The best Pokemon Scarlet and Violet starter is probably Fuecoco, though any of them are powerful and worth having in your developing Pokemon team, and all have their strengths and weaknesses. Not only that, but they develop into their own powerful final evolutions, based on a dead alligator, an opera singing cat and a disco duck respectively. Whatever you're looking for, we'll explain the best starter in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet below, strengths and weaknesses, how to get all starters, and their evolutions - Meowscarada, Skeledirge and Quaquaval.
All Pokemon Scarlet and Violet starters
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet starters include the following trio, chosen at the very start of the game when Director Clavell introduces them.
- Fuecoco (Fire-type)
- Quaxly (Water-type)
- Sprigatito (Grass-type)
Each Pokemon is roughly as powerful as each other, though of course their types work against each other - fire is strong against grass, grass is strong against water, water is strong against fire. Whichever one you pick, you'll be weak against another and strong to one more. For more info, check out our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet type chart here!
Best Pokemon Scarlet and Violet starter
While it's a close call, we'd say that for most players the best Pokemon Scarlet and Violet starter is Fuecoco, the fire-type crocodile Pokemon. We say this for a few reasons:
- Fire-types are a little harder to find early on than other water or grass types, which are pretty common.
- The earliest gyms in the game are both weak to fire (as you can see in our page on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet gym leaders)
- The final evolution of Fuecoco, Skeledirge, is a powerful Fire/Ghost type, a unique combination that renders it immune to Normal type attacks.
- Skeledirge seems to have the best blend of stats overall, and its unique move is certainly better than Quaxly's (though maybe not quite as good as Sprigatito's).
As a close second, we would suggest Sprigatito, as the final evolution's dark-type makes it immune to psychic and fills a difficult niche for type matchups. However, there's no real wrong answer here - any of these starters can be a good fit for the team. Of course, if you want a Fire/Ghost type anyway and you're playing Violet, finding the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Sinistea Chips and Malicious Armor will allow you to get a Ceruledge - also a powerful Fire/Ghost type.
Still, more important than having good Pokemon is being a good trainer - and if you want a kickstart to your journey, our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet tips will help you!
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet starter final evolutions
The starters in Scarlet and Violet all become dual-types when they hit their final evolution, though stay the same in their secondary evolution. They also have a special move unique to them that matches their primary typing - so fire, water and grass respectively.
Skeledirge
Skeledirge is the final evolution of Fuecoco, and as mentioned, is a Fire/Ghost type. Skeledirge has great special attack and HP stats to make it a standout, and its attack Torch Song does fire damage while boosting the user's Sp.Atk even further.
Quaquaval
Quaquaval is the final evolution of Quaxly, a flamboyant Water/Fighting type that uses its high attack stats to unleash physical impacts on enemy Pokemon, while also having a decent HP score. Its unique move, Aqua Step, does a spike of water damage while boosting Quaquaval's speed in the process.
Meowscarada
Meowscarada is the final, rather ostentatious evolution of Sprigatito, an operatic bipedal (boo) cat that's a Grass/Dark type with high attack and speed stats. Its unique Grass move, Flower Trick, never misses and always lands as a critical hit - yikes.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet starter strengths and weaknesses
Each starter Pokemon has different strengths and weaknesses due to their unique type. We'll explain those below, so you know what you'll do well against.
- Fuecoco
- Resistant to: Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy
- Weak to: Water, Ground, Rock
- Fire-type attacks will be strong against: Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel
- Quaxly
- Resistant to: Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
- Weak to: Electric, Grass
- Water-type attacks will be strong against: Fire, Ground, Rock
- Sprigatito
- Resistant to: Water, Electric, Grass
- Weak to: Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug
- Grass-type attacks will be strong against: Water, Ground, Rock
Each Pokemon also has an ability that powers up their own type of moves when their HP is low, allowing them to get a powerup in a bad situation (so Fuecoco's Fire attacks will be boosted, Quaxly's Water attacks, and Sprigatito's Grass attacks respectively).
Can you catch starters in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?
After playing the game, we can confirm that sadly - no, there is no way to simple catch or obtain all the starters within one game. If you want others you'll have to trade them, so we suggest breeding your own starter with some Ditto, so you have some copies, then trading them with a friend who has bred their own starter - that way both of you get both of them! Then find a third friend with the last one, and all three of you are set. So your best option is to try and make really good friends with some people in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet coop and convince them!
Of course, you're about to get another Pokemon soon after picking starters that can really surprise you - for more info on that, check out all the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Koraidon and Miraidon abilities here!
