Generation 7 gave players a choice of Rowlet (Grass and Flying), Litten (Fire) and Popplio (Water). On our early-game matchup score Rowlet comes first, Popplio second and Litten third.
Each starter below has its full evolution line with the level of every evolution. The score is explained near the end.
Rowlet starts as a Grass and Flying type and ends as a Grass and Ghost type
!Rowlet official artwork !Dartrix official artwork !Decidueye official artwork
Rowlet becomes Dartrix at level 17 and Dartrix becomes Decidueye at level 34.
Decidueye has 530 base stats in total. Its best stat is attack at 107.
Rowlet's first damaging moves are Leafage at level 1 and Tackle at level 1.
Popplio starts as a Water type and ends as a Water and Fairy type
!Popplio official artwork !Brionne official artwork !Primarina official artwork
Popplio becomes Brionne at level 17 and Brionne becomes Primarina at level 34.
Primarina has 530 base stats in total. Its best stat is special attack at 126.
Popplio's first damaging moves are Pound at level 1 and Water Gun at level 1.
Litten starts as a Fire type and ends as a Fire and Dark type
!Litten official artwork !Torracat official artwork !Incineroar official artwork
Litten becomes Torracat at level 17 and Torracat becomes Incineroar at level 34.
Incineroar has 530 base stats in total. Its best stat is attack at 115.
Litten's first damaging moves are Ember at level 1 and Scratch at level 1.
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 | |---|---|---|---| | Rowlet | 12 | 10 | 1.2 | | Popplio | 6 | 10 | 0.6 | | Litten | 0 | 10 | 0.0 |
The totals add up the games that use these starters: Sun and Moon and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Where to get them
- Sun and Moon: which one to pick in Sun and Moon - Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon: which one to pick in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
Gen 7 starters FAQ
Which is the best Gen 7 starter?
Rowlet. It has the highest matchup score of the three.
Which Gen 7 starter has the strongest final form?
Decidueye has the highest base stat total at 530.
