Generation 5 gave players a choice of Snivy (Grass), Tepig (Fire) and Oshawott (Water). On our early-game matchup score Tepig comes first, Oshawott second and Snivy third.
Each starter below has its full evolution line with the level of every evolution. The score is explained near the end.
Tepig starts as a Fire type and ends as a Fire and Fighting type
!Tepig official artwork !Pignite official artwork !Emboar official artwork
Tepig becomes Pignite at level 17 and Pignite becomes Emboar at level 36.
Emboar has 528 base stats in total. Its best stat is attack at 123.
Tepig's first damaging moves are Tackle at level 1 and Ember at level 7.
Oshawott stays a Water type through its whole line
!Oshawott official artwork !Dewott official artwork !Samurott official artwork
Oshawott becomes Dewott at level 17 and Dewott becomes Samurott at level 36.
Samurott has 528 base stats in total. Its best stat is special attack at 108.
Oshawott's first damaging moves are Tackle at level 1 and Water Gun at level 7.
Snivy stays a Grass type through its whole line
!Snivy official artwork !Servine official artwork !Serperior official artwork
Snivy becomes Servine at level 17 and Servine becomes Serperior at level 36.
Serperior has 528 base stats in total. Its best stat is speed at 113.
Snivy's first damaging moves are Tackle at level 1 and Vine Whip 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 | |---|---|---|---| | Tepig | 8 | 14 | 0.57 | | Oshawott | 0 | 14 | 0.0 | | Snivy | -10 | 14 | -0.71 |
The totals add up the games that use these starters: Black and White and Black 2 and White 2.
Where to get them
- Black and White: which one to pick in Black and White - Black 2 and White 2: which one to pick in Black 2 and White 2
Gen 5 starters FAQ
Which is the best Gen 5 starter?
Tepig. It has the highest matchup score of the three.
Which Gen 5 starter has the strongest final form?
Serperior has the highest base stat total at 528.
