Pokemon: Every Generation’s Worst Starter, Ranked

Starter Pokemon are some of the most beloved Pokemon in the entire Pokemon franchise, and it’s easy to see why since they have a whole lot of love and character infused into their designs. As the first partner Pokemon that Trainers get their hands on, they have a big role to fill as the stalwart companions over a long and arduous journey to become the very best.

But not every starter Pokemon is as useful as the others. There’s often one choice in every new Pokemon generation that’s just not as good as its companions, whether that’s in terms of its popularity or its utility in battle.

Updated May 31, 2024, by Ewan Selmes: The Pokemon franchise continues to grow and innovate, updating older Pokemon with new moves, tweaks to learnsets, and even brand-new Abilities for fan-favorite Pokemon. Each new entry to the series, along with the franchise’s new approach of releasing DLC and updates, gives players more opportunities to use their favorite Pokemon. Of course, these changes benefit some Pokemon more than others. Here’s an updated list of the worst starter Pokemon in each generation.

10 Quaxly, Quaxwell, Quaquaval

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Generation 9

Introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet as the Paldea region’s Water-type starter Pokemon, Quaxly is a cute little duck. Unfortunately for Quaxly, its final evolution, Quaquaval, suffers from middling stats, with the sole exception of its powerful Attack stat.

Many Pokemon fans took issue with its funky design choices, but it has its own legions of fans too. Still, it simply isn’t as useful as Skeledirge or Meowscarada. The other two starters’ final evolutions push the Water-type into last place thanks to their much better signature moves and winning design themes.

9 Cyndaquil, Quilava, Hisuian Typhlosion

Pokemon Legends Arceus: Generation 8

Cyndaquil has been a popular starter Pokemon since its introduction in Pokemon Gold and Silver, having legions of dedicated fans. It’s a great Pokemon. But in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, it’s just not as useful as its competitors, Rowlet and Oshawott.

Rowlet is great throughout the game, while Oshawott offers a strong starting position with super-effective moves against Noble Pokemon Kleavor. In contrast, Cyndaquil doesn’t offer quite as many advantages, being a solid performer but without the early efficacy of Oshawott, and the later game flexibility of Hisuian Decidueye.

But its fantastic new design and the addition of the Ghost type has meant that Hisuian Typhlosion has many fans of its own. And thanks to the large roster of Pokemon available in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, it’s easy to build an effective team no matter the choice of starter Pokemon. What’s more, H-Typhlosion’s Signature Attack, Infernal Parade, is a real scorcher.

8 Sobble, Drizzile, Inteleon

Pokemon Sword and Shield: Generation 8

A great Pokemon in its own right, Sobble is nevertheless the worst of the starter Pokemon in its trio. Introduced in Pokemon Sword and Shield, Sobble has a cute design, and in its final evolution, Inteleon, is a powerful Special Attacker. Sobble is a bit of a glass cannon, and it’s nowhere near as effective as Cinderace with the Libero Hidden Ability. Make no mistake, Sobble and its evolutions are fantastic Pokemon and do well in any playthrough. They just aren’t quite as good as the competition.

When little Sobble evolves into Inteleon, it can use the powerful Snipe Shot move. With the Gigantamax Factor, it can become Gigantamax Inteleon, which has an awesome and exclusive G-Max Move, G-Max Hydrosnipe. This is a great move, but it’s still not quite as good as what Cinderace or Rillaboom get, putting poor Sobble in last place for its generation.

7 Rowlet, Dartrix, Decidueye

Pokemon Sun and Moon: Generation 7

Pokemon Sun and Moon introduced players to the tropical island paradise of Alola, and with it came three new starter Pokemon. All three options were great, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, but the worst choice in this generation is Rowlet. Rowlet is a cute little bird, and its final evolution, Decidueye, is great in battle and has a fantastic design. While Rowlet is great to start with, its weaknesses become more apparent as the game goes on. On the other hand, its competitors become more useful.

Although a fantastic Pokemon in its own right, neither it nor its evolutions can compete with the competitive efficacy or the in-game utility of Litten or Popplio. Incineroar, Litten’s final evolution, is a real beast of the competitive scene, especially with its Intimidate Hidden Abilit. Meanwhile, Popplio and Primarina are beloved by fans and have nice utility in the game.

6 Chespin, Quilladin, Chesnaught

Pokemon X and Y: Generation 6

The Grass-type starter Pokemon for Pokemon X and Y, Chespin has an adorable design. Evolving into the powerful and bulky Chesnaught, it gains the Fighting type too. But Chespin and Chesnaught don’t really stand out at all in what was admittedly a tight competition. Super cute Fire-type starter Fennekin, and Water-type starter Froakie, are both much more popular and more useful options.

Froakie’s final evolution, Greninja, was so popular it even got a special form in the game based on Ash Ketchum’s Greninja from the Pokemon anime. Such heavy competition puts Chespin squarely in last place for Kalos, despite its decent stats, nice movepool, and great theming.

5 Snivy, Servine, Serperior

Pokemon Black and White: Generation 5

The Grass-type starter Pokemon from Pokemon Black and White, Snivy is a starter Pokemon with attitude. As a pure Grass-type Pokemon, Snivy is at a major disadvantage throughout the game. Its companions, Tepig and Oshawott, are just a bit more useful. Snivy’s Hidden Ability, Contrary, can make it somewhat useful competitively. But its lack of utility in its debut generation makes it the worst choice of starter Pokemon.

Its final evolution, Serperior, has a great design theme. However, its Grass type leaves it with a weakness to many Gym Leaders, including late-game Gym Leader Brycen, an Ice-type master. Unfortunately for Snivy, Oshawott and Tepig fare better during normal gameplay.

4 Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: Generation 4

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl’s Grass-type starter Pokemon Turtwig has a great design that’s full of character. It evolves into the brilliant Grass/Ground dual-type,Torterra. Unfortunately, Turtwig has stiff competition. The Fire-type starter of its generation, Chimchar, is one of the only viable Fire types in the Sinnoh region, making it an easy choice for many players.

Even worse for Turtwig, Piplup’s final evolution, Empoleon, has a great dual type with the defensive Steel type, whereas Torterra has a lot of weaknesses. Turtwig slides further back thanks to Empoleon’s fantastic Hidden Ability Competitive, which boosts Sp. Atk. whenever its stats are lowered. Despite its stellar design theme, Torterra languishes in last place.

3 Torchic, Combusken, Blaziken

Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire: Generation III

Generation 3’s Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire featured a host of strong and powerful Pokemon for players to catch and use in battle, and the starter trio was no exception. Fire-type starter Pokemon Torchic evolves into the powerful and super cool Blaziken, the first Fire/Fighting type starter Pokemon featured in the franchise.

Unfortunately, Torchic simply isn’t as useful as its two companions. Grass-type Treecko has great utility against the region’s many Water-type Pokemon as well as against Gym Leaders, and Swampert is a great choice all around. Blaziken fared better on the competitive scene, especially in more recent generations with its Hidden Ability Speed Boost. But during its debut generation, Torchic made for a difficult adventure through Hoenn.

2 Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium

Pokemon Gold and Silver: Generation 2

Although Chikorita’s final evolution, Meganium, is one of the strongest Pokemon in Pokemon Gold and Silver, it also takes the position as the worst starter in its generation. Chikorita, Bayleef, and Meganium all suffer from the Grass-type’s relative weakness in Johto.

Chikorita and its evolutions have less-than-favorable matchups for most of Johto’s Gyms, being most useful in the post-game Kanto portion of Gold and Silver. Chikorita and its evolutions have shallow movepools without many options for coverage, and in Generation 2’s Johto and Kanto, that’s a big problem. Totodile and Cyndaquil simply offer more utility and are stronger during the usual course of gameplay.

1 Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard

Pokemon Red and Blue: Generation 1

Cute, charming, and beloved by legions of adoring fans, Charmander is also the worst starter of its Generation. Grass-type Bulbasaur and Water-type Squirtle were both much more useful choices in Pokemon Red and Blue. Bulbasaur in particular is a great choice for many of the region’s Gyms, including the first two. Charmander, by contrast, is a poor choice until mid-game, being useful only for the Grass-type Pokemon Gym.

Charizard has great stats and a nice movepool, and is one of the best Fire type Pokemon available in Pokemon Red and Blue. It’s just not as useful over the course of the game as Bulbasaur or Squirtle. Still, Charizard is one of the most popular Pokemon of all time and has had many, many appearances in the anime, spin-off games, and main series. it’s even gotten two exclusive Mega Evolutions.