"Chikorita was released! Good-bye Chikorita!"

[Timbjerr]

I've recently discovered that there are a variety of opinions regarding whether you like to keep your starter throughout the whole game or box and/or release it at the first opportunity.

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?
-If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?
-If you prefer to drop your starter, what kinds of pokemon do you replace it with?

 

[Perriechu]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?

I prefer to keep them, although on certain games, I'll ditch it, most notably, the 2nd Generation games and remakes, I don't like the 2nd Generation starters, and If I've already used all the starters at some point I'll ditch them in a new game. Like in my new White run through, I've ditched Tepig because' I've used it and don't like it.

-If you prefer to drop your starter, what kinds of pokemon do you replace it with?

I'll just replace it with the same type, or if my team doesn't need a Water/Grass/Fire, I'll just use a random Pokemon.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?: Yes, I've always kept my starter in every Pokemon game I played
-If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?: In a way, yes.

 

[ISA56 2.0]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different Pokemon?
Eh, most of the time I'll keep it throughout the main game and boot it into the PC once I go to the Battle Tower/Frontier/Subway. Exceptions include Pikachu in Pokemon Yellow, (swapped for Jolteon) Quilava in SoulSilver, (swapped for Flareon) and Charmander in Pokemon Red (swapped for a....crap, I forgot :p)

If you prefer to drop your starter, what kinds of Pokemon do you replace it with?
Most of the time it'll be a cooler looking Pokemon or a stronger Pokemon.

 

[Mattxy8]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?

I keep it the ENTIRE game, it's always my strongest pokemon.

-If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?

Sort of, its just the first pokemon you get in the game. Why abandon it? The LEAST you could do with it is use it for the bs HM's.

 

[Mr Cat Dog]

Most of the time, I don't get rid of my starter, but that's normally because I pick a Fire type, of which there aren't that many to begin with. In Black, however, I chose Oshawott, and kept it until the Elite Four. But if I'd gotten a Rod earlier, it would have been "bai bai, Samurott".

 

[Bluerang1]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?
I always keep my starters. I thought you had to xD But seriously, it's the first Pokemon you get, and I keep it because of that, it's special regardless of whether there are stronger Pokemon out there.

-If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your Pokemon?
It definitely does. It's your oldest companion afterall. The first child.

 

[skyluigi2]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?
It depends, but usually, yes. In Unova, I didn't even evolve it into it's final form before switching it for a different Pokemon because I really didn't like it, or any of the other Unova starters.
-If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?
Yes! My Empoleon (Nicknamed Pengi) was my first level 100 on a Pokemon game :3 I still have it today. And even though I ditched Dewott, I still felt kinda bad about it.
-If you prefer to drop your starter, what kinds of pokemon do you replace it with?
In Unova, I replaced my Dewott with a Vanilluxe. So, I guess stronger, different typed Pokemon, and Pokemon that appeal to me more.

-totodile42

 

[Edsbob]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?
I like to keep my starter almost all the time. If anything other than that, I may trade it for it's kids instead.
-If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?
I suppose there's that feeling of mutual loyalty when you have that Pokemon that's been with you from step one... for a straight answer I'll say yes. I'd feel bad too every single time I talk to the professors, even though I know they're never going to say anything.

But my starter is always the one that I'll put my shades on with and say "LEZ DO THIS".

 

[Pokemon Trainer Touko]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?
Yes, my starter Pokémon is always in my team because I feel bad for it when I keep it in the PC box. ;__; Plus, it is usually my strongest Pokemon. :D

If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?
Yes.

 

[The Eagle]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?

- I always keep my starter pokemon. Its always the strongest.

-If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?

- Well apart from the fact its just a game and they are not capable of feeling, yeah I suppose it does.

 

[Sydian]

I usually do keep my starter, unless I have a challenge that involves not using it. And I never like to keep them in DPPt cause that's my least favorite batch of starters (almost typed challenges wtf?). I don't think it deepens any bond though...lol

If I drop it, I usually replace it with something of its type (even though Stoutland replaced my starter on my last Black playthrough, I did teach it Surf, and I started with Oshawott...sooo...sorta? lol). In the case of challenges though, I usually enter challenges that might involve not using a starter type at all. They're usually pretty random. @_@

 

[BHwolfgang]

I actually depend on my starter Pokemon for most of my journey. It is my strongest and should be the leader of my party. There are only a few times when I toss it in the box, and that's only for a little bit. I only went through one monotype challenge, so I chose Squirtle. Yes, this does deepen my bond with my starter Pokemon. I just grow a certain kind of affection towards it.

There was only one time when I actually released my starter Pokemon. I received a Chikorita through a trade and its nickname was very inappropriate. I didn't want my cousin to see it, so I decided to bid it farwell. I hate releasing Pokemons, so the chance of me releasing a starter is even more slim.

 

[lx_theo]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?
I usually do, largely do to me not being big on competitive teams. I usually make sure I pick my favorite starter so I don't regret it later.

-If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?
Yes, to an extent. I usually feel as though the starter is the mascot of my team that stand at my side and lead my team into battle. More often than not I level them up to make sure its one or more levels ahead of the rest, to assert the dominance of this role.

I use a couple of starters in my ultimate team (cross-generation, most high preferences team). Its not made to be competitive in Pokemon choice, just other areas like type, IV, movesets, etc,

 

[pokehearts]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon? Yes I usually do, most times. Sometimes I'll use 2 starters, but trash the second.
If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon? No not really

 

[UltiMoth]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?
I would usually keep it with me till midpoint or endgame, if I find another pokemon of the same type to replace it with that I think may be stronger with better IVs and/or a better movepool, or if I just plain like that pokemon better.

If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?
The bond would definitely be very deep when you go all the way with your starter. It was like that with Yellow, and when I talked to my Pikachu, he had all these hearts floating around his head and he looked so happy to be with me. But staying true to the anime, Pikachu had refused to evolve, so I kept feeling tempted to replace him with a much stronger, fully evolved electric pokemon. But I kept him; he just loved me so much and I couldn't let him go!

If you prefer to drop your starter, what kinds of pokemon do you replace it with?
I would replace it with another pokemon of the same type, depending on which ones I feel would be a better option.

 

[Elite Overlord LeSabre™]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?
Except for Yellow and that epically weak Pikachu I keep my starter throughout my entire game. It typically only gets boxed when I battle with my bred "competitive" team. I always get the starter up to level 100 as I do with my entire in-game team.

If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?
Not quite that, but something similar: I do feel guilty if I don't use my first partner all the way through the game. It would feel like I abandoned the one member I had since the very beginning.

If you prefer to drop your starter, what kinds of pokemon do you replace it with?
In Yellow only, that Pikachu got replaced by Voltorb as soon as I could.

 

[champagnepapi]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?
Keep it, but once I sent my Mudkip packing.

-If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?
The only time I ever "bond' with my Pokemon, is in a Nuzlocke run, and I always keep my starters in Nuzlockes.

-If you prefer to drop your starter, what kinds of pokemon do you replace it with?
Early game stuff, like the regional derps and regional birds. Maybe some stronger ones, later.

 

[miju-kun]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?

I keep my starter all the time. Also, I never ditch my Pokèmon with a high happiness ratio.

If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?

Yes. I don't know why. I think it's because...nah, I really don't know.

If you prefer to drop your starter, what kinds of pokemon do you replace it with?
Some random Pokèmon wearing a berèt with a French accent who likes painting.

 

[ShinyMeowth]

Do you prefer to keep your starter with you through the entire game or do you prefer to drop it for a different pokemon?
I always keep my starter, and it's either the most powerful pokemon of my team at any given time, or sometimes, the only pokemon in my team other than HM slaves.
-If you prefer to keep your starter with you for the entire game, do you feel like it deepens your bond with your pokemon?
Sometimes.