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All Pokémon Starters by Generation (Gens 1-9)

by Nathan Mar 04,2025

The Pokémon franchise boasts nine generations, each featuring a trio of starter Pokémon: Grass, Fire, and Water types. This comprehensive guide details all 27 starter lines, their evolutions, and appearances across various games.

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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 with (*) are Mega-Evolved in Generations VI and VII.

All Starter Pokémon by Generation

Generation I Starters

Gen 1 starters Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
The original Kanto region starters—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—debuted in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. They've reappeared in remakes like FireRed and LeafGreen, Let's Go! Pikachu and Eevee, HeartGold and SoulSilver, and X and Y.

Starter PokémonTypeEvolutions
BulbasaurGrass/PoisonIvysaur (Level 16)
Venusaur* (Level 32)
CharmanderFireCharmeleon (Level 16)
Charizard* (Level 36)
SquirtleWaterWartortle (Level 16)
Blastoise* (Level 36)

Generation II Starters

Gen 2 starters Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Johto's Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile, from Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, also appear in their remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver, and are obtainable via methods in later generations (e.g., Sun and Moon's QR Scanner). Cyndaquil is a starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Starter PokémonTypeEvolutions
ChikoritaGrassBayleef (Level 16)
Meganium (Level 32)
CyndaquilFireQuilava (Level 14)
Typhlosion (Level 36)
TotodileWaterCroconaw (Level 18)
Feraligatr (Level 30)

Note: Cyndaquil's Quilava evolution occurs at level 14 except in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. See Gen VIII for Legends: Arceus evolution details.

Generation III Starters

Gen 3 starters Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Hoenn's Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip, from Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, return in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and are available in various subsequent games and DLC.

Starter PokémonTypeEvolutions
TreeckoGrassGrovyle (Level 16)
Sceptile* (Level 36)
TorchicFireCombusken (Level 16)
Blaziken* (Level 36)
MudkipWaterMarshtomp (Level 16)
Swampert* (Level 36)

Generation IV Starters

Gen 4 starters Turtwig, Piplup, and Chimchar in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Sinnoh's Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup, from Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, reappear in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. While absent as starters in Legends: Arceus, they are catchable in that game and others.

Starter PokémonTypeEvolutions
TurtwigGrassGrotle (Level 18)
Torterra (Level 32)
ChimcharFireMonferno (Level 14)
Infernape (Level 36)
PiplupWaterPrinplup (Level 16)
Empoleon (Level 36)

Generation V Starters

Gen 5 starters Oshawott, Tepig, and Snivy in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Unova's Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott (Pokémon Black and White, Black 2 and White 2) are found in various later games and DLC. Oshawott is also a starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Starter PokémonTypeEvolutions
SnivyGrassServine (Level 17)
Serperior (Level 36)
TepigFirePignite (Level 17)
Emboar (Level 36)
OshawottWaterDewott (Level 17)
Samurott (Level 36)

Generation VI Starters

Gen 6 starters Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Kalos's Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie (Pokémon X and Y) are featured in the Pokémon the Series: XY anime. Greninja (Froakie's evolution) has a special Ash-Greninja form. The trio is available in later games and DLC.

Starter PokémonTypeEvolutions
ChespinGrassQuilladin (Level 16)
Chesnaught (Level 36)
FennekinFireBraixen (Level 16)
Delphox (Level 36)
FroakieWaterFrogadier (Level 16)
Greninja (Level 36)

Generation VII Starters

Gen 7 starters Popplio, Litten, and Rowlet in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Alola's Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio (Pokémon Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon) are available in later DLC. Rowlet is also a starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Starter PokémonTypeEvolutions
RowletGrass/FlyingDartrix (Level 17)
Decidueye (Level 34)
LittenFireTorracat (Level 17)
Incineroar (Level 34)
PopplioWaterBrionne (Level 17)
Primarina (Level 34)

Note: Dartrix's Decidueye evolution is at level 34 except in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. See Gen VIII for Legends: Arceus evolution details.

Generation VIII Starters

Gen 8 starters Sobble, Grookey, and Scorbunny in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Galar's Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble (Pokémon Sword and Shield) and Hisuian regional variants (Pokémon Legends: Arceus) are available in Scarlet and Violet's DLC.

Starter PokémonTypeEvolutions
GrookeyGrassThwackey (Level 16)
Rillaboom (Level 35)
ScorbunnyFireRaboot (Level 16)
Cinderace (Level 35)
SobbleWaterDrizzile (Level 17)
Inteleon (Level 35)

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Starters

Pokémon Legends: Arceus starters Cyndaquil, Rowlet, and Oshawott

Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Pokémon Legends: Arceus features Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott with unique Hisuian evolutions. Evolution levels vary slightly from previous games. The original Sinnoh starters are also catchable.

Starter PokémonTypeEvolutions
RowletGrass/FlyingDartrix (Level 17)
Hisuian Decidueye (Level 36)
CyndaquilFireQuilava (Level 17)
Hisuian Typhlosion (Level 36)
OshawottWaterDewott (Level 17)
Hisuian Samurott (Level 36)

Generation IX Starters

Gen 9 starters Sprigatito, Quaxly, and Fuecoco in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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Paldea's Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly (Pokémon Scarlet and Violet) are available, with past starters obtainable via the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC.

Starter PokémonTypeEvolutions
SprigatitoGrassFloragato (Level 16)
Meowscarada (Level 36)
FuecocoFireCrocalor (Level 16)
Skeledirge (Level 36)
QuaxlyWaterQuaxwell (Level 16)
Quaquaval (Level 36)

With the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A in development, the Pokémon journey continues. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC are currently available.