Starters

## **Standard Blazing Emerald starters**

The starters in Blazing Emerald are **Clefairy, Eevee and Pikachu**. If you wish to know more about their stats, movepools and abilities, you can look them up in this handy sheet.

### **Which one should I choose?**

**Clefairy levels up the fastest** out of the three. Pikachu and Eevee are medium-fast, meaning they level slightly slower, however **Pikachu and Eevee can have more power offensively**. Each of them have gotten a **high boost to their BST** and a **very strong move at level 50**. All starters can be caught later on in the **postgame area of the Safari Zone**.

### **Clefairy**

Clefairy has a fun and unique moveset, containing moves like **Covet** and **Swindle**. Covet is a useful Fairy move that **steals the items** of your opponent, which means you can farm some items early game, like Heart Scales and Nuggets. Swindle is a Dark type move that works like Pay Day, with every use of it **giving you a bit of money at the end of the battle**.

Later in the game, you'll have to gather a ton of money to get a Galarian Zapdos. Using Swindle whenever possible during the story already gives you at least 30% of what you need. For late game farming, it is recommended to switch to Drapion or Honchkrow, because they have a higher attack stat and STAB on Swindle.

### **Eevee**

Eevee has the luxury of having **9 evolutions** to choose from. Some of them are more viable than others, but it's the best choice if you want versatility in your evolution choices later on. It has all the usual evolutions, **including Leafeon, Glaceon** **and Sylveon**. There is also a secret evolution that you won't encounter during the story. All of its evolutions are obtained by using an evolution stone.

### **Pikachu**

**Both Pikachu and Raichu are viable**, so it's not that Pikachu has the upper hand like the main games.

The **Light Ball** is still in the game and it is obtainable by **catching a Pikachu in the Safari Zone**. It has a **5% chance** of holding a Light Ball, but it is also a **rare encounter** there. By the time you get a Light Ball, your Pikachu or Raichu will be at **level 50 or above**, so choose wisely what you want.

The Special Attack modifier on the Light Ball is activated **after** all other effects, such as EVs, Ivs and nature. As a result, it boosts more than just the base special attack of Pikachu. This means that you get **double** the EVs and IVs by holding a Light Ball.

If you choose to go the Pikachu route, beware that it is a **glass cannon** and will have **difficulties surviving hits from late game battles**. With a base speed of 90, it will **outspeed most Pokemon**, but will most likely get KO'd if you get outsped or barely KO something yourself.

Raichu **doesn't benefit** by holding a Light Ball, so you have way **more freedom** in your choice of held items.

## **Kanto starters**

All Kanto starters can be found at certain locations all over Hoenn. **Only the second stages** are found in the wild, so the first stage forms are locked behind breeding or wonder trade.

* **Ivysaur** is found on Route 117.
* **Charmeleon** is found in the Fiery Path.
* **Wartortle** is found while surfing on Route 105, 106, 118 and 119.

* More information about the **Bulbasaur** line in this handy sheet.
* More information about the **Charmander** line in this handy sheet.
* More information about the **Squirtle** line in this handy sheet.

## **Johto starters**

All Johto starters can be obtained from a Mystery Box.

There is also a new cave that opens on **Route 103** after you defeat Blue, where the Johto starters can appear with a low encounter rate.

* More information about the **Chikorita** line in this handy sheet.
* More information about the **Cyndaquil** line in this handy sheet.
* More information about the **Totodile** line in this handy sheet.

## **Hoenn starters**

All Hoenn starters can be found on the **Hidden Grove**, where Mew resides. You need access to Rock Smash to enter this area, which means they're available after the 3rd gym.

* More information about the **Treecko** line in this handy sheet.
* More information about the **Torchic** line in this handy sheet.
* More information about the **Mudkip** line in this handy sheet.

## Expanded starters

At the start of your journey, you get the choice of having a larger set of starters. This expands the list to a whopping 28 starters! All types are available, so this is ideal for monotype runs. This custom start list has:

* Bulbasaur
* Charmander
* Squirtle
* Chikorita
* Cyndaquil
* Totodile
* Treecko
* Torchic
* Mudkip
* Hoennian Solosis
* Trapinch
* Spinarak
* Hoennian Tynamo
* Spoink
* Porygon
* Hoennian Pawniard
* Murkrow
* Duskull
* Vulpix
* Sunkern
* Spheal
* Corphish
* Dratini
* Larvitar
* Hoennian Dreepy
* Bagon
* Beldum
* Gible