The ninth installment of the popular Pokémon video game series is the ninth generation of the game. It started with the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet on November 18, 2022, followed by The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC packs.
On February 27, 2022, the first announcement of Generation IX was made through a Pokémon Presents video presentation that introduced Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Gen 9 Starters
The ninth generation of Pokemon games, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, introduced the three starter Pokemon: As with previous generations, they follow the Grass-Fire-Water type trio.
Sprigatito
Sprigatito is a Grass-type Starter Pokemon known as the Grass Cat Pokemon. Its name is a combination of the words “sprig” and “gatito,” which means kitten in Spanish.
As with other Grass-type starters, Sprigatito’s Ability is Overgrow. This Ability increases the power of both physical and special Grass-type moves by 50% when its health is low, making it an advantageous move to use when in a tight spot during battles.
Unfortunately, Sprigatito is weak against Flying and Bug-type Pokemon, which are often encountered early in the game. On the other hand, Sprigatito has an advantage over Water and Rock-type Pokemon, making it an ideal choice to use against them.
Fuecoco
Fuecoco, the Fire-type Starter Pokemon, is known as the Fire Croc Pokemon. Its name is a fusion of fuego, which means fire in Spanish, and coco, which is possibly an abbreviation of the Spanish word cocodrilo, meaning crocodile.
Like other Fire-type starters, Fuecoco’s Ability is Blaze, which increases the power of its physical and special Fire-type moves by 50% if its health is critically low during battles.
Fuecoco is weak against Water and Rock-type Pokemon, which are common early game encounters. However, it has an advantage against Grass and Bug-type Pokemon, making it a good choice in battles against them.
Quaxly
Quaxly is the Water-type Starter Pokemon in Generation 9. It is classified as the Duckling Pokemon, and its name is a play on words, combining “quack” and “aqua,” with “waxy” possibly alluding to its hair.
Like other Water-type Starters, Quaxly’s Ability is Torrent, which boosts the power of physical and special Water-type moves by 50% when its health is low. This can be helpful in critical battles.
Quaxly is weak against Grass-type Pokemon, which are often encountered early in the game. However, it is strong against Rock-type Pokemon.
Gen 9 Starters Evolutions
| # | Pokémon | Type(s) | Evolves at | Final Evolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Sprigatito | Grass | Level 16 | Floragato |
| 002 | Floragato | Grass | Level 36 | Meowscarada |
| 003 | Meowscarada | Grass/Dark | – | – |
| 004 | Fuecoco | Fire | Level 16 | Crocalor |
| 005 | Crocalor | Fire | Level 36 | Skeledirge |
| 006 | Skeledirge | Fire/Ghost | – | – |
| 007 | Quaxly | Water | Level 16 | Quaxwell |
| 008 | Quaxwell | Water | Level 36 | Quaquaval |
| 009 | Quaquaval | Water/Fighting | – | – |
Gen 9 Starters Stats
| Name | Type | Ability | HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprigatito | Grass | Overgrow | 40 | 61 | 54 | 45 | 45 | 65 |
| Floragato | Grass | Overgrow | 61 | 80 | 63 | 60 | 63 | 83 |
| Meowscarada | Grass / Dark | Overgrow | 76 | 110 | 70 | 81 | 70 | 123 |
Best Gen 9 Starters
Choosing the best Starter Pokemon in Gen 9 will depend on your play style and objectives.
For those aiming to start with Victory Road, Fuecoco, the Fire-type starter, is recommended. It is super effective against both Katy and Brassius’ Pokemon teams, making it a solid choice to tackle the gyms in the recommended order.
If you want a strong and fast option, Sprigatito, the Grass-type starter, may be a good choice. However, it has the most weaknesses of any of the three starters. It evolves into Floragato at level 16 and Meowscarada at level 36, which have higher stats in both physical and special attack, and high speed, making them an excellent option to take down Titans.
For those aiming to take down Team Star, Quaxly, the Water-type starter, is a great bet. It is a more well-rounded Pokemon with more strength and defense, but less speed than Sprigatito’s final evolution. It evolves into Quaxwell at level 16 and Quaquaval at level 36, which have higher attack power and defense but may struggle against Psychic and Fairy-type teams.
Ultimately, the choice of the best Starter Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet depends on your preferences and the challenges you want to tackle in the game.
Also see Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Starters
