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Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Best Starter Pokemon: Which Starter To Choose

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Pokemon Legends Z-A - Best Starter
The best starter in Pokemon Legends: Z-A is Tepig, with Totodile also being a good option. See the explanations for why you should use each starter, as well as the base stats and type matchups for their final evolutions here.

Best Pokemon Guides
Best Starter Best Team
Story Tier List Ranked Battles Tier List

Who is the Best Starter?

Tepig is the Overall Best Starter

Fire Starter Tepig
By far the best starter to pick in Pokemon Legends Z-A is Tepig. Besides having a strong offensive typing, it was originally released later than the other two starters, meaning that its final evolution has an overall stronger stat line than the Gen 2 options.

Once Evolved to Emboar, it can learn hard-hitting moves like Flare Blitz and Close Combat, which can be further buffed by Power Up Punch or Bulk Up. The only real downside to Emboar are its long cooldowns due to its low Speed stat.

Tepig Location, Evolution, and Stats

Totodile Provides Balanced Stats

Water Starter Totodile
Totodile is the middle option in that it has a good defensive typing with a balanced stat line. However, when compared to the Gen 5 starter in Tepig, its stat line once fully evolved is relatively outdated, especially in the offense department, and it leaves much to be desired.

Once evolved to Feraligatr, it can make use of moves like Aqua Jet and Liquidation to clear opposing Pokemon quickly. While it is slightly weaker in terms of base stats, Feraligatr's Mega Evolution allows it to effectively use Dragon Type moves, as well as giving it the best Dual-Typing among the three starters, with its only weaknesses being Dragon and Fairy types.

Totodile Location, Evolution, and Stats

Pick Chikorita for Higher Defenses

Grass Starter Chikorita
Despite Chikorita being considered one of, if not the worst, starter across all Pokemon games, Legends: Z-A improves upon Chikorita, and allows it to become stronger than it was in previous games.

Out of the three starter evolution lines, Chikorita's evolution line has the better defenses and higher Special Attack stat, making it a viable bulky Special Attacker.

Chikorita Location, Evolution, and Stats

Which Starter Will You Choose?

Chikorita 70
Votes
Totodile 110
Votes
Tepig 75
Votes

Starter Stat Comparisons

Mega Evolution Base Stats

Pokemon HP Atk Def Sp Atk Sp Def Speed
Mega Meganium ImageMega Meganium
Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
80 92 115 143 115 80
Mega Feraligatr ImageMega Feraligatr
Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon
85 160 125 89 93 78
Mega Emboar ImageMega Emboar
Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon
110 148 75 110 110 75

Mega Evolutions make the stat lines of the three starters a lot more balanced, in the sense that they're all slow and bulky attackers. If you're basing your choice of the stat lines of their Megas, then you can choose Meganium for a special attacker with balanced bulk, Feraligatr for a physical attacker that's physically bulky, and Emboar for a physical attacker that's specially bulky.

Final Evolution Base Stats

Pokemon HP Atk Def Sp Atk Sp Def Speed
Meganium ImageMeganium
Pokemon Grass Type Icon
80 82 100 83 100 80
Feraligatr ImageFeraligatr
Pokemon Water Type Icon
85 105 100 79 83 78
Emboar ImageEmboar
Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon
110 123 65 100 65 65

The final evolutions of the starters show that Emboar is the strongest one offensively, at the cost of lower defenses and speed. As for the other two, Feraligatr offers a good balance of offense and defense, while Meganium is geared towards being more defensive.

Pokemon Legends Z-A Starter Evolution Lines

ChikoritaChikorita
Lv. 16
BayleefBayleef
Lv. 32
MeganiumMeganium
TotodileTotodile
Lv. 18
CroconawCroconaw
Lv. 30
FeraligatrFeraligatr
TepigTepig
Lv. 17
PignitePignite
Lv. 36
EmboarEmboar

Unlike in Pokemon Legends Arceus, the starters in Z-A have the same evolution line as those in traditional Pokemon games. They all evolve into their second evolution around the same time, but Tepig's final evolution notably evolves a bit later than their Gen 2 counterparts.

Important Starter Type Matchups

Mono-Type Trainer Type Matchups

Trainer Meganium Feraligatr Emboar
Vinnie
Pokemon Normal Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 2x (Fighting)

Defense : 1x
Canari
Pokemon Electric Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 0.5x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 2x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Ivor
Pokemon Fighting Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Corbeau
Pokemon Poison Type Icon
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 2x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Jacinthe
Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Gwynn
Pokemon Ghost Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Philippe
Pokemon Steel Type Icon
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 0.5x
Offense : 2x (Both)

Defense : 0.5x

Mono-type trainers are characters whose Pokemon all share one type. This doesn't mean that they exclusively use just the one type, and some of their Pokemon may have a dual type that can counter your chosen starter.

If you were to make your choice based on this list, Emboar is the standout option since it isn't weak to any of the types listed, and it's the only Pokemon with super-effective typing.

Other Mega Pokemon Matchups

Mega Meganium Feraligatr Emboar
Mega Absol
Pokemon Dark Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 2x (Both)

Defense : 0.5x
Mega Slowbro
Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon
Offense : 2x

Defense : 0.5x (Water)
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 0.5x (Water)
Offense : 0.5x (Both)

Defense : 2x (Both)
Mega Camerupt
Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Ground Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 2x (Fire)
Offense : 4x

Defense : 0.5x (Fire)
Offense : 1x (Fighting)

Defense : 2x (Ground)
Mega Victreebel
Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Poison Type Icon
Offense : 0.25x

Defense : 2x (Posion)
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 2x (Grass)
Offense : 2x (Fire)

Defense : 0.5x (Grass)
Mega Beedrill
Pokemon Bug Type Icon Pokemon Poison Type Icon
Offense : 0.25x

Defense : 2x (Both)
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 2x (Fire)

Defense : 0.25x (Bug)
Mega Hawlucha
Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 2x (Flying)
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x (Fire)

Defense : 2x (Flying)
Mega Banette
Pokemon Ghost Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x (Fire)

Defense : 1x
Mega Ampharos
Pokemon Electric Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 0.5x (Electric)
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 2x (Electric)
Offense : 1x (Fighting)

Defense : 1x
Mega Barbaracle
Pokemon Rock Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon
Offense : 2x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 2x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 2x (Fighting)

Defense : 1x
Mega Mawile
Pokemon Steel Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 0.5x (Steel)
Offense : 2x (Fire)

Defense : 0.5x (Steel)
Mega Froslass
Pokemon Ice Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 2x (Ice)
Offense : 1x

Defense : 0.5x (Ice)
Offense : 2x (Fire)

Defense : 0.5x (Ice)
Mega Altaria
Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 0.5x (Both)

Defense : 1x
Mega Venusaur
Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Poison Type Icon
Offense : 0.25x

Defense : 2x (Poison)
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 2x (Grass)
Offense : 2x (Fire)

Defense : 0.5x (Grass)
Mega Dragonite
Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon
Offense : 0.25x

Defense : 2x (Flying)
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 0.5x (Both)

Defense : 2x (Flying)
Mega Tyranitar
Pokemon Rock Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon
Offense : 2x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 2x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 4x (Fighting)

Defense : 0.5x (Dark)
Mega Starmie
Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon
Offense : 2x

Defense : 0.5x (Water)
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 0.5x (Water)
Offense : 0.5x (Both)

Defense : 2x (Both)
Mega Scrafty
Pokemon Dark Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 2x (Fighting)

Defense : 0.5x (Dark)
Mega Excadrill
Pokemon Ground Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 0.5x (Ground)
Offense : 2x

Defense : 0.5x (Steel)
Offense : 2x (Both)

Defense : 2x (Ground)
Mega Dragalge
Pokemon Poison Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon
Offense : 0.25x

Defense : 2x (Posion)
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 0.5x (Both)

Defense : 1x
Mega Pyroar
Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Normal Type Icon
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 2x (Fire)
Offense : 2x

Defense : 0.5x (Fire)
Offense : 2x (Fighting)

Defense : 0.5x (Fire)
Mega Gyarados
Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon
Offense : 2x

Defense : 0.5x (Water)
Offense : 0.5x

Defense : 0.5x (Water)
Offense : 2x (Fighting)

Defense : 2x (Water)
Mega Malamar
Pokemon Dark Type Icon Pokemon Psychic Type Icon
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x

Defense : 1x
Offense : 1x (Both)

Defense : 2x (Psychic)
Mega Charizard X
Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon
Offense : 0.25x

Defense : 2x (Fire)
Offense : 1x

Defense : 0.5x (Fire)
Offense : 1x (Fighting)

Defense : 0.5x (Fire)

Note: This table is based on the types of your chosen starter and the Mega you're fighting, and it doesn't take into account either Pokemon's chosen moveset.

These are some of the other key Mega Pokemon matchups that aren't from the mono-type trainers. These are Megas that are encountered either from Rogue Mega Battles or as the ace of a character's team.

If you were to make a choice based off this list, Emboar is the standout option since it covers a ton of Megas both offensively and defensively. However, Feraligatr is also a solid choice since it is only weak to 3 Megas from this list.

Pokemon Legends Z-A Pokedex

Team Recommendations for Each Starter

Recommended Tepig Team

Pokemon Description
EmboarEmboar Where to find:
・Evolve chosen Starter Pokemon.
Summary: Main source of both powerful Fire and Fighting-type moves.
VictreebelVictreebel Where to find:
・Evolve from Bellsprout, which can be found Wild Zone 5 and Wild Zone 10.
・An Alpha Bellsprout can be found in Wild Zone 5.
Summary: Since Emboar is weak to Water, Victreebel can be the one to counter that type matchup.
GyaradosGyarados Where to find:
・Evolve from Magikarp, which can be found at Wild Zone 2 and Wild Zone 6.
・An Alpha Magikarp can be found at Wild Zone 2 and 6.
Summary: Gyarados is your main counter against Ground, Rock, and Fire types.
FroslassFroslass Where to find:
・Evolve from Snorunt, which can be found at Wild Zone 12.
Summary: Very helpful against Flying, Ground, Grass, and Dragon type opponents. Can also act as a decoy when healing other Pokemon due to it being a Ghost-type that can negate Normal and Fighting-type moves
GardevoirGardevoir Where to find:
・Evolve from Ralts, which is found at Vert Sector 4 during the Night. An Alpha Ralts can also be found in the same area.
Summary: Main damage dealer of Psychic and Fairy-type moves. A good counter against Fighting and Dragon types.
ExcadrillExcadrill Where to find:
・Evolve from Drilbur, which is found in Wild Zone 8 and 14.
・Excadrill is also found in Wild Zone 14.
Summary: Main counter against Fairy-types. Is quite tanky, due to its excellent dual type combination of Steel and Ground.

Get Emboar Other Types that Provide Protection

Emboar has a nice, well-balanced kit that can honestly solo-carry the whole team, both offensively and defensively. So, you need to provide other types of Pokemon that can protect Emboar from super-effective attacks.

Its main weakness is Water, Flying, Psychic, and Ground, so good options are Victreebel, Gyarados, and Froslass. Gardevoir and Excadrill are the two outliers that can handle the other type matchups.

Recommended Totodile Team

Pokemon Description
FeraligatrFeraligatr Where to find:
・Evolve chosen Starter Pokemon.
Summary: Main source of both powerful Water-type moves. Can also learn a wide variety of other type moves, such as Ice, Fire, Electric, Dark, and Dragon, that can be counters against its weakness.
AromatisseAromatisse Where to find:
・Found on the Food Cart near Coiffure Clips, west of the Bleu Pokemon Center.
・Found On the Market Stall in Rouge Sector 6, northeast of Wild Zone 3.
Summary: The best counter against Dragon-type. Not only is Fairy-type super effective against it, but is also immune to Dragon-type attacks.
AbomasnowAbomasnow Where to find:
・Evolve from Snover, which is found at Wild Zone 12. An Alpha Abomasnow can also be found at the same location.
Summary: A tanky Grass-type due to its unique dual-type combination with Ice-type. Provides a powerful selection of Grass and Ice-type moves.
GarchompGarchomp Where to find:
・Evolve from Gible, which is found at Wild Zone 8.
Summary: A pseudo-legendary Dragon and Ground-type Pokemon that can solo carry your whole party's offense due to its insanse stats and moveset.
HeracrossHeracross Where to find:
・Can be obtained early by trading a Pikachu for it during the Side Mission, A Use for an Evolution Stone!.
・Found at Wild Zone 13.
Summary: A strong and fast Bug and Fighting-type Pokemon that can immensely help you in the early game and will continue to be a major asset until the late game.
PyroarPyroar Where to find:
・Evolve from Litleo, which is found at Wild Zone 3. An Alpha Litleo can also be found at the same location.
・A full evolved Pyroar can be found at Wild Zone 17.
Summary: Can be caught early in the game and is a very powerful companion considering its wide variety of Normal and Fire-type moves.

Get Dual-Type Pokemon to Accompany Feraligatr

With Feraligatr being a solo Water-type Pokemon, you only need to counter its two weaknesses, which are Grass and Electric. This gives you more options to choose the other Pokemon that will join your party, preferably dual types.

Pyroar and Garchomp are effective counters to Feraligatr's weaknesses. Then, you can add other easy Pokemon to obtain, evolve, and have Mega Evolution capabilities, like Heracross, Abomasnow, or Aromatisse.

Recommended Chikorita Team

Pokemon Description
MeganiumMeganium Where to find:
・Evolve chosen Starter Pokemon.
Summary: Your main damage dealer of Grass, Poison, and Fairy type moves. Its Mega Evolution also makes it a Fairy-type, making Mega Meganium a unique dual-type Pokemon.
SharpedoSharpedo Where to find:
・Evolve from Carvanha, which is found at Wild Zone 10. An Alpha Sharpedo can be caught at the same location as well.
Summary: A fast, agile, but reckless, Water and Dark-type Pokemon. It often learns moves that have recoil damage, but it does take a big chunk off of the opponents.
TalonflameTalonflame Where to find:
・Evolve from Fletchling, which is found at Wild Zone 1.
・Evolve from an Alpha Fletchinder that can be found at Wild Zone 9.

Summary: One of the fastest Pokemon in the game due to its insanely high base Speed. Talonflame is so fast, it can perform two to three attacks before the opponent can even use one. This Pokemon also compensates for Meganium's mid-level Speed.
SableyeSableye Where to find:
・Found at Wild Zone 9.
Summary: Naturally, Sableye is one of the few Pokemon that has no weakness, except for only one, which are Fairy-type attacks. This makes it very versatile against all other types.
GlalieGlalie Where to find:
・Evolve from Snorunt, which can be found at Wild Zone 12.
Summary: A solid Ice-type Pokemon that can also be Mega Evolved. Main counter against Dragon types.
LucarioLucario Where to find:
・Evolve from Riolu, which is found at the roof in Rouge Sector 4.
・An Alpha Riolu can be found at the roof in Bleu Sector 5.
Summary: A very versatile Pokemon that is very resistant against multiple types, such as Dark, Normal, Ice, Bug, Dragon, Grass, Rock, and Steel.

Support Meganium During Early Game

Meganium's true potential shows once it can Mega Evolve and learn certain attacks at high levels. With that in mind, you need to support Meganium with strong Pokemon that you can catch from the get-go.

Pokemon in the early game, such as Talonflame, Lucario, Sableye, and Sharpedo are very strong and almost all of them have Mega Evolution. They are also effective counters against Meganium's weaknesses.

Pokemon Legends Z-A Related Guides

Recommended Guides

Pokemon Legends Z-A - New Recommended Guides

Ranked Battles Best Starter Pokemon: Which Starter To Choose
Best Team for Story Progression Colorful Screw Locations and Where to Turn In
Which Canari Plush Should You Get? List of All Mable's Research Rewards
Choices, Missables, and One-Time Events Type Chart: All Strength and Weakness Matchups
Best Pokemon Tier List for the Story Post-Game Content: What to Do After Beating The Game
Best Pokemon for Ranked Battles Tier List Best Side Missions To Do First
Best Moves for Ranked Battles -

Comment

4 Sinstinct Sinstinct about 2 months

I can't speak for others experiences, but I can say that giga drain ran this game for me. I can count the number of times my Meganium went down on 3 fingers. It was literally to bs end game stuff too and I was being greedy. I am confident in saying that it generally doesn't matter since all starters even the worst ones like Chikorita are better than half the games mons in most situations.

3 Anonymous Anonymous about 2 months

totodile is better

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