Best Starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus? (& How to Chose It)

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the most recent iteration of the Pokémon video games and the Switch game has become a global phenomenon in a very short period of time, being praised by critics and fans alike. The game introduces a lot of new mechanisms, one of which are the Starter Pokémon. In this article, we are going to tell you which Starter Pokémon you should choose in Pokémon Legends: Arceus by revealing to you which one of the three Starter Pokémon is the best.

Based on their stats and their overall usefulness for your adventure, Rowlet is the best Starter Pokémon you can choose in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Rowlet might not seem as useful in the beginning, but it becomes more useful as you progress with your adventure. Cyndaquil is most often effective against Noble Pokémon, while Oshawott is mostly useful at the beginning of your adventure.

The rest of this article will function as a guide to Starter Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. We are going to provide you with all the information you need to know about the three Starter Pokémon in this game – Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet – thus giving you everything you need to know before choosing your own Starter. Choosing a Starter can be one of the most important moves you make in any Pokémon game so we advise you to go through our guide in detail.

Which is the best Starter Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus? (Ranked)

In this section, we are going to rank the three Starter Pokémon from Pokémon Legends: Arceus based on how useful they are, based on our estimates and analyses. Pokémon Legends: Arceus has added a twist to the Starter Pokémon choices, combining three Starters from three different generations, which was the first game to do so. Here they are, based on how useful they are:

3. Oshawott

Oshawott is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation V. It is the first development stage of Dewott and Samurott. Oshawott is one of the Starter Pokémon in Unova, along with Snivy and Tepig. As such, it’s available in Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, White 2, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It can also be obtained as a playable character in PokéPark 2 and as a playable character or partner in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Infinity Portal and Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon.

Oshawott are very rare Pokémon that come from the Unova region. They’re can be found hanging out on river banks. Oshawott are very skilled. With the help of its shell, which it always wears on its stomach, it can solve some everyday problems. It works as a knife, for example when it cuts open berries it wants to eat. However, the shell functions primarily as a weapon. It is made of the same material as an Oshawott’s claws.

The sea otter-based Water-type Pokémon Oshawott is the basis and thus the first part of its development line, which has three stages, typical for the development lines of Starter Pokémon. It can first evolve into Dewott and then into Samurott. Its stages of development represent the Japanese style. During the development of Dewott, Oshawott not only gets bigger and his body shape changes slightly, but the coloring in particular changes in many places.

His head and arms are no longer white, but are also shown in light blue, his blue ears, feet, beaver tail and hands are now black and the color of his nose changes from light brown to pink. In addition, Dewott now has two shells at about waist height instead of one, which it uses to fight. It now has some standing hair on its head, and the white whiskers seen on its face grow into a full beard resembling that of a samurai as it evolves into Samurott.

The main color changes this time to a deep blue, while the chest and belly are colored more light blue, it no longer stands on two but on four legs and the shells become armor and blades on the legs, head and tail. In addition, there are now sharp, long swords in the shell on the front legs, which Samurott uses as a weapon. Dewott evolves in-game when Oshawott reaches level 17, and Samurott evolves at level 36.

2. Cyndaquil

Cyndaquil is a Fire-type Pokémon introduced in Generation II of the core games. It is the first stage of development of Quilava and Typhlosion. Along with Chikorita and Totodile, Cyndaquil is one of the starter Pokémon from Johto. As a starter Pokémon, it is available in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, SoulSilver, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, it is one of the Pokémon available from Professor Birch.

It can also be obtained as a playable character or partner in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue and Red Team, Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky, and in Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon.

Cyndaquil are very rare Pokemon native to the Johto region. They mostly live near or on volcanoes, but also partly on fields and meadows. In Johto, Cyndaquil are often given to newbie trainers as starter Pokémon. Cyndaquil are small, very shy Pokémon that often curl up and invariably crouch when moving.

When the threat is serious, it will erupt flames from its back to scare off the enemy. If surprised, whether attacked or not, it also reflexively emits its flames. An enraged Cyndaquil reaches its personal maximum temperature, frightening off its attackers.

In the event of energy loss or fatigue, its flames only spark very weakly. Cyndaquil is the base stage of a three-stage evolution chain and the pre-evolution of Quilava, which in turn evolves into Typhlosion. The Fire-type runs constantly through the development series, and no second type is added to it either. With the development into Quilava, the stature changes significantly and then looks less like an anteater and more like a porcupine.

As Quilava subsequently evolves, it gains a taller stature and loses its flame on its tail, but otherwise changes relatively little. There are no color differences between the Pokémon, so the back remains blue throughout and the belly is beige.

Cyndaquil evolves into Quilava at level 14, which is the earliest evolution among the Johto starters, but that in turn doesn’t evolve into Typhlosion until level 36, making it the last to enjoy its final evolution. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it doesn’t evolve into Quilava until level 17. It then evolves into Hisuian Typhlosion at level 36.

1. Rowlet

Rowlet is a Grass- and Flying-type Pokémon that was introduced in Generation VII. It is the precursor to Dartrix, which in turn can evolve into Decidueye. Along with Litten and Popplio, Rowlet is one of the Starter Pokémon from Alola and is available as a starter Pokémon in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Rowlet is a rotund, owlet-like Pokémon. Its plumage is mainly light brown with a white undergarment, its tail feathers, the feathers at the base of its wings and two feathers under its face resembling a bow are colored dark green. Rowlet has large, black beady eyes and a rounded beak, the underside of which, like the clawed feet, is orange. In its shiny form, Rowlet has turquoise-green plumage, while its ornamental feathers are dark green and its claws and beak are red.

Rowlet lives near trees or forests. It clings to their trunks and branches with its powerful claws and pounces silently on its prey from their crowns. It is a nocturnal Pokémon and only becomes really active at dusk; during the day it rests and collects energy for the upcoming night via photosynthesis. Appropriately, Rowlet has outstanding eyesight, enabling it to see easily at night.

Rowlet has a preference for narrow, dark places, such as tree cavities, which it chooses as nests. When owned by a trainer, it then happily misappropriates their backpack or pouch. In general, Rowlet are very cautious and alert, aided by the ability to turn their heads 180 degrees. Rowlet is able to attack without making a sound, which is an advantage over his opponents. It swoops down on opponents in a gliding flight, which it then surprises with powerful kicks.

It can also shoot razor-sharp leaves from its plumage to attack from afar, reflected in moves like Razor Leaf, or Leaf Blade. It can use it on all sides because it can turn its head 180 degrees. Like all Grass-type starter Pokémon, with enough affection, Rowlet is able to learn the combination attack Grass Pillars from a move trainer. It also shares the emergency ability with the Grass-type starters. If a Pokemon with this ability has only a few power points left, the strength of its plant attacks increases.

However, some specimens may possess the Hidden Ability Long Reach, which is the special ability of its evolution line. Long Reach allows him to use attacks without physically touching the opponent. Rowlet is the first stage in a three-stage evolution chain. It can evolve into Dartrix, which in turn can evolve into Decidueye.

Rowlet goes through a difficult youth phase before it can perfect its skills in its final stage. The development to Dartrix takes place in the games of the main series when reaching at least level 17, those to Decidueye from level 34. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, it also evolves into Dartrix at level 17. However, it only evolves into Hisuian Decidueye at level 36.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus: Best Starter Pokémon Nature

Well, as we have explained in an earlier article, Pokémon Natures are a very specific and interesting thing. Most players won’t even pay attention to them, but if you’re a tactics-oriented player, your Pokémon’s nature will play a very important role in your approach to the game. This is why natures are important to a large(r) group of players.

Now, as for your Starter Pokémon, the best nature to have is – of course – Brave. It s a very useful and practical Nature to have in a Pokémon.

These Pokémon get an increase in Attack as they grow and evolve, while losing Speed, but since Speed can be elevated artificially and through different attacks, we’re of the opinion that this Nature carries with itself the lowest risk among all, which is why we ultimately recommend it as the best Nature for your Starter (especially if you have a high ATK Cyndaquil, for example).

How to chose the best Starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus?

Well, the method of choosing the best Starter in any Pokémon game is never easy, as experienced players might know. If you don’t have any knowledge about Pokémon Types and advantages, you might go with your favorite based on various criteria that have nothing to do with the Pokémon themselves, like their names, their designs, or your memories of these Pokémon from the anime. That might work out well, but it’s not a good tactical approach.

If you want to be the very best, like no one ever was, you’ll have to consider the stats of each Starter, the potential of their evolutions, their Natures, their weaknesses and advantages, as well as the opponents you are going to face. So, if you want to make the most of your Pokémon, just follow these criteria and you’ll certainly choose the best one.

Can you catch other Starters in Pokémon Legends: Arceus?

As far as the starters offered in Pokémon Legends: Arceus are concerned, you can obtain the other two aside from the one you’ve selected, either by finishing the main game and then choosing a different starter from the Professor, or by locating them and catching them in the Space-Time Distortion areas, where they tend to appear.

As for the Starters from other Generations, we know that the three Sinnoh Starters – Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup – are available in-game and can be caught relatively easily. Pikachu and Eevee are also available in Pokémon Legends: Arceus but, unfortunately, other Starters don’t seem to be available at this moment. This might change, though, with some future updates or DLCs.