The best Pokemon team to use for the story of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) has a wide type coverage, is well-balanced, and takes into account the important battles in the game. Read on for our guide on the best story team for each starter Pokemon and other great candidates to add to your party!

Criteria for Choosing the Best Team

Pokemon that complement your starter Pokemon's strengths and weaknesses. Pokemon that remain helpful from early to late game. Due to the variety of Pokemon available, alternatives to the suggested party are also provided

Choose A Team that Works Well With Your Starter

Sprigatito

Fuecoco

Quaxly

More so than anything, having a team that is easy to use with your starter is very important. Take, for example, if you choose the Fire-type Fuecoco as your starter, it would be wise to capture an Electric-type, such as Pikachu to help deal with the Water Pokemon Fuecoco is weak to.

Best Starter Pokemon: Which Starter To Choose

Make a Team That Allows for Easy Story Porgression

Regardless of your decision, it is best to have a team that allows you to clear the main storyline with little hassle, paying particular note to Pokemon that will prove effective when challenging Gym Leaders.

Story Walkthrough

Best Party for Sprigatito Users

Early Game (Lv. 5-30)

Pokemon	How to Get
Sprigatito	Obtain at the start of the game
Charcadet	Occasionally appears in the areas indicated here.
Rookidee	Can be found in the South Province (Area Three)
Wattrel	Can be found in East Province (Area Two)
Magikarp	Can be found on the beach in South Province (Area One)
Paldean Wooper (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Can be found at South Province (Area One)

Mid Game (Lv. 31-50)

Pokemon	How to Get
Floragato	Evolve from Sprigatito at level 16.
Armarouge or Ceruledge	Give 10 Bronzor Fragments (Armarouge) or 10 Sinistea Chips (Ceruledge) to the man in Zapapico.
Corvisquire	Evolve from Rookidee at level 18.
Kilowattrel	Evolve from Wattrel at level 25.
Gyarados	Evolve form Magikarp at level 20.
Clodsire (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Evolve from a Paldean Wooper at level 20.

Late Game (Lv. 55-)

Pokemon	How to Get
Meowscarada	Evolve from Floragato at level 36. ▶ Meowscarada Best Story Moveset
Armarouge or Ceruledge	Give 10 Bronzor Fragments (Armarouge) or 10 Sinistea Chips (Ceruledge) to the man in Zapapico. Best Story Moveset ▶ Armarouge ▶ Ceruledge
Corviknight	Evolve from Corvisquire at level 38. ▶ Corviknight Best Story Moveset
Kilowattrel	Evolve from Wattrel at level 25. ▶ Kilowattrel Best Story Moveset
Gyarados	Evolve form Magikarp at level 20. ▶ Gyarados Best Story Moveset
Clodsire (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Evolve from a Paldean Wooper at level 20. ▶ Clodsire Best Story Moveset

Best Party for Fuecoco Users

Early Game(Lv. 5-30)

Pokemon	How to Get
Fuecoco	Obtain at the start of the game
Rookidee	Can be found in the South Province (Area Three)
Wattrel	Can be found in East Province (Area Two)
Magikarp	Can be found on the beach in South Province (Area One)
Paldean Wooper (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Can be found at South Province (Area One)
Smoliv (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Can be found at the South Province (Area Two)

Mid Game (Lv. 31-50)

Pokemon	How to Get
Crocalor	Evolve from Fuecoco at level 16.
Corvisquire	Evolve from Rookidee at level 18.
Kilowattrel	Evolve from Wattrel at level 25.
Gyarados	Evolve form Magikarp at level 20.
Clodsire (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Evolve from a Paldean Wooper at level 20.
Dolliv (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Evolve Smoliv at level 25.

Late Game (Lv. 55-)

Pokemon	How to Get
Skeledirge	Evolve from Crocalor at level 36. ▶ Skeledirge Best Story Moveset
Corviknight	Evolve from Corvisquire at level 38. ▶ Corviknight Best Story Moveset
Kilowattrel	Evolve from Wattrel at level 25. ▶ Kilowattrel Best Story Moveset
Gyarados	Evolve form Magikarp at level 20. ▶ Gyarados Best Story Moveset
Clodsire (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Evolve from a Paldean Wooper at level 20. ▶ Clodsire Best Story Moveset
Arboliva (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Evolve from Dolliv at level 35. ▶ Arboliva Best Story Moveset

Best Party for Quaxly Users

Early Game(Lv. 5-30)

Pokemon	How to Get
Quaxly	Obtain at the start of the game
Charcadet	Occasionally appears in the areas indicated here.
Rookidee	Can be found in the South Province (Area Three)
Wattrel	Can be found in East Province (Area Two)
Paldean Wooper (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Can be found at South Province (Area One)
Smoliv (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Can be found at the South Province (Area Two)

Mid Game (Lv. 31-50)

Pokemon	How to Get
Quaxwell	Evolve from Quaxly at level 16.
Armarouge or Ceruledge	Give 10 Bronzor Fragments (Armarouge) or 10 Sinistea Chips (Ceruledge) to the man in Zapapico.
Corvisquire	Evolve from Rookidee at level 18.
Kilowattrel	Evolve from Wattrel at level 25.
Clodsire (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Evolve from a Paldean Wooper at level 20.
Dolliv (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Evolve Smoliv at level 25.

Late Game (Lv. 55-)

Pokemon	How to Get
Quaquaval	Evolve from Quaxwell at level 36. ▶ Quaquaval Best Story Moveset
Armarouge or Ceruledge	Give 10 Bronzor Fragments (Armarouge) or 10 Sinistea Chips (Ceruledge) to the man in Zapapico. Best Story Moveset ▶ Armarouge ▶ Ceruledge
Corviknight	Evolve from Corvisquire at level 38. ▶ Corviknight Best Story Moveset
Kilowattrel	Evolve from Wattrel at level 25. ▶ Kilowattrel Best Story Moveset
Clodsire (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Evolve from a Paldean Wooper at level 20. ▶ Clodsire Best Story Moveset
Arboliva (Or a Pokemon of your choice)	Evolve from Dolliv at level 35. ▶ Arboliva Best Story Moveset

Best Teams Explained

Having a Fire type is Highly Recommended

We recommend having a Fire Type Pokemon in the early game, as the first two Gym Leaders use Pokemon that are weak to fire moves. Gym Leaders that use that Steel and Ice Pokemon will appear later in the game as well, making Fire a very helpful type to have on your party at all times.

List of All Fire Type Pokemon

Catch Charcadet For Your Fire Type

Charcadet

Charcadet is the pre-evolution to Armarouge and Ceruledge, and one of the Fire Type Pokemon that you can catch in the early game. Since it takes a while to evolve, it will start a little weak defensively, but will be a valuable ally once fully evolved.

Compatibility Based on Starter Pokemon

Alternative Pokemon

Growlithe ★★☆
Fletchling ★★☆

Both Growlithe and Flectchling can be caught in the early game, making them great choices to add to your team. Although Fletching does not have Fire typing until it evolves, its' Flying typing still lets it provide support during the early gym battles.

Best Fire Type Pokemon

Choose Wattrel as Your Electric Type

Wattrel

Wattrel can caught be along the shoreline and beaches, and proves to be a very useful Electric type for you party, as its additional Flying-type not only increases the amount of Pokemon it is strong against, but also gives it an immunity to Ground moves.

Compatibility Based on Starter Pokemon

Alternative Choices

Shinx ★★★
Pawmo ★★★
Pikachu ★★☆	・Receive as a pre order bonus ・Evolve from a Pichu, which can be found in the South Province (Area One)

Shinx's ability to learn a variety of fang-based moves makes it a versatile attacker, while Pawmo's secondary Fighting typing also lets it fulfill many roles. Regardless of which electric type you choose, their ability to inflict the paralysis status will prove useful against the large numbers of Flying-type Pokemon you will encounter in the early game.
Note that those who purchased their copy of the game early can receive a Flying Tera Type Pikachu through the Mystery Gift feature. Not only does it know Fly, but its Flying Tera Type makes it immune to Ground type moves when it Trerestallizes.

Best Electric-Type Pokemon

Choose Magikarp for Your Water Type

Magikarp

Although Magikarp takes a while to evolve, Gyarados will prove to be incredibly helpful on your team. You can catch a Magikarp at the beach area in the Southern Province (Area 1), so make sure to do so as early as possible.

Compatibility Based on Starter Pokemon

Alternative Choices

Wiglett ★★☆
Marill ★★★
Tatsugiri ★★★

Choose Wiglett if you want to focus on speed, or Marill if you prefer a strong attacker. If you choose to evolve Marill from Azurill that you caught at the Southern Province (Area One), make it hold a Soothe Bell you can purchase at Mesagoza to speed up the process.

While Tatsugiri is a Pokemon that you cannot catch until the late game, is part Dragon-typing and great stats make it good choice for those who are still undecided on which Water type they should use.

Best Water Type Pokemon

Final Party Member

Paldean Wooper

Smoliv

While we recommend using these Pokemon during the early part of the game, there is a variety of Pokemon available to choose from early on. More so than anything, make sure to choose a type that suits your team's needs.

Alternative Choices for the Early Game

Ralts Final Evolutions Gardevoir Gallade	Can be found in the [South Province (Area One) Very rarely spawns.
Gastly Final Evolution Gengar	Can be found in the ruins located in the South Province (Area One) Appears more often at night
Nacli Final Evolution Garganacl

Alternative Choices for the Mid Game Onward

Goomy Final Evolution Goodra	Can be found near the coastline in South Province (Area Four). Very rarely spawns.
Gible Final Evolution Garchomp	Found in a cave located in West Province (Area Two).
Deino Final Evolution Hydreigon	Found in a cave located in the Dalizapa Passage.
Rotom	Can be found in West Province (Area Two).
Shroomish Final Evolution Breloom	Located at both West Province (Area Three) and South Province (Area Five).
Mimikyu	Can be found at East Province (Area Three) Map and Pokemon List.
Riolu Final Evolution Lucario	Can be found at East Province (Area Three) Map and Pokemon List.
Tinkatink Final Evolution Tinkaton	Can be found at East Province (Area Three) Map and Pokemon List.
Capsakid Final Evolution Scovillain	Can be found at East Province (Area Three) Map and Pokemon List.
Varoom Final Evolution Revavroom	Can be found at East Province (Area Three) Map and Pokemon List.

The amount of helpful Pokemon tha tyou can catch start from mid game is quite large, so make sure to take care advantage of the wide variety of Pokemon, particularyl the Dragon type pokemon that are now available to catch.

Trade Pokemon with NPCS

Required Pokemon	Received Pokemon	Trainer
Flabebe	Snom	Cortondo
Paldean Wooper	Wooper	Cascarrafa
Pincurchin	Gengar (Evolves after being traded)	Levincia

Throughout your travels, you will find trainers that will want to trade their Pokemon with you. We recommend doing so if you since as these Pokemon are not only fairly powerful, but they are easier to level up, sinc etraded Pokemon gain EXP at a fastrer rate.

All In-Game Trades

Best Pokemon of Each Type for the Story

Best Pokemon to Use Per Type
Grass	Meowscarada Scovillian
Water	Quaquaval Floatzel Gyarados
Fire	Skeledirge Scovillain
Electric	Rotom Luxray Kilowattrel
Ice	Baxcalibur Cloyster Glaceon
Fighting	Lucario Breloom Pawmot
Ground	Clodsire Garchomp Krookodile
Poison	Toxtricity Gengar Clodsire
Flying	Kilowattrel Corviknight Flamigo
Psychic	Armarouge Gardevoir Farigiraf
Bug	Heracross Lokix Spidops
Rock	Garganacl Lycanroc (Dusk Form) Klawf
Ghost	Skeledirge Gengar Rotom
Dragon	Garchomp Goodra Haxorus
Dark	Hydreigon Krookodile Weavile
Steel	Revavroom Tinkaton
Fairy	Florges Mimikyu Gardevoir
Normal	Ursaring Dudunsparce Arboliva

Best Tera Types: Best Pokemon to Terastallize

Best Team For the Post-Game

Paradox Pokemon

By entering the Geat Crater of Paldea (Area Zero), you can battle and capture Paradox Pokemon. These Pokemon have very powerful stats and abilities, and will be a great addition to your party should you decide to battle the Gym Leaders again.

Paradox Pokemon (Scarlet-Exclusive)
Great Tusk	Scream Tail	Brute Bonnet	Flutter Mane
Slither Wing	Sandy Shocks	Roaring Moon	-
Paradox Pokemon (Violet-Exclusive)
Iron Treads	Iron Moth	Iron Hands	Iron Jugulis
Iron Thorns	Iron Bundle	Iron Valiant	-

Koraidon and Miraidon

Koraidon

Miraidon

After beating the game you can use the Legendary Pokemon Koraidon and Miraidon in battle. In addition to being useful both in and out of battle, you will be able to catch aother one, allowing you to trade with your friends.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Related Guides

Beginner's Tips and Tricks

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Tips and Tricks