Getting Started: Cabo Poco, Choosing Your Starter and Koraidon or Miraidon

The first day of school

Your adventure begins in your bedroom in Cabo Poco, a small coastal village in the far south of Paldea with just two houses: yours and Nemona’s villa. It’s the day you enroll at the Paldea academy: Naranja Academy in Scarlet, Uva Academy in Violet. The principal himself, Mr. Clavell, comes to bring you your enrollment form… and three Pokémon to choose from.

Which starter Pokémon should you choose?

All three Paldea starters are viable until the end of the game. They evolve at level 16 and then at level 36, and each gains a second type at its final evolution. Here are their base stats at the final stage, followed by their evolutionary lines.

Sprigatito, the Grass cat

Meowscarada (Grass/Dark) is the fastest of the three. Its signature move, Flower Trick, always lands a critical hit and never misses. The flip side: its defense is fragile and its dual typing gives it a 4× weakness to the Bug type. It shines against Kofu (Water), Ryme (Ghost) and Tulip (Psychic).

Fuecoco, the Fire crocodile

Skeledirge (Fire/Ghost) is the sturdiest: lots of HP, good Defense and two immunities, to the Normal and Fighting types. Its Torch Song raises its Sp. Atk each time it’s used. It dominates Katy (Bug), Brassius (Grass), the Lurking Steel Titan Orthworm (Steel) and Grusha (Ice).

Quaxly, the Water duck

Quaquaval (Water/Fighting) is a physical attacker. Its Aqua Step deals damage and raises its Speed with every hit: the longer the battle lasts, the more dangerous it gets. It is formidable against the first Titan Pokémon (Klawf, Rock type), Larry (Normal) and Grusha (Ice).

First battle against Nemona

Nemona is your neighbor, the student council president and a Champion-rank Trainer. An important detail: she always picks the starter that has the advantage over yours. This first duel at level 5 doesn’t really count — it serves as a tutorial — but you’ll run into her often, and her starter will evolve at the same time as yours.

Your rival · 1st battle

Nemona

• Levels 5
• Location Cabo Poco Beach

You chose FuecocoYou chose QuaxlyYou chose Sprigatito

No. 5

Quaxly

Water

• Pound
• Water Gun
• Growl

Ability Torrent

✅ Best weaponsGrass1/1Electric1/1

Automatic calculation based on the team above: number of Pokémon hit super effectively (the Pokémon that Terastallizes is counted with its Tera type, immunity Abilities included).

Poco Path and the Legendary encounter

Nemona asks you to meet her at the red lighthouse, at the top of Poco Path, from where you can see Mesagoza and the Academy. What follows is a scripted sequence:

Your ride Pokémon

Weakened, Koraidon / Miraidon can’t fight: it becomes your ride Pokémon. Press + to mount or dismount. At first, it can only run and jump a little. Each Titan Pokémon defeated in the “Path of Legends” quest gives back one of its abilities:

Titan defeated	Ride ability	What it’s for
Klawf (Stony Cliff)	Dash	Run faster, and knock Pokémon out of trees by ramming into them
Bombirdier (Open Sky)	Swim	Travel across water: lakes, rivers, the sea
Orthworm (Lurking Steel)	Jump	Jump higher by holding the jump button
Great Tusk / Iron Treads (Quaking Earth)	Glide	Glide after jumping from a height
Dondozo and Tatsugiri (False Dragon)	Climb	Climb rock walls

It will regain its battle form at the very end of the story, and the The Indigo Disk expansion even lets it fly.

South Province (Area One): your first catches

After the lighthouse, Nemona waits for you in South Province (Area One), near the village of Los Platos. She shows you how to catch a Pokémon, then offers you a second battle. This time, her team includes a Pawmi that can Terastallize: its body is covered in crystal and a crown appears on its head. You’ll soon discover this phenomenon unique to Paldea.

Your rival · 2nd battle

Nemona

• Levels 8 to 9
• Location South Province (Area One)

You chose FuecocoYou chose QuaxlyYou chose Sprigatito

No. 8

Quaxly

Water

• Pound
• Water Gun
• Growl
• Work Up

Ability Torrent

No. 9💎 Tera Electric

Pawmi

Electric

• Thunder Shock

Ability Static

✅ Best weaponsGrass1/2Ground1/2Electric1/2

⛔ To avoidSteel

Automatic calculation based on the team above: number of Pokémon hit super effectively (the Pokémon that Terastallizes is counted with its Tera type, immunity Abilities included).

In Scarlet and Violet, wild Pokémon are visible on the map: no surprise encounters in tall grass. Run up to a Pokémon to start the battle, or send out your first team member to fight it on its own with “Let’s Go!” (R button): ideal for gaining experience and materials without chaining battles. The Exp. Share is always active: your whole team gains experience from every battle.

Here are four recruits who will be a great help from the first hours:

On to Mesagoza

Follow the path north to Mesagoza, the largest city in Paldea. At the foot of the Academy’s huge staircase, students from Team Star are bothering a young girl: it’s Penny, a classmate. Your first battle against a Team Star Grunt awaits… and, right afterward, Nemona hands you the Tera Orb, the item that lets you Terastallize your own Pokémon.

What comes next: the Academy and the Treasure Hunt.

🎓 Academy pop quiz

Which starter does Nemona choose?

The one with the type advantage over yours. If you take Sprigatito, she picks Fuecoco.

What do you need to do so that your ride Pokémon can swim?

Defeat Bombirdier, the Open Sky Titan, in West Province (Area One).

How do you evolve Pawmo into Pawmot?

Walk 1,000 steps with Pawmo in “Let’s Go!” mode, then have it gain a level.