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Why Is Totodile So Good? A Deep Dive into the Johto Champion

Totodile shines as an excellent starter Pokémon due to its strong Attack stat, access to powerful Water-type moves, and relatively balanced stats for an unevolved Pokémon. Its evolution line culminates in Feraligatr, a formidable force capable of handling numerous challenges throughout the Johto region and beyond, making it a top-tier choice for both new and veteran trainers.

Totodile: A Starter Worth Choosing

Totodile, the Water-type starter from the Johto region, often gets overlooked in favor of the flashier Cyndaquil. However, a deeper look reveals a Pokémon of significant strength and strategic value. Here’s why Totodile is such a strong choice:

Early Game Dominance: Totodile’s high Attack stat allows it to quickly dispatch early-game opponents. Its Water-type moves are super effective against the numerous Rock-types and Ground-types encountered early on, including the first Gym Leader, Falkner (although Falkner is a flying type Gym Leader, Rock-types are often encountered early on in the game).
Power Through Evolution: Totodile’s evolution into Croconaw and ultimately Feraligatr only amplifies its power. Feraligatr’s high Attack and Defense stats make it a sturdy and reliable battler capable of withstanding heavy hits while dishing out significant damage.
Versatile Movepool: Feraligatr boasts a wide variety of moves, extending beyond just Water-type attacks. It can learn powerful moves like Ice Punch, Crunch, and Earthquake, allowing it to cover its weaknesses and take on a wider range of opponents. The article mentioned that “Sheer Force is the main reason to use Totodile, as the boost it gives to Waterfall allows Totodile to be quite powerful, while the boost to Ice Punch means Totodile can beat bulky Grass-types“.
Sheer Force Ability (Hidden): While not immediately apparent in the base game, Feraligatr’s hidden ability, Sheer Force, further enhances its power. Sheer Force boosts the power of moves with secondary effects (like a chance to cause flinching or poison) but removes those secondary effects. This makes moves like Waterfall and Ice Punch even more potent, turning Feraligatr into a true powerhouse.
Good Type Matchups: As a Water-type, Totodile and its evolutions have favorable matchups against Fire, Ground, Rock, and Steel-type Pokémon. This coverage is particularly useful in the Johto region, where these types are prevalent.
Ease of Use: Totodile is relatively straightforward to train. Its high Attack stat means you can focus on powering up its physical moves, making it a reliable choice for both casual players and those looking to optimize their team.

Totodile vs. The Competition

While each Johto starter has its strengths, Totodile offers a unique blend of power, versatility, and ease of use that makes it stand out.

Vs. Cyndaquil: Cyndaquil, particularly its final evolution Typhlosion, is a powerful Special Attacker. However, it can struggle against Pokémon with high Special Defense or those that resist Fire-type moves. Totodile’s physical attack focus provides a valuable alternative, allowing it to break through opponents that Typhlosion might struggle with. As the article mentioned “Cyndaquil is stronger against more types than the other starters, which is a plus, but out of all the Types Fire is strong against, only Ice, Fire, and Grass really come up a lot“.
Vs. Chikorita: Chikorita, especially Meganium, is often considered the weakest of the three starters. Its Grass-typing leaves it vulnerable to a wide range of common types, including Fire, Flying, Poison, Bug, and Ice. Furthermore, its movepool and stats are less impressive than Totodile’s, making it a significantly less reliable choice. As the article says “Chikorita has a reputation as one of the worst starters. Not only is it bad against the first two gyms in Johto, it also has absolutely terrible moves“.

Feraligatr: The Apex Predator

Ultimately, Totodile’s true potential lies in its final evolution, Feraligatr. This powerful Water-type boasts impressive stats and a movepool that allows it to dominate in both in-game battles and competitive scenarios.

Stats: Feraligatr has a well-rounded stat distribution, with a particular emphasis on Attack and Defense. This allows it to deal significant damage while also being able to withstand powerful attacks. As mentioned in the article “Totodile is probably the best choices to start with in Pokemon HG/SS. Totodile’s best stats are attack and defense, followed by average HP and special defense. Because it’s a water type it has less weaknesses.“.
Movepool: Feraligatr’s movepool is exceptionally versatile, providing coverage against a wide range of types. In addition to powerful Water-type moves like Waterfall and Hydro Pump, it can learn Ice Punch for Grass-types, Crunch for Ghost-types and Psychic-types, Earthquake for Electric-types, and even Dragon Claw for Dragon-types.
Sheer Force Ability (Hidden): As mentioned earlier, Feraligatr’s Sheer Force ability significantly boosts its power, making moves like Waterfall and Ice Punch even more devastating.
Competitive Viability: Feraligatr’s stats, movepool, and ability make it a viable choice in competitive Pokémon battles. While it may not be the most popular Pokémon, it can be a powerful and unpredictable threat in the right hands.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Totodile

Here are some common questions regarding Totodile and its evolutions:

1. Is Totodile strong against Fire types?

Yes, as a Water-type, Totodile is strong against Fire-type Pokémon. This makes it a useful choice against Fire-type trainers and Pokémon with Fire-type moves.

2. Is Totodile good or bad in the early game?

Totodile is excellent in the early game due to its high Attack stat and access to Water-type moves, giving it an advantage against the Rock and Ground types often encountered early on.

3. Does Ash ever get a Totodile in the anime?

Yes, Ash does catch a Totodile in the anime, adding it to his team during his Johto journey. “As both of them wanted Totodile for themselves, Brock declared a battle to decide who would keep him. Ash’s Chikorita and Bulbasaur defeated Misty’s Staryu and her newly-evolved Poliwhirl, respectively, winning the battle and earning Ash the new Totodile.“

4. How does Sheer Force affect Feraligatr’s moves?

Sheer Force boosts the power of moves with secondary effects (like a chance to cause flinching or poison) but removes those secondary effects. This makes moves like Waterfall and Ice Punch even more powerful.

5. What are Feraligatr’s best stats?

Feraligatr’s best stats are its Attack and Defense, making it a powerful physical attacker and a sturdy wall against physical attacks.

6. What are Feraligatr’s weaknesses?

Feraligatr is weak to Grass and Electric-type moves.

7. What is the best moveset for Feraligatr?

A popular moveset for Feraligatr includes Waterfall, Ice Punch, Crunch, and Earthquake. This provides coverage against a wide range of types.

8. How do I get the Sheer Force ability on Feraligatr?

Sheer Force is Feraligatr’s hidden ability. You can only obtain it through breeding or catching Pokémon with hidden abilities.

9. Is Feraligatr viable in competitive Pokémon battles?

Yes, Feraligatr can be a viable choice in competitive battles due to its stats, movepool, and ability.

10. Is Totodile a cute starter Pokémon?

Yes, many fans find Totodile to be a cute starter Pokémon, with its playful appearance and charming personality. The article also agreed: “Pokemon fans seem to be divided about their thoughts on the best or cutest starter. However, many seem to agree on the chonky version of Pikachu and Gen 3’s Water-type starter Mudkip. Others mentioned include Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Totodile, Eevee, Rowlet, among others“.

11. What level does Totodile evolve into Croconaw?

Totodile evolves into Croconaw at level 18.

12. What level does Croconaw evolve into Feraligatr?

Croconaw evolves into Feraligatr at level 30.

13. Can Feraligatr learn any Dragon-type moves?

Yes, Feraligatr can learn Dragon Claw, providing coverage against Dragon-type Pokémon.

14. Is it worth choosing Totodile as my starter in HeartGold/SoulSilver?

Yes, Totodile is an excellent choice for a starter in HeartGold/SoulSilver due to its strong Attack stat, versatile movepool, and overall reliability.

15. How does Totodile compare to other Water-type starters?

Totodile stands out among other Water-type starters due to its balanced stats, access to powerful physical moves, and its ability to learn a wide variety of coverage moves.

Totodile is more than just a cute face; it’s a powerful and versatile Pokémon that can carry you through the Johto region and beyond. Whether you’re a seasoned trainer or just starting out, Totodile is a choice you won’t regret. Consider exploring how games like Pokémon enrich learning and engagement at the Games Learning Society. Visit Games Learning Society to learn more. Or, you can go to GamesLearningSociety.org.

Why is Totodile so good?