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Which Starter Should You Choose in Pokémon Scarlet? A Deep Dive for Paldea’s New Trainers

So, you’re about to embark on your Paldean adventure in Pokémon Scarlet, and the age-old question looms large: Which starter should you pick? Unlike some previous generations, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet don’t present an immediately obvious “best” choice. However, based on early game advantages, gym order, and overall viability, Fuecoco, the Fire Croc Pokémon, emerges as a strong contender for the best starter for navigating the main story.

Why Fuecoco Might Be Your Best Bet

While all three starters – Fuecoco (Fire), Sprigatito (Grass), and Quaxly (Water) – have their merits, Fuecoco’s early game type matchups give it a distinct advantage. Let’s break it down:

Early Gym Dominance: If you follow the recommended gym order, Fuecoco shines. Its Fire-typing allows it to easily overcome Katy (Bug) and Brassius (Grass) in the early stages. This provides a significant boost in confidence and resources as you begin your journey.
Fire-Type Availability: Unlike Water and Grass types, powerful Fire-type Pokémon can be somewhat scarce in the early routes of Paldea. Choosing Fuecoco ensures you have a reliable Fire-type on your team from the very beginning.
Skeledirge’s Strength: Fuecoco’s final evolution, Skeledirge, boasts a fantastic Fire/Ghost typing, granting it excellent offensive coverage and immunity to Normal-type attacks. Its signature move, Torch Song, is a powerful Fire-type attack that also boosts Skeledirge’s Special Attack, making it a formidable opponent.

Analyzing the Alternatives: Sprigatito and Quaxly

While Fuecoco offers a strong start, don’t dismiss the other starters entirely.

Sprigatito: The Grass Cat Pokémon, Sprigatito, evolves into Meowscarada (Grass/Dark). It’s a speedy, physical attacker with a strong design. However, it struggles against the early Bug-type gym and faces competition from other Grass-types in the region. Some argue Meowscarada ends up being the strongest out of the 3 because of type matchups and its high speed.
Quaxly: This Water-type Duckling evolves into Quaquaval (Water/Fighting). Quaquaval has a unique design and access to powerful Fighting-type moves. While some recommend it for PvP battles, it’s disadvantageous against the Grass gym and doesn’t offer the same early-game advantages as Fuecoco.

Ultimately, the “best” starter depends on your playstyle and team-building preferences. However, for a smoother early game and a powerful late-game presence, Fuecoco remains a solid choice.

Beyond the Starter: The Scarlet Experience

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet revolutionize the Pokémon formula with an open-world structure, three distinct storylines (Victory Road, Path of Legends, and Starfall Street), and the ability to tackle challenges in any order. This freedom is what makes the game so engaging, and this is something that video games have been doing to help students with reading skills. The Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ aims to understand the relationship between the world of gaming and educational practices. This is something that is very interesting to the gaming community!

The Three Paths

Victory Road (Gym Challenge): Test your skills against the eight Gym Leaders of Paldea and become a Champion.
Path of Legends (Titan Pokémon): Team up with Arven to battle massive Titan Pokémon and gather Herba Mystica.
Starfall Street (Team Star): Confront the rebellious students of Team Star and uncover their motivations.

Making Your Decision

Consider your preferred playstyle, team-building preferences, and the Pokémon you’re hoping to catch along the way. All three starters are viable and offer unique strengths.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to help you make your final decision about the starter you should pick in Pokemon Scarlet:

Is there a “best” starter in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Not definitively. All three starters are viable. However, Fuecoco offers early-game advantages due to its type matchups against early gyms.
What is the recommended gym order in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

The generally recommended order is: Bug, Grass, Electric, Water, Normal, Ice, Ghost, and Psychic.
Which starter is best against the first gym leader (Katy)?

Fuecoco’s Fire-typing makes it super effective against Katy’s Bug-type Pokémon.
Which starter is the most popular among players?

According to a Famitsu survey, Sprigatito is the most popular starter. However, popularity doesn’t necessarily equate to the “best” choice for gameplay.
Can I get all three starters in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Yes! By transferring a Pokémon from Scarlet or Violet to Pokémon Home, you’ll receive all three starters with their hidden abilities as Mystery Gifts.
Are the starters shiny locked in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Yes, the starters you receive at the beginning of the game are shiny locked, meaning you cannot obtain them as shiny through resetting.
What are the final typings of the starter evolutions?

Skeledirge (Fuecoco) is Fire/Ghost, Meowscarada (Sprigatito) is Grass/Dark, and Quaquaval (Quaxly) is Water/Fighting.
Does the version I choose (Scarlet or Violet) affect which starter is best?

No, the version doesn’t directly affect the starter choice. Version exclusives influence Pokémon availability in the wild but don’t impact the starters’ strengths.
Which starter is best for Nuzlocke challenges?

Some believe Fuecoco is the “most broken starter in Nuzlocke history.”
Is Sprigatito a bad starter?

No, Sprigatito is not a bad starter. It is one of the best starters overall.
If you had to pick one starter for a first-time player, which would it be?

Fuecoco is a very strong starter to pick in the beginning.
What’s the best order to play Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Best Progression Route in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Cortondo Gym (Bug) – Level 14. Stony Cliff Titan Klawf (Rock) – Level 16. Artazon Gym (Grass) – Level 16. Open Sky Titan Bombirdier (Flying) – Level 19. Team Star Dark Crew (Dark) – Level 20. Levincia Gym (Electric) – Level 23. Team Star Fire Crew (Fire) – Level 26.
Is Pokémon Scarlet and Violet hard to beat?

With its lack of level scaling, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet has shaped up to be one of the more difficult games in the Pokémon mainline series.
Is Pokémon Scarlet and Violet worth it?

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet are decent games that introduce many other new unique features to the fanbase.
Which one is more popular scarlet or violet?

Violet is more popular so the version exclusives are more common.

Ultimately, the best starter is the one you connect with the most. Choose the Pokémon that excites you, and enjoy your journey through the Paldea region!

Which starter Scarlet?