Generation 3 gave players a choice of Treecko (Grass), Torchic (Fire) and Mudkip (Water). On our early-game matchup score Mudkip comes first, Treecko second and Torchic third.
Each starter below has its full evolution line with the level of every evolution. The score is explained near the end.
Mudkip starts as a Water type and ends as a Water and Ground type
!Mudkip official artwork !Marshtomp official artwork !Swampert official artwork
Mudkip becomes Marshtomp at level 16 and Marshtomp becomes Swampert at level 36.
Swampert has 535 base stats in total. Its best stat is attack at 110.
Mudkip's first damaging moves are Tackle at level 1 and Mud Slap at level 6.
Treecko stays a Grass type through its whole line
!Treecko official artwork !Grovyle official artwork !Sceptile official artwork
Treecko becomes Grovyle at level 16 and Grovyle becomes Sceptile at level 36.
Sceptile has 530 base stats in total. Its best stat is speed at 120.
Treecko's first damaging moves are Pound at level 1 and Absorb at level 6.
Torchic starts as a Fire type and ends as a Fire and Fighting type
!Torchic official artwork !Combusken official artwork !Blaziken official artwork
Torchic becomes Combusken at level 16 and Combusken becomes Blaziken at level 36.
Blaziken has 530 base stats in total. Its best stat is attack at 120.
Torchic's first damaging moves are Scratch at level 1 and Ember at level 10.
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 | |---|---|---|---| | Mudkip | 27 | 24 | 1.12 | | Treecko | 12 | 24 | 0.5 | | Torchic | -3 | 24 | -0.12 |
The totals add up the games that use these starters: Ruby and Sapphire, Emerald and Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
Where to get them
- Ruby and Sapphire: which one to pick in Ruby and Sapphire - Emerald: which one to pick in Emerald - Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire: which one to pick in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Gen 3 starters FAQ
Which is the best Gen 3 starter?
Mudkip. It has the highest matchup score of the three.
Which Gen 3 starter has the strongest final form?
Swampert has the highest base stat total at 535.
