Choosing your first partner in Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t just a decision-it’s the foundation of your entire adventure. Which starter Pokémon will give you the edge, match your playstyle, and become your ultimate companion on this epic Nintendo journey? Dive into our guide to make the perfect pick!
What starter should I pick in Pokémon Legends: Z-A?
Choosing the right starter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A depends on your preferred playstyle and strategy. Each starter offers unique abilities and evolves into powerful forms that can shape your journey. Whether you favor offense, defense, or balanced tactics, understanding their strengths will help you make the best choice to conquer the challenges ahead.
There are three Pokémon to choose from in Pokémon Legends: Z-A:
- Chikorita, the grass-type Pokémon from the Johto region
- Tepig, the fire-type Pokémon from the Unova region
- Totodile, the water-type Pokémon also from the Johto region
Across the many previous Pokémon games, some starters will give you a bit of an advantage in various parts of the game, if you do keep them in your party. While all starter Pokémon do evolve into powerful companions, there have been instances, like in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, where there was such an absence of available fire-type Pokémon, that picking the fire-type starter was one of your few options. This isn’t really the case in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, where you’ll get a plethora of various Pokémon at your disposal throughout the game.
Additionally, there aren’t traditional gym leaders in this game, but rather trainers with teams made up of varieties of Pokémon types (though there are some specialists, like Corbeau, who uses poison-type Pokémon), so none of these three selections should make or break the difficulty for this game. None of the aforementioned specialist trainers are in the early-game, so you’ll have plenty of time to build up counters against them.
Notably, you will get access to one of the Kanto starters (Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander) as well as all of the Kalos starters (Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie) early on, so you shouldn’t have to worry too much about any type-based gaps in your team. If you’re really a stickler and plagued by FOMO, know that you can get the other two starters that you don’t pick in the post-game, after you roll credits.
That said, there’s not really a real answer here, but you should take their Mega Evolutions into consideration before choosing.
What do the Legends Z-A starter Pokémon evolve into?
Each starter Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A evolves into a powerful final form with its own strengths and style. Chikorita grows into the majestic Meganium, balancing grace and defense. Cyndaquil transforms into Typhlosion, a fiery powerhouse known for its speed and special attacks. Totodile evolves into the mighty Feraligatr, boasting impressive physical strength and endurance. Choosing which one to raise shapes your early-game strategy and determines how you’ll handle the challenges across Lumiose City.
Unlike Pokémon Legends: Arceus, this game does not have special regional starter evolutions. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, all three of these Pokémon will evolve into their usual forms:
- Chikorita will evolve into Bayleef, and then Meganium, a pure grass-type.
- Tepig will evolve into Pignite, and then Emboar, a dual fire/fighting-type.
- Totodile will evolve into Croconaw, and then Feraligatr, a pure water-type.
Notably, all three of these do have Mega Evolutions, which changes their typing:
- Mega Meganium becomes grass/fairy-type.
- Mega Emboar stays fire/fighting-type.
- Mega Feraligatr becomes water/dragon-type.
Compare Totodile, Chikorita, and Tepig’s final evolutions
Here is a comparison of the final evolutions of the starter Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A-Meganium (Chikorita), Emboar (Tepig), and Feraligatr (Totodile):
| Pokémon | Type | Base Stat Total (BST) | Strengths | Weaknesses | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meganium | Grass (Mega: Grass/Fairy) | 525 (625 Mega) | Good defenses and speed, heals well, Fairy typing removes Dragon weakness in Mega form | Lacks offensive power, weak to multiple types | Mega evolution adds Fairy type, boosting resistances but still mostly defensive |
| Emboar | Fire/Fighting | 528 (628 Mega) | Strong physical attack and good move pool, versatile offensively | Lower speed and weaker defenses | Mega retains original typing, gains new moves, powerful but slower |
| Feraligatr | Water (Mega: Water/Dragon) | 530 (630 Mega) | High raw physical power, good scalability, strong physical Water moves like Aqua Jet, Crunch, and Slash | Weak to Electric and Grass | Mega form gains Dragon typing, enhancing offensiveness and overall balance |
Summary:
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Feraligatr (Totodile’s evolution) is considered the most complete, with the highest raw physical power and key physical moves, plus the fastest evolution to Stage 2.
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Emboar (Tepig’s evolution) offers strong physical offense and Fire/Fighting coverage but suffers from low speed and defense.
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Meganium (Chikorita’s evolution) focuses on defense, status moves, and healing, making it a tanky, strategic choice rather than a powerhouse.
Overall, Feraligatr stands out as the best all-around option for balanced offense, evolution speed, and versatility, especially with its powerful Mega Evolution enhancing its Water/Dragon typing and physical moves.youtube
Which starter has the best late-game viability
In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Totodile’s final evolution, Feraligatr, is generally considered to have the best late-game viability among the starters. This is due to its high physical attack stats, versatile move pool, and the advantage of its Mega Evolution gaining Dragon typing, which broadens its offensive options and survivability. Feraligatr’s raw power and strong physical moves help it remain effective against late-game bosses and challenges.
Emboar, Tepig’s final evolution, has strong offensive capabilities with its Fire/Fighting typing but suffers from lower speed and weaker defenses, limiting its late-game effectiveness somewhat.
Meganium, the final evolution of Chikorita, excels defensively and provides healing and status support but lacks the offensive power and versatility needed for some late-game battles.
Thus, Feraligatr stands out for overall late-game strength, combining raw power, good typing, and Mega Evolution benefits, making it the best late-game starter choice in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
