Hoenn first partner Pokémon
The Hoenn first partner Pokémon are the trio of Pokémon—Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip[1]—chosen by Trainers at the start of their journey in Hoenn. These are traditionally given out by Professor Birch and are to be used to battle the first wild Pokémon that the Trainer encounters.
In official contexts, the group is referred to descriptively in several ways, including "Hoenn first partner Pokémon"[2], "first partner Pokémon of the Hoenn region"[1], and more.
In the Hoenn-based core series games, the player can choose a Fire-, Water-, or Grass-type first partner Pokémon at level 5.
List of Hoenn first partner Pokémon and their Evolutions
Forms
The fully evolved Hoenn first partner Pokémon each have a Mega Evolution.
In the core series games
Availability
As first partner
| Game(s) | First partner | Location/Acquisition | Brendan/May raises | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RS | E | ORAS | |||
| RSE, ORAS | 
|
Route 101: from Professor Birch |   
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In Pokémon Emerald, likely due to mistake, May uses Torkoal and Lombre instead of Slugma and Pelipper for one battle in Rustboro City/Hoenn Route 104 and Hoenn Route 119, respectively.
Other methods
In The Indigo Disk DLC, the Hoenn first partners can be caught in the wild at the Terarium. They are unlocked after upgrading the biomes through the League Club Room.
| Game(s) | Pokémon | Location/Acquisition |
|---|---|---|
| HGSS |
|
Silph Co.: from Steven Stone after defeating Red (choose one) |
| USUM |   
|
Akala Island: Island Scan |
| SwSh (CT) |   
|
Dynamax Adventure |
| BDSP |
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Grand Underground: Grassland Cave, Sunlit Cavern, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern (after obtaining the National Pokédex) |
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Grand Underground: Sandsear Cave, Typhlo Cavern, Volcanic Cave (after obtaining the National Pokédex) | |
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Grand Underground: Fountainspring Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern (after obtaining the National Pokédex) | |
| SV (ID) |
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Terarium: Canyon Biome |
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Terarium: Polar Biome | |
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Terarium: Torchlit Labyrinth | |
| ZA (MD) |
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Hyperspace Lumiose: Hyperspace wild zones |
Base stat comparison
| Pokémon | HP | Atk | Def | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Spd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
40 | 45 | 35 | 65 | 55 | 70 | 310 |
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50 | 65 | 45 | 85 | 65 | 95 | 405 |
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70 | 85 | 65 | 105 | 85 | 120 | 530 |
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70 | 110 | 75 | 145 | 85 | 145 | 630 |
 |
45 | 60 | 40 | 70 | 50 | 45 | 310 |
 |
60 | 85 | 60 | 85 | 60 | 55 | 405 |
 |
80 | 120 | 70 | 110 | 70 | 80 | 530 |
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80 | 160 | 80 | 130 | 80 | 100 | 630 |
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50 | 70 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 40 | 310 |
 |
70 | 85 | 70 | 60 | 70 | 50 | 405 |
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100 | 110 | 90 | 85 | 90 | 60 | 535 |
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100 | 150 | 110 | 95 | 110 | 70 | 635 |
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Duel
In Pokémon Duel, all Hoenn first partner Pokémon and their Evolutions received figures.
  Mudkip |
 Treecko |
 Torchic |
  Swampert |
  Marshtomp |
 Grovyle |
 Sceptile |
  Mega Sceptile |
 Combusken |
 Blaziken |
 Mega Blaziken |
 Mega Swampert |
Pokémon GO
In Pokémon GO, all three Hoenn first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions.
Pokémon Masters EX
In Pokémon Masters EX, the player character Scottie/Bettie can form a sync pair with a Torchic after by clearing Chapter 20 of the PML Arc.
Several other characters form sync pairs with the Hoenn first partner Pokémon or their Evolutions. These sync pairs can be obtained through various sync pair scouts.
| Dex | Trainer | NDex | Pokémon | Type | Weakness | Role | EX role | Base potential | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #018 | 
|
Brendan | #0254 | 
|
Treecko → Grovyle → Sceptile♂  Mega Sceptile
|
Grass
|
Poison
|
|
★★★★★☆EX | Sync Pair Scout | |
| #001 | 
|
Scottie & Bettie | #0255 | 
|
Torchic♂ |
Fire
|
Water
|
|
★★★ | Story Chapter 20 A Rising Star | |
| #113 | 
|
May | #0260 | 
|
Mudkip → Marshtomp → Swampert♀  Mega Swampert
|
Water
|
Grass
|
|
★★★★★☆EX | Sync Pair Scout | |
| #113 | 
|
Sygna Suit May |
#0257 | 
|
Blaziken♂  Mega Blaziken
|
Fire
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Flying
|
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★★★★★☆EX | Poké Fair Sync Pair Scout |
| #018 | 
|
Academy Brendan |
#0259 | 
|
Marshtomp♂ |
Water
|
Grass
|
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★★★★★☆EX | Academy Event Best Buddies Program |
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, the Hoenn first partner Pokémon can be selected as the hero and their partner, with the only exceptions being Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity and the three Japan-exclusive WiiWare games. The trio's evolved forms can also be recruited in the games out of the main character roles.
Pokémon Rumble series
In the Pokémon Rumble series, all three Hoenn first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions.
Pokémon Shuffle
In Pokémon Shuffle, all three Hoenn first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions. They can also undergo Mega Evolution.
| Dex# | NDex | Icon | Pokémon | Type | Attack Power | Max RML
|
Initial Skill |
 AlternateSkill(s) |
 Ameliaicons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lv 1 | Max | |||||||||
| #089 | #0252 | 
|
Treecko | Grass | 50 | 115 | 10 | Sleep Charm | Flash Mob | 1 |
| #089 | #0252 | 
|
Treecko Winking |
Grass | 50 | 100 | 5 | Power of 4+ | N/A | 1 |
| #090 | #0253 | 
|
Grovyle | Grass | 60 | 105 | 5 | Sleep Charm | Quirky++ | 2 |
| #091 | #0254 | 
|
Sceptile | Grass | 70 | 110 | 5 | Vitality Drain | Swap++ | 2 |
| #092 | #0255 | 
|
Torchic | Fire | 50 | 115 | 10 | Pyre | Flash Mob | 1 |
| #092 | #0255 | 
|
Torchic Winking |
Fire | 50 | 100 | 5 | Power of 4+ | N/A | 1 |
| #093 | #0256 | 
|
Combusken | Fire | 60 | 105 | 5 | Pyre | Quirky++ | 1 |
| #094 | #0257 | 
|
Blaziken | Fire | 70 | 110 | 5 | Hitting Streak | Swap++ | 2 |
| #095 | #0258 | 
|
Mudkip | Water | 50 | 115 | 10 | Stabilize | Big Wave | 0 |
| #095 | #0258 | 
|
Mudkip Winking |
Water | 50 | 100 | 5 | Power of 4+ | N/A | 1 |
| #096 | #0259 | 
|
Marshtomp | Water | 60 | 105 | 5 | Eject | Quirky++ | 0 |
| #097 | #0260 | 
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Swampert | Water | 70 | 110 | 5 | Hitting Streak | Swap++ | 2 |
| List # | Pokémon | Type | Description/Notes | Gauge | Max MSU
| ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Default | Maxed | ||||||
| 091 | 
|
Mega Sceptile | Grass | Replaces Pokémon (max 3) of the same type as Mega Sceptile.
|
12 | 6 | 6
|
| 094 | 
|
Mega Blaziken | Fire | Replaces Pokémon (max 3) of the same type as Mega Blaziken.
|
12 | 6 | 6
|
| 097 | 
|
Mega Swampert | Water | Replaces Pokémon (max 3) of the same type as Mega Swampert.
|
12 | 6 | 6
|
Pokémon UNITE
In Pokémon UNITE, the Torchic line have Unite licenses and can be played as in Unite Battles. Blaziken was added on September 14, 2023.
Pokkén Tournament
In Pokkén Tournament, Blaziken is a playable Battle Pokémon along with Sceptile.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
In Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, Professor Birch gave away four of the three first partner Pokémon to new Trainers. Harrison and May both received a Torchic and Sawyer began his journey with a Treecko. Although Professor Birch isn't seen gifting a Mudkip to any Trainers, in A Mudkip Mission, Mudkip Breeder Old Man Swamp revealed that Professor Birch is also responsible for the breeding and raising of the young Mudkip for new Trainers.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
In Pokémon Adventures, Professor Birch gifts a Torchic to Sapphire and a Mudkip to Ruby. Professor Birch was also revealed to be in possession of a Treecko, however the Poké Ball containing the Pokémon was washed away in a flood. It was later found by Wally, and eventually came to be under the ownership of Emerald.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, Professor Birch is in possession of the three Hoenn first partner Pokémon to which he gifts to new Trainers. The only one he is seen giving out though is a Torchic which he gives to Sapphire.
Ash & Pikachu
In the Ash & Pikachu manga, Professor Birch gives a Torchic to May.
Trivia
- The Torchic line is the first of the first partner Pokémon to at any point have members with a unique type combination.
- Torchic is the only first stage first partner Pokémon to have an gender difference (though its own is very easily missed, being only a one-pixel difference).
- It also is in the only evolutionary line where all members have gender differences.
- Torchic is the only first partner Pokémon to have a body shape consisting of just a head and legs.
