Pokemon Red, the first game in the Pokemon franchise, was released over two decades ago, and it still remains a fan favorite. One of the most important decisions players make at the start of the game is choosing their starter Pokemon. This decision sets the tone for the entire adventure and can affect the player’s strategy and team composition throughout the game. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Pokemon Red starters and help you choose the perfect partner for your journey.
Pokemon Red Starters
When it comes to the world of Pokemon, choosing a starter is a crucial decision. The right starter can make or break your journey, and it can be a tough decision to make. In Pokemon Red, the first generation of the beloved franchise, players have the choice between three starter Pokemon:
- Bulbasaur
- Charmander
- Squirtle.
Bulbasaur: The Grass Type Starter
Bulbasaur is the first Pokemon you encounter in Pokemon Red’s Pokedex. It’s a grass/poison type that evolves into Ivysaur at level 16 and Venusaur at level 32. Bulbasaur has a great balance of offensive and defensive capabilities, making it an excellent choice for beginner players.
Bulbasaur’s grass typing gives it an advantage over water, ground, and rock types, which are prevalent in the early game. It’s also resistant to grass, electric, water, and fairy types, making it an excellent choice for players who are unsure of what types they will encounter later in the game.
Bulbasaur’s moveset includes Vine Whip, a powerful grass-type move, and Leech Seed, which drains HP from the opponent and restores health to Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur also learns Sleep Powder, which can put an opponent to sleep, giving you time to set up other moves.
Charmander: The Fire Type Starter
Charmander is the second Pokemon in the Pokedex and a fire-type starter. It evolves into Charmeleon at level 16 and Charizard at level 36. Charmander is an excellent choice for players who prefer a more aggressive playstyle.
Charmander’s fire typing makes it effective against grass, ice, bug, and steel types, which are common in the early game. It’s also resistant to fire, grass, bug, ice, and steel types, making it an excellent choice for players who want to take on gyms that specialize in these types.
Charmander’s moveset includes Ember, a fire-type move that can inflict a burn on the opponent, and Metal Claw, a steel-type move that can boost Charmander’s attack. Charmander also learns Dragon Rage, a powerful move that always deals 40 damage, making it an excellent choice for taking out opponents quickly.
Squirtle: The Water Type Starter
Squirtle is the third Pokemon in the Pokedex and a water-type starter. It evolves into Wartortle at level 16 and Blastoise at level 36. Squirtle is an excellent choice for players who prefer a more defensive playstyle.
Squirtle’s water typing makes it effective against fire, ground, and rock types, which are common in the early game. It’s also resistant to fire, water, ice, and steel types, making it an excellent choice for players who want to take on gyms that specialize in these types.
Squirtle’s moveset includes Water Gun, a powerful water-type move, and Bite, a dark-type move that can flinch the opponent. Squirtle also learns Bubble Beam, a water-type move that can lower the opponent’s speed.
Pokemon Red Starters Pokedex
| Pokemon | Bulbasaur | Charmander | Squirtle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Grass/Poison | Fire | Water |
| Evolution | Evolves into Ivysaur at lvl 16 | Evolves into Charmeleon at lvl 16 | Evolves into Wartortle at lvl 16 |
| Height | 0.7 m (2’04”) | 0.6 m (2’00”) | 0.5 m (1’08”) |
| Weight | 6.9 kg (15.2 lbs) | 8.5 kg (18.7 lbs) | 9.0 kg (19.8 lbs) |
| Abilities | Overgrow (Hidden: Chlorophyll) | Blaze (Hidden: Solar Power) | Torrent (Hidden: Rain Dish) |
| Weaknesses | Fire, Ice, Flying and Psychic | Water, Ground and Rock | Grass, Electric |
| Moves | Tackle, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Sleep Powder, Poison Powder | Scratch, Ember, Fire Fang, Smokescreen, Flame Burst | Tackle, Bubble, Water Gun, Withdraw, Aqua Tail |
Pokemon Red Starters Stats
Here are the base stats for the three starter Pokemon in Pokemon Red:
| Pokemon | Type | HP | Attack | Defense | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Grass/Poison | 45 | 49 | 49 | 65 |
| Charmander | Fire | 39 | 52 | 43 | 60 |
| Squirtle | Water | 44 | 48 | 65 | 50 |
Pokemon Red Starters Evolution
The three starter Pokémon in Pokemon Red (Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle) have two stages of evolution each, as follows:
| Pokémon | Evolution 1 | Evolution 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Level 16 -> Ivysaur | Level 32 -> Venusaur |
| Charmander | Level 16 -> Charmeleon | Level 36 -> Charizard |
| Squirtle | Level 16 -> Wartortle | Level 36 -> Blastoise |
Pokemon Red Starters Comparison
| Starter Pokémon | Type | Strengths | Weaknesses | Notable Moves | Notable Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Grass/Poison | Water, Ground, Rock | Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic | Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Poison Powder, Sleep Powder | Chlorophyll (Doubles speed in sunny weather), Overgrow (Boosts Grass-type moves when low on health) |
| Charmander | Fire | Grass, Ice, Bug | Water, Ground, Rock | Ember, Fire Spin, Leer, Slash | Blaze (Boosts Fire-type moves when low on health) |
| Squirtle | Water | Fire, Ground, Rock | Grass, Electric | Bubble, Water Gun, Withdraw, Bite | Torrent (Boosts Water-type moves when low on health) |
Which Pokemon Red Starter is The Best
The choice of the best starter Pokemon in Pokemon Red is subjective and ultimately comes down to personal preference and playstyle.
That being said, each of the three starter Pokemon – Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle – have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Bulbasaur, a Grass/Poison type, has an advantage against the first two gyms in the game (Rock and Water) and can learn a variety of useful moves such as Sleep Powder and Leech Seed.
Charmander, a Fire type, has an advantage against the third gym (Electric) and can eventually evolve into the powerful Charizard, which can learn Flying-type moves that make it useful in later battles.
Squirtle, a Water type, has an advantage against the fourth gym (Grass) and can learn defensive moves like Withdraw and Protect, making it a reliable tank in battles.
Ultimately, the best starter for you depends on your personal preference and how you plan to play the game. Each starter has its own strengths and can be a valuable addition to your team.
Also see Pokemon Starters
