Pokemon Legends Arceus Starters: Which One to Pick

What you're up against early

The first Noble is Kleavor at the Grandtree Arena, a Bug and Rock type at level 18. Next is Lilligant at the Brava Arena at level 30, a Grass and Fighting type. The third is Arcanine at the Molten Arena at level 36, a Fire and Rock type. Lilligant and Arcanine are the Hisuian forms.

Rock shows up in two of the three fights, and Rock is the problem for two of the starters.

Oshawott, if you want it easy

Oshawott wins two of the three. Water hits Rock for double damage and Kleavor is part Rock, so Aqua Jet at level 6 and Water Pulse at level 18 both get the bonus. Kleavor's Bug and Rock moves do normal damage back.

Lilligant is the problem. It's a Grass and Fighting type and Water moves do half damage to it, and its Grass attacks hit Water for double. Oshawott has the confidence of a Pokemon that has checked the chart first.

Arcanine is the best fight of the three. It's Fire and Rock, and Water hits both halves for double damage, which makes it four times normal damage. Its Fire moves do half damage to Oshawott and the Rock ones do normal damage.

Oshawott becomes Dewott at level 17 and Samurott at level 36, which adds the Dark type. Samurott has 528 base stats and 108 Attack.

Cyndaquil, if you like a race

Cyndaquil starts with Quick Attack, then learns Ember at level 6, Rollout at level 11 and Flame Wheel at level 18. Rollout is a Rock move, which matters for Kleavor and Arcanine. Rock hits Bug for double damage and Kleavor is Bug and Rock and Rollout gets the bonus. Kleavor's Rock moves hit Fire for double damage as well, which makes each fight a race to land the first hit.

Lilligant is the easy one. Fire hits Grass for double damage, Grass attacks do half damage to Cyndaquil, and Fighting attacks do normal damage.

Arcanine is another race. Fire does a quarter of normal damage to a Fire and Rock type, but Rollout hits it for double, and Arcanine's Rock attacks hit Cyndaquil for double too. Cyndaquil is a rolling ball of fire, and that's the entire strategy.

Cyndaquil becomes Typhlosion at level 36, a Fire and Ghost type with 534 base stats and 119 Special Attack.

Rowlet, if you want a one-fight specialist

Rowlet starts with Gust, then learns Leafage at level 6 and Aerial Ace at level 18. Lilligant is the one fight that goes its way. Both of Lilligant's types are weak to Flying, which adds up to four times normal damage, and Lilligant's Grass attacks barely scratch a bird that is part Grass itself.

Kleavor is the first headache. A Rock attack knocks a Flying type about, and nothing Rowlet owns does better than ordinary damage to a Bug and Rock type. Arcanine is worse, because Fire burns Grass and Rock batters Flying, so both its types are dangerous while Gust, Leafage and Aerial Ace get no extra bite. Rowlet takes every Rock move personally.

Rowlet becomes Dartrix at level 17 and Decidueye at level 34, a Grass and Fighting type in its Hisuian form. It has 530 base stats and 112 Attack.

So which one should you pick?

Oshawott is the pick, because two of the three Nobles are Rock types and Water cuts through them. Cyndaquil is steadier and has the most base stats of the three final forms at 534, ahead of Decidueye at 530 and Samurott at 528. Rowlet is for players who like a challenge.

FAQ