---
title: "All Starter Pokémon by Generation: Every First Partner and When It Evolves | pokee.si"
url: "https://pokee.si/articles/starter-pokemon-by-generation"
description: "All 27 starter Pokémon from Kanto to Paldea, with the level each one evolves at, final types, and the spin-off and Generation 10 partners."
last_updated: "2026-10-21"
publisher: "pokee.si: a Pokédex for families (unofficial fan site)"
published: "2026-10-21"
---

# All Starter Pokémon by Generation: Every First Partner and When It Evolves

Every main Pokémon game gives you three starters to choose from: one Grass type, one Fire type and one Water type. Across the nine regions from Kanto to Paldea, that makes 27 starter Pokémon, and each one evolves twice.

The games now call them first partner Pokémon. "Starter" is the older word, and it still works fine. You'll hear both.

## Every starter, generation by generation

The levels in brackets are when each Pokémon evolves. The last column shows the type of the final form, because many starters pick up a second type along the way.

| Gen | Region | Line (evolution levels) | Final type |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Kanto | [Bulbasaur](https://pokee.si/pokemon/bulbasaur) → [Ivysaur](https://pokee.si/pokemon/ivysaur) (Level 16) → [Venusaur](https://pokee.si/pokemon/venusaur) (Level 32) | [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass)/[Poison](https://pokee.si/types/poison) |
| 1 | Kanto | [Charmander](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charmander) → [Charmeleon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charmeleon) (Level 16) → [Charizard](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charizard) (Level 36) | [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire)/[Flying](https://pokee.si/types/flying) |
| 1 | Kanto | [Squirtle](https://pokee.si/pokemon/squirtle) → [Wartortle](https://pokee.si/pokemon/wartortle) (Level 16) → [Blastoise](https://pokee.si/pokemon/blastoise) (Level 36) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) |
| 2 | Johto | [Chikorita](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chikorita) → [Bayleef](https://pokee.si/pokemon/bayleef) (Level 16) → [Meganium](https://pokee.si/pokemon/meganium) (Level 32) | [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) |
| 2 | Johto | [Cyndaquil](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cyndaquil) → [Quilava](https://pokee.si/pokemon/quilava) (Level 14) → [Typhlosion](https://pokee.si/pokemon/typhlosion) (Level 36) | [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire) |
| 2 | Johto | [Totodile](https://pokee.si/pokemon/totodile) → [Croconaw](https://pokee.si/pokemon/croconaw) (Level 18) → [Feraligatr](https://pokee.si/pokemon/feraligatr) (Level 30) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) |
| 3 | Hoenn | [Treecko](https://pokee.si/pokemon/treecko) → [Grovyle](https://pokee.si/pokemon/grovyle) (Level 16) → [Sceptile](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sceptile) (Level 36) | [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) |
| 3 | Hoenn | [Torchic](https://pokee.si/pokemon/torchic) → [Combusken](https://pokee.si/pokemon/combusken) (Level 16) → [Blaziken](https://pokee.si/pokemon/blaziken) (Level 36) | [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire)/[Fighting](https://pokee.si/types/fighting) |
| 3 | Hoenn | [Mudkip](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mudkip) → [Marshtomp](https://pokee.si/pokemon/marshtomp) (Level 16) → [Swampert](https://pokee.si/pokemon/swampert) (Level 36) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water)/[Ground](https://pokee.si/types/ground) |
| 4 | Sinnoh | [Turtwig](https://pokee.si/pokemon/turtwig) → [Grotle](https://pokee.si/pokemon/grotle) (Level 18) → [Torterra](https://pokee.si/pokemon/torterra) (Level 32) | [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass)/[Ground](https://pokee.si/types/ground) |
| 4 | Sinnoh | [Chimchar](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chimchar) → [Monferno](https://pokee.si/pokemon/monferno) (Level 14) → [Infernape](https://pokee.si/pokemon/infernape) (Level 36) | [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire)/[Fighting](https://pokee.si/types/fighting) |
| 4 | Sinnoh | [Piplup](https://pokee.si/pokemon/piplup) → [Prinplup](https://pokee.si/pokemon/prinplup) (Level 16) → [Empoleon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/empoleon) (Level 36) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water)/[Steel](https://pokee.si/types/steel) |
| 5 | Unova | [Snivy](https://pokee.si/pokemon/snivy) → [Servine](https://pokee.si/pokemon/servine) (Level 17) → [Serperior](https://pokee.si/pokemon/serperior) (Level 36) | [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) |
| 5 | Unova | [Tepig](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tepig) → [Pignite](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pignite) (Level 17) → [Emboar](https://pokee.si/pokemon/emboar) (Level 36) | [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire)/[Fighting](https://pokee.si/types/fighting) |
| 5 | Unova | [Oshawott](https://pokee.si/pokemon/oshawott) → [Dewott](https://pokee.si/pokemon/dewott) (Level 17) → [Samurott](https://pokee.si/pokemon/samurott) (Level 36) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) |
| 6 | Kalos | [Chespin](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chespin) → [Quilladin](https://pokee.si/pokemon/quilladin) (Level 16) → [Chesnaught](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chesnaught) (Level 36) | [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass)/[Fighting](https://pokee.si/types/fighting) |
| 6 | Kalos | [Fennekin](https://pokee.si/pokemon/fennekin) → [Braixen](https://pokee.si/pokemon/braixen) (Level 16) → [Delphox](https://pokee.si/pokemon/delphox) (Level 36) | [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire)/[Psychic](https://pokee.si/types/psychic) |
| 6 | Kalos | [Froakie](https://pokee.si/pokemon/froakie) → [Frogadier](https://pokee.si/pokemon/frogadier) (Level 16) → [Greninja](https://pokee.si/pokemon/greninja) (Level 36) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water)/[Dark](https://pokee.si/types/dark) |
| 7 | Alola | [Rowlet](https://pokee.si/pokemon/rowlet) → [Dartrix](https://pokee.si/pokemon/dartrix) (Level 17) → [Decidueye](https://pokee.si/pokemon/decidueye) (Level 34) | [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass)/[Ghost](https://pokee.si/types/ghost) |
| 7 | Alola | [Litten](https://pokee.si/pokemon/litten) → [Torracat](https://pokee.si/pokemon/torracat) (Level 17) → [Incineroar](https://pokee.si/pokemon/incineroar) (Level 34) | [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire)/[Dark](https://pokee.si/types/dark) |
| 7 | Alola | [Popplio](https://pokee.si/pokemon/popplio) → [Brionne](https://pokee.si/pokemon/brionne) (Level 17) → [Primarina](https://pokee.si/pokemon/primarina) (Level 34) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water)/[Fairy](https://pokee.si/types/fairy) |
| 8 | Galar | [Grookey](https://pokee.si/pokemon/grookey) → [Thwackey](https://pokee.si/pokemon/thwackey) (Level 16) → [Rillaboom](https://pokee.si/pokemon/rillaboom) (Level 35) | [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) |
| 8 | Galar | [Scorbunny](https://pokee.si/pokemon/scorbunny) → [Raboot](https://pokee.si/pokemon/raboot) (Level 16) → [Cinderace](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cinderace) (Level 35) | [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire) |
| 8 | Galar | [Sobble](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sobble) → [Drizzile](https://pokee.si/pokemon/drizzile) (Level 16) → [Inteleon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/inteleon) (Level 35) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) |
| 9 | Paldea | [Sprigatito](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sprigatito) → [Floragato](https://pokee.si/pokemon/floragato) (Level 16) → [Meowscarada](https://pokee.si/pokemon/meowscarada) (Level 36) | [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass)/[Dark](https://pokee.si/types/dark) |
| 9 | Paldea | [Fuecoco](https://pokee.si/pokemon/fuecoco) → [Crocalor](https://pokee.si/pokemon/crocalor) (Level 16) → [Skeledirge](https://pokee.si/pokemon/skeledirge) (Level 36) | [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire)/[Ghost](https://pokee.si/types/ghost) |
| 9 | Paldea | [Quaxly](https://pokee.si/pokemon/quaxly) → [Quaxwell](https://pokee.si/pokemon/quaxwell) (Level 16) → [Quaquaval](https://pokee.si/pokemon/quaquaval) (Level 36) | [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water)/[Fighting](https://pokee.si/types/fighting) |

## Patterns you can spot

### The triangle

Grass beats Water, Water beats Fire and Fire beats Grass. Depending on the game, your rival picks either the starter that beats yours or the one yours beats, so the first rival battle can go either way. Our [type chart for kids](https://pokee.si/articles/pokemon-type-chart-for-kids) explains the rest of the matchups.

### The levels

Most starters evolve for the first time at 16 or 17. [Cyndaquil](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cyndaquil) and [Chimchar](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chimchar) are the quickest, at level 14. [Totodile](https://pokee.si/pokemon/totodile) and [Turtwig](https://pokee.si/pokemon/turtwig) wait until 18. [Feraligatr](https://pokee.si/pokemon/feraligatr) is the earliest final form, at level 30.

### Fighting types

[Fighting](https://pokee.si/types/fighting) is the most common second type: [Blaziken](https://pokee.si/pokemon/blaziken), [Infernape](https://pokee.si/pokemon/infernape) and [Emboar](https://pokee.si/pokemon/emboar) are all Fire/Fighting, [Chesnaught](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chesnaught) is Grass/Fighting and [Quaquaval](https://pokee.si/pokemon/quaquaval) is Water/Fighting. That is five of the 27 final forms.

### The totals are close

Every final form has a base stat total between 525 and 535, so no starter is far stronger than the others on paper. [Swampert](https://pokee.si/pokemon/swampert) has the highest at 535. The fastest is [Meowscarada](https://pokee.si/pokemon/meowscarada), with a base Speed of 123, just ahead of [Greninja](https://pokee.si/pokemon/greninja) at 122.

## Starters outside the usual trio

A few games give you something different:

| Game | Year | Your choice |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pokémon Yellow | 1998 | [Pikachu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pikachu), which follows you around |
| Let's Go, Pikachu! / Let's Go, Eevee! | 2018 | Pikachu or [Eevee](https://pokee.si/pokemon/eevee), depending on the version |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | 2022 | [Rowlet](https://pokee.si/pokemon/rowlet), [Cyndaquil](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cyndaquil) or [Oshawott](https://pokee.si/pokemon/oshawott). Their final forms are new Hisuian forms |
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A | 2025 | [Chikorita](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chikorita), [Tepig](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tepig) or [Totodile](https://pokee.si/pokemon/totodile) |

On pokee.si, the "First partners (starters)" filter covers the 27 main trios and their evolutions, 81 Pokémon in total. It leaves out the Pikachu and Eevee partners, because they aren't part of a Grass, Fire and Water set.

## The next three: Generation 10

Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves were announced on Pokémon Day, 27 February 2026, for release in 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2. Their first partners are Browt (Grass), Pombon (Fire) and Gecqua (Water). They aren't in the pokee.si Pokédex yet, because their stats and evolutions haven't been published. We will add them when they are.

## Which one should you pick?

There's no wrong answer, and every starter can finish the game. If you want an easier first few Gyms, look up the first Gym's type in your game and pick the starter that beats it. If you just love how one looks, that's a good reason too. Most players we know pick with their heart and then argue about it for years.

You can line any three up side by side with the [Compare tool](https://pokee.si/compare), or browse the full list with the [first partner filter](https://pokee.si/pokedex?tag=starter).

## Questions people ask

### How many starter Pokémon are there?

27 in the nine main regions, three per generation. Counting their evolutions, that is 81 Pokémon. Three more have been announced for Pokémon Winds and Waves in 2027.

### Is it called a starter or a first partner?

The games and The Pokémon Company say first partner Pokémon. Starter is the older word, and most players still use it. Both mean the same three Pokémon.

### Why are starters always Grass, Fire and Water?

The three types beat each other in a circle. Fire beats Grass, Grass beats Water and Water beats Fire, so whichever you pick, you have an advantage over one of the others.

### Which starter evolves earliest?

Cyndaquil and Chimchar evolve first, at level 14. Most others evolve at 16 or 17.

### Was Pikachu ever a starter?

Yes. In Pokémon Yellow and Let's Go, Pikachu! your partner is Pikachu, and in Let's Go, Eevee! it is Eevee. They aren't part of the usual Grass, Fire and Water trio.

## Sources

- [Bulbapedia: First partner Pokémon](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/First_partner_Pok%C3%A9mon)
- [Official Pokémon Scarlet and Violet site: first partner Pokémon from past titles](https://scarletviolet.pokemon.com/en-gb/news/first_partner_pokemon/)
- [Bulbapedia: Chimchar (Pokémon), evolution at level 14](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Chimchar_(Pok%C3%A9mon))
- [Bulbapedia: Totodile (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Totodile_(Pok%C3%A9mon))

---

Source: https://pokee.si/articles/starter-pokemon-by-generation (HTML page). pokee.si is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company. Pokémon and all related names and images are © their respective owners.