Best Starter Pokemon - Pokemon Champions
Wondering which Pokemon to start with in Pokemon Champions? Here's our complete analysis.
What Are Starter Pokemon?
In Pokemon Champions, Starter Pokemon are the Pokemon you begin your journey with. You can choose them when first building your team, or import them from Pokemon HOME.
For beginners, picking the right Pokemon to build around is critical. You want Pokemon with good type coverage, strong moves, and stats that fit your playstyle.
Top Recommended Starters for Beginners
Pikachu (as starter)
High Speed, great moves, fan favorite. Excellent for beginners because its Electric type covers Water and Flying types well.
Charmeleon (Fire start)
Strong Attack, good offensive pressure. Fire covers Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel types.
Bulbasaur (Grass starter)
Great typing with good bulk. Grass covers Water/Ground/Rock which are common early threats.
Squirtle (Water starter)
Solid defense and good coverage. Water covers Fire/Ground/Rock.
Eevee (Normal starter)
Flexible - can evolve into 8 different types. Great for learning type matchups, but Normal has limited STAB options.
How to Pick Your First Team (4 Pokemon)
As a beginner, we recommend your first team covers these roles:
- 1 Electric or Fire type - Great offensive coverage (Water/Grass/Ice coverage).
- 1 Water or Grass type - Covers common types and provides balance.
- 1 Tank (Defense/HP focused) - Can survive super-effective hits.
- 1 Flexible/Pivot - Can switch into multiple matchups safely.
Can I Change My Team Later?
Yes! Pokemon Champions lets you change your team at any time. As you collect more Pokemon (via Pokemon HOME or in-game), you can experiment with different teams.
Don't worry about "messing up" your first team. Part of the fun is trying new combinations!
Importing Your Own Pokemon from HOME
If you already have Pokemon in Pokemon HOME, you can import them into Champions:
- Open Pokemon Champions on your mobile device.
- Go to Settings > Link Pokemon HOME Account.
- Log in with your Nintendo Account or Pokemon Trainer Club account.
- Select which Pokemon to import. Note: some Pokemon may have restrictions in Regulation M-A.
Next Steps
- Team Building Guide - Learn how to build a balanced team.
- Type Chart - Memorize type matchups.
- Tier List - See which Pokemon are strongest right now.