First partner Pokémon: Difference between revisions

The contents of this article have been suggested to be split into "Kanto first partner Pokémon", "Johto first partner Pokémon", "Hoenn first partner Pokémon", "Sinnoh first partner Pokémon", and so on. Please discuss it on the talk page for this article.

Red picking his first partner Pokémon

A first partner Pokémon, also referred to informally as a starter Pokémon, is the first Pokémon that a Trainer owns at the start of their Pokémon journey. This primarily refers to Grass-, Fire-, or Water-type Pokémon given to players by a Pokémon Professor or other mentor at the beginning of the core series Pokémon games, as well as Pikachu or Eevee in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, but can otherwise be any Pokémon outside of this context.

In the games, the player's first partner will be used to battle the first wild Pokémon they encounter. Once another Pokémon is caught, their first partner may be retired, but it is often with this Pokémon that Trainers learn friendship and trust. As such, even advanced Trainers may still use their first partner Pokémon, and they will often be the most powerful Pokémon on their respective teams.

It is said that the first partner Pokémon are extremely rare in the wild, accounting for their uniqueness in each game.

In the creative process, first partner Pokémon are the Pokémon from each game that the most work goes into, and usually take significantly more time than other Pokémon in each generation.^[1]

Terminology

Promotional image for The Indigo Disk using the term "first partner Pokémon"^[2]

Main article: Terminology of first partner Pokémon

First partner Pokémon

Since Generation VI, "first partner Pokémon" is the main term officially used to refer to these Pokémon in the Pokémon games, animation, TCG, and other media. It is sometimes shortened to simply "first partner".

Occasionally, other Pokémon have been referred to as first partner Pokémon, such as Poipole in its Ultra Sun Pokédex entry, as well as various Pokémon in Pokémon Masters EX.

Krysta Yang, a former public relations manager at Nintendo of America, has claimed that the phrase "partner Pokémon" is preferred in official communication due to "starter Pokémon" implying that the player will "be rid of them" later in the game.^[3]

Starter Pokémon

Historically, these Pokémon have been referred to as "starter Pokémon", sometimes shortened as "starters", though these terms were rarely used in the games, and used occasionally during the second through fourth series of Pokémon the Series.

Starting in Pokémon the Series: XY, the term "starter Pokémon" fell out of use entirely in the animated series. At a panel at PokéCon 2015, then-voice director of the English dub of Pokémon the Series, Tom Wayland, stated that "starter Pokémon" is "an unofficial term now".^[4]

In 2019, Sonja Hammes, then a social media associate at The Pokémon Company International,^[5] stated that official social media accounts had been given authorization to use the phrase "starter Pokémon" with specific formatting restrictions.^[6][7]

Japanese terminology

In contrast to the English terminology, Japanese does not have a particular term that is consistently used to refer to first partner Pokémon. The most common Japanese term is 「パートナー」 (partner), but occasionally 相棒 (partner) may also be used. These terms, as well as just ポケモン (Pokémon), are usually paired with 最初の (first) or 初めての (first), but other terms such as 最初に選んだ (that was chosen first) or はじめに選んだ (that was chosen first) are also used. Among Japanese fans, 御三家 (the big three) is commonly used to refer to the Grass, Fire, and Water trios.

Grass, Fire, and Water trios

Most marketing refers exclusively to the standard trios of Grass-, Fire-, and Water-type Pokémon that can be chosen at the start of most core series games.

The Grass, Fire, and Water types handily illustrate the type effectiveness mechanics of Pokémon battles: Fire "beats" Grass (a Fire-type move deals double damage when attacking a Grass-type Pokémon, but a Fire-type Pokémon takes half damage from a Grass-type move), Water beats Fire, and Grass beats Water. This "rock, paper, scissors" relationship was illustrated in the instruction booklet of the original games.^[8]

The 27 Grass-, Fire-, and Water-type first partner Pokémon are listed below. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott return as first partners that can be chosen by the player shortly after they first land in Hisui.

Kanto first partner Pokémon

Bulbasaur

GrassPoison

Charmander

Fire

Squirtle

Water

Johto first partner Pokémon

Chikorita

Grass

Cyndaquil

Fire

Totodile

Water

Hoenn first partner Pokémon

Treecko

Grass

Torchic

Fire

Mudkip

Water

Sinnoh first partner Pokémon

Turtwig

Grass

Chimchar

Fire

Piplup

Water

Unova first partner Pokémon

Snivy

Grass

Tepig

Fire

Oshawott

Water

Kalos first partner Pokémon

Chespin

Grass

Fennekin

Fire

Froakie

Water

Alola first partner Pokémon

Rowlet

GrassFlying

Litten

Fire

Popplio

Water

Galar first partner Pokémon

Grookey

Grass

Scorbunny

Fire

Sobble

Water

Paldea first partner Pokémon

Sprigatito

Grass

Fuecoco

Fire

Quaxly

Water

The Kalos first partners also have a more broadly defined triangle in the secondary types of their final evolutions. They all still deal 2× damage offensively, and most still receive ½× damage defensively, but while Dark does not technically resist Psychic, it is still defensively advantaged since it is immune.

Other first partners

Aside from the regional trios, a few other Pokémon have been explicitly referred to as first partner Pokémon.

For a list of other Pokémon who are Trainers' first Pokémon, see list of characters' first Pokémon.

Player's first Pokémon

Pikachu and Eevee are given out as first partner Pokémon in Kanto by Professor Oak in some media. Pikachu is the first Pokémon given to the player in Pokémon Yellow, while Blue gets an Eevee. The partner Pikachu and Eevee are the first Pokémon caught by the player in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, respectively, while Oak gives Trace a standard Eevee in Let's Go, Pikachu! and a standard Pikachu in Let's Go, Eevee!

These Pokémon are never referred to as first partner Pokémon in-game; they are typically referred to as partner Pokémon instead. However, in one instance on the official website for the games, and on the Pokémon.com page for the games, they are referred to as first partner Pokémon.^[9][10]

Pikachu

Electric

Eevee

Normal

Other references

Alolan Meowth is given out by Nanu as a first partner on Ula'ula Island in Alola. It is implied that kahunas are responsible for giving out first partners on their respective islands, so it is possible the other kahunas give out different Pokémon to the standard Alolan first partner Pokémon given by Hala.

Poipole's Pokédex entry in Pokémon Ultra Sun refers to it as a popular first partner in its world.

Alolan Meowth

Dark

Poipole

Poison

In the games

Core series games

The Sinnoh first partner trio wallpaper in Pokémon HOME

In the core series games, a rival character often picks the Pokémon that is strong against the one the player chose, nominally setting them up for challenging battles going forward.

The Pokémon in the regional first partner trios have several common characteristics, both among each other and between generations. The most obvious commonality is their reliable typing. They all have an Ability that boosts their main type when their HP becomes low: the Grass types have Overgrow, Fire types have Blaze, and Water types have Torrent. They also all have a gender ratio of seven males to one female, generally making breeding them slightly inconvenient. When obtained at the start of a game, they are always level 5 and they start out knowing a Normal-type physical move (Pound, Scratch, or Tackle) and a stat-altering status move (Growl, Leer, or Tail Whip); since Generation VI (with the exception of Generation VIII), they also have an attacking move that matches their main type.

The table below shows the Pokémon that are selectable at the start of each core series game, and which other games they can also be obtained in. A notation of G, F, or W above the game's title indicates that only the first partner Pokémon in the trio that corresponds to that type is obtainable in that game. For availability in games outside of the core series, refer to the "Game locations" heading of the Pokémon's respective page for its species.

Game(s)	First partners	Also obtainable in
RGB/RB, FRLG		Y, HGSS, XY, USUM, PE, SwShF (IA)GW, BDSP, SV (ID)
Y		Regular Pikachu are obtainable in all games except BW and B2W2
GSC, HGSS		E, ORAS, SM, BDSP, SV (ID)
RSE, ORAS		HGSS, USUM, SwSh (IA), BDSP, SV (ID)
DPPt, BDSP		ORAS, USUM, BDSP, LA, SV (ID)
BW, B2W2		ORAS, SM, SV (ID)
XY		USUM, SV (ID)
SMUSUM		SwSh (IA), SV (ID)
P		None
E		None
SwSh		SV (ID)
LA		SM, USUM, SwSh (IA), SM, SV (ID)
		E, ORAS, SM, BDSP, SV (ID)
		ORAS, SM, SV (ID)
SV		None

Other games

Main article: List of the player's first Pokémon

Other games may use one of the classic first partner Pokémon, with Pikachu being fairly common; but many games give the player other Pokémon as their first Pokémon.

Some games use non-standard terms for this concept. Pokémon UNITE, for instance, calls the Pokémon tied to this trope, "the Pokémon that Trainers first selected", as written in the description for a sale for Holowear for that Pokémon.

In the anime

Main series

Ash with his Kanto first partner Pokémon and Pikachu

In Pokémon the Series, upon their tenth birthday, youths can register for a Pokédex and pick up a first partner Pokémon from the local Pokémon Professor or Pokémon Center free of charge. First partner Pokémon are usually raised specifically to be easy to train.

Like in the games, the specific first partner Pokémon available vary from region to region but are the same in each region as the games. That is, Kanto Trainers can only choose Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle; Johto Trainers can only choose Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile; and so on.

In A Mudkip Mission, it was shown where first partner Pokémon come from. Each region has special, secret breeding grounds run by a Pokémon Breeder for first partner Pokémon. The Pokémon League sends these Breeders the Pokémon Eggs for them to hatch at the breeding grounds. The breeders then hatch, care for, and raise the young Pokémon until they are ready to be proper first partner Pokémon for new Trainers. As these young ones are virtually defenseless, the locations of breeding grounds (or even the knowledge of their existence) is a secret unknown to most in the Pokémon world. This is likely to guard against unscrupulous individuals or groups (such as Team Rocket) from poaching the young Pokémon.

However, not all first partner Pokémon are raised at these special breeding grounds, with Professor Birch said to catch and raise his own first partner Pokémon for Trainers.

Other rookie Trainers may receive their first Pokémon from a friend or relative instead. Others, on the other hand, may befriend a Pokémon in the wild. These mean that Trainers can, in fact, start with any Pokémon.

• 

  The Kanto first partner Pokémon in Professor Cerise's laboratory

• 

  The Johto first partner Pokémon owned by Ash

• 

  The Hoenn first partner Pokémon, owned by Brock, Ash, and May

• 

  The Sinnoh first partner Pokémon in Professor Rowan's laboratory

• 

  The Unova region first partner Pokémon in Professor Juniper's laboratory

• 

  The Kalos region first partner Pokémon in Professor Sycamore's laboratory

• 

  The Alola first partner Pokémon, owned by Ash and Lana

• 

  The Galar region first partner Pokémon

• 

  The Hisui region first partner Pokémon

• 

  The Paldea first partner Pokémon, owned by Liko, Dot, and Roy

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer

Rosa and Serperior in the Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer

The Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer's extended cut features all three of Unova's first partner Pokémon: Nate is shown with an Emboar, Hugh is seen with a Samurott (having picked the opposing type, like most rivals do in the games), and Rosa uses a Serperior to battle Cheren's Stoutland.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer

The Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer also features all three of Hoenn's first partner Pokémon, in all forms including their Mega Evolutions. Brendan is shown to have picked a Treecko, while May has both a Torchic and Mudkip.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

In Pokémon Adventures, the first partner Pokémon featured in the games are reserved for the few people who hold a Pokédex. Professor Oak produces three Pokédexes for each region, and gives out the three first partner Pokémon in each region along with the Pokédex to Trainers he thinks are talented. He has colleagues and friends like Professor Birch do this for him in regions in which he isn't present. In the Unova region, two sets of first partner Pokémon are given out to six Trainers, but still with only three Pokédexes. Professor Oak also gave Red's Pikachu as a special first partner to Yellow.

Main characters

• Red's "first partner Pokémon" was a Bulbasaur given to him by Professor Oak, which he nicknamed "Saur". He later evolved into a Venusaur. In the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc, he was revealed to be able to Mega Evolve into a Mega Venusaur.
• Blue's "first partner Pokémon" was a Charmander given to him by his grandfather. He later evolved into a Charizard. In the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc, he was revealed to be able to Mega Evolve into a Mega Charizard Y.
• Green's "first partner Pokémon" was a Squirtle she stole from Professor Oak, which she nicknamed "Blasty". He later evolved into a Blastoise. In the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc, he was revealed to be able to Mega Evolve into a Mega Blastoise.
• Yellow's "first partner Pokémon" was Red's Pikachu, and after Red took him back, he caught her "first partner Pokémon", a female Pikachu which she nicknamed "Chuchu". Like the Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow, neither evolved.
• Gold's "first partner Pokémon" was a Cyndaquil he borrowed from Professor Elm, and was later allowed to keep. He nicknamed his Cyndaquil "Exbo". He later evolved into a Typhlosion.
• Silver's "first partner Pokémon" was a Totodile he stole from Professor Elm, as well as the first Pokédex of Johto. He later evolved into a Feraligatr.
• Crystal's "first partner Pokémon" was a Chikorita who ran away from Professor Elm to go with her. She nicknamed her Chikorita "Megaree". He later evolved into a Meganium.
• Ruby's "first partner Pokémon" was a Mudkip given to him by Professor Birch, which he nicknamed nicknamed "Mumu". He later evolved into a Swampert. In the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc, he was revealed to be able to Mega Evolve into a Mega Swampert.
• Sapphire's "first partner Pokémon" was a Torchic given to her by her father, which she nicknamed "Chic". She later evolved into a Blaziken. In the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc, she was revealed to be able to Mega Evolve into a Mega Blaziken.
• Emerald's first partner Pokémon was a Sceptile. Originally when he arrived in the Battle Frontier, he had no Pokémon on hand. Then he challenged the Battle Factory using only rental Pokémon, nearly at the end of the challenge, he noticed something suspicious about a Sceptile so he decided to steal him from the facility and kept him afterward. It is later revealed that this Sceptile was supposed to be his in the first place. In the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc, he was revealed to be able to Mega Evolve into a Mega Sceptile.
• Diamond's "first partner Pokémon" was a Turtwig given to him by Platinum because of a misunderstanding. He nicknamed his Turtwig "Tru". He later evolved into a Torterra.
• Pearl's "first partner Pokémon" was a Chimchar given to him by Platinum because of a misunderstanding. He nicknamed his Chimchar "Chimler". He later evolved into an Infernape.
• Platinum's "first partner Pokémon" was a Piplup she received from Professor Rowan. She later evolved into a Empoleon.
• Black's "first partner Pokémon" was a Tepig he received from Professor Juniper. Initially, he was nicknamed "Tep" as a Tepig, but the nickname was changed to "Nite" when he evolved into Pignite, and changed again into "Bo" when he evolved into an Emboar, making Black the only main character so far to change his Pokémon's nickname.
• White's first partner Pokémon was a Tepig she found in the pouring rain, which she nicknamed "Gigi". Gigi was with White until she decided to leave White to follow N. White later acquires another first partner Pokémon, a Servine, which she nicknamed "Amanda". Amanda originally followed N, until he told her to aid White. She later evolved into a Serperior.
• Blake's first partner Pokémon is a Dewott given to him by the International Police Headquarters so he would have a partner Pokémon.
• Whitley befriended a first partner Pokémon, a Tepig nicknamed "Gigi", who belong to N. She was later given her "first partner Pokémon", a Delphox she received from Trevor.
• X's "first partner Pokémon" was a Chespin given to him by Professor Sycamore, which he nicknamed "Marisso". He later evolved into a Chesnaught. X also given another first partner Pokémon from Professor Sycamore, a Charmander, which he nicknamed "Salamè". He later evolved into a Charizard who can Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X.
• Y's "first partner Pokémon" was a Froakie given to her by Trevor, which she nicknamed "Croaky". He later evolved into a Greninja.
• Sun's "first partner Pokémon" was a Litten given to him by Professor Kukui, which he nicknamed "Dollar". He later evolved into a Incineroar.
• Moon's "first partner Pokémon" was a Rowlet given to her by Professor Kukui. He later evolved into a Decidueye.
• Henry Sword's "first partner Pokémon" was a Grookey given to him by Professor Magnolia, which he nicknamed "Twiggy". He later evolved into a Rillaboom who can Gigantamax into Gigantamax Rillaboom.
• Casey Shield's "first partner Pokémon" was a Scorbunny, which she nicknamed "Bit". He later evolved into a Cinderace who can Gigantamax into Gigantamax Cinderace.
• Scarlet's "first partner Pokémon" is a Sprigatito.
• Violet's "first partner Pokémon" is a Fuecoco that he received it from Director Clavell after he enrolled in Uva Academy.

Supporting characters

• Wally temporarily had a first partner Pokémon who was a Treecko he found in Route 131 after being separated from Professor Birch, who intended to give it to another Trainer. He later evolved into a Grovyle. When he was separated from Wally, it evolved into a Sceptile while in the wild. He was eventually caught by Emerald, the Trainer Professor Birch intended to give him to.
• Cheren's first partner Pokémon was a Snivy he received from Professor Juniper. He later evolve into a Servine.
• Bianca's first partner Pokémon was a Oshawott she received from Professor Juniper.
• N's "first partner Pokémon" was a Snivy that he liberated from Cedric Juniper, with the Snivy deciding to go with N. She later evolved into a Servine. His Servine was with him until he sent her to White's aid. He later befriends another first partner Pokémon, a Tepig, whose nickname was "Gigi". Gigi was with White until she decided to leave White to follow N. Before Gigi followed N, she was going to be given out to new Trainers by Professor Cedric Juniper but was liberated by N.
• Cedric Juniper's "first partner Pokémon" was a Oshawott who was liberated by N, but chose to stay with Cedric. It later evolved into a Samurott.
• Benga’s "first partner Pokémon" was a Tepig. It later evolved into a Pignite.
• Hugh temporarily teamed up with a first partner Pokémon, a Snivy who belonged to a Team Plasma Grunt. It was sent out to battle Hugh on the Plasma Frigate, but it refused to fight and instead sided with him.
• Malva's "first partner Pokémon" was a Fennekin she found by digging through collected Poké Balls that were taken from Vaniville Town by Team Flare. Originally she was owned by Professor Sycamore and was given to Trevor in the hopes that X would pick a first partner Pokémon. She later evolved into a Delphox. After Team Flare were defeated, she was separated from Malva and her Poké Ball was found by Clemont, who gave her to Trevor. Trevor eventually gave her to Whitley, who he believed would be able to connect with Delphox.
• Professor Sycamore used a first partner Pokémon, a Charmander to battle X’s Chespin. He later gave Charmander to X after the battle. He still has Bulbasaur and Squirtle in his care.
• Moon's older sister owns a first partner Pokémon, a Piplup.
• Hau's first partner Pokémon was a Popplio given to him by Professor Kukui. It later evolved into a Primarina.
• Marvin's first partner Pokémon was Sobble, which he nicknamed "Sniffler". It later evolved into a Inteleon, and when traded to Hop was able to Gigantamax into Gigantamax Inteleon.
• Leon's first partner Pokémon was a Charmander. It later evolved into a Charizard who can Gigantamax into Gigantamax Charizard.
• Nemona's "first partner Pokémon" is a Quaxly.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, Professor Oak is depicted offering one 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 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 Pokémon instead.

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, unlike the animated series from which the manga was based on, new Pokémon Trainers do not appear to be given any sort of first partner Pokémon. Professor Oak is not shown residing at his laboratory handing out first partner Pokémon to new Trainers, as in the animated series, rather, he travels the Kanto region conducting research, often accompanied by Bill. Trainers in The Electric Tale of Pikachu must obtain a license before they can purchase Poké Balls or otherwise capture and train Pokémon. Ash found Pikachu under the floorboards of his home, keeping it as his first Pokémon. It is not currently known what Gary Oak's first Pokémon was in the manga, although he is at one point seen owning a Venusaur.

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.

Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

In Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys, much like Pokémon Gold and Silver, Gold is offered the choice of one of the three Johto first partner Pokémon—Chikorita, Cyndaquil or Totodile—to borrow so that he may run an errand for Professor Elm. Gold chooses Totodile, who Elm allows him to keep after the errand is completed. Also, like in the games, Black (who is based on Silver) steals a Chikorita from Elm's lab while Gold is away on his errand.

Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire (CoroCoro Comic)

In Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire (CoroCoro Comic), Ruby picked a Pokeball that had a Mudkip in it, in order to save Professor Birch from a wild Poochyena. Professor Birch later lets Ruby keep the Mudkip as a gift for rescuing him. After Sapphire asks Ruby if he would like to battle her, she reveals her starter Pokémon Torchic.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (manga)

In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (manga), Kenta and Barry find Professor Rowan's suitcase with Poké Balls inside it, after trying to run away from a flock of Starlys. Kenta takes the Poké Ball with Turtwig, while Barry takes the one with Chimchar, in order to defend themselves from the Starlys.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!, Hareta chose Piplup as his starter in order to save Mitsumi from a rampaging Onix, it later fully evolved into a Empoleon. Mitsumi received her starter Pokémon Chimchar from Professor Rowan, which would later evolve into an Infernape. Jun's starter Pokémon as a Turtwig, which later evolved into a Torterra.

Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure

In Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure, Jō chooses Totodile as his starter Pokémon, which would later evolve into Feraligatr. Tsubaki got his starter Chikorita from Professor Elm's lab, which would later evolve into Meganium.

Be the Best! Pokémon B+W

The fully evolved Unova first partner Pokémon in Be the Best! Pokémon B+W

In Be the Best! Pokémon B+W, Monta, Bianca, and Cheren received a Snivy, Oshawott, and Tepig respectively as their first Pokémon. They ended up evolving into their final stages later on.

Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends

In Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends, Touya, Bianca, and Cheren received a Oshawott, Tepig, and Snivy respectively as their first Pokémon. Only Touya's starter fully evolved into Samurott, while Bianca and Cheren's starters evolved into Pignite and Servine respectively.

Pocket Monsters BW

Pocket Monsters BW: The Heroes of Fire and Thunder

Shin's first Pokémon is Tepig, which would later evovled into Emboar.

Pocket Monsters B2 W2 ~ A New Legend ~

Arata is having trouble deciding which Pokémon he should choose from Bianca as his starter, only for two Team Plasma grunts to steal all three of the starter Pokémon. Luckily Arata managed to swipe one of them when the grunts attacked him. This Pokémon ended up being Oshawott, who would serve as his starter Pokémon and later evolve into Samurott.

Pocket Monsters BW: Good Partners

This section is a stub. You can help Bulbapedia by expanding it.

Pokémon Omega Ruby Crimson Passion and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Indigo Wisdom

In Pokémon Omega Ruby Crimson Passion and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Indigo Wisdom, Omega's starter Pokémon is Mudkip, which later evolved into Swampert, while Alpha's starter Pokémon is Treecko, which later evolved into Sceptile.

Pokémon Horizon

In Pokémon Horizon, Mana's first partner Pokémon is a Rowlet which later evolved into Decidueye.

Trivia

• The only two first partner Pokémon that are dual-type in their initial form, Bulbasaur and Rowlet, are both Grass-type.
• Each one of the Alola first partners' final evolutions has an immunity. Decidueye's Ghost type is immune to Normal and Fighting; Incineroar's Dark type is immune to Psychic; and Primarina's Fairy type is immune to Dragon.
  • Coincidentally, this also gives them advantages against Necrozma's Ultra form: Decidueye and Incineroar are super effective against Ultra Necrozma's Psychic typing, while Primarina is strong against Ultra Necrozma's Dragon typing.
• As of Generation IX, the only sets of first partners without secondary types in any of their final evolutions are the Johto first partners and the Galar first partners.
  • By contrast, the first partners of Sinnoh (including Hisui), Kalos, Alola, and Paldea all have a secondary type present in their final evolutions.
• Both Kanto and Hoenn first partners are the only set of first partners capable of Mega Evolution.
  • Additionally, both Kanto and Galar first partners are the only set of first partners capable of Gigantamaxing.
    • This makes the Kanto first partners the only set of first partners that can both Mega Evolve and Gigantamax.

In the games

• In Generation II, it was not possible to have a Shiny female first partner Pokémon, due to the mechanics of how gender and Shininess were determined. The lowest Attack IV a Shiny Pokémon could have was 2, while the highest Attack IV that a female Pokémon in their gender group could have was 1.
• Kanto's first partner Pokémon are the only partner Pokémon where all of the members appear in more than one regional Pokédex: Kanto's, Johto's, and Kalos's.
  • The Charmander line also appears alone in the Galar regional Pokédex, while the Bulbasaur and Squirtle lines appear in the Isle of Armor regional Pokédex.
• Fennekin is the only unevolved first partner Pokémon with a unique base stat total.
• The lowest base stat of a non-Mega Evolved fully evolved first partner Pokémon is Torterra's Speed, at 56. The highest base stat of a non-Mega Evolved fully evolved first partner Pokémon is Primarina's Special Attack, at 126.
• The Pikachu featured in Pokémon Yellow & Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and the Eevee in Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! are the only first partner Pokémon that cannot evolve in the game in which they are first partner Pokémon.
  • Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!'s respective first partners are also the only ones that cannot be traded to other games.
• Charmander is the only Fire-type first partner Pokémon that is not a member of the Field Egg Group.
• Oshawott is the only Water-type first partner Pokémon that is not a member of the Water 1 Egg Group.
• With the exception of Hisuian Decidueye having a higher base stat total than Hisuian Samurott, no fully evolved Grass-type first partner Pokémon has a higher base stat total than either of its two counterparts.
  • By contrast, with the exception of Blaziken having a lower base stat total than Swampert, no fully evolved Fire-type first partner Pokémon has a lower base stat total than either of its two counterparts.
  • Contrarily, no unevolved Grass-type first partner Pokémon besides Chespin has a lower base stat total than either of its two counterparts.
  • Similarly, no unevolved Fire-type first partner has a higher base stat total than either its counterparts and no fully evolved Fire-type first partner besides Blaziken has a lower one.
• As of Generation IX, all fully evolved Water-type first partners can learn the HM move Surf.

In the anime

• For DP001, Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Encyclopedia is about the first partner Pokémon of Sinnoh. He writes this senryū about them: 「シンオウで　たびがはじまる　ポケモンと」 "In Sinnoh, a journey begins with Pokémon."
• For BW003, Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster is about the first partner Pokémon of Unova. He writes this senryū about them: 「パートナー　みず・くさ・ほのお　まよっちゃう」 "Partner, Water, Grass, Fire, I can't decide."
• Ash has owned all but two of the Grass-type first partner Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Treecko, Turtwig, Snivy, and Rowlet. The Grass-type first partner from Kalos, Chespin, is instead owned by Clemont, and the Grass-type first partner from Galar, Grookey, is instead owned by Goh.
• Each Water-type first partner Pokémon obtained by a main character was not battled: Ash's Squirtle, Oshawott, and Froakie chose to join his team, while Ash fought and won against Misty for his Totodile. Brock's Mudkip chose to join him. May received her Squirtle from Professor Oak, Dawn received her Piplup from Professor Rowan, Lana rescued her Popplio from Team Skull, and Goh caught his Sobble without battling it. In Pokémon Horizons: The Series, Dot’s Quaxly chose to join her team as her first Pokémon, although she is not a main character.
• The Hoenn first partner set is the first set in which all three Pokémon evolve under the care of the main characters who own them.
• Squirtle and Turtwig are both based on turtles and were the first partner Pokémon of two of Ash's rivals, Gary and Paul.
• Torchic and Piplup are both based on birds. They were also both owned by the resident Pokémon Coordinators in Pokémon the Series.
• Both May and Dawn have a second first partner Pokémon from a previous generation with a type disadvantage to their first. These first partner Pokémon are both from two generations prior to their owner's introduction and featured in Pokémon the Series likely due to the same-generation remakes.
• In the Diamond and Pearl series, there have been two major appearances of each fully evolved first partner introduced in Generation IV: Ash and Paul's Torterra, Ash and Flint's Infernape, and Barry and Kenny's Empoleon.
• Every Fire-type first partner obtained by a main character has evolved at least once.
• Froakie is the only Water-type first partner that has ever evolved under Ash's ownership.
• The Kanto first partners are the only ones to have all been owned by both Ash and one of his friends at some point in their evolutionary lines: May owns a Venusaur and a Wartortle, while Kiawe owns a Charizard.
• The Johto first partner set is the only full first partner set that Ash has obtained where none of the members were previously owned by another Trainer or a Pokémon Professor, as all of them were caught in the wild.
  • Conversely, the Kanto first partner set is the only full first partner set that Ash has obtained where every member was owned by a previous Trainer.
• The Galar first partner set is the only full first partner set from which Ash owns none of its members.

In other languages

First partner Pokémon

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 搭檔寶可夢 Daapdong Bóuhómuhng * 最初的夥伴 Jeuichō dīk fóbuhn * Mandarin 搭檔寶可夢 / 搭档宝可梦 Dādàng Bǎokěmèng * 最初的夥伴 / 最初的伙伴 Zuìchū de huǒbàn * Danish første Pokémon-partner (JN001) første Pokémon-makker (JN049–) Finnish Ensikumppani-Pokémon French Pokémon de départ* Premier Pokémon* Premier partenaire* German Erstes Partner-Pokémon Italian Primo compagno d'avventura* Pokémon iniziale* Korean 파트너 포켓몬 Partner Pokémon * 첫 파트너 Cheot partner* Spanish Pokémon inicial* Primer compañero*

Starter Pokémon

Language Title Czech Startovní Pokémon Danish Begynder-Pokémon Dutch Starter Pokémon Finnish Aloitus-Pokémon French Pokémon de départ German Starter-Pokémon Hungarian Kezdő Pokémon Italian Pokémon iniziale Norwegian Førstegangs-Pokémon Polish Pokémon Starter Portuguese Brazil Pokémon inicial Pokémon iniciante (BW116) Portugal Pokémon inicial Russian Стартовый покемон Startovy Pokémon Spanish Pokémon inicial Swedish Nybörjar-Pokémon Thai โปเกมอนเริ่มต้น Pokémon Roemton Turkish Başlangıç Pokémon'u Vietnamese Pokémon khởi đầu Pokémon khởi hành

See also

• List of characters with first partner Pokémon
• List of the player's first Pokémon
• List of characters' first Pokémon
• Game mascot

References

First partner trios

Kanto

Bulbasaur

Charmander

Squirtle

Johto

Chikorita

Cyndaquil

Totodile

Hoenn

Treecko

Torchic

Mudkip

Sinnoh

Turtwig

Chimchar

Piplup

Unova

Snivy

Tepig

Oshawott

Kalos

Chespin

Fennekin

Froakie

Alola

Rowlet

Litten

Popplio

Galar

Grookey

Scorbunny

Sobble

Paldea

Sprigatito

Fuecoco

Quaxly

See also: player's first Pokémon