- Top pick: Bulbasaur is the Pokemon LeafGreen best starter for the smoothest early Gyms
- Balanced pick: Squirtle offers dependable Water coverage and sturdy defenses
- Challenge pick: Charmander starts slow but Charizard dominates the late game
- Team core: Nidoking, Jolteon, Lapras, and Snorlax fit any starter choice
- Post-game link: Your starter decides which roaming legendary appears after the League
Pokemon LeafGreen Best Starter Tier Rankings
Every Kanto journey starts in Professor Oak's lab, and the Pokemon LeafGreen best starter decision shapes your entire run. All three options finish the game comfortably, but each one produces a very different experience across the eight Gyms, the Elite Four, and the Sevii Islands. The starter math is identical whether you play the 2004 Game Boy Advance original or the Nintendo Switch re-release that arrived on February 27, 2026.
Bulbasaur sits at the top of our tier list because Kanto's opening stretch rewards it heavily. Grass-type attacks crush Brock's Rock team and Misty's Water team, handing you two badges before the difficulty spikes. Squirtle follows with reliable bulk and Surf access, while Charmander trades a punishing opening for the strongest final evolution ceiling.
Bulbasaur - S Tier
- Grass/Poison typing, evolves into Venusaur
- Excellent matchup vs Brock and Misty
- Useful status moves all game long
- Weakest against late Psychic and Fire threats
Squirtle - A Tier
- Water typing, evolves into Blastoise
- Strong vs Brock, solid vs Ground and Fire
- Dependable defenses and Surf coverage
- Misty and Lt. Surge create rough patches
Charmander - A Tier
- Fire typing, becomes Fire/Flying Charizard
- Brutal start vs Brock and Misty
- Elite vs Erika and strong late-game offense
- Needs team support before the first badge
| Starter | Tier | Type | Final Evolution | Early Game | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | S | Grass/Poison | Venusaur | Excellent | Smoothest progression |
| Squirtle | A | Water | Blastoise | Very Good | Balanced, dependable run |
| Charmander | A | Fire | Charizard | Challenging | Late-game powerhouse fans |
Pick Bulbasaur if this is your first Kanto run or you want the fastest path through the first three badges. Save Charmander for a second playthrough, when you already know where to catch support Pokemon early.
Gym-by-Gym Matchup Ratings
The real starter debate happens inside the eight Gyms. Kanto's schedule front-loads Rock and Water, back-loads Fire and Ground, and sprinkles Electric, Grass, Poison, and Psychic in between. The table below rates how each starter line performs at the recommended challenge level for every badge.
| Gym | Leader | Specialty | Bulbasaur Line | Squirtle Line | Charmander Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Pewter | Brock | Rock | Excellent | Excellent | Poor |
| 2 - Cerulean | Misty | Water | Excellent | Difficult | Difficult |
| 3 - Vermilion | Lt. Surge | Electric | Good | Risky | Fair |
| 4 - Celadon | Erika | Grass | Good | Fair | Excellent |
| 5 - Fuchsia | Koga | Poison | Fair | Good | Fair |
| 6 - Saffron | Sabrina | Psychic | Risky | Fair | Fair |
| 7 - Cinnabar | Blaine | Fire | Risky | Excellent | Good |
| 8 - Viridian | Giovanni | Ground | Excellent | Excellent | Risky |
Bulbasaur wins the opening act outright, then cools off against Sabrina's Psychic pressure and Blaine's Fire squad. Squirtle stays steady the whole way and peaks at Cinnabar, where Surf erases Blaine's roster. Charmander flips the script: after surviving Brock and Misty through team support, Charizard sweeps Erika and stays dangerous through the Pokemon League—just watch for Rock-type coverage on Giovanni's Rhyhorn.
Brock's Geodude and Onix resist Fire and hit back with Rock moves, and Misty's Starmie outspeeds and overwhelms Charmeleon. Catch a Mankey or Nidoran on Route 22 and a Pikachu in Viridian Forest before attempting either badge.
Best Teams Built Around Each Starter
A starter only covers a few types, so your six-slot roster needs to close the gaps. These teams use Pokemon you can obtain in a normal LeafGreen playthrough—gift Pokemon, early routes, and guaranteed encounters—without trading or rare hunting.
| Starter | Recommended Team | Coverage Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Venusaur, Nidoking, Jolteon, Lapras, Snorlax, Dodrio | Grass, Ground, Electric, Water/Ice, Normal, Flying |
| Squirtle | Blastoise, Nidoking, Jolteon, Snorlax, Dodrio, Kadabra | Water, Ground, Electric, Normal, Flying, Psychic |
| Charmander | Charizard, Nidoking, Vaporeon, Raichu, Snorlax, Exeggutor | Fire/Flying, Ground, Water, Electric, Normal, Grass/Psychic |
Four Pokemon earn a core slot with any starter. Nidoran arrives early, evolves with a Moon Stone, and gives you Ground immunity against Lt. Surge. Eevee is a guaranteed gift in Celadon Mansion—turn it into Jolteon with a Thunder Stone for blistering Speed. Lapras is handed to you inside Silph Co., and its Ice coverage is the answer to Lance's dragons. Snorlax blocks Routes 12 and 16, and both encounters are catchable with the Poke Flute.
| Core Member | How to Get | Main Role |
|---|---|---|
| Nidoking | Catch Nidoran early, Moon Stone from Mt. Moon | Ground coverage, wide TM pool |
| Jolteon | Eevee gift in Celadon + Thunder Stone | Fast Electric damage |
| Lapras | Gift in Silph Co., Saffron City | Water/Ice bulk for the League |
| Snorlax | Poke Flute encounter, Routes 12 and 16 | HP wall, flexible attacker |
Eevee in Celadon City and Lapras in Silph Co. are one-time gifts, not random encounters. Miss them and your only recovery is trading, so collect both during the story.
How to Choose Your Starter: Step-by-Step
Use this five-step process before you leave Oak's lab so your choice matches your goals for the run.
Rate Your Experience
New to Kanto or want a low-friction run? Take Bulbasaur. Returning player chasing a challenge? Charmander rewards patience with the strongest endgame attacker.
Check the Early Gym Schedule
Brock and Misty arrive within the first few hours. Grass and Water starters clear both; Fire needs Mankey, Nidoran, or Pikachu support first.
Map Your Team Gaps
List the types your starter cannot hit hard. Bulbasaur wants Fire and Psychic help, Squirtle wants Electric and Grass, Charmander wants Water and Electric.
Factor In the Post-Game Legendary
Your starter locks one roaming beast into the save file: Entei for Bulbasaur, Raikou for Squirtle, Suicune for Charmander. See the post-game section below for details.
Commit and Build Early
Whatever you pick, catch Nidoran on the early routes and plan a Thunder Stone for Eevee. A starter plus two early catches covers the entire opening act.
There is no wrong answer in Pallet Town—every starter clears the Champion. Bulbasaur minimizes early friction, Squirtle keeps every fight fair, and Charmander trades a hard opening for a spectacular finish.
Post-Game Rewards Tied to Your Starter
The starter decision follows you past the Hall of Fame. After becoming Champion and unlocking the National Pokedex, one roaming Johto legendary begins wandering Kanto's routes, and which one appears depends directly on the Pokemon you chose in Oak's lab.
| Starter Choice | Roaming Legendary | Type | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Entei | Fire | 50 |
| Squirtle | Raikou | Electric | 50 |
| Charmander | Suicune | Water | 50 |
Roaming legendaries flee on the first turn and change routes whenever you move between areas, so track the current location through the Pokedex. A fast Pokemon with a trapping move such as Mean Look keeps them in the fight; otherwise the Master Ball you receive in Silph Co. removes the chase entirely. Save that ball for this hunt or for Mewtwo in Cerulean Cave—you only get one.
Starter Run Milestones:
- Catch Nidoran early and plan the Moon Stone evolution
- Collect the guaranteed Eevee in Celadon City
- Receive Lapras from the Silph Co. employee
- Awaken and catch both Snorlax with the Poke Flute
- Track down your starter-linked roaming legendary
Stock Ultra Balls and a sleep or paralysis user before hunting the roaming beast. Damage does not persist between encounters, so trapping moves or the Master Ball are the reliable routes.
Starter FAQ
Quick answers to the starter questions players ask most before starting a LeafGreen save file.
Q: Which starter is best for beginners in Pokemon LeafGreen?
Bulbasaur is the strongest beginner pick. Its Grass-type attacks are super effective against Brock's Rock team and Misty's Water team, which removes the two hardest early walls. Venusaur also learns useful status moves that keep difficult fights manageable.
Q: Can you beat LeafGreen with Charmander?
Yes. Every starter can complete the entire game, including the Elite Four and the Sevii Islands post-game. Charmander simply needs support early—catch Mankey or Nidoran before Brock and Pikachu in Viridian Forest before Misty—and Charizard repays that effort with elite offensive output.
Q: Does my starter choice change post-game content?
Yes. After entering the Hall of Fame and unlocking the National Pokedex, one roaming legendary appears based on your starter: Entei with Bulbasaur, Raikou with Squirtle, and Suicune with Charmander. Only one of the three exists per save file.
Q: Is Squirtle or Bulbasaur better for the Elite Four?
Both perform well with a balanced team. Blastoise brings reliable bulk and Surf, while Lapras—available to every player as a Silph Co. gift—covers the Ice damage that matters most against Lance's dragons. Choose based on early-game preference rather than League performance.