Starter Pokémon are the core of a player’s team in the video games, and they are often caught by Ash in the anime, which allows them to have a lot of screen time in both the TV show and the video games. A lot of Pokémon fans consider starter Pokémon to be their favorite creature since they have had so much experience watching this Pokémon on screen and using it to battle in the games.
However, some starter Pokémon aren’t quite as powerful or don’t have a design that fits with the other starter Pokémon in the franchise. Generally, a starter Pokémon should have a design that is not too complex but not too simple either. There are also some Pokémon in the franchise that are caught in the wild, however, deserve to become starters because of their attributes.
10 Snivy
Snivy is a Pokémon that is generally underwhelming because it is simply a small snake with a pointed nose. Although a lot of fans love Snivy because it has an elegance to it that a lot of other starter Pokémon don’t, it also doesn’t look anything like the average starter.
Furthermore, Snivy evolves into Serperior, which is a Pokémon that is nothing more than a green snake without any limbs. For these reasons, Snivy should probably be a regular Pokémon that can be encountered in the wild.
9 Tympole
Tympole is a Water-type Pokémon that is encountered in the Unova region, and it is one of the cutest Pokémon from Generation 5. Tympole evolves into Seismitoad for its final evolution, which is a strong Water-type Pokémon with a secondary Ground-type that looks reminiscent of other Water-type starters such as Feraligator and Swampert.
It’s surprising that Tympole did not become a starter Pokémon because it is adorable enough that its first form would fit starter status quite well, and its final evolution is powerful enough that it would also fit perfectly as a starter.
8 Cyndaquil
Cyndaquil is an adorable creature without a doubt, and a lot of fans favor it for this reason alone. However, Cyndaquil and especially its final evolution Typhlosion are underwhelming creatures with no secondary type, and their designs are rather basic compared to other Fire-type Pokémon in the franchise.
Unfortunately, all of the Johto starters suffer from this problem; however, it is most prominent in Cyndaquil because Typhlosion is a very boring Pokémon in appearance.
7 Magby
Magby is a Fire-type Pokémon that is humanoid in shape, and it would have fit perfectly as a starter. Unfortunately, Magby and it’s two Evolutions were all introduced in different generations, and as such, it would be very peculiar if they ended up becoming a starter in a future generation.
Regardless, Magby fits as a starter quite well because it’s first form has all of the physical qualities of a starter and its final evolution, Magmortar, is one of the most powerful Fire-type Pokémon in the franchise.
6 Turtwig
Turtwig is the Grass-type starter in the Sinnoh region, and it had a very prominent role in the anime because Ash caught one for his Generation 4 team.
Turtwig is considered by the fanbase to be the least popular Generation 4 starter because, unlike Piplup and Chimchar, it isn’t very cute in its first form. Torterra is Turtwig’s final evolution, and although it has a very interesting design, a lot of fans consider it to be too similar to Venusaur to be an effective starter that stands on its own legs.
5 Spheal
Spheal is a Water-type Pokémon that was introduced in Generation 3, and one of the attributes that makes it stand out is the fact that it has a secondary Ice-type, a type that is not commonly used for starter Pokémon in the franchise.
Spheal and its final evolution Walrein are creatures that are very unique compared to the average Pokémon; however, they are also founded in reality since they are based on a real-world animal, similar to other starters such as Blaziken and Decidueye.
4 Sobble
Sobble is the Water-type starter in Generation 8, and some fans reject its final evolution, Inteleon, because it has too strong of a personality in the form of a spy persona.
Although a lot of starter Pokémon are based on a general theme, such as being an Archer or a Mage, some fans think that Inteleon took this too far by having a personality that is similar to the average spy. Inteleon even gets a sniper in its Gigantamax form, which pushed it over the edge in terms of its weird design.
3 Chewtle
Chewtle is an interesting case because it only has one evolution, which is a trait that all starter Pokémon don’t share with it. However, Chewtle could very easily get a middle evolution since there’s a lot of room between it and its evolution Drednaw in terms of size.
Chewtle is the perfect Pokémon to turn into a starter; however, the only downside to this Pokémon achieving starter status is that it would resemble Squirtle very closely since they are based around the same animal. Drednaw has a secondary Rock-type which would allow for a more diverse type roster for starter Pokémon.
2 Litten
Litten is arguably the most basic starter Pokémon in the entire franchise because it is nothing more than a cat that can use Fire-type attacks. Some fans adore Litten’s simplistic design; however, there are a lot of players that chose not to pick this Pokémon since it looks so similar to a cat from the real world.
Incineroar is Litten’s final evolution, and although it is powerful, it doesn’t quite fit with the other starter Pokémon that are found in the Alola region since it is so humanoid.
1 Oddish
Oddish is a Pokémon that a lot of players believe could have substituted Bulbasaur if the Grass-type Kanto starter hadn’t existed in Generation 1. Oddish is both Grass-type and a Poison-type, and it has two evolutions in the form of Gloom and Vileplume.
One thing that sets Oddish apart from Bulbasaur is that to evolve into its final form, Gloom requires a Leaf Stone, this is a trait that is not found in any other starter Pokémon. However, this could be easily worked around by allowing Gloom to evolve simply by leveling up, which would amend any issues with Oddish becoming a starter Pokémon.
NEXT: Pokémon: Which X & Y Starter Is The Best?
