With the Return of Gen 1 Games, the eternal dilemma begins again: Which starter to choose, and why should you pick it over the other two?
For those who are about to begin their journey in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you pick the best starter!
Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur: What Starter Should You Choose?
Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur are the beloved Generation 1 starters in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen, and even though most trainers think Charmander is the best of them all, others might think Squirtle or Bulbasaur are the best possible choices.
For some trainers, Stats matter more than utility, and for others, type-advantage and training difficulty are the deciding factors. Now, there’s a simple answer for this, and it’s based on pure logic and the Trainer’s playstyle. Here’s how to pick your Starter in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen.
- Charmander is better at attack, but falls short on defense and type-advantage. It is a great It is also more effective as a hybrid attacker.
- Squirtle is good at defense and has a type advantage during the early and late game. However, it doesn’t have too much attack.
- Bulbasaur balances out defense and attack, but its type advantage is strong in the early game, and only situational during the late game.
Charmander, the Lizard Pokemon (Fire-type)
Let’s go a bit further and analyze this in detail. Beginning with Charmander, which is a fan-favorite choice. This Pokemon is a fiery little salamander, that slowly becomes a dragon with the dual Flying-type.
Consequently, it has access to certain moves that grant it an advantage against powerful foes like Bruno (who use Fighting-type Pokemon) and immunity to Earth-type moves like Earthquake and Fissure, which are a nightmare to deal with.
Plus, it can learn a wide array of coverage moves (including Earthquake, Dragon Claw, and Brick Break). So, the Charmander line is all about attacking and gaining the upper hand using powerful moves.
Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokemon (Water-type)
Now, the Squirtle evolution line is all about defense. Besides learning Bite (which is a useful attack to have against Ghost and Psychic-type Pokemon), and later Hydropump (one of the most powerful Water-type moves), this Pokemon is better suited for defensive style players.
Each time it evolves, its Defense and Sp. Def stats are the ones that get an additional boost, reaching 100 and 105 (respectively) once Wartortle evolves to Blastoise, starting at level 36.
Needless to say, in terms of type-advantage, the first gym will be a breeze, since Squirtle can solo Brock’s Lineup in a fell swoop.
But later, it will struggle against foes like Surge (Electric-type Gym) or Erica (Grass-type), and until the later part of the game (7th and 8th Gyms) it’s type-advantage will be mostly annulled, with the exception of a few important encounters (like Giovanni).
Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokemon (Grass/Poison-type)
Bulbasaur is, arguably, the easiest of the starters to train. It has a type-advantage against the first, second, and even third gyms (although it doesn’t cause extra damage, it receives less from Electric-type attacks).
It is the first of the three starters to reach its final evolution stage at level 32, and can also learn useful moves like Sleep Powder, and Poison Powder early on. In terms of raw power, it’s not as great as Charmander, but it’s a bit more focused on Sp. Atk and Sp. Def.
Attacks like Solar Beam and Synthesis are the pinnacle of this Pokemon’s power, and the fact that it can also learn Giga Drain from MT is also a big plus. In terms of survivability, Venusaur is stronger than the rest of the starters.
So, there you have it! Whenever you’re ready to pick a starter, go ahead and choose based on your playstyle. Remember: There’s no such a thing like strong Pokemon or weak Pokemon. Truly skilled trainers should try to win with their favorites!