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  • 10 replies
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What's the most authentic way to choose a starter?

Age 25
Female
Seen June 19th, 2019
Posted March 5th, 2018
1,259 posts
13.7 Years
I usually pick by their final evolutions, and I judge what I like by their design (and not much by stats/types). I pick water types most of the time because I almost always like the final evolutions of water starters, and they're just super strong. Only exceptions to this are Cyndaquil over Totodile (my first starter) and Rowlet over Popplio (Rowlet's design is so cute, I almost wanted to not evolve it).
Age 32
Male
United Kingdom
Seen 3 Weeks Ago
Posted December 13th, 2022
505 posts
8.2 Years
Final evolutions. I can put up with something I don't like if I know it's going to evolve into something awesome soon. But I won't commit to something that I like in its base/second form when I know it's going to evolve into an abomination eventually. And I wouldn't stop it from evolving because I like my Pokémon to be as strong as they possibly can be.

LilyGardy

The Flowering Pokemon

Female
Celadon Gym
Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted January 28th, 2023
4,476 posts
7.8 Years
What they look like at the start. A beginner trainer is unlikely to know what their starter evolves into. When I play a game for the first time I choose the first stage starter I like the design of the most. Indeed in most gens (Except Gen 7) I had no idea what the starters evolved into.

My first Starter Picks

Gen 1 - Squirtle
Gen 2 - Totodile
Gen 3 - Treecko
Gen 4 - Piplup
Gen 5 - Oshawott
Gen 6 - Fennekin
Gen 7 - Popplio
Currently playing - Omega Ruby Grass Monotype

Spyro

Seen October 5th, 2018
Posted July 26th, 2018
2,373 posts
7.4 Years
I picked the poll option "Pick based on what they become later." but after seeing LilyGardy's answer, I do agree with her. I'd rather pick based on what they look like, and then be surprised - but after seeing a spoiler before Sun & Moon and seeing Incineroar, I decided to not pick Litten (my favourite starter ever) because of this fugly evolution.

Alakazam17

Long time no see!

Female
Canada
Seen October 27th, 2020
Posted October 24th, 2020
5,639 posts
17.7 Years
It doesn't matter. I just pick the Fire-type my first time around whether it's my favourite or not. And it's only been my favourite in 1st and 3rd Gen. I liked Fennekin over Froakie initially so it was probably my favourite at the time, but that has since changed.

Flowerchild

> 404 usertitle not found

Age 24
She/Her
Hyperspace
Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted July 7th, 2022
8,699 posts
13 Years
Generally based on how they'll do against the first Gym. I tend to catch Pokémon for my team quite sparingly and often don't have a second team member by the time I reach the first Gym, so my starter's effectiveness is important.
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noa

sleeping cutie

Age 30
Female
Seattle
Seen November 29th, 2020
Posted July 20th, 2020
5,474 posts
7.6 Years
I always choose the one with the coolest/cutest final evolution. I'm all about aesthetics when making my team.

Hikamaru

Age 30
Female
Australia
Seen January 24th, 2019
Posted September 4th, 2018
50,214 posts
12.2 Years
I usually tend to pick based on if I like the final evolution or not. That has usually been a factor with me choosing ones like Mudkip, Oshawott, Froakie and Popplio. However, my picks in D/P/Pt and HG/SS (Chimchar and Cyndaquil) were based mainly on effectiveness.
Gone forever for personal reasons.
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LegendChu

❤ CAREFREE, BUT CARING ❤

Male
Third Rock From The Sun
Seen October 21st, 2017
Posted October 21st, 2017
14,122 posts
9.1 Years
Well, I usually go for what design appeals me the mosly based on the Starters.

There are my first picks for each Gen:-

Gen 1 - Bulbasaur
Gen 2 - Cyndaquil
Gen 3 - Mudkip
Gen 4 - Chimchar
Gen 5 - Oshawott

Not played the 3DS Versions, but I'd probably have picked Fennekin/Chespin for Gen VI (although I don't really like any of the three) & Litten for Gen VII.

Pika Pika :chu: