Ultimate Starter Guide for Pokémon Legends: Z-A

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Pokémon Legends: Z-A starts by giving you a choice of three starter Pokémon at the beginning of your adventure. This time, your options are Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile. To get the most out of your playthrough, it’s helpful to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each starter Pokémon before making your decision.

Since the game focuses heavily on battles and competing in the Z-A Royale, choosing the best starter depends on how well each Pokémon can handle opponents as you progress. At the start, the types are fairly evenly balanced with Water-, Grass-, and Fire-type Pokémon found across the wild zones. But as you climb higher in rank, building a reliable team and using moves that are super effective becomes more crucial.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Pros and Cons of Each Starter Pokémon in Legends: Z-A

In the game, the three starter options are Grass-type Chikorita, Fire-type Tepig, and Water-type Totodile. Initially, each is pretty balanced, but their final evolutions can influence your strategic choices as the story unfolds, so think about how the evolutions fit into your team.

Chikorita and Its Final Evolution, Bayleef

Bayleef is strong against Water-types but isn’t particularly valuable just for that, especially with many Electric-types scattered throughout the game. Plus, early on, Lumiose City has plenty of Fire-types, like Fletchling and its evolutions, which can challenge Chikorita. However, later in the game, Bayleef can be a useful member of your team. Still, with many Grass-types available in wild zones, catching and evolving one may serve more as a choice than a necessity.

Tepig and Its Final Evolution, Emboar

Tepig’s Fire-type moves are useful during key parts of the game, especially since its evolutions learn Fighting-type moves, which are helpful because Fighting-types aren’t common in this game. Emboar can also handle tough situations, like fighting off Rogue Mega Evolution Victreebel. However, early in the game, you’ll likely choose a different starter through a side quest, and Mega Charizard is very popular among players. As a result, having Emboar as your main Fire-type might not be as valuable, especially if your team already includes a strong Grass- or Water-type.

Totodile and Its Final Evolution, Feraligatr

Totodile is a Water-type, which could seem less ideal early on due to Electric- and Grass-types in the starting zones. Feraligatr is powerful but can be a bit slow. Using Water, Dark, and Dragon moves can turn this into an advantage. The main challenge with Totodile is fighting Electric-type Pokémon, which are common, especially in Lumiose City. You’ll likely face some tough battles, such as against Canari, but having other Pokémon in your team will help you overcome these obstacles.

Which Starter Should You Choose?

Is there a clear best choice for the Z-A Royale?
Fortunately, Pokémon Legends: Z-A does a good job of keeping things balanced, regardless of which starter you pick. Your rival will get the two Pokémon you don’t choose, so you’ll often face them with similar strengths, and avoiding battles with Pokémon that are super effective against yours can help you climb the ranks smoothly.

You’ll still encounter important battles, including Promotion Matches and fights against Rogue Mega Evolution Pokémon, no matter your starter. Keeping a balanced team is key. If you don’t have a personal favorite, Totodile might have a slight edge because of the variety of types it offers, which can be useful throughout your adventure.

Overall, no matter which starter you pick, with good strategy and a balanced team, you’ll be able to succeed in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.