Pokemon Diamond and Pearl starts you with a choice of Turtwig (Grass), Chimchar (Fire) and Piplup (Water). We would pick Piplup: it has the edge on Roark.
The pick matters most at the start. We looked at your rival's first battle and the first three Gyms. The sections below show how each starter does.
Piplup has the easiest start
Piplup starts as a Water type. It evolves into Prinplup at level 16 and into Empoleon at level 36. Empoleon is a Water and Steel type with 530 base stats in total.
Early on it starts with Pound, learns Bubble at level 8 and gets Peck at level 15.
If you take Piplup, your rival Barry answers with a level 9 Turtwig.
Piplup has the edge on Roark and has a hard time against your rival Barry. Its matchup score is 4 across 11 opposing Pokemon.
Turtwig is the middle pick
The Grass type Turtwig is one of the choices. It evolves into Grotle at level 18 and into Torterra at level 32. Torterra is a Grass and Ground type with 525 base stats in total.
At the start it starts with Tackle, picks up Absorb at level 9 and learns Razor Leaf at level 13.
If you take Turtwig, your rival Barry answers with a level 9 Chimchar.
Turtwig has the edge on Roark and has a hard time against your rival Barry. Its matchup score is 1 across 11 opposing Pokemon.
Chimchar has the hardest start
Chimchar starts as a Fire type. It evolves into Monferno at level 14 and into Infernape at level 36. Infernape is a Fire and Fighting type with 534 base stats in total.
Early on it starts with Leer and Scratch, picks up Ember at level 7 and gets Fury Swipes at level 15.
If you take Chimchar, your rival Barry answers with a level 9 Piplup.
Chimchar has the edge on Gardenia and has a hard time against your rival Barry and Roark. Its matchup score is -1 across 11 opposing Pokemon.
The three starters side by side
| Starter | Type | Final form | Base stats | Matchup score | |---|---|---|---|---| | Turtwig | Grass | Torterra | 525 | 1 | | Chimchar | Fire | Infernape | 534 | -1 | | Piplup | Water | Empoleon | 530 | 4 |
Piplup is the pick for Diamond and Pearl
Piplup has the highest matchup score at 4, ahead of Turtwig at 1 and Chimchar at -1. The score only covers the early game. Empoleon has 530 base stats in total, and the other two final forms have 525 and 534.
(We would like to say this was a hard call. It was a spreadsheet.)
For the same three across the whole generation, see the starters of generation 4.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl starters FAQ
What is the best starter in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl?
Piplup, on our early-fight matchup score.
Can you get the other starters?
Not at the start. Trading with another player is the usual way to get the other two.
