The Kanto Starters: Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle

Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle? It's THE first big decision for every Trainer starting their adventure in the Kanto region. These three starter Pokémon, handed out by Professor Oak, have shaped entire generations of players since Pokémon Red and Blue.

Contents

• Three Pokémon, One Choice in Pallet Town
• Bulbasaur, the Grass/Poison Seed
• Charmander, the Flame That Becomes a Dragon
• Squirtle, the Turtle Built on Control
• The Type Triangle (and the Rival's Trick)
• What About the Animated Series?
• The 3 Kanto Starters at a Glance
• Frequently Asked Questions

Three Pokémon, One Choice in Pallet Town

It all starts in the small village of Pallet Town. The young Trainer pushes open the door to the lab of Professor Oak, who sets out three Poké Balls on his table. Waiting inside are the three first-generation starters: Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle.

This trio opened the Pokémon games Red and Blue, released in the 1990s — in Pokémon Yellow, the player automatically receives a Pikachu and never gets that choice. Each one represents a different elemental type — Grass, Fire, and Water — and a very distinct way to play. In Red and Blue, the choice is final: there is no way to pick up the other two mid-game without trading.

🧸 In Red and Blue, only one of the three Poké Balls sitting on Professor Oak's table leaves with you, and that choice is final; on your own table, with Pokémon toys, nothing stops you from replaying the scene as many times as you like.

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Bulbasaur, the Grass/Poison Seed

Bulbasaur opens the Pokédex at number #001. Often described as the easiest pick for beginners, it carries a plant bulb on its back that feeds on light. Its quirk: it isn't only a Grass type, but a dual Grass/Poison type.

Its evolution line is complete and consistent: Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur (#002) at level 16, then into Venusaur (#003) at level 32, an imposing creature crowned with a huge flower. All three forms keep the same type combination, which makes it a steady, predictable companion throughout the adventure. Fans of this line will find its forms in our Bulbasaur collection.

🎒 Bulbasaur carries a bulb on its back that feeds on light; on yours, it's your school supplies that do the traveling, in one of our Pokémon backpacks and schoolbags.

Charmander, the Flame That Becomes a Dragon

With the little flame at the tip of its tail, Charmander (#004) is arguably the most iconic starter of all. A pure Fire type, it wins over Trainers who love offense and flair. One warning, though: against Kanto's first Gym Leader, its journey gets off to a rough start.

Its reward comes later. Charmander evolves into Charmeleon (#005) at level 16, then turns into Charizard (#006) at level 36, which then gains the Fire/Flying type and the look of a winged dragon. That spectacular rise in power is exactly what made it a true star of the series.

Squirtle, the Turtle Built on Control

Squirtle (#007) brings up the rear of the trio, but not in players' hearts. Its type is Water, and this little turtle has a reputation as the most balanced and defensive choice: its shell soaks up hits, and its type dominates the very first Gym, Brock's — even though it loses that edge against Misty and then Lt. Surge.

📱 Squirtle, the defensive starter of the trio, counts on its shell to take the hits; your iPhone counts on its case, which you can pick from our Pokémon iPhone cases.

Its line follows the same logic as the other two: Squirtle becomes Wartortle (#008) at level 16, then Blastoise (#009) at level 36, a colossus fitted with water cannons. Fans of the Water line can explore our Squirtle collection to find their favorite forms.

The Type Triangle (and the Rival's Trick)

Your starter choice is no small thing, because the three types form a perfect triangle: Grass beats Water, Water beats Fire, and Fire beats Grass. So no starter is objectively better — it all depends on the opponents you run into.

That's where the rival, the Trainer you meet right there in the lab, comes in. A clever touch from the developers: he always picks the starter that's strong against yours. Pick Charmander, and he'll take Squirtle; pick Squirtle, and he'll go for Bulbasaur. A smart way to spice up every duel.

What About the Animated Series?

In the animated series, the rule is a little different. The hero, Ash Ketchum, arrives late at Professor Oak's lab and ends up with an unexpected Pokémon: Pikachu, an exception to the usual trio.

That doesn't mean he gives up on the Kanto starters. Over the course of his adventures, Ash Ketchum catches Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, bringing the full trio together. His Charmander even evolves all the way into the mighty Charizard, one of the most memorable Pokémon in the series.

The 3 Kanto Starters at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions

• Which is the best Kanto starter?
  None of them is objectively better: the three types form a balanced triangle where each one beats one of the other two. Bulbasaur is often recommended for beginners because its type covers the early Gyms well, Squirtle is the most versatile and defensive, while Charmander is more demanding at first but very rewarding once it evolves into Charizard. The best choice mostly comes down to your play style.
• Is Bulbasaur really a Poison type?
  Yes. Contrary to a common misconception, Bulbasaur isn't only a Grass type: it's a dual Grass/Poison type, and both of its evolutions, Ivysaur and Venusaur, keep that combination.
• At what level do the Kanto starters evolve?
  All three lines follow the same rhythm: the first evolution comes at level 16, then the final form appears a little later, around level 32 for Bulbasaur and level 36 for Charmander and Squirtle.
• Which starter does the rival choose?
  The rival always picks the Pokémon that is strong against yours. If you take Charmander, he'll take Squirtle; if you take Squirtle, he'll take Bulbasaur; and if you take Bulbasaur, he'll choose Charmander.
• Can you get all three starters in the game?
  In Red and Blue, no: Professor Oak hands out only one and the choice is final, so you have to go through trades with other players or a second playthrough. In Pokémon Yellow, on the other hand, where your starter is Pikachu, all three are given to you over the course of the adventure: Bulbasaur by a Trainer in Cerulean City, Charmander by a Trainer on Route 24, and Squirtle by an Officer Jenny in Vermilion City.
• Why does Ash have Pikachu instead of a starter in the anime?
  In the animated series, Ash arrives late at the lab: the three starters have already been handed out, and Professor Oak entrusts him with Pikachu instead. He does catch Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle later in his adventures, though.

In short

Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle aren't simply starter Pokémon: they embody the first big choice of an entire generation of Trainers. Between the sturdiness of Grass, the fiery drive of Fire, and the balance of Water, every kind of player finds their ideal starter — and a companion for the whole adventure.