Spin-Off Super Mystery Dungeon Starter Discussion

[Alola]

Alola everyone! I recently did a new game in PSMD, and decided to examine all the starters stats a bit before playing. Now this information doesn't outright determine who is the best starter, as it doesn't take into account starting move sets and overall move pool. Additionally, this information only reflects the beginning stats (this is because any Pokemon can essentially max out a stat in the game).

The stats are ordered from Attack, Special Attack, Speed, Defense, Special Defense (HP not included) and beginning stat total (which I will call BST, not to confuse with "base stat total" from the core series games):

Bulbasaur : 13,13,13,11,13, 63
Charmander: 13,13,15,11,11,63
Squirtle: 13,11,11,15,14, 64
Pikachu: 15, 16, 14, 9, 10, 64
Chikorita: 13,11,13,13,13, 63
Cyndaquil: 13,13,15,11,11, 63
Totodile: 15,11,11,14,13, 64
Treecko: 11,13,15,10,11, 60
Torchic: 13,13,13,11,11, 61
Mudkip: 15,11,11,14,14, 65
Turtwig: 16,11,11,13,11, 62
Chimchar: 13,13,13,10,10, 59
Piplup: 14, 13, 11, 14, 14, 66
Riolu: 17,14,14,11,13, 67
Snivy: 11,11,14,13,11, 60
Tepig: 15,11,13,11,10, 60
Oshawott: 13,12,13,15,14, 67
Chespin: 13,11,11,13,10, 58
Fennekin: 11,13,13,11,13, 61
Froakie: 13, 14, 15, 11, 14, 67

Several interesting things to note:

• Water types appear to be the "strongest" in terms of stats. On average, they have a BST of 65.5 compared to Fire's 61.2 and Grasses' 61.
• Froakie, Oshawott and Riolu have the highest beginning stat total at 67, and thus highest stats. Piplup follows right behind with 66 and Mudkip with 65 (4/5 of these Pokemon are Water typed).
• Chespin has the lowest stats on average, with a BST of 58. Chimchar has the second lowest with a BST of 59.

Any thoughts that come to mind upon seeing this? Anyone notice this trend as well? I think it's funny how the Water starters seem to have the advantage in terms of raw stats-maybe it reflects how they tend to be the most optimal starters, in general, in the core series games.

Of course, I've never experienced using a Water typed starter in the game since I'm always Chespin and my partner is Fennekin. But I'm curious to see if players who have used different starters have experienced more ease at getting through the game with different types. Feel free to discuss anything starter related as well!

 

[BigBadButterfree]

I went with Turtwig and my partner was Mudkip. He combination worked well for coverage through the game however, that forest during the post-game is absolutely brutal. There are poison and fire types everywhere, and they take away your partner for that Dungeon. I still haven't even finished it. So... make of that what you will. Choosing grass was kinda rough for me.

 

[Gengarzilla]

I chose Chikorita and went with a Mudkip partner. This was mostly for the Ancient Power egg move and early Mud Bomb to improve offensive coverage; I put way more consideration into their starting moves rather than BST (Tepig starting with Flamethrower, that was so tempting).

It worked out much better than I thought it would. Reflect carried me past the optional early Salamence, I learned Light Screen near the main story's end specifically for that Yveltal fight, while the epilogue really wasn't so bad with an omniboosting Rock type move to cover against Fire, Bug, and Flying.