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Starter Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A | SteelSeries
Learn which starter Pokémon to choose in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Compare Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile, evolutions, Mega Evolutions, and FAQs.
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Your starter Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A sets the tone for your entire adventure. Players choose between Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile, each offering different strengths, typings, and playstyles in the Legends format.
In this open-world exploration, your starter Pokémon acts as a long-term partner in combat, progression, and how you approach future encounters. So let’s break down all three starters, their evolutions, and their unique advantages to see which is the best fit for your playstyle.
In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, you choose between Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile as your starter Pokémon options. Each represents one of the three classic starter types, Grass, Fire, and Water, and offers a different approach to battles, exploration, and long-term team building.
Chikorita is a Grass-type starter focused on defense and support.
Tepig is a Fire-type starter built for aggressive, physical damage.
Totodile is a Water-type starter that offers a balanced mix of offense and durability.
Let’s go over each starter’s strengths, weaknesses, and ideal playstyle next.
Chikorita is the Grass-type starter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and is best known for its defensive stats and support-focused playstyle.
Type: Grass
Origin: Generation II
Battle Role: Defensive support
Strengths: Good bulk, access to healing and status moves
Weaknesses: Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug, Poison
Chikorita excels if you prefer a slower, more strategic approach to battles. While it doesn’t hit as hard as the other starters early on, it shines in longer fights thanks to sustainability and team support. In a Legends-style game, where positioning, preparation, and survival matter, Chikorita rewards patient players who like to control the pace of combat.
Best for:
Players who value defense and survivability
Strategic or methodical playstyles
Trainers planning well-rounded teams rather than raw damage
Tepig is the Fire-type starter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and is built for players who want straightforward power right from the start.
Type: Fire → Fire/Fighting (upon evolution)
Origin: Generation V
Battle Role: Physical attacker
Strengths: High Attack, strong Fire- and Fighting-type coverage
Weaknesses: Water, Ground, Psychic
Tepig’s evolution line turns it into a hard-hitting brawler that excels at dealing heavy damage in close-range encounters. Fire-types traditionally perform well in early-game battles, and Tepig’s access to Fighting-type moves later on gives it solid coverage against a wide range of enemies.
In a fast-paced, action-oriented Legends game, Tepig is ideal if you prefer to end fights quickly rather than outlasting opponents.
Best for:
Aggressive, battle-first playstyles
Players who want early damage advantages
Trainers who enjoy physical attackers with broad type coverage
Totodile is the Water-type starter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and the most well-rounded of the three options.
Type: Water
Origin: Generation II
Battle Role: Balanced physical attacker
Strengths: Strong Attack, solid defenses, flexible move pool
Weaknesses: Electric, Grass
Totodile’s evolution line offers a reliable mix of damage, bulk, and consistency, making it an easy pick for both new and experienced players. Water-types traditionally handle a wide range of encounters well, and Totodile’s physical strength helps it stay relevant well beyond the early game.
If you want a starter that adapts easily to different situations—battles, exploration, and long-term team building, Totodile is the safest and most versatile choice.
Best for:
Beginners or all-around players
Balanced playstyles
Trainers who want flexibility without major trade-offs
If you want the short answer, the best starter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A depends on how you like to play. Each starter excels in a different area, so there’s no single “wrong” choice.
Totodile
Most balanced stats
Fewer punishing type matchups
Easy to use in both battles and exploration
Tepig
High physical damage
Strong Fire- and Fighting-type coverage
Ideal if you prefer aggressive, fast fights
Chikorita
Higher survivability
Access to support and healing moves
Rewards patience and tactical play
Choose Totodile for balance and flexibility
Choose Tepig for raw power
Choose Chikorita for defense and strategy
Starter | Type | Origin Generation | Battle Role | Strengths | Weaknesses | Best For |
Chikorita | Grass | Generation II | Defensive / Support | High survivability, support moves | Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug, Poison | Strategic, patient players |
Tepig | Fire → Fire/ Fighting | Generation V | Physical Attacker | High damage, strong type coverage | Water, Ground, Psychic | Aggressive, battle-first players |
Totodile | Water | Generation II | Balanced Attacker | Consistent damage, solid bulk, flexibility | Electric, Grass | Beginners, all-around playstyles |
While Pokémon Legends: Z-A introduces new mechanics and a fresh setting, the starter evolution lines follow their familiar core-series paths. That means each starter grows into a powerful final form with a clearly defined battle role.
Chikorita → Bayleef → Meganium
Final Type: Grass
Battle Focus: Defense & support
What to expect: Meganium prioritizes bulk, recovery, and team utility over raw damage. It performs best in longer battles where survivability matters.
Tepig → Pignite → Emboar
Final Type: Fire/Fighting
Battle Focus: Physical offense
What to expect: Emboar hits hard and has excellent type coverage, making it ideal for players who want to overwhelm opponents quickly.
Totodile → Croconaw → Feraligatr
Final Type: Water
Battle Focus: Balanced physical attacker
What to expect: Feraligatr offers a strong mix of damage, durability, and consistency, keeping it viable throughout the entire game.
As of now, no new starter-specific forms have been confirmed for Pokémon Legends: Z-A. However, given the game’s strong ties to Generation VI and Mega Evolution, many players expect Mega forms to return in some capacity. If Mega Evolutions are included, they could significantly impact how viable each starter’s final form is in late-game battles.
Mega Evolutions are a core battle mechanic in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Mega Evolution functions as a temporary, battle-specific power boost, significantly increasing a Pokémon’s stats and sometimes altering its typing or abilities. These transformations play a major role in tougher encounters and late-game battles, making Mega-capable Pokémon especially valuable additions to your team.
The Pokémon Legends: Z-A starters—Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile—do not have Mega Evolutions. Their final forms remain:
Meganium (Grass)
Emboar (Fire/Fighting)
Feraligatr (Water)
Instead, Mega Evolution is reserved for select Pokémon already known to have Mega forms from previous games.
Because the starters cannot Mega Evolve:
Starters are most impactful in the early and mid-game
Mega Pokémon often take center stage in late-game battles
Your starter choice should focus on playstyle, consistency, and team balance, not Mega potential
This means choosing the right starter is about how you want to play, while Mega Evolutions influence how you build the rest of your team.
Like every Pokémon series, Pokémon Legends: Z-A offers three well-rounded starter Pokémon to journey across the world with. The best pick for you just depends on how you want to play. Chikorita rewards strategic, defensive players, Tepig excels in aggressive, damage-focused battles, and Totodile offers the most balanced and beginner-friendly experience.
Don’t worry too much about your pick, though, because your starter choice really only matters the most in the early and mid-game. Long-term success requires building a stocked and well-rounded team. So pick your favorite, adapt as you go, and you’ll be ready for whatever Kalos throws your way.
Whether you’re exploring Kalos or tackling high-stakes Mega battles, immersive audio makes every moment count. A high-quality gaming headset can help you catch subtle sound cues and stay fully locked into the action.
The best starter depends on your playstyle. Totodile is the most balanced and beginner-friendly choice, Tepig is best for aggressive, damage-focused players, and Chikorita suits strategic players who prefer defense and survivability.
The three starter Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A are Chikorita (Grass-type), Tepig (Fire-type), and Totodile (Water-type).
Swampert is not a starter Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. While Mega Swampert appears in the game through Mega Evolution, players cannot choose Mudkip or Swampert as their first partner Pokémon.
Totodile is generally considered the strongest all-around option due to its balanced stats and consistent performance. Tepig is better for players who prioritize offense, while Chikorita is better for defensive or support-oriented strategies.