The Kanto first partner Pokémon are the Pokémon chosen by Trainers at the start of their journey in Kanto. These are traditionally given out by Professor Oak and are to be used to battle the first wild Pokémon that the Trainer encounters.
In Generation I and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the player can choose a Fire-, Water-, or Grass-type first partner Pokémon at level 5.
List of Kanto first partner Pokémon and their Evolutions
Availability
Kanto-based games
In Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, FireRed, and LeafGreen, Professor Oak will bring Trainers to his lab to give them one of the Kanto first partner Pokémon to begin their journey before offering the player's rival the same opportunity. They will always select the type-advantageous first partner Pokémon, and the remaining Pokémon will sit in its Poké Ball on Oak's desk for the rest of the game.
In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the choice of first partner Pokémon also determines which of the Legendary beasts will roam the Kanto region after defeating Team Rocket in the Sevii Islands—if the player chooses Bulbasaur, Entei will appear, Suicune will appear to those who chose Charmander, and Raikou will appear to those that went with Squirtle.
Professor Oak offers one of this trio of Pokémon to the player in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver after the player has defeated Red, making reference to the fact that he gives them out as first partner Pokémon in Kanto-based games, suggesting the player will be able to make it to the next town with one of these Pokémon by their side.
Although not given to the player by Professor Oak, in Pokémon Yellow or Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, the Kanto first partner Pokémon can be received as gift Pokémon: Bulbasaur from a a girl in Cerulean City, Charmander from a boy north of Route 24, and Squirtle from an Officer Jenny in Vermilion City.
Other games
Professor Sycamore will let the player choose one of these three Pokémon after meeting him in person and beating his team of Kanto first partners in battle. After making their choice, Professor Sycamore will give the player a Mega Stone corresponding to the chosen first partner's final Evolution; Venusaurite for Bulbasaur, Charizardite XX/Charizardite YY for Charmander, and Blastoisinite for Squirtle. The middle stages of the first partners can be found in the Friend Safari.
In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the Kanto first partners can be caught in the wild via Island Scan on Melemele Island.
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, the player receives a Charmander as a gift from Leon in Postwick after surpassing him as Champion, which will be capable of Gigantamaxing when fully evolved.
In The Isle of Armor, Honey will let the player choose either Bulbasaur or Squirtle after completing the Master Dojo's first trial. Once fully evolved, these Pokémon will be capable of Gigantamaxing. Honey will keep the Pokémon not chosen by the player, and use it on her team.
In The Crown Tundra, Ivysaur, Charmeleon, and Wartortle can be found in Dynamax Adventures.
In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the Kanto first partners can be caught in the Grand Underground after obtaining the National Pokédex.
Base stat comparison
In the anime
A poster on Ash Ketchum's bedroom wall, depicting the Kanto first partner Pokémon
Pokémon the Series
Over the course of Pokémon the Series, Professor Oak has given away three of the Kanto first partner Pokémon, two of which were to new Trainers. Gary Oak and May both received a Squirtle, and Gilbert began his journey with a Bulbasaur. Despite not having known to handout a Charmander, Professor Oak has been shown with all three first partner Pokémon in his possession. Professor Oak has also given out a Pikachu to Ash when he was late to his pick up his first partner Pokémon and had missed out on receiving one of the usual three choices.
It is revealed in Pokémon the Series: XY that Professor Sycamore gave Shauna, Tierno and Trevor a Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander respectively, and in the Mega Evolution Specials that Alain was given a Charmander as well.
Pokémon Origins
In Pokémon Origins, Red's main Pokémon is his first partner, a Charmander he received from Professor Oak. It eventually evolves into Charizard and becomes able to Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X through a Key Stone and Charizardite X Red received as a thank-you gift from Mr. Fuji.
I Choose You!
I Choose You!, a movie that started a separate continuity from the main Pokémon the Series continuity, focused on the developing friendship between Ash and the Pikachu he received from Professor Oak. In this continuity, Gary also started with a Squirtle, while the Oak's Bulbasaur and Charmander were revealed to have been picked by alternate versions of Marina and Tierno, respectively.
Pokémon Evolutions
In Pokémon Evolutions, although Professor Oak doesn't hand out any of the Kanto first partner Pokémon in this series, he is shown to have them in his possession.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
In Pokémon Adventures, Professor Oak is shown to give Pokémon alongside Pokedexes for Trainers he thinks are especially talented. Most characters are shown to already own another Pokémon before receiving their partner from Professor Oak. Gifted Pokémon include Charmander to his grandson Blue and Bulbasaur to Red. Professor Oak also possessed a Squirtle that was stolen by Green.
Professor Sycamore was also shown to be in possession of the Kanto first partner Pokémon and while Squirtle and Bulbasaur remained under his care, he Charmander to X which he nicknamed Salamè.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, Professor Oak is depicted distributing the choice of one out of three first partner Pokémon - Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle - to Pokémon Trainers as they begin their journeys, much like in other media. Green chooses Charmander as his first partner Pokémon, and while Red was offered the choice as well, he decided to keep a Clefairy that he met on his way to Professor Oak's lab as his first partner instead.
Pokémon Zensho
In Pokémon Zensho, much like in the Pokémon Red and Green games on which the manga was based, Professor Oak offers Satoshi and Shigeru their choice of one out of three first partner Pokémon - Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle. Satoshi chooses Charmander, while Shigeru chooses Squirtle, leaving Bulbasaur with Professor Oak.
Trivia
- The Kanto first partner Pokémon are the first trio to receive Mega Evolutions.
- The Kanto first partner Pokémon can be obtained in the most games of all first partner Pokémon, as they have appeared in 20 core series games in Japan (19 internationally).
See also
