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Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP)

Best Starter Pokemon

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Pokemon BDSP Best Starter

The best starter for Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is Chimchar. Read on to learn which is the best starter Pokemon in Sinnoh, starter Pokemon matchups, type advantages and disadvantages and evolutions!

List of Contents

Best Starter Pokemon Video Guide

Best Starter Pokemon

Chimchar

Pokemon BDSP Chimchar
Chimchar is the recommended starter Pokemon for the Sinnoh league, because it matches up well against most of the important battles (i.e. Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and Team Galactic). The original Diamond and Pearl had a limited selection of Fire-types to choose from, making Chimchar an even more valuable addition to your party.

Chimchar Evolution and Learnset

Use Budew to deal with Water-types

Pokemon BDSP Budew Route 204

Budew is a great Pokemon early-game Pokemon to partner with your Chimchar. Being a Grass-type, Budew covers Chimchar's weaknesses, namely Water, Rock, and Ground-types. Budew can be found as early as Route 204.

Starter Pokemon Matchups

Turtwig Important Trainer Matchups

Turtwig's final evolution is Torterra, a Grass and Ground-type Pokemon.

Important Trainer Battle Type Matchup
Roark
(Gym Leader)		 Advantage
Gardenia
(Gym Leader)		 Neutral
Maylene
(Gym Leader)		 Neutral
Crasher Wake
(Gym Leader)		 Advantage
Fantina
(Gym Leader)		 Neutral
Byron
(Gym Leader)		 Advantage
Candice
(Gym Leader)		 Disadvantage
Cyrus
(Team Galactic Boss)		 Neutral
(but his Flying-types are immune to Ground-type moves)
Volkner
(Gym Leader)		 Advantage
Aaron
(Elite Four)		 Disadvantage
Bertha
(Elite Four)		 Neutral
Flint
(Elite Four)		 Advantage
Lucian
(Elite Four)		 Neutral
Cynthia
(Champion)		 ・Strong against: 3 Pokemon
・Weak against: None

Chimchar Important Trainer Matchups

Chimchar's final evolution is Infernape, a Fire and Fighting-type Pokemon.

Important Trainer Battle Type Matchup
Roark
(Gym Leader)		 Diasdvantage
Gardenia
(Gym Leader)		 Advantage
Maylene
(Gym Leader)		 Neutral
Crasher Wake
(Gym Leader)		 Diasdvantage
Fantina
(Gym Leader)		 Neutral
(but Ghost is Immune to Fighting-type moves)
Byron
(Gym Leader)		 Advantage
Candice
(Gym Leader)		 Advantage
Cyrus
(Team Galactic Boss)		 Neutral
(Advantage over his Dark-types, but disadvantage against his Flying-types)
Volkner
(Gym Leader)		 Neutral
Aaron
(Elite Four)		 Advantage
Bertha
(Elite Four)		 Diasdvantage
Flint
(Elite Four)		 Neutral
Lucian
(Elite Four)		 Diasdvantage
Cynthia
(Champion)		 ・Strong against: 2 Pokemon
・Weak against: 3 Pokemon

Piplup Important Trainer Matchups

Piplup's final evolution is Empoleon, a Water and Steel-type Pokemon.

Important Trainer Battle Type Matchup
Roark
(Gym Leader)		 Advantage
Gardenia
(Gym Leader)		 Disadvantage
Maylene
(Gym Leader)		 Neutral
(if not yet Empoleon)
Crasher Wake
(Gym Leader)		 Neutral
Fantina
(Gym Leader)		 Neutral
Byron
(Gym Leader)		 Neutral
Candice
(Gym Leader)		 Advantage
Cyrus
(Team Galactic Boss)		 Neutral
Volkner
(Gym Leader)		 Disadvantage
Aaron
(Elite Four)		 Neutral
Bertha
(Elite Four)		 Advantage
Flint
(Elite Four)		 Advantage
Lucian
(Elite Four)		 Neutral
Cynthia
(Champion)		 ・Strong against: None
・Weak against: 4 Pokemon

Starter Pokemon Advantages and Disadvantages

The starter Pokemon will not make or break your game progression. All Starters are viable to sweep the game, if the right team is built around it.

Pokemon Advantages Disdvantages
Pokemon BDSP Turtwig ArtTurtwig ・Has the lowest level needed to reach its final evolution at Lvl 32
・Has early access to strong moves such as Razor Leaf and Bite.		 ・Type disadvantage against the Poison-types of Team Galactic, Ice-types in northern section of map, and more than half of Elite Four
・Slowest of all starters
Pokemon BDSP Piplup ArtPiplup ・ Its final evolution has a unique and strong defensive typing with Water/Steel
・ Has an easier time dealing with Cynthia's Garchomp compared to the other two		 ・Highly susceptible to Fighting and Ground attacks once fully evolved
Pokemon BDSP Chimchar ArtChimchar ・One of the few Fire-type Pokemon you can get in-game
・Strong against most of the Gym Leaders' typings		 ・Type disadvantage against first Gym Leader if not evolved

Which Starter Are You Choosing?

Turtwig 625
Votes
Chimchar 752
Votes
Piplup 808
Votes

Best Natures for Each Starter Pokemon

Recommended Natures

Recommended Nature
Turtwig.pngTurtwig
Adamant		 Piplup.pngPiplup
Modest		 Chimchar.pngChimchar
Adamant

For physical attackers Turtwig and Chimchar, we recommend the Adamant nature as it boosts their Attack while lowering their Sp. Attack. Piplup on the other hand is a special attacker, making Modest the best nature for it as it increases its Sp. Attack while decreasing its Attack.

Avoid Natures which decrease Speed

Natures which decrease Speed
Brave Relaxed Quiet Sassy

Having a Nature which hurts a Pokemon's Speed is unadvisable in any situation. We'd especially recommend avoiding any of these Natures in your Starter Pokemon.

Steps for Getting the Best Nature

1. Continue the story until the point where you choose a Starter Pokemon.
2. Turn off the game's Autosave Feature.
3. Save your game before choosing a Starter Pokemon.
4. After the battle with the wild Pidgeys, confirm the Stats and Nature of your chosen Pokemon.
5. If you want to try again, press the Home button on your Nintendo Switch.
6. Click the X to turn off the game.
7. Start up the game again and proceed from your previously saved File.

It will take about 10-15 minutes of regular gameplay to reach the point where the Starter Pokemon are available.

Be sure to turn the Autosave Option to Manual

Before selecting your Starter Pokemon, be sure to turn off the Autosave Option from the menu screen. This is automatically set to On at the start of the game, and as the game will automatically save after obtaining your Starter Pokemon, you will need to completely erase your Save Data in order to choose your Starter Pokemon again.

Starter Pokemon Evolutions

Turtwig

Grass Starter Evolution - Turtwig
Pokemon BDSP TurtwigTurtwig Lv. 18
➤		 Pokemon BDSP GrotleGrotle Lv. 32
➤		 Pokemon BDSP TorterraTorterra

Chimchar

Fire Starter Evolution - Chimchar
Pokemon BDSP ChimcharChimchar Lv. 14
➤		 Pokemon BDSP MonfernoMonferno Lv. 36
➤		 Pokemon BDSP InfernapeInfernape

Piplup

Water Starter Evolution - Piplup
Pokemon BDSP PiplupPiplup Lv. 16
➤		 Pokemon BDSP PrinplupPrinplup Lv. 36
➤		 Pokemon BDSP EmpoleonEmpoleon

Best Team for the Story

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Beginner Partial

Beginner's Tips and Tricks

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Tips and Tricks

Post Game Guides
Post Game Content and 100 Percent Guide How to Use the Poke Radar
How to Unlock the National Dex Ramanas Park Guide
List of Swarm Pokemon How to Get to the Battle Zone
How to Get Mysterious Shards Ribbon Syndicate Guide
How to Get Trainer Card Stars When Do Legendaries Respawn?
How to Complete the National Dex -
Beginner's Guides
Best Team Best Starter Pokemon
How to Trade Locally and Online Pokemon by Route: Best Pokemon to Catch
How to Have Pokemon Follow You and Walk With Pokemon How to Get Money Fast
Groups Guide: How to Join and Create Character Creation and Customization
Pokemon Allowed in Amity Square Guide and Map Daily and Weekly Events Guide
How to Battle Online How to Evolve Pokemon
Type Chart Language Settings
How to Add Friends How to Catch Pokemon: Best Pokemon for Catching
List of Settings and Best Settings What Happens When You Lose?
Should You Use TMs? -
Collectibles and Locations
Move Reminder: How to Relearn Moves All Poketch App Locations
Move Tutor Locations and Move List All Honey Tree Locations and Pokemon
List of Clothes and Styles Missables and One-Time Events
All HM Locations (Hidden Moves) Pokemon Nursery Location
How to Change Clothes and Metronome Shop Location List of Ribbons
Useful Characters and Their Locations Poketch Clowns Locations
Move Deleter Location List of Stickers
All In-Game Trades Pokemon News Press Guide and All Poke Ball Rewards
Poke Mart Items List and Unlock Conditions -
Game Mechanics
Poffin Guide: How to Cook the Best Poffins Super Contest Show Guide
How to Use Stickers (Pokeball Seals) Fishing and How to Get Each Rod
How to Make Traded Pokemon Obey You How to Grow Berries
How to Use Ball Capsules How to Use Vs. Seeker
How to Use Itemfinder and Find Hidden Items Nature Chart and How to Check Natures
How to Change the Date and Time How to Change Nicknames
Jubilife TV Lottery Prizes and How to Win Massage Girl: How to Get Massages
How to Delete Save Data How to Get More PC Boxes
How to Access Pokemon Boxes on the Road How to Transfer Save Data
How to Use the PC and Boxes Can You Nickname Traded Pokemon?
How to Stop Evolution Characteristics Guide and Meaning
How to Save Your Game How to Release Pokemon
Is Fashion Case in the Game? How to Adjust Screen Size
How to Hide the Poketch Are There Accessories?
How to Farm Held Items Town Map
Advanced Tips and Tricks
How to Get All Starter Pokemon How to Do a Nuzlocke Challenge
How to Tell if a Pokemon is Shiny -
Pokemon Battles
How to Use STAB Effectively Double Battles Guide
All Status Conditions How to Escape and Run Away From Battle
How to Avoid Random Battles -

Comment

3 Anonymous Anonymous almost 4 years

turtwig also has super effective moves against 4 of Cynthia's pokemon spiritomb garchomp milotic and gastrodon

2 Anonymous Anonymous almost 4 years

Meant turtwig not turning

See more comments (11 Comments)

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Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP) Walkthrough Team
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