Ranking Every Starter Pokémon’s Final Evolution From Best To Worst
Vote up your favorite fully evolved starter Pokémon.
By the time you're close to finishing a Pokémon game, the partner you started with has probably evolved into its most powerful form. It's important to chose wisely - the one you pick will have a big impact on your experience of the game. With that in mind, we're counting down the best starter final evolutions according to you!
Let us know which fully evolved starters you love, and which you don't. Are you a fan of classic Pokémon like Charizard? Or are you more hyped by new gen Pokémon like Meowscarada? Show your faves the appreciation they deserve by voting them up.
Generation VI
It's hard not to love a Pokémon that's basically a frog crossed with a ninja - especially one that doesn't even need real shuriken because it can make them out of water.
Its popularity helped it win the Pokémon Company International and Google's Pokémon of the Year competition in February 2020.
Generation I
Charizard isn't known for being especially friendly - in the anime, it's often seen blowing fire into Ash's face. Despite or perhaps because of its bad attitude, Charizard is wildly popular. It even has a real-world species of stem-nesting bees - Chilicola charizard - named after it.
- 3
Sceptile
Generation III
Sceptile isn't just a grass Pokémon - it's also a gardener. It's known for carefully planting and tending to trees and other plants. The seeds on its back are filled with nutrients that help plants grow. It can also slice down trees with its sharp tail.
Generation III
Known for its abilities to tow a ship while it swims or carry a 1-ton boulder, Swampert's strength is hard to ignore. But it isn't all brawn - it's also able to predict oncoming storms by subtle changes in the water and wind.
- 5
Blaziken
Generation III
If you ever get the urge to leap over a 30-story building, all you need to do is hop on Blaziken's back - its legs are so strong that clearing a skyscraper is no big deal.
Just don't ask a Blaziken to eat a cookie shaped like Torchic - the anime demonstrates that it'll want to take care of the cookies instead.
Generation I
This Pokémon is just as frighteningly strong as it appears to be. The jets of water it shoots from its back are strong enough to punch through steel, and precise enough to hit empty cans up to 160 feet away.
Generation I
Venusaur was on the cover of Pokémon Green, a version of first game that was released in Japan - in the USA, Venusaur and Pokémon Green would be replaced by Blastoise and Pokémon Blue.
This gentle giant, who gains power from absorbing sunlight with its flower, did appear on the game's reboot, Pokémon LeafGreen.
- 8
Decidueye
Generation VII
You might not guess this from how cool and confident Decidueye appears, but this owl is prone to panicking whenever it's surprised. But it usually doesn't let that get in the way of its incredible aim - Decidueye's arrows, which are made from its feathers, are said to never miss.
Generation IV
It's no wonder that Infernape is a Fire/Fighting type. Not only does it fight with fire, it also uses a special form of martial arts that uses all of its limbs. This art resembles dancing, and is said to be very effective against its opponents.
- 10
Generation IV
Few things are more important to Empoleon than its pride. If anybody insults it, it responds by attacking them with wings strong enough to slice through icebergs.
While its attitude is nothing to be proud of, it can be proud of this - Empoleon is the only Pokémon with its type combination, Water/Steel.
- 11
Generation IV
Torterra isn't just a Pokémon - it's a habitat for smaller Pokémon. In fact, some of them literally spend their whole lives on Torterra's back. We're not sure if it's a friendly symbiotic relationship or a more parasitic one, but hopefully it's the former.
Generation II
Typhlosion was a starter Pokémon in Pokémon Gold & Silver, Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
While it's a great Pokémon to start with in-game, it'd be pretty scary to deal with in real life. That's because it's known for camouflaging itself behind a haze of heat and then creating sudden, devastating explosions.
Generation II
You can get a Feraligatr sooner than you can get any other fully evolved starter. Croconaw evolves into Feraligatr at Level 30. But while it might evolve quickly, it doesn't miss out on strength - it's known for tearing its victims to shreds with its powerful jaw.
- 14
Samurott
Generation V
Samurott isn't quite as ‘otter-like' as its pre-evolved forms. There's a reason for that.
When designer Yusuke Ohmura went to the Sunshine Aquarium in Ikebukuro in the hopes of being inspired by the otters, he ended up focusing on the impressive strength of the sea lions instead. He used this experience to create Samurott.
- 15
Incineroar
Generation VII
Incineroar can be a tough Pokémon to raise. Like real cats, it doesn't listen to its trainers unless it's in the mood to. It can also be pretty aggressive. But it does have a sweet side - it loves helping out smaller Pokémon and even human children.
Generation IX
The tiny, bird-shaped flame on Skeledirge's nose actually has its own soul. This bird changes shape when Skeledirge sings. Its voice is said to be gentle and soothing, which seems at odds with the fact that its flames clock in at 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hotter than the surface of the sun.
- 17
Cinderace
Generation VIII
Cinderace is the perfect Pokémon for a stereotypical hot-blooded shonen protagonist. His special move, which involves setting a pebble on fire and kicking it like a soccer ball, is quite powerful on its own, but it gets even more powerful when Cinderace's friends are cheering it on.
The power of its nakama can sometimes make its head swell and get it to start showboating.
- 18
Rillaboom
Generation VIII
Getting a band together? Be sure to invite Rillaboom. This Pokémon is known for its drumming skills. In fact, the leader of a Rillaboom troupe is always the best musician.
Generation V
The regal Serperior won't fight just anybody. It will only deign to take on those who are strong enough not to be intimidated by its haughty stare. We guess that Serperiors who do fight whoever their trainers tell them to fight must have an exceptional bond with those trainers.
- 20
Generation II
Though it's often overlooked, Meganium has some incredible abilities that are worth paying attention to. Its breath is said to revive dead plants and flowers, and the scent of its flower can calm aggression in both humans and Pokémon.
- 21
Delphox
Generation VI
What is with fire Pokémon and having flames as hot as the surface of the sun? Delphox easily incinerates its foes with its terrifyingly hot fire.
What's more, it can see into the future, which means that you can forget about escaping its wrath. Best just not to get on Delphox's bad side.
- 22
Inteleon
Generation VIII
Inteleon is a total glow-up story. While its pre-evolutionary form Sobble is adorable, it lacks confidence and is constantly crying. Inteleon, meanwhile, is a spy-inspired Pokémon who would make a great partner for Loid Forger from Spy x Family.
Generation IX
Meowscarada lives up to its ‘masquerade’ theme by creating an illusion that it can fly, and also by secretly planting pollen bombs on its targets. Lets just hope those targets don't have allergies.
- 24
Chesnaught
Generation VI
When most trainers have their Pokémon forget moves, Tackle is one of the first offensive moves to go. But those raising Chespin might want to think twice before getting rid of it - apparently, its Tackle has the power to flip a 50-ton tank. That detail may not actually play out in the game mechanics though.
- 25
Primarina
Generation VII
The most important asset that Primarina has is its voice. It learns specific songs that are passed on throughout the generations, and then perfects them. These songs help it control the water balloons it battles with.
- 26
Emboar
Generation V
With its fiery beard and ability to throw flaming punches, Emboar is basically Endeavor from My Hero Academia in Pokémon form. Lets just hope it's nicer to Tepig than Endeavor is to his kids.
- 27
Quaquaval
Generation IX
Quaquaval's carnival-esque features and Capoeira-inspired dance moves make it one delightfully flamboyant Pokémon.
But Quaquaval isn't all flourish - it's also super strong. Seriously, its kicks are powerful enough to knock a truck over. We feel bad for the truck drivers of Paldea.
