When you start out in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, you will have the starter of your choice, plus a Lechonk. Before you get to the academy, you can have a full team. We aren’t just talking about a ragtag bunch of mons either as there is plenty of variety in Pokemon to choose from. Below we go over the best starter team to have, as well as some tips for making your first few hours in Paldea easy.

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Paldean Wooper is Poison and Ground. (Credit: The Pokémon Company)

Best Starter Picks and Where to Find Them¶

Diglett (If you want to remove Lechonk)¶

Diglett is a ground-type Pokemon that isn’t affected by electric attacks and can learn useful moves like dig. It can be caught in the Inlet Grotto, which you will be forced to walk through on your way to the academy.

Paldean Wooper¶

This is a unique combo of poison and ground that makes it easy to deal with grass and electric types. Paldean Wooper can be found near the lake right below the East Los Platos Pokemon Center. Best of all, Paldean Wooper evolves into Clodsire at level 20.

Fletchling (If you don’t pick Fuecoco)¶

This is a must if you didn’t pick Fuecoco as it adds both fire and flying moves to your team. Fletchling can be found from Pocco Path onward. Like most bird types, it evolves rather quickly. At level 17, your Fletchling will turn into a Fletchinder.

Hoppip (If you don’t pick Sprigatito)¶

If you don’t go with the grass-type starter, Sprigatito, then grabbing a Hoppip is a solid choice. While this likely won’t be a forever choice for your team, it offers you a pull of solid grass-type moves for the start of the game. In addition, it also evolves pretty early at level 18.

Psyduck (If you don’t pick Quaxly)¶

If you don’t choose the water-type Quaxly, then go ahead and grab the nearest duck Pokemon you can find. Psyduck can use both psychic and water-type moves giving you a solid move set to choose from. He does take a bit to evolve into Golduck, though, as you will need to wait until h reaches level 33.

Pichu¶

You can get an electric type right away. Just turn right when you hit the Pokemon Center outside of Mesagove and go up the small hill. This will put an early Electric Pokemon on your team, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love to get Pikachu early on? Be sure to keep it on your team, though, as Pichu evolves when it’s happy.

Gastly¶

This one is a bit hidden, but you can get a Gastly on your team before you even learn about the three different story paths. Once you make it to the East Los Platos Pokemon Center, take a right and head up the hill. You will want to keep walking further out until you see some ruins. Gastly spawns at high frequency in the middle of these. Gastly evolves at level 25 to Haunter and then can immediately be traded to get the Gengar evolution.