Generation 1 gave players a choice of Bulbasaur (Grass and Poison), Charmander (Fire) and Squirtle (Water). On our early-game matchup score Bulbasaur comes first, Squirtle second and Charmander third.
Each starter below has its full evolution line with the level of every evolution. The score is explained near the end.
Bulbasaur stays a Grass and Poison type through its whole line
!Bulbasaur official artwork !Ivysaur official artwork !Venusaur official artwork
Bulbasaur becomes Ivysaur at level 16 and Ivysaur becomes Venusaur at level 32.
Venusaur has 525 base stats in total. Its best stat is special attack at 100.
Bulbasaur's first damaging moves are Tackle at level 1 and Vine Whip at level 13.
Squirtle stays a Water type through its whole line
!Squirtle official artwork !Wartortle official artwork !Blastoise official artwork
Squirtle becomes Wartortle at level 16 and Wartortle becomes Blastoise at level 36.
Blastoise has 530 base stats in total. Its best stat is special defense at 105.
Squirtle's first damaging moves are Tackle at level 1 and Bubble at level 8.
Charmander starts as a Fire type and ends as a Fire and Flying type
!Charmander official artwork !Charmeleon official artwork !Charizard official artwork
Charmander becomes Charmeleon at level 16 and Charmeleon becomes Charizard at level 36.
Charizard has 534 base stats in total. Its best stat is special attack at 109.
Charmander's first damaging moves are Scratch at level 1 and Ember at level 9.
How we ranked them
We gave each starter points for every Pokemon in the first three Gyms of each game, plus your rival's first battle where the game ties the rival's starter to yours. Games without Gyms use their first early fights instead. A starter gets one point when a damaging move it has learned by then is super effective on that Pokemon, and loses one point when all its moves are not very effective or have no effect. It gets one point when none of the opposing Pokemon's types is super effective on the starter, and loses one when one of them is. The type chart is the current one.
| Starter | Matchup score | Opposing Pokemon | Score per Pokemon | |---|---|---|---| | Bulbasaur | 13 | 15 | 0.87 | | Squirtle | 0 | 15 | 0.0 | | Charmander | -9 | 15 | -0.6 |
The totals add up the games that use these starters: Red and Blue and FireRed and LeafGreen.
Where to get them
- Red and Blue: which one to pick in Red and Blue - FireRed and LeafGreen: which one to pick in FireRed and LeafGreen
Gen 1 starters FAQ
Which is the best Gen 1 starter?
Bulbasaur. It has the highest matchup score of the three.
Which Gen 1 starter has the strongest final form?
Charizard has the highest base stat total at 534.
