Starter Showdown Redux: Kanto I

It’s crazy to think it’s been over 4 years since we published our first Starter Showdown. Since then a generation has come, gone and a new one is about to begin. In this time our site has also changed a lot: new content, new members and new things to do. We feel there’s no better time than now to revisit and introduce Starter Showdown: Redux!

The idea is simple: we hold several voting periods in order to determine the favourite overall starter Pokémon, one generation at a time, then we’ll hold a final vote to crown our next Starter Champion. We only select from Pokémon that are available to pick at the start of core series games.


Each round will consist of starter Pokémon available in their native region, meaning our readers will initially have to vote for their top choice from each region. The rounds are as follows:

Note: with Let’s Go Eevee and Pikachu games releasing recently, we’ve decided to include two Kanto voting rounds, with Pikachu only appearing in one of those.

  • Kanto Starters I: Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander
  • Kanto Starters II: Pikachu and Eevee
  • Johto Starters: Chikorita, Totodile and Cyndaquil
  • Hoenn Starters: Treecko, Mudkip and Torchic
  • Sinnoh Starters: Turtwig, Piplup and Chimchar
  • Unova Starters: Snivy, Oshawott and Tepig
  • Kalos Starters: Chespin, Froakie and Fennekin
  • Alola Starters: Rowlet, Popplio and Litten
  • ???


So, let’s begin! The first round will feature Pokémon from the Kanto region, where a lot of older Trainers will have started their Pokémon Adventures. In the Kanto region Trainers could originally choose Bulbasaur, Squirtle or Charmander from Professor Oak, in his Pallet Town laboratory.

There’s no arguing all three of these starter Pokémon have remained truly iconic and still feature heavily in the series as whole. Which is your favourite? Get voting using our poll below and click here to vote on Twitter!

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