Why so much love for the Fire Starters?

[Envoy]

I don't get it, really. Why are the Fire Starter Pokemon so popular? All of them are much more popular than the Grass and Water counterparts of their generation and I don't know why.

Is it because they look cool? Because honestly, they all have a very basic design (with the possible exception of Blaziken) that I find hardly impressive.

Moreover, Fire itself is a very mediocre type. Decent offensively and horrible defensively, it's not exactly what you'd call "top notch."

And their type combinations are usually not so great. Charizard's Fire/Flying gives him a weakness to Electricity and a x4 weakness to Rock. Typhlosion has no second typing and Blaziken/Infernape have four weaknesses (on par with a Grass/Poison type) some of which are very common and powerful even outside the metagame (Ground, Water, Psychic)

Charmander-->Charizard-

It looks decent. Charmander's cute, but so are Squirtle and Bulbasaur. Charmeleon looks tough, but so do Ivysaur and Wartortle. Charizard looks badass, but not moreso than Blastoise (freakin' cannons) and Venusaur (a palm tree shaped carnivorous plant... on it's back) and battlewise is the most fragile of the lot.

Moreover, it's competitive use is greatly hindered by Stealth Rock, which cuts it's HP in half for just showing up. The other two Kanto Starters don't have this issue. They're both more versitile, won't die of a paper cut and have pretty good offensive capabilities in their own right. Competitively, the only advantages Charizard really has over the others are a slightly better movepool and more speed (and in the case of the latter, well that's what Choice Scarf is for)

In-game it's also at a disadvantage early on (as opposed to it's counterparts) which becomes a neutrality at best (the olny advantages it has are two Erika and, in theory, Loreli)

Yet this Pokemon is almost universally adored? Why?

Cyndaquil-->Typhlosion-

On the looks department, lets face it, it's really on-par with the Totodile and Chikorita lines in just about every aspect. It's design is simple (just like most Johto Pokemon) and it really changes very little upon evolution (just like it's counterparts.) It's even harder to tell what animal it's based on than the other Johto Starters. All in all, I don't see what's so special about this guy's looks.

Competitively, it's at least better than Meganium in general, I'll admit that. However, it's still wholly unimpressive as a whole. It's stats say "Special attacker" but it's moves say "Physical attacker." This dissonance makes it rather confusing to train. It's biggest selling point is Eruption, and with all the bad weather and entry hazards around, that's not really saying much.

In-game, I'll admit it's pretty useful, but not really anymore so than Totodile (okay, it's better than Chikorita) so then why is he so much more popular than it's Water type counterpart (whom I may add is actually a better choice for a sweeper, competitively speaking.)

Torchic-->Blaziken-

It's cute. I'll admit it's probably cuter than Treecko and Mudkip. Yet it's the least popular Fire Starter. Ironic. As it evolves though, it's looks become more on par with the other starter's and in it's final stage, they all look more or less equally cool (in my opinion)

Competitively, it's decent. Better than Typhlosion but not as good as Infernape. It's low speed (for sweeper standards) is really it's downfall. It's a good Pokemon, but it sure isn't a great one

In game, it has some trouble with the Champion in Emerald, as well as the first, sixth, seventh and last gyms (and in my experience, the second as well) so it's not really a great choice. The best choice is probably Mudkip, but Treecko is still better than Torchic, in game.

Chimchar-->Infernape-

To me, it looks horrible. Piplup's and Turtwig's line outclass it in the looks department, hands down. Why do so many people think he looks cool?

Competitively, well...okay, it's pretty beastly. I still hate it. But I'll admit that it's got a good movepool and good stat distribution (frankly, a little too good, I think. Really, didi it need both Nasty Plot and Swords Dance? And where does Grass Knot come from?)But in all fairness, the other Sinnoh Starters are also excellent competitive choices in their own right. Why is Infernape loved so much more than them?

In-game, I had a rough time with Infernape. In theory, it should be more or less as competent as the other starters, but I just couldn't deal with it. I found myself constantly getting defeated (thanks low weaknesses) and I frankly got the game done easier with the Torterra and Empoleon. Infernape is good in-game, but not impressive.


These guys aren't the greatest thing to happen to the world since sliced bread, yet many (I daresay, most) Pokemon fans treat them as such. I really, genuinely want to know, why?

 

[DerMißingno]

Not really sure where you got the idea that fire starters are more popular, but whatever.

You should take type availability into account, too. Seriously, if you're playing a gen 3 game, you have no other real choice of fire pokemon, while there are about infinity plus one good water pokemon to catch. And grass... well who cares.

I personally prefer the water starters, but I do find myself choosing the fire starter many times. And grass... well who cares.

 

[Arcario]

People like fire so much because fire basically stands for power, and power is needed in most RPGs and action games. So there ya go, a simple 1-sentence explaination.

 

[7tx]

I tend to go for Water type starters, sometimes grass. But the only Fire starter I like is Cyndaquil. The reason for their popularity is exactly what the previous two posters said - power and realative rareness of fire types until late in the game. Really with the exception of HGSS (and to some degree RSE) if you want a fire type in your team early on in the game you have to pick the fire starter.

 

[Falconwing]

Well, let's see.

Charizard is a freakin dragon. Venusaur looks ugly and Blastoise is a turtle playing with super soakers. No, I kid. I like Shellshocker.

Typhlosion has a mane of fire around his neck. Feraligatr is an ugly aligatr and Meganium... jsut looks dumb.

Blaziken is fire punching chicken who reminds me of Captain Falcon. Sceptile is okay, and Swampert has that weird expression on his face.

As for Infernape, a flaming monkey.

In short... they're most likely the one decent fire type you'll have the whole game. And they look cool.

 

[Our Wasted Years]

-_____________- I just voted for Fire instead of water in the poll. FML

Anyways I always loved every water started until 4th gen...Pinplup and his evolutionary line is horrible in terms of design and typing. When it came to picking a other type instead of Water I always picked Grass second and fire last. Although in the 4th gen games I picked Fire over Grass as I find Turtwig's evolutionary line horrible as well.

 

[Trainer-c]

Humans are fascinated by fire, dating back to when man first discovered it. For many it is an embodiment of passion, strength, spirit, the will to never give up.

As far as the game, the Fire Starters are usually the most offensively oriented, they normally have the highest Speed and Attacking stats, and since most players favor offense, the most offensive starter will generally have more appeal. The Treecko line is extremely popular, this is in part because in Gen III is was actually the Grass starter that had the highest Speed and Attacking stat (though competitively, Swampert is the favorite out of the Gen III starters) this is the exception that proves the rule.

Another factor, as pointed out in an earlier post, is the rarity of Fire-types in general, there are only 17 fully-evolved Fire-types, take away the starters, and that makes 13, take away the Legendary Pokémon and you have only nine, Fire is one of the scarcest types in the game, this rarity/lack of options is also a factor in the general popularity of the Fire Starters.

 

[Xav ♪]

I choose fire for several reasons. Charizard is simply awesome and the only available fire type for ages, Typhlosion looks cool and is very strong in-game, Blaziken is the only good fire pokemon you can get in RSE and Infernape is a monkey... on fire!!! In short fire types are better because they are strong and there are many good water and grass pokemon around early in the games why waste your chance to get a good fire pokemon.

 

[Our Wasted Years]

Humans are fascinated by fire, dating back to when man first discovered it. For many it is an embodiment of passion, strength, spirit, the will to never give up.

As far as the game, the Fire Starters are usually the most offensively oriented, they normally have the highest Speed and Attacking stats, and since most players favor offense, the most offensive starter will generally have more appeal. The Treecko line is extremely popular, this is in part because in Gen III is was actually the Grass starter that had the highest Speed and Attacking stat (though competitively, Swampert is the favorite out of the Gen III starters) this is the exception that proves the rule.

Another factor, as pointed out in an earlier post, is the rarity of Fire-types in general, there are only 17 fully-evolved Fire-types, take away the starters, and that makes 13, take away the Legendary Pokémon and you have only nine, Fire is one of the scarcest types in the game, this rarity/lack of options is also a factor in the general popularity of the Fire Starters.

That made me lol.
Also this is all his opinion, there is no such statistic out there that actually says fire starters are favored and used more often then any other starter. And even if there was one I doubt it would matter, people would still play with the Pokemon they preferred.

 

[Trainer-c]

Of course it is opinion, the entire thread is opinion, the opening post is asking why people love the Fire-type Starters. Any answer given is going to be an opinion, duh.

 

[Lugnut]

I've always been a fan of Water starters. I'm not really sure why, I think its just habbit. I liked squirtle alot in Gen I and Piplup in Gen IV, but I'm not to crazy about the other water starters. I've used grass on a few occasions, and plan to for HG/SS, but I've never used fire.

 

[Arcario]

I've always been a fan of Water starters. I'm not really sure why, I think its just habbit. I liked squirtle alot in Gen I and Piplup in Gen IV, but I'm not to crazy about the other water starters. I've used grass on a few occasions, and plan to for HG/SS, but I've never used fire.

Ditto. Water for everything but Pokecrater, where I had used a Grass Pokemon, Treecko, I had used the Water starter.

 

[RavenKingSage]

He probably got the idea that everyone loves the Fire Starters because of personal experience: over half the Pokémon fans I know personally prefer a Fire starter.

Availability is a factor: in Gen I + FR/LG, if you don't go with Charmander, your other options are Arcanine (R, FR), Ninetales (B, LG), Rapidash, or Moltres. So it doesn't matter much in Gen I.

In Gen II + HGSS, if you don't pick Cyndaquil, you have the above listed options plus Magcargo (which really sucks eggs), Houndoom, and Entei.

In Gen III, availability of Fire types is crucial: if you don't start with Torchic, your only other options are freaking Torkoal, Magcargo, and Ninetales. Out of those, Ninetales is the best, but it still is inferior to the mighty Blaziken.

In Gen IV, availabiliy of Fire types differs between DP and Pt. In DP, guess what you have to get for Fire if you didn't start with Infernape? Rapidash. In Pt, the options were more open with the addition of Flareon, Houndoom, and Magmortar.

Why do you need a Fire type? Because they can trump out many types that you'll see a lot in your quest to become Champion. Also they're amazing in the offense field.

Design is also a factor. I agree with most of what Ryuu said above, except Meganium doesn't look dumb and Feraligatr is an awesome alligator.

 

[Falconwing]

In a short story I wrote, man was the physical avatar of fire. I figured our stereotypical nature fit the characteristics of fire well.

 

[Jirachi's Wish]

I choose fire types due to me liking fire types, and not because it's the popular of the three. Also its not because of the avalbility but because like it was said before I like the power that fire types bring with them.

Also TC you mention that the final evos use in Comp.Battles but I feel thats not really too relevant because the topic is about why people choose fire starters more than others.

 

[Arcario]

He probably got the idea that everyone loves the Fire Starters because of personal experience: over half the Pokémon fans I know personally prefer a Fire starter.

Availability is a factor: in Gen I + FR/LG, if you don't go with Charmander, your other options are Arcanine (R, FR), Ninetales (B, LG), Rapidash, or Moltres. So it doesn't matter much in Gen I.

In Gen II + HGSS, if you don't pick Cyndaquil, you have the above listed options plus Magcargo (which really sucks eggs), Houndoom, and Entei.

In Gen III, availability of Fire types is crucial: if you don't start with Torchic, your only other options are freaking Torkoal, Magcargo, and Ninetales. Out of those, Ninetales is the best, but it still is inferior to the mighty Blaziken.

In Gen IV, availabiliy of Fire types differs between DP and Pt. In DP, guess what you have to get for Fire if you didn't start with Infernape? Rapidash. In Pt, the options were more open with the addition of Flareon, Houndoom, and Magmortar.

Why do you need a Fire type? Because they can trump out many types that you'll see a lot in your quest to become Champion. Also they're amazing in the offense field.

Design is also a factor. I agree with most of what Ryuu said above, except Meganium doesn't look dumb and Feraligatr is an awesome alligator.

I don't give a fuck. I can get my Arceus to hold a Fire plate whenever I want. And a Fire-type is not needed for the Pokemon League. Get an Ice-type instead, it wipes out Aaron's annoying Vespquien better than Fire-types.

 

[Venom]

In Gen I and II have liked the water starters followed by the fire starters but not the grass but in Gen III and IV my order is reversted I like the Grass, fire and water in that order

 

[WallflowerCanyon]

Even though I like Water and Ice-types (for the reason of being a fan of hydrokinesis and cryokinesis superpowers), I'm always picking the Fire-type for my starter. The reason for that is because the availability of Fire-types in the beginning of the games are pretty slim most of the time.

Personally, I like the Fire/Fighting combo type. Don't know why, but I do.:-D

 

[Jirachi's Wish]

He probably got the idea that everyone loves the Fire Starters because of personal experience: over half the Pokémon fans I know personally prefer a Fire starter.

Availability is a factor: in Gen I + FR/LG, if you don't go with Charmander, your other options are Arcanine (R, FR), Ninetales (B, LG), Rapidash, or Moltres. So it doesn't matter much in Gen I.

In Gen II + HGSS, if you don't pick Cyndaquil, you have the above listed options plus Magcargo (which really sucks eggs), Houndoom, and Entei.

In Gen III, availability of Fire types is crucial: if you don't start with Torchic, your only other options are freaking Torkoal, Magcargo, and Ninetales. Out of those, Ninetales is the best, but it still is inferior to the mighty Blaziken.

In Gen IV, availabiliy of Fire types differs between DP and Pt. In DP, guess what you have to get for Fire if you didn't start with Infernape? Rapidash. In Pt, the options were more open with the addition of Flareon, Houndoom, and Magmortar.

Why do you need a Fire type? Because they can trump out many types that you'll see a lot in your quest to become Champion. Also they're amazing in the offense field.

Design is also a factor. I agree with most of what Ryuu said above, except Meganium doesn't look dumb and Feraligatr is an awesome alligator.

I just love how you make it sound like fire types are a must for a ingame team, to the point you can't beat a gym leader or elite 4 without a fire-type. There are other types you know!

 

[LoveHemmelig]

The fire starters have generally been adorable. :3 I have to admit, I do choose my starters based on how cute they are. >_<