Pokémon Legends: Arceus offers players three starter monsters at the start of the adventure. Fire-type Cyndaquil, Water-type Oshawott, and Grass-type Rowlet have strengths and weaknesses that need to be considered when choosing the ideal partner. To help you with this important task, we have prepared this guide with the best starter in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
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In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, starter Pokémon are from different regions and generations. Cyndaquil is the oldest of the trio, part of the second generation and belongs to the Johto region. Oshawott debuted in the fifth generation, in the Unova region. Finally, Rowlet first appears in Alola as part of the seventh generation little monsters.
If one of these three regions is among your favorites, you can now use this criterion to choose your starter Pokémon. The little monster will be your faithful partner during the campaign, so it's only fair to take the one that already has a place in your heart.
If you are a more hardcore player, there are some technical criteria that help you decide the best starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, such as the types of the final evolutions, the attributes of each little monster and the attacks they learn as they level up. Let's talk about each of these aspects now.
Table of Contents
- Cyndaquil: evolutions, attributes and moves
- Oshawott: evolutions, attributes and moves
- Rowlet: evolutions, attributes and moves
- The best starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Cyndaquil: evolutions, attributes and moves
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Cyndaquil evolves into Quilava at level 17 and into Typhlosion at level 36. In its final Hisui form, the Volcano Pokémon is both Fire and Ghost-types. With this new typing, the little monster gains two additional weaknesses — to Ghost and Psychic attacks —, two immunities — to Normal and Fighting attacks — and is now resistant to Poison moves.
The effectiveness of Hisuian Typhlosion is:
Takes normal damage from: | It is weak against: | resists: | Is immune to: |
---|---|---|---|
Flying | Earth (2x) | Poison (½x) | Normal |
Elétrico | Stone (2x) | Insect (½x) | Fighter |
Psychic | Ghost (2x) | Metallic (½x) | |
Dragon | Water (2x) | Fire (½x) | |
dark (2x) | Grass (½x) | ||
Ice (½x) | |||
Long (½x) |
Hisuian Typhlosion still retains the traditional Fire-type effectiveness, as well as the two abilities of its original form: Blaze and Flash Fire — the second being its Hidden Ability. In terms of design, the Pokémon has a calm and dark appearance, very different from the aggressive and imposing Johto variant.
In stats, Hisuian Typhlosion is slightly slower than Johto's form, but makes up for the lack of speed with more points in special attack. The Pokémon also has good special defense and good physical attack, but it lacks physical defense and maximum health.
The moves that Cyndaquil, Quilava, and Hisuian Typhlosion learn are as follows:
Level | Knock | Market | Category |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Quick attack | Normal | Physical |
when evolving | Hex | Ghost | Special |
6 | ember | Fogo | Special |
11 | Rollout | Pedra | Physical |
18 | Flame Wheel | Fogo | Physical |
25 | Swift | Normal | Special |
34 | Flamethrower | Fogo | Special |
40 | Infernal Parade | Ghost | Special |
43 | Shadow ball | Ghost | Special |
43 | Overheat | Fogo | Special |
Guardian | Rock smash | Fighter | Physical |
Guardian | bulldoze | Land | Physical |
Guardian | Aerial ace | Flying | Physical |
Guardian | Swift | Normal | Special |
Guardian | Ominous wind | Ghost | Special |
Guardian | Calm Mind | Psychic | Status |
Guardian | Rest | Psychic | Status |
Guardian | Fire punch | Fogo | Physical |
Guardian | Thunder punch | Elétrico | Physical |
Guardian | Drain Punch | Fighter | Physical |
Guardian | Rock slide | Pedra | Physical |
Guardian | Shadow claw | Ghost | Physical |
Guardian | Iron tail | Metal | Physical |
Guardian | Mystical Fire | Fogo | Special |
Guardian | Shadow ball | Ghost | Special |
Guardian | Giga impact | Normal | Physical |
Guardian | Wild charge | Elétrico | Physical |
Guardian | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special |
Guardian | Flamethrower | Fogo | Special |
Oshawott: evolutions, attributes and moves
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Oshawott evolves into Dewott at level 17 and into Samurott at level 36. In the Hishui variant, its last form is both Water and Dark-typed. With that, the little monster now has three more weaknesses – to Fighting, Insect and Fairy moves –, an immunity – to Psychic attacks – and two additional resistances – to Ghost and Shadow moves.
The effectiveness of Hisuian Samurott is:
Takes normal damage from: | It is weak against: | resists: | Is immune to: |
---|---|---|---|
Normal | Fighter (2x) | Ghost (½x) | Psychic |
Flying | insect (2x) | Metallic (½x) | |
Veneno | Grass (2x) | Metallic (½x) | |
Land | Electric (2x) | Fire (½x) | |
Pedra | Fada (2x) | Grass (½x) | |
Dragon | Water (½x) | ||
Ice (½x) | |||
dark (½x) |
Hisuian Samurott shares the same ability and hidden ability as the original Unova form: Torrent and Shell Armor, respectively. Its look is also similar to the old variant, with changes in the style of the facial hair and the colors of the shells, which are now black with red accents instead of yellow.
In his attributes, Hisuian Samurott stands out for his high physical attack. Physical defense, special attack and HP are also impressive, but speed and special defense leave a little to be desired. In battles against faster Pokemon, the little monster may have trouble surviving for a long time.
Oshawott, Dewott, and Hisuian Samurott's moves in Pokémon Legends: Arceus are:
Level | Knock | Market | Category |
---|---|---|---|
1 | tackle | Normal | Physical |
when evolving | Night slash | Dingy | Physical |
6 | Aqua jet | Water | Physical |
11 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status |
18 | Water pulse | Water | Special |
21 | Ceaseless Edge | Dingy | Physical |
25 | Slash | Normal | Physical |
34 | Aqua tail | Water | Physical |
40 | Dark pulse | Dingy | Special |
43 | Hydropump | Water | Special |
Guardian | False Swipe | Normal | Physical |
Guardian | Rock smash | Fighter | Physical |
Guardian | Aerial ace | Flying | Physical |
Guardian | Focus Energy | Normal | Status |
Guardian | Rest | Psychic | Status |
Guardian | Poison jab | Poisonous | Physical |
Guardian | Psycho cut | Psychic | Physical |
Guardian | X Scissor | Bug | Physical |
Guardian | Iron tail | Metal | Physical |
Guardian | Water pulse | Water | Special |
Guardian | Icy wind | Ice | Special |
Guardian | Giga impact | Normal | Physical |
Guardian | Aqua tail | Water | Physical |
Guardian | Megahorn | Bug | Physical |
Guardian | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special |
Guardian | Ice beam | Ice | Special |
Guardian | Water pulse | Water | Special |
Rowlet: evolutions, attributes and moves
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Rowlett evolves into Dartrix at level 17 and into Decidueye at level 36. In Hisui, the final evolution of the Pokémon is Grass and Fighting - typing that changes a lot from its original form. The little monster loses immunity to Normal and Fighting types, takes more damage from Flying, Poison, Psychic and Fairy, and gains resistance to Stone and Dark attacks.
The effectiveness of Hisuian Decidueye is:
Takes normal damage from: | Take more damage from: | Take less damage from: | Is immune to: |
---|---|---|---|
Normal | flying (4x) | Earth (½x) | |
Fighter | Poison (2x) | Stone (½x) | |
Bug | Fire (2x) | Water (½x) | |
Ghost | Psychic (2x) | Grass (½x) | |
Metal | Ice (2x) | Electric (½x) | |
Dragon | Fada (2x) | dark (½x) |
Hisuian Decidueye continues with the Overgrow ability and the Alola variant's Long Reach hidden ability. In design, the Pokémon changes drastically, losing the green Robin Hood hat and long feather cape to gain a kind of shorter tracksuit and a red hat that mimics traditional Asian straw hats.
In attributes, Hisuian Decidueye has plenty of physical and special attack, physical and special defense, as well as decent health points. However, the Pokémon is extremely slow and loses most speed clashes with other little monsters.
Rowlet, Dartrix and Hisuian Decidueye's moves are below:
Level | Knock | Market | Category |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Gust | Flying | Special |
when evolving | Rock smash | Fighter | Physical |
6 | Leafage | Grass | Physical |
11 | Root | Flying | Status |
18 | Aerial ace | Flying | Physical |
21 | Magical Leaf | Grass | Special |
25 | Air slash | Flying | Special |
30 | Aura sphere | Fighter | Special |
34 | Leaf blade | Grass | Physical |
34 | Triple Arrows | Fighter | Physical |
40 | Brave bird | Flying | Physical |
43 | Leaf storm | Grass | Special |
Guardian | False Swipe | Normal | Physical |
Guardian | Rock smash | Fighter | Physical |
Guardian | spikes | Land | Physical |
Guardian | Aerial ace | Flying | Physical |
Guardian | Swift | Normal | Special |
Guardian | Magical Leaf | Grass | Special |
Guardian | Focus Energy | Normal | Status |
Guardian | Bulk Up | Fighter | Status |
Guardian | Rest | Psychic | Status |
Guardian | Psycho cut | Psychic | Physical |
Guardian | Shadow claw | Ghost | Physical |
Guardian | Energy ball | Grass | Special |
Guardian | Giga impact | Normal | Physical |
Guardian | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special |
The best starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Considering the information above, we can conclude the following about the best starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus:
- Cyndaquil is the fastest and does a lot of damage, but is fragile. Among the starters, the Pokémon is the one that gains the least weaknesses in the final form, due to its Ghost type, and it still gains two immunities;
- Oshawott is the most balanced in attributes and still gains an immunity, in addition to three resistances, thanks to the Dark typing in the last evolution;
- Rowlett is tough and strong, but he's too slow. By losing its original Ghost-type, the Pokémon no longer has valuable immunities and resistances, and takes much more damage from previously strong types, such as Flying.
That said, Rowlett is in last position among the starters of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Next up, Oshawott and Cyndaquil are two very viable options as they gain additional immunities and resistances with their new types. if you want one More aggressive Pokemon, choose Cyndaquil. If you want one versatile and balanced partner, go from Oshawott.
Despite having to choose one of the three starter Pokémon at the beginning of the campaign, it will be necessary to capture all of them throughout the game to complete the Pokédex. Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet spawn as wild little monsters in the Hisui region, so you don't have to worry about getting them just by trading with other trainers.