List of characters' first Pokémon

This page details the known first partners of various characters throughout the Pokémon franchise.
* For the list of Pokémon that are first available or choosable by the in various games in the franchise, see List of the player's first Pokémon.
* For a list of characters who own first partner Pokémon, see List of characters with first partner Pokémon.
==In the games==
The lists below show which Pokémon a character received as their first Pokémon, where this is known. The list does not include characters like rivals whose first Pokémon is dependent on the player's choice.
===Core series===
* The rival of , , starts with an originally intended for the player. The Eevee will evolve into a if the player loses against the rival at the lab, if the player wins against the rival at both the lab and , and if the player wins against the rival at the lab, and loses or skips the other battle.
* Wally, with the help of the player and their father, will catch a . In the original , it evolves into , but in the remakes, , it evolves into a capable of Mega Evolving.
* The player's friend in , or , will have a .
* In , Alder mentions that a was his first partner. This predates the usage of the term "first partner Pokémon". He mentions the same Pokémon in Pokémon Masters EX as his first partner.
* In 's Episode RR, Lillie owns a . This Clefairy is Lillie's only known Pokémon until she joins the player at the Battle Tree, and Lillie was not considered a Trainer prior to the events of the episode.
* In , Nanu gives a beginning Trainer a choice out of three with different personalities.
* will begin with either an or a depending on the player's game of choice. It will evolve into either or . These Pokémon differ from the Pikachu and Eevee that the player obtains.
* Hop has a that he has owned since before the start of the game, and uses it in his first battle against the player. Over the course of the story, it evolves into .
* Marnie's first Pokémon is her , which she received as a gift when she was five from her brother, Piers.
* Bede's first Pokémon, as revealed in conversations in The Isle of Armor, is his , which he received as a when he met Chairman Rose.
===Other games===
====Pokémon Masters EX====
* claims that her first partner was her . Snorlax has appeared in both and the Alola-based titles prior to Masters EX.
* says that the first Pokémon that he befriended in Hisui was his . Rei is based on the from .
==In animation==
===Pokémon the Series===
====Main characters====
* started with a , which he received from . In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, he was revealed to be able to Gigantamax into a Gigantamax Pikachu.
* started with either a , , or . It is unknown how she got them, or which one she acquired first.
* started with an , which he received from and for some time stayed with his brother, Forrest, with whom it evolved into a . In Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, it was revealed to be able to Mega Evolve into a .
* Jessie started with an , which she received for (a birthday present in the dub). It has since evolved into a . In Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, she formally released it back into the wild.
* James started with his pet , which he nicknamed "Growlie". He however left Growlie behind when he ran away from home.
* started with a , which she received from Professor Birch. It has since evolved into a .
* Max intends to begin his journey with the he met in Do I Hear a Ralts?.
* started with a , which she received from Professor Rowan.
* started with a , which she saved from falling off a cliff when she was a little girl. He has since evolved into a .
* started with a , which he has had since childhood.
* started with a , which she received from Professor Sycamore. She has since evolved into a .
* started with a , which he received from his grandfather.
* started with an that hatched from an , which she nicknamed "Snowy".
* started with a .
* started with a , which she received in the forest behind the Pokémon School from her late mother. She has since evolved into a .
* Goh started with a while visiting the Galar region. It has since evolved into a . Goh initially wanted his first Pokémon to be a like the one he met when he was six, but he changed his mind after befriending the wild Scorbunny in Galar, choosing it as his first partner instead.
====Supporting characters====
* started with a , which he received from Professor Oak, it has since evolved into a .
* started with a , which she received from Professor Elm, it has since evolved into a .
* Sakura started with an , it has since evolved into an .
* (The Legend of Thunder!) started with a , which he received from Professor Elm, it has since evolved into a .
* started with a , which she received from Professor Elm, which she nicknamed "Wani-Wani". It has since evolved into a .
* Vincent started with a , which he received from Professor Elm, it has since evolved into a .
* started with a , which he received from Professor Birch, it has since evolved into a .
* Nicholai started with a , it has since evolved into a .
* (Judgment Day!) started with a , it has since evolved into a .
* Yuzo said that he started his Pokémon journey with a .
* Paul started with a , it has since evolved into a .
* Zoey started with a , which she raised after it was abandoned.
* started with a , it has since evolved into a .
* started with a that she hatched from an Egg as a child, she has since evolved into a . In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, she was revealed to be able to Mega Evolve into a .
* 's first Pokémon is currently unknown, but it was hinted in Stopped in the Name of Love! that his first Pokémon might be his , which he received as a .
* started with a .
* Khoury started with a , it has since evolved into a .
* Flint started with a , it has since evolved into an .
* Volkner started with a , he has since evolved into a .
* Trip started with a , which he received from Professor Juniper, he has since evolved into a .
* started with a , he has since evolved into a .
* Burgundy started with an , it has since evolved into a .
* Virgil started with an , he has since evolved into a .
* started with a , which has since evolved into a .
* Alain started with a , which he received from Professor Sycamore, it has since evolved into a who can Mega Evolve into X.
* Mairin started with a , which she received from Professor Sycamore, which she nicknamed "Chespie".
* started with a , which he received from Professor Sycamore he has since evolved into a .
* started with a , which she received from Professor Sycamore, it has since evolved into a .
* started with a , which he received from Professor Sycamore, it has since evolved into a who can Mega Evolve into Y.
* Sawyer started with a , which he received from Professor Birch, it has since evolved into a who can Mega Evolve into .
* started with a that he received from his parents. It has since evolved into an .
* started with an , it has since evolved into an .
* Chloe started with an that can't evolve, which she caught outside of Cerise Laboratory.
* started with a , it has since evolved into a .
* Horace started with a , it has since evolved into a .
====Characters of the day====
* Zackie (A Bout With Sprout) started with a , which he accidentally caught in Violet City when trying to catch Ash's Pikachu, which he thought was a wild Pokémon.
* (Abandon Ship!) started with a , it has since evolved into a .
* (Having a Wailord of a Time) started with a , which she received from Nurse Joy at the Slateport City Pokémon Center.
** Stephanie's father started with a , which he received at the same time.
* (Journey to the Starting Line!) started with a , which he received from Professor Oak.
* Zander's (Caterpie's Big Dilemma) was implied to be his first Pokémon in the episode, mentioning that his Caterpie was his first, although it was "not caught".
* Tyler (The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!) started with a , which he nicknamed "Pippy", who he received from an unknown location in eastern Sinnoh.
* Emmy (The Dragon Master's Path!) started with her , which she received from her father when she started her journey.
* Nanette (New Places...Familiar Faces!) started with a , which she received from Professor Juniper.
===I Choose You! trilogy===
A series of stories, including the movie trilogy consisting of I Choose You!, The Power of Us, and Secrets of the Jungle, along with the special episode The Distant Blue Sky, features different versions of the characters and world from Pokémon the Series.
* started with a Pikachu he received from . 
* Gary started with a , which he received from Professor Oak.
* started with a , which she received from Professor Oak.
* started with a , which he received from Professor Oak.
* Verity started with a .
* Risa caught a as her first Pokémon with the help of Ash Ketchum and Pikachu.
===Pokémon Horizons: The Series===
* Liko started with a , which she received from her homeroom teacher at Indigo Academy. She has since evolved into a . She is shown to stallize into a type.
* Roy started with a , who Roy met after Fuecoco slid from the Brave Olivine and landed on the island's shore where Roy met and befriended him. He has since evolved into . He is shown to Terastallize into a type.
* Ann started with an , which she received from her homeroom teacher at Indigo Academy. It has since evolved into a .
* Dot started with a she had befriended on the Brave Olivine, officially catching him in Levincia. He has since evolved into a . He is shown to Terastallize into a type.
* As revealed in HZ083, Amethio's first partner was his , which he had owned since it was a in his childhood.
* Grusha was shown to have started with a in a flashback, after ending his career as a snowboarder.
===Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer===
* is shown with an throughout the trailer, implying that he picked a as his first Pokémon from Bianca.
* Hugh is shown with an throughout the trailer, implying that he picked a as his first Pokémon from Bianca.
* In the extended version of the trailer, is shown with a to battle Cheren's .
===Pokémon Origins===
* started with a , which he received from Professor Oak. It has since evolved into a and is able to Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X through a Key Stone and Charizardite X Red received as a thank-you gift from Mr. Fuji.
* started with a , which he received from Professor Oak. It has since evolved into a .
===Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer===
* is shown with a . It later evolved into a and Mega Evolve into Mega Sceptile.
* is shown with both a and . Both later evolved into a and a respectively and Mega Evolve into Mega Blaziken and Mega Swampert.
===Pokémon Generations===
* In "The Adventure", is shown to have a .
* In "The Challenger", is shown to have a .
* In "The Vision", is shown to have a .
* In "The Redemption", is shown to have a and a .
===Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer===
* Scottie is shown with a .
* is shown with a .
* Bettie is shown with a .
* is shown with a .
* Flint is shown with a .
* is shown with a .
===Pokémon: Twilight Wings===
* Buddy focuses on Hop and his first Pokémon, , before the events of .
===POKÉTOON===
* In Blossom's Dream, sought to catch her first Pokémon. Eventually, this Pokémon ended up being the she bonded with through the episode.
===Pokémon Evolutions===
* In "The Champion", is shown to have a , Hop has a , and Leon has a .
* In "The Plan", is shown to have a .
* In "The Rival", is shown to have a , and has a who later evolved into a .
* In "The Wish", is shown to have a , which can Mega Evolve into Mega Swampert.
* In "The Discovery", is shown to have a , has a , has a which can Mega Evolve into Mega Blastoise, has a , and has a .
===Pokémon: Paldean Winds===
* Breathe Out focuses on Ohara and her first Pokémon, 
* Breathe In focuses on Aliquis and his first Pokémon, 
* Take a Breath focuses on Hohma and his first Pokémon, , who later evolved into .
==In the manga==
===Pokémon Adventures===
Most characters in Pokémon Adventures do not start out with one of the first partner Pokémon. Instead, they usually have a Pokémon they were given by their parents when they were infants. Occasionally, it is not directly stated which Pokémon was their first Pokémon in the manga, but in profiles of their teams, their first Pokémon is marked with a star and is among the highest level in the party, even if they acquired more than one Pokémon at first.
====Main characters====
* started with a he had since his childhood, which he nicknamed "Poli". He has since evolved into a .
* started with a , he has since evolved into a .
* started with a that she received from the Masked Man, which she nicknamed "Jiggly". She has since evolved into a .
* started with a that taught her to catch, which she nicknamed "Ratty". He has since evolved into a .
* started with a that he received from his mother, which he nicknamed "Aibo". He has since evolved into a an .
* started with a that he received from his as a child. He has since evolved into a an .
* started with a , although she acquired many wild Pokémon that lived as a family while she was in the wild.
* started with a , , and that he received from his father, which he nicknamed "Nana", "Kiki", and "Rara", respectively. They have since evolved into a , , and , respectively.
* started with a Aron that she received from her father, which she nicknamed "Rono". He has since evolved into an 
* started with a . Originally when he arrived in the , he had no Pokémon on hand. Then he challenged the using only rental Pokémon, nearly at the end of the challenge, he noticed something suspicious about a Sceptile so he decided to steal him from the facility and kept him afterward. It is later revealed that this Sceptile was supposed to be his in the first place. In the , he was revealed to be able to Mega Evolve into a Mega .
* started with a , which he nicknamed "".
* started with a , which he nicknamed "Chatler".
* started with a , he has since evolved into a .
* started with a that he captured with the help of a wild he had befriended, which he nicknamed "Brav", and "Musha", respectively. They have since evolved into a , and , respectively.
* started with a she found in the pouring rain, which she nicknamed "Gigi". Gigi was with White until she decided to leave White to follow .
* started with a , which he received from International Police Headquarters so he would have a partner Pokémon.
* started with a , that she received from Team Plasma's Anthea and Concordia, who allowed Whitley to pick the Pokémon she felt closest to, which she nicknamed "Foongy".
* started with a , which he nicknamed "Kanga and Li'l Kanga".
* started with a , which she nicknamed "Fletchy". She has since evolved into a .
* started with an , previously owned by his great-grandfather, which was nicknamed "Cent".
* 's first Pokémon is unknown, as she caught a , , and around the same time. They have since evolved into , and , respectively, while Mareanie never evolved.
* Henry Sword started with a , which he nicknamed "Lancelot". He has since evolved into a .
* Casey Shield's first Pokémon is unknown, as she was shown having an , , , , and prior to her introduction, which she he nicknamed "Kilo", "Tera", "Giga", "Mega" and "Peta", respectively. Tera can Gigantamax into Gigantamax Toxtricity.
* 's first Pokémon is unknown, as she was shown with a , , and , without catching them, so it is unknown if she caught them before her first appearance or caught them along her journey.
* 's first Pokémon is unknown, as he was shown with a , , and , without catching them, so it is unknown if he caught them before his first appearance or caught them along his journey.
===Pokémon Pocket Monsters===
* started with a . Red was offered a choice of one of the Kanto first partner Pokémon, but he decided to keep a that he met on his way to 's lab as his first Pokémon instead.
* started with a , which he received from .
* started with a .
* started with a .
* started with a , which she received from Professor Birch.
===The Electric Tale of Pikachu===
* started with a Pikachu.
* Gary is shown with a .
===Pokémon Zensho===
* started with a , which he received from Professor Oak, it has since evolved into a .
* started with a , which he received from Professor Oak, it has since evolved into a .
* Professor Oak kept after and got their first partner Pokémon as he would have been too lonely without it. It has since evolved into a .
===Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys===
* started with a , which he at first borrowed from Professor Elm so that he may run an errand for him, but Elm allowed Gold to keep the Totodile. It has since evolved into a .
* started with a , after he stole it from Professor Elm's lab. It has since evolved into a . Black released the Bayleef after it failed to defeat a . It has since been caught by .
===Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire (CoroCoro Comic)===
* started with a , after he picked a Poké Ball in order to save Professor Birch from a wild , with Birch letting Ruby keep the Mudkip as a gift for rescuing him.
* started with a .
===Pokémon Battle Frontier===
* started with a , it has has since evolved into a .
===Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (manga)===
* Kenta started with a , after picking a Poké Ball from Professor Rowan's suitcase in order to defend himself from a flock of .
* Barry started with a , after picking a Poké Ball from Professor Rowan's suitcase in order to defend himself from a flock of .
===Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!===
* Hareta started with a , after choosing it in order to save Mitsumi from a rampaging , it has since evolved into a .
* Mitsumi started with a , which she received from Professor Rowan, it has since evolved into a .
* started with a , it has since evolved into a .
===Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure===
* Jō started with a , which he received from Professor Elm, it has since evolved into a .
* Tsubaki started with a , which he got from Professor Elm's lab, it has since evolved into a .
===Be the Best! Pokémon B+W===
* Monta started with a , it has since evolved into a .
* Cheren started with a , it has since evolved into a .
* Bianca started with a , it has since evolved into a .
===Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends===
* started with a , which he received from Professor Juniper, it has since evolved into a .
* Bianca started with a , which she received from Professor Juniper, it has since evolved into a .
* Cheren started with a , which he received from Professor Juniper, it has since evolved into a .
===Pocket Monsters BW===
====Pocket Monsters BW: The Heroes of Fire and Thunder====
* started with a , it has since evolved into a .
====Pocket Monsters B2 W2 ~ A New Legend ~====
* Arata started with a , which he rescued from a pair of Team Plasma grunts who attempted to steal the three first partner Pokémon offered to him by Bianca. It has since evolved into a .
===Pocket Monsters BW: Good Partners===
===Pokémon Omega Ruby Crimson Passion and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Indigo Wisdom===
* started with a , it has since evolved into a ,
* started with a , it has since evolved into a .
===Pokémon Horizon===
* started with a , which has a unique ability to evolve into and then devolve into Rockruff again, thanks to the strange red stone on its neck. It also has the ability to change between its while being evolved.
* Mana started with a , it has since evolved into a .
==Related articles==
* First partner Pokémon
*
Category:First Pokémon