There are 9 Water type starters, one in each generation. Mudkip ranks first on our early-game matchup score and Totodile ranks last.
| Rank | Starter | Generation | Score per Pokemon | Final form | Base stats | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Mudkip | 3 | 1.12 | Swampert | 535 | | 2 | Popplio | 7 | 0.6 | Primarina | 530 | | 3 | Sobble | 8 | 0.6 | Inteleon | 530 | | 4 | Piplup | 4 | 0.31 | Empoleon | 530 | | 5 | Froakie | 6 | 0.14 | Greninja | 530 | | 6 | Squirtle | 1 | 0.0 | Blastoise | 530 | | 7 | Quaxly | 9 | 0.0 | Quaquaval | 530 | | 8 | Oshawott | 5 | 0.0 | Samurott | 528 | | 9 | Totodile | 2 | -0.12 | Feraligatr | 530 |
Mudkip ranks first among Water starters
Mudkip is the generation 3 water starter and evolves into Swampert, a Water and Ground type with 535 base stats. It scores 27 over 24 opposing Pokemon in the early fights of its games. See all of generation 3's starters.
Popplio ranks second among Water starters
Popplio is the generation 7 water starter and evolves into Primarina, a Water and Fairy type with 530 base stats. It scores 6 over 10 opposing Pokemon in the early fights of its games. See all of generation 7's starters.
Sobble ranks third among Water starters
Sobble is the generation 8 water starter and evolves into Inteleon, a Water type with 530 base stats. It scores 6 over 10 opposing Pokemon in the early fights of its games. See all of generation 8's starters.
Piplup ranks fourth among Water starters
Piplup is the generation 4 water starter and evolves into Empoleon, a Water and Steel type with 530 base stats. It scores 10 over 32 opposing Pokemon in the early fights of its games. See all of generation 4's starters.
Froakie ranks fifth among Water starters
Froakie is the generation 6 water starter and evolves into Greninja, a Water and Dark type with 530 base stats. It scores 1 over 7 opposing Pokemon in the early fights of its games. See all of generation 6's starters.
Squirtle ranks sixth among Water starters
Squirtle is the generation 1 water starter and evolves into Blastoise, a Water type with 530 base stats. It scores 0 over 15 opposing Pokemon in the early fights of its games. See all of generation 1's starters.
Quaxly ranks seventh among Water starters
Quaxly is the generation 9 water starter and evolves into Quaquaval, a Water and Fighting type with 530 base stats. It scores 0 over 10 opposing Pokemon in the early fights of its games. See all of generation 9's starters.
Oshawott ranks eighth among Water starters
Oshawott is the generation 5 water starter and evolves into Samurott, a Water type with 528 base stats. It scores 0 over 14 opposing Pokemon in the early fights of its games. See all of generation 5's starters.
Totodile ranks ninth among Water starters
Totodile is the generation 2 water starter and evolves into Feraligatr, a Water type with 530 base stats. It scores -3 over 24 opposing Pokemon in the early fights of its games. See all of generation 2's starters.
How the score works
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, gives a starter points. Games without Gyms use their first early fights instead. A damaging move it has learned by then that is super effective on that Pokemon adds one point, and moves that are all not very effective subtract one. The opposing Pokemon's types add one point when none of them is super effective on the starter and subtract one when one of them is. Games differ in how many Pokemon you meet, so the table ranks by points per opposing Pokemon.
Water type starters FAQ
What is the best water type starter?
Mudkip. It has the highest score per Pokemon.
Which water type starter has the strongest final form?
Swampert has the highest base stat total at 535.
