Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur: The Ultimate Kanto Starter Guide
So, you’re about to embark on your Pokémon journey in the Kanto region, and you’re faced with the age-old question: Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur? There’s no single “best” choice, as it depends entirely on your play style, strategy, and personal preference. However, for beginners looking for an easier early game, Bulbasaur is generally considered the most forgiving option due to its advantageous type matchups against the first two Gym Leaders. For players seeking a balance of offense and defense with a slightly smoother mid-game, Squirtle is a solid pick. And for those who love a challenge and are willing to strategize carefully, Charmander offers a rewarding experience with immense offensive potential later in the game.
Choosing Your Kanto Companion
Choosing your first Pokémon is a momentous occasion, one that sets the tone for your entire adventure. Each of these three starters offers a unique gameplay experience, so let’s break down their strengths, weaknesses, and overall viability:
Bulbasaur: The Beginner’s Best Friend
Bulbasaur is a Grass/Poison-type Pokémon that excels in the early game.
- Pros: Bulbasaur has a significant advantage against the first two Gyms, Brock (Rock-type) and Misty (Water-type). This makes the initial stages of the game much easier, allowing you to quickly level up and progress. Its dual-typing grants it an immunity to Poison, a useful advantage in the Viridian Forest.
- Cons: Bulbasaur’s effectiveness wanes somewhat in the mid-game, as many common Pokémon and Gym Leaders have type advantages against it. Its movepool, while versatile, may require strategic planning to counter specific threats.
- Overall: Bulbasaur is an excellent choice for beginners who want a smooth start and a Pokémon that requires less micromanagement early on.
Squirtle: The Balanced Battler
Squirtle is a Water-type Pokémon known for its well-rounded stats.
- Pros: Squirtle is effective against Brock (Rock-type) and provides a neutral matchup against Misty (Water-type). Its balanced stats make it a reliable choice throughout the game. As Wartortle and Blastoise, it can learn a wide variety of moves through TMs, giving it coverage against various types.
- Cons: Squirtle struggles against Lt. Surge (Electric-type), requiring you to rely on other team members or strategic play. Water-types can be somewhat common in the Kanto region, potentially reducing Squirtle’s uniqueness in your team.
- Overall: Squirtle is a dependable choice for players who prefer a balanced approach and want a Pokémon that can handle a variety of situations.
Charmander: The High-Risk, High-Reward Choice
Charmander is a Fire-type Pokémon that demands strategic play.
- Pros: Charmander has the potential to become a powerhouse later in the game, especially after evolving into Charizard. Charizard can learn powerful Fire, Flying, Dragon, and even Electric-type moves, making it a versatile attacker. It’s the most popular starter.
- Cons: Charmander faces immediate challenges against Brock (Rock-type) and struggles against Misty (Water-type). Early-game progression can be difficult, requiring you to carefully level up and utilize other Pokémon in your party.
- Overall: Charmander is a challenging but rewarding choice for experienced players who enjoy strategizing and are willing to invest time and effort into training their Pokémon.
The Impact on the Rest of Your Team
Your starter choice will influence the composition of your team. If you choose Bulbasaur, you might want to prioritize Fire and Flying-types to cover its weaknesses. If you choose Squirtle, you’ll need to ensure you have strong Electric and Grass-types to counter Water-type weaknesses. And if you choose Charmander, filling the gaps with Water and Ground-types is vital for a balanced team. Consider what Pokémon you enjoy using and how well they complement your starter.
Recommending based on experience
- New player? – Bulbasaur
- Want a challenge? – Charmander
- Looking for balance? – Squirtle
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Charmander really that much harder to start with?
Yes, Charmander presents a steeper learning curve. The first two Gyms are type disadvantages for it, requiring careful planning, grinding, and reliance on other Pokémon in your team. However, the late-game rewards with Charizard’s power and versatility can be immense.
2. Does the choice of starter affect the storyline?
No, your starter choice does not affect the main storyline in the original Pokémon Red and Blue or their remakes, FireRed and LeafGreen. The core narrative and objectives remain the same regardless of which Pokémon you pick.
3. Which starter is the most popular?
Charmander is consistently the most popular starter Pokémon in the Kanto region, thanks to its cool design and the iconic status of its final evolution, Charizard.
4. Are there any advantages to choosing Bulbasaur besides the early Gyms?
Yes, Bulbasaur’s dual-typing provides an immunity to Poison, which is useful in various situations. Its movepool includes status moves like Sleep Powder and Leech Seed, which can be helpful in battles. Additionally, its evolutions have good defensive stats. Bulbasaur is a perfect choice for new players who don’t want to struggle in the first part of the game.
5. Is it better to keep my starter unevolved to learn moves earlier?
In general, it’s better to evolve your starter. While there’s a tradeoff between evolving and getting earlier moves, it depends on the moves learned and your party composition.
6. Can I get the other starters later in the game?
Normally, it is impossible to get the other starters within the game. However, in Pokémon Yellow, you will get all three starters throughout the game.
7. Does the starter choice impact the Elite Four battles?
Yes, to some extent. The Elite Four has diverse type matchups, so your starter’s strengths and weaknesses will affect how you approach those battles. However, a well-rounded team can compensate for any shortcomings.
8. Is there a “best” nature for each starter?
Yes, certain natures are more beneficial. For Charmander, Adamant or Jolly (later in the game) can enhance its Attack or Speed, respectively. For Squirtle, Modest or Bold could boost Special Attack or Defense. For Bulbasaur, Modest or Calm could augment Special Attack or Special Defense.
9. How do I deal with Brock as Charmander?
Level up Charmander to at least level 10 and hope for critical hits or utilize a Pokémon who can learn the move “Metal Claw”.
10. Does the choice of starter impact post-game content?
Yes, your starter’s overall strength and versatility will influence its usefulness in post-game content like battling stronger trainers and exploring challenging areas.
11. Which starter has the best movepool?
This is subjective, but each starter learns powerful moves. Squirtle/Blastoise can learn a great diversity of HMs/TMs, while Charizard has extremely powerful damage moves, and Venusaur is very versatile in move type.
12. How important is type matching in Pokémon Red and Blue (and FireRed/LeafGreen)?
Type matching is absolutely crucial. Exploiting type weaknesses is the key to victory in many battles, especially against Gym Leaders and the Elite Four. Understanding type matchups is a fundamental aspect of Pokémon strategy.
13. What are some good early-game Pokémon to support Charmander?
Good choices include Mankey (found on Route 22), which can learn Fighting-type moves to counter Rock-types, and Nidoran (male or female, found on Route 3), which can learn Double Kick.
14. What are the overall stats between the 3 starters?
- Bulbasaur has a higher STAT total, with 318. Squirtle is second, with 314. And Charmander is the weakest, with 309.
15. Are there any educational components to choosing a starter Pokémon?
Absolutely! Choosing a starter Pokémon is an exercise in strategic decision-making, resource management, and understanding complex systems. The entire game enhances problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and critical thinking. These are the kind of educational games that the Games Learning Society researches. To learn more about the intersection of games and learning, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.
In conclusion, your starter choice is a personal decision that reflects your play style and preferences. While Bulbasaur offers an easier start, Squirtle provides balance, and Charmander presents a rewarding challenge, each Pokémon is capable of leading you to victory in the Kanto region. Choose wisely, train hard, and enjoy your adventure!