Generation 2 gave players a choice of Chikorita (Grass), Cyndaquil (Fire) and Totodile (Water). On our early-game matchup score Cyndaquil comes first, Totodile second and Chikorita third.
Each starter below has its full evolution line with the level of every evolution. The score is explained near the end.
Cyndaquil stays a Fire type through its whole line
!Cyndaquil official artwork !Quilava official artwork !Typhlosion official artwork
Cyndaquil becomes Quilava at level 14 and Quilava becomes Typhlosion at level 36.
Typhlosion has 534 base stats in total. Its best stat is special attack at 109.
Cyndaquil's first damaging moves are Tackle at level 1 and Ember at level 12.
Totodile stays a Water type through its whole line
!Totodile official artwork !Croconaw official artwork !Feraligatr official artwork
Totodile becomes Croconaw at level 18 and Croconaw becomes Feraligatr at level 30.
Feraligatr has 530 base stats in total. Its best stat is attack at 105.
Totodile's first damaging moves are Scratch at level 1 and Rage at level 7.
Chikorita stays a Grass type through its whole line
!Chikorita official artwork !Bayleef official artwork !Meganium official artwork
Chikorita becomes Bayleef at level 16 and Bayleef becomes Meganium at level 32.
Meganium has 525 base stats in total. Its best stat is defense at 100.
Chikorita's first damaging moves are Tackle at level 1 and Razor Leaf at level 8.
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 | |---|---|---|---| | Cyndaquil | 9 | 24 | 0.38 | | Totodile | -3 | 24 | -0.12 | | Chikorita | -18 | 24 | -0.75 |
The totals add up the games that use these starters: Gold and Silver, Crystal and HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Where to get them
- Gold and Silver: which one to pick in Gold and Silver - Crystal: which one to pick in Crystal - HeartGold and SoulSilver: which one to pick in HeartGold and SoulSilver
Gen 2 starters FAQ
Which is the best Gen 2 starter?
Cyndaquil. It has the highest matchup score of the three.
Which Gen 2 starter has the strongest final form?
Typhlosion has the highest base stat total at 534.
