Starter and Respective Regional Effectiveness Discussion

[Alola]

Alola everyone! I had some extra time on my hands, so I went ahead and created this! Tables indicating how effective a starter is in its respective region against the regional Gym Leaders, Elite Four members and Champion (naturally, Alola includes Trials and Grand Trials). This was done in order to spark conversation-how do you all feel about the information provided below? What has been your experience with your starters when battling to become a Pokemon Champion? Agreements? Disagreements? Thoughts or concerns?

Aspects that apply to the tables:

• As you can see, only the most recent iteration of a region is utilized for this data. For example, FireRed & LeafGreen are used over Red & Blue as they are the most recent adaptation of the Kanto region. However, if games do feature significant lineup changes from Gym Leaders, Elite Four members or Champions, they are included as well (such as Emerald and Black 2 & White 2).
• The key for tables is as follows: =+1, O=+0, X= -1, /X=0 (or 1-1=0).
  A indicates that the starter has a majority type advantage against that opponent's in-game party, an "X" indicates that the starter has a majority disadvantage against that opponent's in-game party, an "O" indicates that the starter has a neutral match-up against that person's party, while a "/X" indicates that the starter has both a majority advantage and disadvantage against that opponent's party.
  >Because of this, certain Pokemon that normally have an advantage against the Gym's type may actually be disadvantaged. An example is the Cyndaquil line in Pryce's Gym-as Price has 3 Pokemon that have a type advantage over Cyndaquil (and Cydaquil in return can only hit one of Pryce's Pokemon super effectively), Cyndaquil actually is at a disadvantage in that respective Gym.
• These tables do factor dual typing if starters possess them. That means that Pokemon such as Charizard, Blaziken, Decidueye, etc. will all have their secondary types considered for the later game opponents (as it will be assumed your starter would be at that point by then). Mega Evolution is also considered.
• This table is also done solely by type alone. Thus "coverage moves" are not considered and applied, i.e. "Chespin can learn Rollout for the Bug Gym, thereby it isn't at a disadvantage."

 

[PurplePopplio]

So according these tables, Unova is the toughest region in both BW and B2W2 due to all the starters being disadvantaged or neutral, but not advantaged.

 

[Esserise]

Looks like the Water Starters are on easy street for the most part. I kind of always figured.

lol@Chikorita

So according these tables, Unova is the toughest region in both BW and B2W2 due to all the starters being disadvantaged or neutral, but not advantaged.

Having another proud dad moment for Gen 5

 

[PurplePopplio]

Also, another interesting fact is that the starter with the highest total is Popplio. Feminine, but tough, hey?

 

[zvinko]

Wow, that's actually interesting. Eventhough I love grass starters the most, I'm glad Popplio has the best score overall, the poor guy got so much hate when he was introduced.

 

[Gengarzilla]

Ouch, Tepig doesn't seem to have taken the BW-B2W2 transition well. Going from joint first with Oshawott to the lowest of the three is a tough break.

 

[Extroth]

Of course this matters more early game by the time you get to late game gyms/trials you should have a wide variety of types.

 

[BigBadButterfree]

Lol, RIP Chikorita tho.

It's actually really interesting to see this laid out in such a format. You can even compare each type. Grass is predominantly in the negative, or not better than the others, a reflection of the type chart in general.

 

[SirOni]

It would also make sense to add in other important trainers such as those associated with the villain teams. Especially so with games like Ruby and Sapphire where you regularly encounter groups of trainers with Pokemon of the same type.

 

[Almonds]

Poor Chikorita

 

[Envoy]

This is an interesting graph. Though it is admittedly fairly superficial. It takes typing into account but not moveset, strategy, and support options for the Pokemon in question.

The graph is not inaccurate per se (yes, Chikorita is without a doubt the weakest Starter) but if you play to her strengths (like any half decent player should,) you'll find that the gap isn't that wide. The same applies to pretty much all the Starters. Some of them (like Bulbasaur) have an easier time than others (e.g. Tepig in BW2) but if you play to their strengths, have a good strategy, and exploit their movepools, you can make all of them work with very little issue.

 

[Extroth]

This is an interesting graph. Though it is admittedly fairly superficial. It takes typing into account but not moveset, strategy, and support options for the Pokemon in question.

The graph is not inaccurate per se (yes, Chikorita is without a doubt the weakest Starter) but if you play to her strengths (like any half decent player should,) you'll find that the gap isn't that wide. The same applies to pretty much all the Starters. Some of them (like Bulbasaur) have an easier time than others (e.g. Tepig in BW2) but if you play to their strengths, have a good strategy, and exploit their movepools, you can make all of them work with very little issue.

I've always played with Chikorita as my starter and I have to say when I tried to play with Cindaquil I was shocked at how shallow it's move pool is. This is because Chikorita gets a bunch of useful support moves that not only helps make up for it's typeing but can support other teammates. Trust me reflect should never be underestimated.

 

[Envoy]

I've always played with Chikorita as my starter and I have to say when I tried to play with Cindaquil I was shocked at how shallow it's move pool is. This is because Chikorita gets a bunch of useful support moves that not only helps make up for it's typeing but can support other teammates. Trust me reflect should never be underestimated.

I agree. I have played through Johto multiple times with all three Starters, and I have always had the hardest time with Cyndaquil. It's movepool is very much geared towards offense, which is fine, but you don't really need all that many hard hitting normal and Fire moves in-game. Chikorita's support options (Reflect, Light Screen and Poisonpowder) have proven far more useful to me than spending two moveslots on Flamethrower and Fire Blast. It's like I was saying, play to Chikorita's strengths and you'll find she can pull her weight on the team.

If you try to play Chikorita like a Cyndaquil, of course she's going to disappoint you. She's not Cyndaquil and will never be a better Cyndaquil than Cyndaquil, but she's a solid support Pokemon for any Johto journey, and that's where she shines.

In addition, I've found that --in my experience-- bulkier Starters are better than frailer ones. Typhlosion may hit hard, but if he can't muscle through the enemy in one shot, he is not going to take the counterattack very well. Meganium's bulk helps her tank even super effective hits*

*All this assumes I'm talking about the in-game experience. Competitive is another issue altogether.

 

[Gengarzilla]

Honestly, it's the other way around for me. I've never been let down by the Cyndaquil line's power while the Chikorita line just doesn't work even when I do play to its strong points. The only time I ever find real success with Chikorita is in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon subseries.

 

[Matleo]

but non or less we see trends.

Only gen II, V and VI forced water types to get in trouble,

Interesting is when you count only the gyms.