Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Best Starter Pokemon: Which Starter Should You Choose?

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Pokemon Legends Arceus Best Starter Pokemon

The best Starter Pokemon for Pokemon: Legends Arceus is Oshawott. Find out why it is currently the best starter, the starters' type matchups, stat comparisons, and best natures, as well as how they match up against Noble Pokemon.

Which is the Best Starter?

Oshawott is the Best Starter

OshawottOshawott
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Water Type Icon

After playing through the game, we have found that Oshawott is the best among the three starters mainly due to its type advantage against most of the Noble Pokemon in the region, specifically Kleavor. Though it may struggle against Noble Hisuian Lilligant, at that point, you will likely have caught another Pokemon that can easily counter it.

Though it is not the fastest among the starters, it is still enough to outspeed many of your opponents. Its mostly even base Attack and Special Attack also makes it a versatile member of the team, especially since its learnset lends well to either a Physical or Special Attacker.

Best Starter to Choose: Video Guide

Starter Advantages and Disadvantages

Pokemon Advantages Disadvantages
Rowlet ImageRowlet ・Decent matchup against many Noble Pokemon ・Has the overall worst typing defensively and offensively
・Has the lowest speed stat among the starters
Cyndaquil ImageCyndaquil ・Highest base stat total at their final evolutions
・Highest speed stat among the starters
・Has the worst matchup against most Noble Pokemon
Oshawott ImageOshawott ・Has the most balanced typing and stats
・Great matchup against most Noble Pokemon
・Overall lowest base stat total.

Which Starter Will You Choose?

Rowlet 426
Votes
Cyndaquil 871
Votes
Oshawott 658
Votes

Can the Starter be Shiny?

All Pokemon found through static encounters are shiny-locked, meaning they are unable to be shiny. This applies to the starter you choose from Professor Laventon at the start of the game.

Starters found through other means will have a chance to be shiny, but you won't be able to have a shiny starter join you on your adventure.
How to Get All Starters

Hisuian Evolutions for the Starters

While the basic forms of the starters may be familiar to most trainers, Pokemon Legends: Arceus introduces new regional variants for their final evolutions!

Rowlet Evolution

Evolution Line
Rowlet ImageRowlet Lv. 17
Dartrix ImageDartrix Lv. 36
Hisuian Decidueye ImageHisuian Decidueye

Hisuian Decidueye

Hisuian Decidueye
Arrow Quill Pokemon
Legends Arceus - Hisuian Decidueye
Type
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Grass Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fighting Type Icon
Height 5' 03" Weight 81.6 lbs
Pokedex Entry The air stored inside the rachises of Decidueye’s feathers insulates the Pokémon against Hisui’s extreme cold. This is firm proof that evolution can be influenced by environment.

Has a high attack stat but has a lot of weaknesses

Hisuian Decidueye takes advantage of its high attack stat with a good set of physical Grass and Fighting-type moves. As strong as it is, its high number of weaknesses also hold it back.

Hisuian Decidueye - Evolution, How to Get, and Research Tasks

Signature Move

Move Type Cat.|Pwr.|Acc.
Effect
Triple Arrows Pokemon Legends Arceus Fighting Type Physical|50|100
The user delivers an axe kick, then fires three arrows. This raises the chance of its future attacks landing critical hits and also lowers the target’s defensive stats.

Oshawott Evolution

Evolution Line
Oshawott ImageOshawott Lv. 17
Dewott ImageDewott Lv. 36
Hisuian Samurott ImageHisuian Samurott

Hisuian Samurott

Hisuian Samurott
Formidable Pokemon
Legends Arceus - Hisuian Samurott
Type
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Water Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Dark Type Icon
Height 4' 11" Weight 128.3 lbs
Pokedex Entry Hard of heart and deft of blade, this rare form of Samurott is a product of the Pokémon’s evolution in the region of Hisui. Its turbulent blows crash into foes like ceaseless pounding waves.

Balanced Stats and Typing

Hisuian Samurott is the most well-rounded out of all three with excellent offensive and defensive stats. Gaining the Dark-type also gives it an immunity against Psychic-types!

Hisuian Samurott - Evolution, How to Get, and Research Tasks

Signature Move

Move Type Cat.|Pwr.|Acc.
Effect
Ceaseless Edge Pokemon Legends Arceus Dark Type Physical|65|90
The user slashes its shell blade at the target, aiming to land a critical hit. Shell splinters left behind by this attack will continue to damage the target for several turns.

List of All Signature Moves

Cyndaquil Evolution

Evolution Line
Cyndaquil ImageCyndaquil Lv. 17
Quilava ImageQuilava Lv. 36
Hisuian Typhlosion ImageHisuian Typhlosion

Hisuian Typhlosion

Hisuian Typhlosion
Ghost Flame Pokemon
Legends Arceus - Hisuian Typhlosion
Type
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fire Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ghost Type Icon
Height 5' 3" Weight 153.9 lbs
Pokedex Entry Said to purify lost, forsaken souls with its flames and guide them to the afterlife. I believe its form has been influenced by the energy of the sacred mountain towering at Hisui’s center.

Special attacker with high speed

Hisuian Typhlosion is a Special Attacker with great coverage moves too. Its Ghost-typing allows it to hit most types for neutral damage with its Fire-type coverage handling the rest.
Hisuian Typhlosion - Evolution, How to Get, and Research Tasks

Signature Move

Move Type Cat.|Pwr.|Acc.
Effect
Infernal Parade Pokemon Legends Arceus Ghost Type Special|60|100
The user attacks with myriad fireballs. This may also leave the target with a burn. This move’s power is doubled if the target has a status condition.

List of All Signature Moves

Noble Pokemon Matchups

PLA - Noble Kleavor

Noble Pokemon fights are some of the most difficult battles you will face in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Among the three starters, Oshawott has the greatest number of advantages against most of the Noble Pokemon, likely because three of the six Nobles are part Rock-type.

This list also takes into consideration the approximate level of your starter at that point in the game and if they have evolved.

Rowlet Line Cyndaquil Line Oshawott Line
Kleavor Disadvantage Disadvantage Advantage
Hisuian Lilligant Advantage Advantage Disadvantage
Hisuian Arcanine Disadvantage Disadvantage Advantage
Hisuian Electrode Neutral Advantage Disadvantage
Hisuian Avalugg Neutral Disadvantage Advantage
Dialga Advantage Neutral Neutral
Palkia Neutral Neutral Neutral

All Boss Battles: How to Beat Frenzied Noble Pokemon

Starter Pokemon Type Matchups

Rowlet Evolutions

Pokemon Legends Arceus Best Starter Rowlet

The Rowlett line has the worst typing among the starters when it comes to defenses as its first two forms are weak to a total of 5 types, while its final form is weak to 6, and it will always have one 4x weakness.

Though it is significantly more useful offensively, this offensive potential is severly decreased once it reaches its final form since a total of 3 types resist both of its typings.

Rowlet Line Type Effectiveness

Rowlet and Dartrix
Hisuian Decidueye
Type
Takes 4x damage
(Weakness)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ice Type Icon
Takes 2x damage
(Weakness)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fire Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Poison Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Flying Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Rock Type Icon
Takes 0.5x damage
(Resistance)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Water Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fighting Type Icon
Takes 1/4x damage
(Resistance)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Grass Type Icon
Takes 0x damage
(Immunity)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ground Type Icon

Unlisted types deal neutral damage to Rowlet

Type
Takes 4x damage
(Weakness)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Flying Type Icon
Takes 2x damage
(Weakness)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fire Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ice Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Poison Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Psychic Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fairy Type Icon
Takes 0.5x damage
(Resistance)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Water Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Grass Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Electric Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ground Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Rock Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Dark Type Icon
Takes 1/4x damage
(Resistance)
-
Takes 0x damage
(Immunity)
-

Unlisted types deal neutral damage to Hisuian Decidueye

Cyndaquil Evolutions

Pokemon Legends Arceus Best Starter Cyndaquil

The Cyndaquil line has great overall defenses, since it resists 6 types during its first 2 forms and 7 types at its final form. When it reaches its final evolution, it is also offensively the best type since it can inflict super effective damage on 6 types, with no types resisting both its typings.

Cyndaquil Line Type Effectiveness

Cyndaquil and Quilava
Hisuian Typhlosion
Type
Takes 4x damage
(Weakness)
-
Takes 2x damage
(Weakness)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Water Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ground Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Rock Type Icon
Takes 0.5x damage
(Resistance)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fire Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Grass Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ice Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Bug Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Steel Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fairy Type Icon
Takes 1/4x damage
(Resistance)
-
Takes 0x damage
(Immunity)
-

Unlisted types deal neutral damage to Cyndaquil

Type
Takes 4x damage
(Weakness)
-
Takes 2x damage
(Weakness)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Water Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ground Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Rock Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Dark Type Icon
Takes 0.5x damage
(Resistance)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fire Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Grass Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ice Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Poison Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Steel Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fairy Type Icon
Takes 1/4x damage
(Resistance)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Bug Type Icon
Takes 0x damage
(Immunity)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Normal Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fighting Type Icon

Unlisted types deal neutral damage to Hisuian Typhlosion

Oshawott Evolutions

Pokemon Legends Arceus Best Starter Oshawott

The Oshawott line has the most balanced typing overall with great defensive and offensive potential. It also has the best defensive typing once it reaches its final form due to its 6 resistances and immunity to Psychic.

Oshawott Line Type Effectiveness

Oshawott and Dewott
Hisuian Samurott
Type
Takes 4x damage
(Weakness)
-
Takes 2x damage
(Weakness)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Grass Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Electric Type Icon
Takes 0.5x damage
(Resistance)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fire Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Water Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ice Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Steel Type Icon
Takes 1/4x damage
(Resistance)
-
Takes 0x damage
(Immunity)
-

Unlisted types deal neutral damage to Oshawott

Type
Takes 4x damage
(Weakness)
-
Takes 2x damage
(Weakness)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Grass Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Electric Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Bug Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fairy Type Icon
Takes 0.5x damage
(Resistance)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Fire Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Water Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ice Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Dark Type Icon Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Steel Type Icon
Takes 1/4x damage
(Resistance)
-
Takes 0x damage
(Immunity)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Psychic Type Icon

Unlisted types deal neutral damage to Hisuian Samurott

Starter Pokemon Base Stat Comparisons

Hisui Starters.png

When it comes to stats, Rowlet has the highest base stat total at the first and second stages of their evolutions, which makes it useful at the start of the game. However, once they reach their final evolutions, all three starters will have mostly even base stats, with Hisuian Typhlosion having a slight edge.

Hisuian Samurott has roughly the same Attack and Special Attack stats, which makes it incredibly versatile while playing through the main story since your Pokemon will not always have their ideal movesets.

Hisuian Typhlosion has the highest base speed among the starter final evolutions with Hisuian Samurott coming in a close second. However, Hisuian Decidueye with its base 60 speed will rarely outspeed other Pokemon in battle.

Fully Evolved Starter Pokemon Stat Spreads

Decidueye
Typhlosion
Samurott
HP
88
Atk
112
Def
80
Sp. Atk
95
Sp. Def
95
Speed
60
Total Base Stats
530
HP
73
Atk
84
Def
78
Sp. Atk
119
Sp. Def
85
Speed
95
Total Base Stats
534
HP
90
Atk
108
Def
80
Sp. Atk
100
Sp. Def
65
Speed
85
Total Base Stats
528

Best Natures for Each Starter

When selecting natures for your Starter Pokemon, it is best to increase their primary attacking stat, either Attack or Special Attack, while decreasing the other attacking stack. Remember to take into account the stats of their final evolutions as well.

Recommended Natures
Rowlet ImageRowlet
Adamant
Attack
Special Attack
Cyndaquil ImageCyndaquil
Modest
Special Attack
Attack
Oshawott ImageOshawott
Adamant
Attack
Special Attack

Since Hisuian Decidueye and Samurott perform best as Physcial Attackers, we recommend to increasing their Attack while lowering their Special Attack. However, we recommend the opposite for Hisuian Typhlosion since its high Special Attack makes it a great Special Attacker.

Nature Chart and How to Check Natures

Save right before selecting the starter to reset for nature

Choose your Starter Pokemon Legends Arceus
Right before you are asked to pick the starter, you'll have the opportunity to move your character freely. You can use this chance to save in case you want to reset for a good nature.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus Related Guides

Pokemon Legends Arceus - Tips and Tricks Banner Beginner's Tips & Guides ## Pokemon Legends: Arceus Tips and Guides

Beginner's Tips and Guides
How to Trade Online How to Increase Satchel (Inventory) Size
How to Increase Survey Corps Rank How to Check Player HP
What Happens When You Lose? How to Run Away
What are Merit Points? How to Swim Longer and Surf on Water
How to Use Pastures Balloon Race Guide: How to Pop All Balloons
Space-Time Distortions: How to Find and List of Pokemon How to Take Pictures
How to Enter First-Person View Beginner's Guide: Tips to Get Started
How to Get More Pastures Eternal Battle Reverie Guide
Path of Solitude Guide Path of Tenacity Guide
How to Swap Items Double Battles and Multiple Battles Guide
Starting Out
Character Creation Guide Best Starter Pokemon
Bests Requests to Do First
Items and Gadgets
Item Crafting Shop Guide and Item Prices
Arc Phone Guide Lost & Found Guide: Lost Satchel Effects
Farm Guide: Harvest Requirements and Crop List All Ginter Items: Ginkgo Guide Shop List
All Arceus Plate Locations: Arceus Plates Guide Can You Get the Master Ball?
Pokemon Guides
How to Get All Legendary Pokemon How to Get Shiny Pokemon
Frenzied Noble Pokemon How to Tell if a Pokemon is Shiny
How to Catch Pokemon Preferred Foods Guide
Are There Walking Pokemon? How to Ride Pokemon: All Rideable Pokemon
How to Evolve Pokemon Pokemon Behavior and Effects
How to Change A Pokemon's Nickname How to Make Pokemon Obey You
How to Get All Starters Effort Levels: How to Increase Pokemon Stats
Respawn Time: When Do Wild Pokemon Reappear? Are Starters and Legendaries Shiny Locked?
How to Release Pokemon and Rewards How to Increase Friendship and Friendship Checker Location
How to Change Your Team List of Special Evolution Conditions
How to Catch Flying Pokemon Mass Outbreak Guide and List of Pokemon
Best Pokemon for Catching How to Change Rotom's Form: All Mechanical Items
Can You Cancel Evolution? Is Breeding in the Game?
Best Shiny Alpha Pokemon Hunting Routes Training Grounds Guide
Massive Mass Outbreaks Guide How to Catch Sleeping Pokemon
How to Catch Small and Large Pokemon
Battle Guides
Agile and Strong Styles How to Change Moves
Type Weakness Chart All Status Conditions and Effects
Nature Chart and How to Check Natures How to Change Natures
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All Unown Locations: Unown Notes Guide Wisp Locations and Maps
Old Verse Locations and Maps -
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Best Story Team Post Game Content and 100 Percent Guide
Money Farming Guide How to Get Research Points Fast
EXP Farming Guide Survey Report Guide
Research Tasks Guide and Best Research Tasks to Complete How to Complete the Pokedex: Rare Pokemon Locations
Dialogue Choices and Consequences Should You Choose Adaman or Irida?
Missables and Unrepeatable Events -
Maps, Weather, and Traveling
Map Guide How to Fast Travel
Base Camps Features Player Home Features
All Weather Types and Effects Time of Day Effects and How to Change
Useful Characters and Their Locations How to Break Rocks and Get Through Obstacles
Ursaluna Treasure Maps and Best Farming Route Full Moon Guide: How to Check and Change the Moon Phase
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How to Save the Game: Is Autosave Available? List of Controls: Can You Change the Controls?
Best Settings to Use Language Options and How to Change Language
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List of Clothing List of Hairstyles
How to Change Your Appearance Best Character Names
How to Change Your Name and Gender Special Gifts: List of Save File Bonuses

Comment

7 Anonymousabout 2 years

Honestly, they're all pretty good. I don't look deep into stats, but Samurott seems balanced and Typhlosion has a great moveset. I used to hate the Rowlett line but, wow, Hisuian Decidueye is great. It's movepool and signature moves are great, and it's very strong offensively. Plus, it seems faster after it evolved. Generally, they're all great. But I'm definitely choosing Rowlett in my next playthrough.

6 Luxrayover 2 years

I don't know which starter to choose because this guide says samurott but later it says typhlosion can withstand the most. I'm so confused about who to choose

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