The Best Starter In Pokémon Scarlet And Violet
As they dive into the Paldea region to catch and battle pocket monsters, "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet" players will have plenty of choices to make. From where to go first to what sort of team to put together, developer Game Freak has provided Pokémon trainers with no shortage of options to explore in the title. One of the first (and, for some, biggest) choices players will have to make centers on starter Pokémon.
As with past entries, "Scarlet and Violet" offer players a choice of three new Pokémon of Grass, Water, and Fire type to begin their adventure: Sprigatito, Quaxly, and Fuecoco. While fans have known of and discussed the new starters for some time, those jumping into the dual titles may wonder which of the trio offers the most advantages. Thanks to an exciting new feature in "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet," the answer to that question is much more complicated than it was for previous installments.
The open-world makes it difficult to pinpoint a best starter
Deciding on the best starter in "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet" is no easy feat because of the new, open-world design. In the past, players often noted what type of gym they would encounter first and picked a starter that countered the associated type. For example, many favored Squirtle in the original "Pokémon Red and Blue" as its Water-type countered the Rock-type of the first gym. However, with the new games allowing players to tackle gyms in any order, this isn't a factor anymore. Given this, there is plenty of dispute regarding which starter is best this time around.
Den of Geek and Game Rant both a asserted that Fuecoco is best for its high defense and health along with the fact that its Fire-type is strong against more gyms than the others. Meanwhile, CNET argued for the Water-type Quaxly because it can learn the move Wing Attack early on, giving it both Water and Air moves — a strong combination. Finally, Polygon stated that there is no best and that the choice will ultimately come down to personal preference.
They're all the best to someone
Given the increased level of freedom in "Pokémon Scarlet and Violet," it makes sense to follow the advice of Nintendo Life and select a starter based on the challenge you plan to tackle first. Those interested in taking on the gyms and tackling Victory Road early should consider Fuecoco. Those planning to focus on the scheming Team Star may prefer Quaxly. Meanwhile, the Grass-type Sprigatito is best for targeting Titan Pokémon and, given its high speed, should be excellent for those that want to battle and catch lots of low-level Pokémon early in the game to build up a team.
As with past games, there will likely be an ongoing debate among fans about which starter truly is best. They each have their strengths and weaknesses and each can excel in a different area of the game. At the risk of sounding as sappy as the "Pokémon" cartoon, the best for each trainer may just be the one that speaks to their heart.