Which starter Pokemon to choose in black

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Choosing Your Pokémon Black Starter: A Trainer’s Guide

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So, you’re about to embark on a grand adventure in the Unova region with Pokémon Black (or White)? The first and arguably most crucial decision you’ll make is choosing your starter Pokémon. While personal preference always plays a significant role, let’s dissect each option – Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott – to help you make the best choice for your playstyle and team composition.

The straightforward answer? There isn’t a single “best” starter in Pokémon Black. Each Pokémon offers its own unique strengths and weaknesses that will shape your early game experience and your team’s overall strategy. However, if you are looking for the starter that will lead to the easiest path, Oshawott is arguably the best choice in Pokémon Black. Oshawott’s final evolution, Samurott, is a Water-type with good overall stats and a diverse movepool. The Water-typing offers advantages against early Gym Leaders, particularly Cheren’s Normal-type team and Clay’s Ground-type squad. Furthermore, Water-types are generally versatile and useful throughout the game, making Samurott a reliable choice. Ultimately, the best starter is the one that you find the most appealing and enjoyable to train.

Diving Deep: Analyzing the Starters

Let’s break down each starter Pokémon, exploring their evolution lines, strengths, weaknesses, and notable matchups.

Snivy: The Grass Serpent Pokémon

Snivy, the Grass-type starter, evolves into Servine and finally Serperior. Serperior boasts impressive Speed and decent Special Defense. However, its Attack stat is relatively low, hindering its effectiveness with physical attacks.

Strengths: High Speed allows for outspeeding many opponents and landing crucial hits first. Grass-types are effective against Water, Ground, and Rock types. Serperior learns a variety of status moves, such as Leech Seed and Glare, providing strategic options.
Weaknesses: Grass-types are weak to many common types, including Fire, Flying, Poison, Bug, and Ice. Serperior’s low Attack stat makes it reliant on Special Attacks, but its Special Attack stat isn’t exceptional. It struggles against Gym Leaders like Elesa (Electric) and Skyla (Flying).
Early Game: Can struggle against Cheren‘s normal types and Lenora‘s Normal-type team, but holds up well against Clay‘s Ground-types.

Tepig: The Fire Pig Pokémon

Tepig evolves into Pignite and ultimately Emboar, a Fire/Fighting-type. Emboar is a powerhouse with high Attack and Special Attack, making it a formidable offensive threat.

Strengths: Dual typing provides coverage against a wider range of opponents. Powerful offensive stats allow for dishing out significant damage. Fire-types are effective against Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel types. Fighting-types are effective against Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, and Dark types.
Weaknesses: Double weakness to Water and weaknesses to Ground, Flying, and Psychic types. Speed is relatively low, making it vulnerable to faster opponents. Can struggle against Cheren‘s normal types and Lenora‘s Normal-type team.
Early Game: Struggles against Water-types and is challenged by some of the early-game Rock-types.

Oshawott: The Sea Otter Pokémon

Oshawott evolves into Dewott and then Samurott, a pure Water-type. Samurott is a well-rounded Pokémon with balanced stats, making it a reliable choice for both offense and defense.

Strengths: Water-types are effective against Fire, Ground, and Rock types. Samurott learns a diverse movepool, including both physical and special attacks. Versatility allows for adapting to different battles and team compositions.
Weaknesses: Weak to Grass and Electric types. Can struggle against Elesa (Electric) and Brycen (Ice).
Early Game: Excels against Cheren‘s normal types and Clay‘s Ground-types, making the early game significantly easier.

FAQs: All About Black’s Starters

Here are some frequently asked questions to further help you decide:

Which starter is the easiest to use for a first-time player? Oshawott is generally considered the easiest due to its early-game advantages against Gym Leaders and its overall versatility.
Which starter is the most unique in terms of typing? Tepig, evolving into Emboar, stands out with its Fire/Fighting dual-typing, although that typing can also come with significant weaknesses.
Which starter has the best design in your opinion? This is subjective! Many players love Serperior’s regal design, while others prefer Emboar’s imposing presence, or Samurott’s samurai-inspired look.
Are there any significant differences in the storyline depending on which starter I choose? No, the storyline remains the same regardless of your starter. The primary difference is the type matchups you’ll face.
Can I catch the other starters later in the game? No, you cannot catch the other starters in Pokémon Black or White. You’ll need to trade with someone who chose a different starter.
How important is team composition when choosing a starter? Team composition is crucial. Consider which types you’ll want to cover and which Pokémon you plan to catch later in the game. For instance, if you choose Snivy, you might want to include a Fire-type to cover its weaknesses.
What level does each starter evolve into its final form? Snivy evolves into Serperior at level 36. Tepig evolves into Emboar at level 36. Oshawott evolves into Samurott at level 36.
Does the starter’s nature significantly impact its performance? Yes, the Nature of your starter can significantly influence its stats. A Modest nature (increases Special Attack, decreases Attack) would benefit Serperior, while an Adamant nature (increases Attack, decreases Special Attack) would hinder it. Likewise, Adamant or Brave natures would work well on Emboar. Adamant, Modest, Jolly or Timid would benefit Samurott.
Should I reset my game until I get a good nature for my starter? While a beneficial nature is helpful, it’s not essential to beat the game. If you’re a casual player, don’t worry too much about it. Competitive players, however, often do reset for optimal natures.
Which starter is the best for competitive battling? Generally, Serperior sees more competitive usage than Emboar or Samurott, primarily due to its Contrary ability when Dream World abilities are active. The Dream World server is no longer accessible, but hacked roms do exist.
Are there any notable held items that work well with each starter? Items like Life Orb and Choice Specs can boost the damage output of Special Attackers like Serperior and Samurott. Choice Band is excellent for Emboar.
What are some good movesets for each final evolution?
- Serperior: Leaf Storm, Dragon Pulse, Hidden Power (Fire/Ice), Giga Drain
- Emboar: Flare Blitz, Hammer Arm, Wild Charge, Earthquake
- Samurott: Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, Megahorn, Aqua Jet
What are some good strategies to deal with a gym leader who I’m weak against? Consider using Pokémon with status moves like paralysis or sleep to cripple opponents. Also, explore type matchups beyond your starter. Bringing in a Pokémon with a type advantage can turn the tide.
How can I learn more about Pokémon strategy and competitive battling? There are numerous online resources, including websites, forums, and YouTube channels dedicated to Pokémon strategy. Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) also explores the educational and strategic aspects of gaming, including Pokémon.
Ultimately, should I just pick the Pokémon I like the most? Absolutely! Enjoyment is the most important factor. Choose the starter that resonates with you and embrace the adventure!

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the choice is yours. Each starter Pokémon offers a unique path through the Unova region. Consider your playstyle, desired team composition, and the challenges you’re willing to face. Now, go forth, choose your companion, and become the Champion!