Best starter Pokémon choice in Legends Z-A explained

Best starter Pokémon choice in Legends Z-A explained

Totodile is the best starter Pokémon in Legends: Z-A in my opinion. It has the highest Attack stat out of the three, the lowest number of weaknesses and has the advantage of reaching its final evolution a lot earlier compared to the other two.

Chikorita is a close second. Its strong defensive stats combined with moves like Leech Seed give it the potential to become a strong tank later on. While there are some good early game Grass-type alternatives, both require the same amount of effort, or slightly more, to reach Chikorita's potential.

Tepig sadly sits in third, because, while it's the only dual type, its balanced stats mean it doesn't truly excel at either attack nor defense. Houndour is also the perfect early game alternative for anyone who doesn't want to choose Tepig!

This decision was made by comparing the stats for all three starter Pokémon at the beginning of the game (listed below), along with their weaknesses, any special features and early-game alternatives.

It's important to note that you only start facing type-themed Promotional Matches (Legends: Z-A's version of Gym Leaders) until over a quarter ways into the game. At this point, you'll have access to far more wild Pokémon. When it comes to Rogue Mega Pokémon, the first batch each have one perfect for your chosen starter. Due to this, I did not take either of these aspects into my decision making.

Pokémon also don't have Abilities in Legends: Z-A, so I haven't taken them into consideration either.

Quick note - your starter Pokémon will be Shiny Locked. This means you'll have to wait until you're much futher into the game to get shiny versions of these Pokémon. If you want to know more about catching shinies and Shiny Locked Pokémon in Lumiose City, here's our Pokemon Legends: Z-A shiny hunting guide.

With that out of the way, let's take a look at those starter Pokémon beginning stats!

Starter Pokémon beginning stats

This is because you'll be thrown into a battle where you'll earn enough EXP to reach this level immediately after choosing your starter. Due to this, there's no reason to consider the Level 5 stats.

Totodile

• Type - Water
• Strong against - Fire, Ground, Rock
• Weaknesses - Electric, Grass
• Resistances - Fire, Ice, Steel, Water
• Resisted by - Dragon, Grass, Water

If you're looking for a powerful Water-type attacker, then look no further than Totodile. Coming right out of the door with the best attack-based stats for the starter Pokémon, Totodile is a Pokémon who can deal strong damage and continue to do so. This attack power will only continue to grow as you train it and, once it evolves into Feraligatr, you could have an unstoppable Pokémon on your hands.

On the subject of Feraligatr, Totodile has the added bonus of being the quickest starter Pokémon to reach its final evolution. Unlike other starter Pokémon who typically reach their final evolutions around Level 34 to 36, Croconaw evolves into Feraligatr at Level 30. Thanks to this, you'll most likely have a Pokémon that outstrips some of the NPC trainers a lot earlier than planned if you go with Totodile.

It's also worth mentioning that, compared to the other starter Pokémon, Totodile has the lowest number of weaknesses. Only two in fact. Yes, both can easily crush the alligator (especially Electric-types) but it significantly lowers the number of Pokémon you need to worry about.

If you don't fancy choosing Totodile, however, then there's two solid Water-type alternatives available to you in Legends: Z-A's early game. Both Magikarp and Staryu can be found in Wild Zone 2. The downside with Magikarp is, as always, it will be Magikarp until it reaches Level 20. At this point, however, it will shed its useless scales and become Gyarados - a Water and Flying-type, with the capability to Mega Evolve into a Water and Dark-type. On the other hand, Staryu can evolve into the Water and Psychic-type Starmie with the use of a Water-Stone. Sure, you'll need to find or buy this stone but it can be a powerful Pokémon in the right hands.

Chikorita

• Type - Grass
• Strong against - Ground, Water, Rock
• Weaknesses - Bug, Fire, Flying, Ice, Poison
• Resistances - Electric, Grass, Ground, Water
• Resisted by - Bug, Dragon, Fire, Flying, Grass, Poison, Steel

Chikorita is the best option if you want a starter Pokémon with strong defensive stats. Its high Defense stat, combined with its Special Defense stat, easily make up for its HP and sizable weakness list. This means, even if it might not look like it, Chikorita can easily take a hit in battle and might be able to survive an attack from one of its weaknesses early on in the game. Though maybe not two…

Best of all, Chikorita has the potential to become a powerful tank. Since, like many Grass-types, it can learn Leech Seed and, later, Giga Drain. These attacks both allow Chikorita to heal itself in battle without use of healing items as it takes this health from its opponent! The added bonus of this is how it allows you to be more tactical with Legends: Z-A's health item cooldown mechanic. Since you can rely on Chikorita to heal itself, you're freed up to focus on healing your Pokémon currently not in battle.

While there are two good Grass-type alternatives to Chikorita in Legends: Z-A's early game, they both require some work to become strong contenders. Firstly, Bellsprout can be found in Wild Zone 5. Victreebel, its final evolution, can be powerful but you will need a Leaf Stone to evolve Weepinbell. (Though it does have a Mega Evolution form.) Budew, meanwhile, is located in Wild Zone 2. Now it can become the powerful Roserade, but you'll need a high Friendship Level to evolve Budew into Roserade and a Shiny Stone for that final evolution.

The advantage Bellsprout and Budew (well Roserade) have over Chikorita is that they're Grass and Poison-type Pokémon. Due to this, they are super effective against Grass and Fairy-types. With the latter being quite the troublesome type to counter at times.

Tepig

• Type - Fire (Becomes Fire and Fighting after evolving into Pignite)
• Strong against (for Fire / Fighting) - Bug, Dark, Grass, Ice, Steel
• Weaknesses (for Fire / Fighting) - Flying, Ground, Psychic, Water
• Resistances (for Fire / Fighting) - Bug, Dark, Fire, Grass, Ice, Steel
• Resisted by (for Fire / Fighting) - Ground, Psychic, Rock, Water

Out of the three starter Pokémon, Tepig has the most balanced stats when it comes to the division between Attack and Defense. The added bonus is that it has the highest HP. This means you'll get a good which can deal solid attacks, defend itself well and the HP to stay in battle a good amount of time when not facing one of its weaknesses. Rolled together, this means that Tepig has the potential to become an incredibly powerful Fire-type Pokémon if you select its moves correctly. The downside, however, is that Tepig will only ever truly excel at having high HP. Though its Attack stat does grow as it evolves.

Alongside this, Tepig is the only starter Pokémon which will become a dual type after it evolves - becoming a Fire and Fighting-type once you reach Pignite. This will change the Pokémon it has an advantage over, even letting it deal strong attacks against its fellow Fire-types.

Finally, it's important to note that, compared to other starters, Tepig only has one true alternative in the early game. What an alternative it is though! Houndour can be found in the Wild Zone 6. As a Dark and Fire-type Pokémon, Houndour can burn Grass-types before chomping on both Dark and Ghost-types. Once evolved into Houndoom, you'll also be able to Mega Evolve it (if you have the Mega Stone that is). Honestly, Houndour is the perfect alternative for Tepig.

Fletchling and Litleo are also two alternative Fire-type choices, but they each have a disadvantage. Firstly, Fletchling only becomes a dual Fire and Flying-type once you've evolved it into Fletchinder. At this point, it will also gain a quadruple weakness to Rock-types, which could become problematic. Meanwhile Litleo is a Fire and Normal-type Pokémon for some reason. A very odd combination as the Normal-typing doesn't have an advantage over any other Pokémon type.

When it comes to Tepig alternatives, it's Houndour or bust.

Chikorita, Totodile and Tepig final evolutions Meganium, Feraligatr and Emboar at a glance

Meganium, Feraligatr and Emboar are the final evolutions for Chikorita, Totodile and Tepig respectively. Below you'll find the Levels at which each starter Pokémon evolves and what their typing is:

Chikorita

• All evolutions are Grass-type
• Bayleef - Level 16
• Meganium - Level 32

Totodile

• All evolutions are Water-type
• Croconaw - Level 18
• Feraligatr - Level 30

Tepig

• Tepig is a Fire-type, then Pignite and Emboar are Fire and Fighting-types
• Pignite - Level 17
• Emboar - Level 36

There's one final thing you should know about the starter Pokémon in Legends: Z-A, but be warned - it is a spoiler.

I've hidden this all the way down here to avoid spoilers, so here's your last chance. I'm going to write it.

Each of the final evolutions for the starter Pokémon have a Mega Evolution. This shouldn't really be a surprise since Legends: Z-A is the 'Mega Evolution' game, but better safe than sorry.

Mega Meganium is a Grass and Fairy-type, Mega Feraligatr is a Water and Dragon-type and Mega Emboar remains a Fire and Fighting-type. Poor Mega Emboar... I hope it doesn't feel left out.

Best of luck picking the right starter Pokémon for you in Legends Z-A!