The Most Popular Hoenn Starter, Ranked

Choose the starter you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on May 2, 2024 06:39
In the world of Pokémon, choosing a starter is more than just picking a companion; it's about starting a journey with a Pokémon that resonates with your style and strategy. As trainers embark on adventures across Hoenn, their choice at the beginning can shape their entire gameplay experience. This makes discussions and debates about the best Hoenn starter an engaging topic among fans. By casting your vote on who you think is the top Hoenn starter, not only do you contribute to a community consensus, but you also see how your preferences compare with those of other trainers. This interactive and dynamic ranking updates in real time, reflecting the opinions of Pokémon enthusiasts around the world. So, whether you're a seasoned trainer or new to the realm, your input is crucial.

What Is the Most Popular Hoenn Starter?

  1. 1
    41
    votes
    Mudkip is considered the most popular Hoenn starter by many fans due to its adorable appearance and powerful Water-type moves. It is also the most common starter used in competitive battles.
    Mudkip is a Water/Ground type Pokémon known for its adorable appearance and unique abilities. It resembles a small, blue amphibious creature with a large fin on its head. Mudkip is one of the three starter Pokémon introduced in the Hoenn region.
    • Type: Water/Ground
    • Height: 0.4m (1'04")
    • Weight: 7.6kg (16.8 lbs)
    • Ability: Torrent (Powers up Water-type moves when the Pokémon's HP is low)
    • Evolutions: Mudkip evolves into Marshtomp at level 16, and then into Swampert at level 36
  2. 2
    32
    votes
    Torchic is another popular choice due to its Fire-type moves and eventual evolution into Blaziken, a powerful Fighting/Fire-type Pokémon.
    Torchic is a Fire-type starter Pokémon introduced in the third generation of Pokémon games. It is known as the Chick Pokémon and is known for its fiery passion and energetic nature. Torchic evolves into Combusken and later into Blaziken, gaining additional fighting abilities along the way.
    • Type: Fire
    • Classification: Chick Pokémon
    • Height: 0.4 meters (1'04")
    • Weight: 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lbs)
    • Ability: Blaze (Powers up Fire-type moves when low on HP)
  3. 3
    25
    votes
    Treecko is a cool and collected Grass-type starter that evolves into Sceptile, a speedy and powerful Pokémon that can hold its own in battles.
    Treecko is a Grass-type Pokemon known as the Wood Gecko Pokemon. It is the first stage evolution of the Treecko evolutionary line, starting as a small green gecko-like creature.
    • Type: Grass
    • Species: Wood Gecko
    • Height: 0.5 m (1'08")
    • Weight: 5.0 kg (11.0 lbs)
    • Abilities: Overgrow
  4. 4
    16
    votes
    As mentioned above, Blaziken is a popular choice due to its dual Fighting/Fire-typing and powerful moveset.
    Blaziken is a Fire/Fighting-type Pokémon introduced in Generation III. It is known as the Blaze Pokémon and is the final evolution of Torchic. Blaziken's fiery punches and kicks are powerful enough to leave opponents burned and blackened. It has a fierce and noble appearance, with a muscular build and a prominent crest of feathers on its head.
    • Type: Fire/Fighting
    • Height: 1.9 meters
    • Weight: 52.0 kilograms
    • Ability: Blaze (Increases Fire-type moves when HP is low)
    • Base Experience: 239
  5. 5
    13
    votes
    Sceptile is a speedy Grass-type that can learn a variety of moves to take down its opponents.
    Sceptile is a Grass-type Pokemon known for its sleek and agile appearance. It resembles a bipedal reptilian creature with bright green body coloration. Sceptile possesses large leaves on its wrists that act as blades, which it uses for slashing attacks. Its overall design combines elements of a gecko and a tree.
    • Height: 5'07" (1.7 m)
    • Weight: 115.1 lbs (52.2 kg)
    • Ability: Overgrow
    • Type: Grass
    • Evolutionary Line: Treecko -> Grovyle -> Sceptile
  6. 6
    16
    votes
    Swampert is a powerful Water/Ground-type that can take a lot of hits and dish out even more damage with its massive Attack stat.
    Swampert is a dual-type Water/Ground Pokémon introduced in the third generation of the Pokémon franchise. It is the final evolution of Mudkip and is known as the Mud Fish Pokémon. Standing at around 4.1 feet tall and weighing about 180.6 pounds, Swampert has a robust and muscular build. Its body is primarily bluish-gray, featuring orange markings on its face, belly, and fin-like forelimbs.
    • Type: Water/Ground
    • Height: 4.1 feet
    • Weight: 180.6 pounds
    • Ability: Torrent (Increases Water-type moves in a pinch)
    • Base Stats: HP: 100, Attack: 110, Defense: 90, Special Attack: 85, Special Defense: 90, Speed: 60
  7. 7
    13
    votes
    Grovyle is a speedy and agile Grass-type that can learn a variety of moves to take down opponents.
    Grovyle is a Grass-type Pokémon that evolves from Treecko and is the second stage of its evolutionary line. It is known for its sleek and agile appearance, resembling a small dinosaur or lizard-like creature. Grovyle is characterized by its leafy, green body, sharp claws, and a long tail with a red and leaf-like blade at the end.
    • Type: Grass
    • Height: 2'11" (0.9 m)
    • Weight: 47.6 lbs (21.6 kg)
    • Abilities: Overgrow
    • Base Stats (Total): 405
  8. 8
    13
    votes
    Combusken is the middle evolution of Torchic and eventually evolves into Blaziken. It is a dual Fire/Fighting-type with a unique moveset.
    Combusken is a fiery Pokemon that resembles a bipedal chicken. It is the evolved form of Torchic, one of the three starter Pokemon in the Hoenn region. Combusken stands approximately 2 feet tall and has predominantly orange feathers with a red and yellow crest on its head. It has powerful legs with sharp claws that it uses in battle. Its fiery demeanor and strong fighting abilities make it a formidable opponent.
    • Type: Fire/Fighting
    • Height: 2 feet
    • Weight: 43 pounds
    • Ability: Blaze
    • Evolutionary Line: Torchic - Combusken - Blaziken
  9. 9
    12
    votes
    Marshtomp is the middle evolution of Mudkip and eventually evolves into Swampert. It is a Water/Ground-type with a balanced set of moves.
    Marshtomp is a Water/Ground type Pokémon introduced in the Hoenn region. It is the evolved form of Mudkip and is known for its amphibious nature and powerful attacks.
    • Type: Water/Ground
    • Evolutionary Line: Mudkip -> Marshtomp -> Swampert
    • Pokedex Number: No. 259
    • Height: 0.7 m (2'04")
    • Weight: 28.0 kg (61.7 lbs)
  10. 10
    7
    votes
    Although not as popular as Mudkip or Torchic, Treecko is still a solid choice due to its speed and potential for a powerful moveset.
    Treecko is a Grass-type Pokemon known as the Wood Gecko Pokemon. It is the first stage evolution of the Treecko evolutionary line, starting as a small green gecko-like creature.
    • Type: Grass
    • Species: Wood Gecko
    • Height: 0.5 m (1'08")
    • Weight: 5.0 kg (11.0 lbs)
    • Abilities: Overgrow

Missing your favorite starter?

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Ranking factors for popular starter

  1. Base Stats and Abilities
    Evaluate the base stats and abilities of the starter Pokémon to determine their potential strength in battle, including their Health Points (HP), Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
  2. Typing and Type Advantage
    Consider the type of the starter Pokémon (Grass, Fire, or Water) and how that type fares against other types in terms of offensive and defensive capabilities. Some types have more type advantages and resistances than others, influencing their overall battle performance.
  3. Evolution Line
    Examine the entire evolutionary line of the starters, as the final forms can be more influential in determining their overall popularity. This includes their typing, abilities, and base stats in their final forms.
  4. Movepool
    Analyze the moves each starter can learn, both through leveling up and TM/HM availability. A diverse and strategic movepool can make a starter more appealing and versatile in battle.
  5. Design and Aesthetics
    Take into account the physical appearance and overall design of the starter Pokémon and their evolutions. Players may be drawn to unique, visually appealing, or cute Pokémon, which can contribute to their popularity.
  6. Competitive Viability
    Consider the starter's potential in competitive play, such as in tournaments or online battles. Popular starters may have distinct strengths, strategies, or move combinations that make them viable choices in competitive scenarios.
  7. In-game Performance
    Evaluate how well the starter performs throughout the main game, including gym battles, the Elite Four, and storyline battles. Some starters may have particular advantages or disadvantages based on the specific challenges within the game.
  8. Nostalgia and Legacy
    Factor in the legacy and nostalgia associated with the starters, as these may contribute to their popularity among long-time fans of the Pokémon series.
  9. Cultural Influence
    Assess the cultural impact of the starter Pokémon, such as their presence in media, merchandise, and the overall Pokémon fandom. A starter Pokémon that has become iconic or heavily promoted may be more likely to be popular.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Hoenn starter. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or start is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 2073 views
  • 184 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Movers & Shakers

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each start once every 24 hours. The rank of each start is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular hoenn starter

When it comes to choosing a starter Pokémon in the Hoenn region, trainers are presented with three unique options: Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip. Each of these Pokémon has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, making it a difficult decision for trainers to make. Treecko, the Grass-type starter, is known for its incredible speed and agility. Torchic, the Fire-type starter, is a fierce fighter with a strong special attack. Finally, Mudkip, the Water-type starter, is a durable Pokémon with high defense and a powerful Water Gun attack. Despite the various strengths and weaknesses of each Hoenn starter, the question remains: which one is the most popular among trainers? Through StrawPoll's extensive database of polls and rankings, we can finally answer this question and determine the most beloved Hoenn starter Pokémon.

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