Starter Pokemon For Pokemon Sword

Pokemon Sword & Shield Starters: which starter Pokemon should you choose, and starter evolutions revealed

Equally is series tradition, you won't really catch your first partner in Pokemon Sword & Shield - instead, your starter Pokemon will be gifted to you by the champion, Leon. And as ever, you lot'll be given a pick between grass, fire and h2o - Grooky, Scorbunny and Sobble.

These 3 new starter Pokemon were revealed a while ago. There'due south cute little grass-type monkey Grooky, energetic burn down-blazon rabbit Scorbunny and nervous-looking water-type lizard Sobble. You probably already accept a favorite - only that doesn't respond the question of which starter Pokemon is all-time, what their utility is like in-game and where they go with the starter evolutions that ultimately terminate in a powered-up third and terminal course later on on in the game. So we're hither to assistance you with that. Be aware that this page manifestly contains spoilers for the starter evolutions.

Which starter Pokemon should you choose in Sword & Shield?

There's something important to note and ascertain right off the bat here - you really shouldn't sweat your option of starter Pokemon too much. If y'all're a more casual player, any of the 3 is good enough to aid deport you through your adventures through Galar Region'south gym challenge. All have adept moves, and all will brand a great starting anchor for any Pokemon team. If you're looking to approach Sword & Shield from a more competitive bending, we likewise would suggest non fretting, but for very different reasons - none of the three starters are particularly stand-out in their stats, and therefore are unlikely to become histrion-vs-player competitive staples.

Another thing to keep in listen is that it appears that it's non possible for a shiny Pokemon to spawn as role of the starter fix - if you want a shiny version of ane of the starters, the only mode is likely going to be through the Pokemon daycare and breeding mechanic.

Whatsoever starter Pokemon you lot don't pick volition go ii ways - the one your Pokemon is potent against volition go to your directly rival and best friend, while the other will be kept past Champion Leon. There won't be a chance to catch some other starter brood in the primary story, but you tin obtain them through trading and the similar. With all that noted, you no doubt want to brand an informed decision - so here'due south all the information yous need on the starters and their evolutions:

All about Grooky, the grass starter Pokemon, and its evolutions

Grooky is a mischievous piffling chimp-like Pokemon. Information technology's a happy picayune thing and is said to be very curious. It carries with information technology a stick, and that stick actually has special powers thanks to some sort of energy that Grooky have. Grooky drums its stick on the ground - and this action becomes key subsequently on when it evolves. When it evolves, it doesn't gain a secondary type - it remains pure grass-type. Here'southward the other bones facts y'all demand to know virtually Grooky and its evolutions:

Type: Grass
Strong Vs: Water, Basis, Rock
Weak Vs: Fire, Toxicant, Flight, Bug, Ice
Ability: Overgrow (powers up grass-type moves when HP is low)
Potential Subconscious Ability: Grassy Surge (turns terrain grassy when information technology enters battle, which powers up grass moves and heals grass-types)
The Grooky Evolutionary line naturally learns some Grass, Night and Normal-blazon moves, just via TMs and TRs it can besides learn a few Fighting, Flying, Bug and Footing moves, amid others.
Evolves into Thwackey at Level 16, then Rillaboom, its terminal form, at Level 35.

Rillaboom, Grooky's starter evolution

Afterwards a brief terminate-off at the middle step of Thwackey, the Grooky Pokemon evolutionary line ends with Rillaboom - appropriately, this footling chimp turns into a hulking gorilla. He retains his useful stick, only at present uses it with a huge drum to pound out a beat. Rillaboom is a tanky Pokemon in terms of stats - it has a high attack and HP, and a very serviceable defence stat. It retains the abilities, typing and therefore strengths and weaknesses that Grooky has.

Rillaboom'south signature move is 'Pulsate Beating' - a powerful 10PP move with 100% accuracy. Drum Beating dishes out damage, merely also lowers the target'southward speed stat subsequently it hits them, helping to make upward for Rillaboom'due south speed, which is the lowest of the 3 starters.

All about Scorbunny, the fire starter Pokemon, and its evolutions

Scorbunny is an energetic, speedy rabbit-type Pokemon that runs so fast that the soles of its anxiety estrus up and burn the ground. It's all about those anxiety - it has a lot of kicking-based moves, but despite that it and its evolutions aren't role fighting-type as in fire starter Pokemon tradition - instead, they'll all pure fire-blazon. Here's some other central stuff to know about Scorbunny and its evolutions:

Blazon: Burn
Strong Vs: Grass, Problems, Ice, Steel
Weak Vs: H2o, Footing, Rock
Ability: Bonfire (powers upwards fire-blazon moves when HP is low)
Potential Hidden Power: Libero (changes the Pokemon's blazon to match the motion information technology uses next)
Scorbunny and its evolutions naturally learn Fire, Fighting, Normal and even a single Flying-type move - but via TMs and TRs they tin can too learn a few Issues, Ground and Dark-type attacks.
Evolves into Raboot at Level 16, and then Cinderace at level 35.

Cinderace, Scorbunny's starter evolution

Scorbunny evolves into Raboot first when it hits level 16, and and so at level 35 Raboot evolves into Cinderace, this starter Pokemon's final form and for our coin the overall pound-for-pound best starter Pokemon evolution in the game. Cinderace leans into the British-inspired setting of Pokemon Sword & Shield past making Cinderace a would-exist footballer type.

Cinderace isn't great defensively, but it has a strong physical assail and blistering speed. At a high level information technology'll be a glass cannon - very powerful, only completely unable to take a beating. What really makes Cinderace is special is its hidden ability, Libero - which if you can get it functions similar Protean from previous generations. When you select an assault, Cinderace will temporarily modify its type to the same every bit the attack. Cinderace can naturally learn some fighting, normal and flying-blazon moves, and can larn even more than via TM or TR.

Cinderace's signature motion is Pyro Ball, which is still football inspired - the Pokemon plays keepie-uppie with a stone until it becomes a brawl of flame, then kicks it at the enemy. It'southward a powerful move but only has 5PP, simply it also might go out the target burned on superlative of the damage dealt.

All about Sobble, the water starter Pokemon, and its evolutions

Sobble melted the hearts of Pokemon fans everywhere when it was revealed, with this cute h2o cadger Pokemon introduced to the world in a flood of tears. It's a chameleon, essentially, and turns invisible in order to hide itself earlier attacking with streams of water. It's a timid Pokemon, only it doesn't stay that way... When it evolves, information technology remains a fully-fledged water-type with no secondary Pokemon type. Hither'south a little more key Sobble facts:

Type: Water
Strong Vs: Fire, Rock, Footing
Weak Vs: Grass, Electric
Power: Torrent (powers upwardly h2o-blazon moves when HP is low)
Potential Hidden Ability: Sniper (increases the power of crtiical hits by 1.5x - making them bargain ii.25x normal impairment)
Sobble and its evolutions are all about the water-blazon moves, but it can also acquire some Dark and Bug type attacks naturtally, plus Ice, Flying, Dragon and fifty-fifty Ghost-type moves via TMs and TRs.
Evolves into Drizzile at Level sixteen, then Inteleon at level 35.

Inteleon, Sobble's starter evolution

One time the Sobble evolutionary line hits level 35, it'll evolve into the cool-looking Inteleon. Await how they grow up! That crying nervous lad is now a cool super-spy - as is befitting a chameleon. Scorbunny was fast, but Inteleon is actually a piffling bit faster still - but instead of regular attacks, it'due south all about the Special Attacks, which pairs well with the Sniper Hidden Ability, if y'all tin can go information technology.

Leaning into the espionage theme, Inteleon'south signature move is Snipe Shot, a powerful move with 15PP. All-time of all, this move ignores draw-in furnishings - significant that if a Pokemon is using a draw-in status effect like Lightning Rod or Storm Drain to protect itself, this move snipes right past it!