First partner PokémonCommonly known among fans as “starter” Pokémon because they are given to the player at the beginning of each game, they are among the most popular species of Pokémon in existence. It’s no surprise, then, that these video game staples have become equally essential to the Pokémon anime.
Between Ash and his traveling companions, almost all of the starter Pokémon featured heavily in the anime. The anime helps bring these beloved characters to life, giving them their own personalities, and each of them develops a unique relationship with their trainers. Instead of evaluating their battle power or potential, it’s worth considering which of the starter Pokémon were best developed in the anime and how their role in the series helped shape people’s opinions of those Pokémon.
10
Serena’s Delphox
First appearance: Pokémon XY“A Battle of Air Mobility!”
Starting out as a small Fennekin, Serena’s Delphox is introduced as, appropriately, her starter Pokémon, right at the beginning of her adventure. Fennekin had a similar temperament to Serena in general, and the two got along well because of their common interests in baking and competition.. Fennekin was known, especially as he evolved, to be extremely averse to situations where he might get dirty and was very particular about his appearance. Fennekin generally gets along well with other Pokémon and doesn’t seem to have any real jealousy issues.
Serena’s Delphox was overall a great starter Pokémon choice for her. His inherent charisma made him a natural at Pokémon Showcases, which was Serena’s main objective in the anime. Her evolution paralleled Serena’s progress as a coach, and when she finally became a Delphox, it was clear that Serena had excelled.
9
Ash’s Bulbasaur
First appearance: Pokémon Indigo League“Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village”
Ash’s Bulbasaur was the first of the original trio of starter Pokémon to appear in the anime, befitting its placement at the top of the Pokédex. Before capturing it, Bulbasaur was the guardian of a secret village that served as a refuge for sick and injured wild Pokémon. Bulbasaur went with Ash encouraged by the only human he trusted, and it took a while for Bulbasaur to fully warm up to Ash. Bulbasaur has a rather serious personality and often breaks up fights between other Pokémon.
Although Bulbasaur never evolved under Ash’s ownership, this appears to be what Bulbasaur wanted, as he, like Pikachu, had no real interest in evolving. Ash’s Bulbasaur had a distinct role on his original team as the mature team, and slowly learning to trust Ash’s judgment gave him an effective character arc.
8
Ash’s Squirtle
First appearance: Pokémon Indigo League“Here comes the Squirtle Squad”
Ash’s Squirtle was the second starter Pokémon to appear in the anime. Before he was Ash’s, Squirtle was the leader of a gang of wild Squirtles who caused trouble throughout the city. Ash managed to convince them to help, and they were hailed as heroes for their firefighting prowess.. Despite teaming up with Ash, Squirtle’s penchant for mischief never disappeared, and often teased Bulbasaur due to his more stern personality.
Squirtle, despite never evolving, grew and matured on his journey with Ash. Ash would eventually return Squirtle to his comrades in Squirtle Squad, where he once again assumed a leadership position and helped the group reach new heights. Squirtle was a highly trusted Pokémon for Ash, so much so that he would ask for Squirtle’s help in later series.
7
Dawn Piplup
First appearance: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl“Following a maiden’s journey!”
Dawn’s Piplup was her starter Pokémon, which she caught from Professor Rowan in her first episode. Piplup is very proud and competitive, despite not being particularly strong at the beginning of its journey. Piplup was also prone to tantrums, particularly when his food was stolen, and was sometimes jealous of Dawn’s other Pokémon.. Very prone to finding himself in a difficult situation, Piplup is able to put up with a lot without giving up.
Piplup took some time to warm up to Dawn, but the two soon developed an unbreakable bond that gave them both strength. It is very similar to Ash’s Pikachu in that it wants to get stronger like a Piplup without evolving, and Dawn supported this. Piplup’s character doesn’t change much, but his antics are quite entertaining anyway.
6
Ash’s Oshawott
First appearance: Pokemon black and white“In the Shadow of Zekrom!”
Ash’s Oshawott was given to him by Professor Juniper after he arrived in the Unova region, making it the second Pokémon he acquired there. Oshawott took an interest in Ash quickly, even sneaking out of the lab to follow him. As one of Ash’s Pokémon, Oshawott was eager to prove itself in battle and generally wanted Ash’s attention at any cost.. Oshawott was also prone to falling in love easily, often falling in love with female Pokémon he encountered, regardless of their species.
Oshawott never evolved and never expressed much interest in the process anyway. Just like Dawn’s Piplup, Oshawott often got into crazy antics, mostly around his Scalchop tool on his belly. A bit obstinate, Oshawott rarely learned his lesson from these situations, ensuring there would be plenty more comedy at his expense.
5
Ash Sceptile
First appearance: Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire“Tree is a crowd”
Ash first met Sceptile as a Treecko, when Ash helped Treecko protect his treehouse. Treecko has a cold and detached personality, often seen lazily chewing on a twig.. As a result of its personality, it initially had difficulty fitting in with the other Pokémon, but quickly gained their trust after defending May’s Torchic. Since becoming a Treecko, it is very proud of its strength and abilities, and will fight hard until the end, to the point of stubbornness.
Sceptile became a key member of Ash’s team as it evolved, someone he would rely on in later tournaments. His pride made him a very powerful competitor, unwilling to accept defeat. Like Treecko, he had to learn that he could trust Ash’s abilities in battle and that he would no longer fight alone.
4
May Blaziken
First appearance: Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire“Get the show on the road!”
May received her Torchic from Professor Birch as her starter Pokémon. She chose Torchic simply because she thought it was cute. It turns out that Torchic was a lot like May at the beginning of her journey – insecure about everything and afraid of making mistakes. As Torchic grew along with May, he began to become more competitive and had a tendency to become a little jealous of May’s other Pokémon.. When he evolved, he matured a little and stopped being so jealous.
Torchic was almost completely unable to fight at first, so he had a long character arc about becoming stronger and more competent. This reflected May’s skills as a trainer, acting as a sign of how far May had come since the beginning of her journey. He became very fond of Pokémon contests and was instrumental in May’s success as a coordinator as she evolved.
3
Ash’s Infernape
First appearance: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl“When Pokémon worlds collide!”
Ash first met Chimchar when he was in the possession of Paul, a rival who mistreated his Pokémon and eventually abandoned Chimchar as “too weak”. Ash took Chimchar in and helped him recover from the trauma he suffered under Paul’s control, allowing Chimchar to regain his confidence in battle.. Chimchar quickly became one of Ash’s favorite Pokémon and began to evolve under Ash’s guidance, becoming increasingly stronger. Chimchar often worried that his special ability, Blaze, would go off as it provided more energy than he was initially able to handle.
Ash and Chimchar had a fantastic relationship, and Ash’s gentle training style was exactly what he needed to become the best. Like Infernape, he still holds a bit of a grudge against Paul, but managed to prove to his former trainer how strong he has become in one of the best battles the anime has ever seen.
2
Ash’s Greninja
First appearance: Pokémon XY“Lumiose City Pursuit!”
Ash’s Froakie was almost the opposite of Chimchar; instead, he abandoned his trainer, feeling that they were not compatible. When Froakie met Ash and saw his abilities, he was eager to join his group, knowing that Ash could help him get stronger in any way he wanted. The two are very similar, both quick to run into danger to save the other and both bold in the face of the enemy. Like Froakie, he was quite stubborn and focused mainly on training.
Ash and Greninja had an exceptionally close bond, so special that they were able to activate the “Bond Phenomenon” and synchronize with each other. This relationship was built slowly and very organically, as the two came to trust each other after sharing experiences in battle. Greninja has a pretty unique arc among the Pokémon characters in the anime, making it stand out.
1
Ash’s Charizard
First appearance: Pokémon Indigo League“Charmander – The Lost Pokémon”
Ash met Charmander after he was abandoned, and went to great lengths to save him from the rain when he learned of this fact. Charmander quickly developed a loyalty to Ash as thanks for this, but as Charmander began to evolve, he seemed to forget everything Ash had done for him. Like Charizard, he was completely disobedient to Ash, at least until he was frozen in battle and almost died again.. Ash nursed Charizard back to health, reminding him of everything they had been through together.
Ash’s Charizard is one of his most iconic Pokémon for a reason; its origin won the hearts of many viewers. Having him become disobedient was an interesting change and helped keep Ash humble in the early days of his adventures. It was made even more satisfying when Charizard finally listened to Ash, and everything they had been through together ensured that their bond was as strong as steel. For this reason, Ash’s Charizard is the most interesting starter Pokémon in the anime.