Unova | Snivy → Serperior | Tepig → Emboar | Oshawott → Samurott |
| Gen 6 · Kalos | Chespin → Chesnaught | Fennekin → Delphox | Froakie → Greninja |
| Gen 7 · Alola | Rowlet → Decidueye | Litten → Incineroar | Popplio → Primarina |
| Gen 8 · Galar | Grookey → Rillaboom | Scorbunny → Cinderace | Sobble → Inteleon |
| Gen 9 · Paldea | Sprigatito → Meowscarada | Fuecoco → Skeledirge | Quaxly → Quaquaval |
Which starter should you pick?
There is no single best answer, but a few rules of thumb hold up across the series:
- Water is the easy mode. Water starters like Squirtle, Mudkip and Piplup have friendly early matchups and bulky final forms, great for a first playthrough.
- Fire is the aggressive pick. Many Fire starters gain a second Fighting or Ghost type (Blaziken, Infernape, Cinderace, Skeledirge) and hit hard, though the early Gyms can be rough.
- Grass is the challenge run. Grass starters often face the toughest opening Gyms, so they reward planning, but pay off with picks like Sceptile and Meowscarada.
Want a per-region breakdown of the best starter? Each region generator has its own starter notes.
More Pokémon generators
- Random Legendary Pokémon Generator for a random legendary, mythical or Paradox Pokémon.
- Random Shiny Pokémon Generator to roll any Pokémon in shiny colours.
- Random Pokémon Generator, the full tool covering all 1,025 Pokémon.
Learn more about starters
- Bulbapedia: Starter Pokémon, the full list and history of first-partner Pokémon.
- Serebii.net Pokédex, stats and evolution details for every starter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many starter Pokémon are there?
There are 27 official starter Pokémon, three per generation across nine generations, from Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle to Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly. Pikachu and Eevee also serve as partner starters in the Let's Go games.
What are the three starter types?
Every mainline game gives you a choice of a Grass, a Fire and a Water starter. That Grass, Fire, Water trio has been the pattern since Pokémon Red and Green in 1996.
Which starter Pokémon is the best?
It depends on your goal. Water starters like Swampert and Empoleon are the easiest for a first run, Fire starters like Blaziken, Infernape and Cinderace are the most aggressive, and Grass starters are the hardest early but pay off later. Greninja and Cinderace are among the most popular overall.
Can this generator pick any Pokémon as a starter?
Yes. Tick the "Any Pokémon as a starter" option and the pool opens from the 27 official starters to the full Pokédex of 1,025 Pokémon, which is perfect for randomizer or Nuzlocke challenges.
Can I get a random starter from a specific generation?
Yes. Use the Generation dropdown to lock the roll to one region's trio, for example only the Kanto starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle) or only the Paldea starters.
Are Pikachu and Eevee starter Pokémon?
They are partner Pokémon rather than traditional trio starters. Pikachu is your starter in Pokémon Yellow and Let's Go, Pikachu, and Eevee in Let's Go, Eevee, but they are not part of the standard Grass, Fire, Water choice.
What is the most popular starter Pokémon?
Charizard, Charmander's final form, is consistently the most popular starter, helped by two Mega Evolutions and its anime fame. Greninja, Lucario-adjacent in popularity, is close behind from Kalos.
How do I use the starter generator?
Choose how many starters you want and, optionally, a generation, then press Pick a Starter. Open any result for its stats and evolution line, or flip on Any Pokémon as a starter for a wild-card roll.