Generation 4 gave players a choice of Turtwig (Grass), Chimchar (Fire) and Piplup (Water). On our early-game matchup score Piplup comes first, Turtwig second and Chimchar third.
Each starter below has its full evolution line with the level of every evolution. The score is explained near the end.
Piplup starts as a Water type and ends as a Water and Steel type
!Piplup official artwork !Prinplup official artwork !Empoleon official artwork
Piplup becomes Prinplup at level 16 and Prinplup becomes Empoleon at level 36.
Empoleon has 530 base stats in total. Its best stat is special attack at 111.
Piplup's first damaging moves are Pound at level 1 and Bubble at level 8.
Turtwig starts as a Grass type and ends as a Grass and Ground type
!Turtwig official artwork !Grotle official artwork !Torterra official artwork
Turtwig becomes Grotle at level 18 and Grotle becomes Torterra at level 32.
Torterra has 525 base stats in total. Its best stat is attack at 109.
Turtwig's first damaging moves are Tackle at level 1 and Absorb at level 9.
Chimchar starts as a Fire type and ends as a Fire and Fighting type
!Chimchar official artwork !Monferno official artwork !Infernape official artwork
Chimchar becomes Monferno at level 14 and Monferno becomes Infernape at level 36.
Infernape has 534 base stats in total. Its best stat is speed at 108.
Chimchar's first damaging moves are Scratch at level 1 and Ember at level 7.
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 | |---|---|---|---| | Piplup | 10 | 32 | 0.31 | | Turtwig | 7 | 32 | 0.22 | | Chimchar | 3 | 32 | 0.09 |
The totals add up the games that use these starters: Diamond and Pearl, Platinum and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
Where to get them
- Diamond and Pearl: which one to pick in Diamond and Pearl - Platinum: which one to pick in Platinum - Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl: which one to pick in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Gen 4 starters FAQ
Which is the best Gen 4 starter?
Piplup. It has the highest matchup score of the three.
Which Gen 4 starter has the strongest final form?
Infernape has the highest base stat total at 534.
