Starter Pokémon: Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip

In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, as in the original games, you choose your starter Pokémon from three third-generation Pokémon: Treecko (Grass), Torchic (Fire) and Mudkip (Water). The scene is the same as back then: on Route 101, Professor Birch is cornered by a wild Poochyena, and you grab a Poké Ball from his bag to defend him. The Pokémon you choose stays with you, and your rival (Brendan or May, depending on your character) takes the one whose type has the advantage over yours.

This page compares the three candidates using the remake’s information: what they can do at level 5, their evolutions, their Mega Evolution, and above all how they fare against the eight Gym Leaders. It answers the question many players ask: Treecko, Torchic or Mudkip?

The Three Pokémon at a Glance

All three Pokémon are offered at level 5. Each one starts out knowing three moves, including its first move of its own type, which makes the early battles easier than in Ruby and Sapphire. All of them evolve at level 16, then at level 36.

Your Starter’s Mega Stone

The starter Pokémon you choose determines how you get its Mega Stone. On Route 120, Steven Stone gives you Sceptilite if you picked Treecko, Blazikenite if you picked Torchic, or Swampertite if you picked Mudkip. If you want to use the Mega Evolution of a different starter, you can buy it for 1,500 Poké Dollars from the stone seller on Route 114, but only after defeating or catching Groudon (Omega Ruby) or Kyogre (Alpha Sapphire). All the Mega Stones are listed on our dedicated page.

Treecko, Torchic or Mudkip Against the Eight Gyms

The table below sums up the type advantage against each Gym Leader, taking into account the Pokémon’s evolution at that point in the adventure: first stage for the first Gym, second stage for Gyms 2 to 6, final stage for the last two. It is based on the sixth-generation type chart and on the Gym Leaders’ teams in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

In short, Mudkip is the most consistent choice: it is strong against the Rock-, Electric- and Fire-type Gyms and is never really in trouble. Treecko dominates the first and last Gyms but struggles against Wattson, Flannery and Winona, which means relying on other Pokémon. Torchic is the pick for players who already know the game: it starts badly but becomes formidable from Combusken onward, as its Fighting type is useful against Norman and many Steel Pokémon.

Which Starter Pokémon for Which Player?

For a first journey into Pokémon: Mudkip

Its dual Water and Ground typing gives it few weaknesses: it mainly fears the Grass type. In Mossdeep, for example, Tate and Liza’s Solrock knows Solar Beam. It resists Rock, Electric and Fire attacks well, and its HP and Attack stats make it a solid physical attacker through to the final stage.

For a fast, offensive playthrough: Treecko

Treecko is a fast Pokémon, and its Speed of 120 at the final stage is higher than Swampert’s and Blaziken’s. Mega Sceptile, a Grass and Dragon type with the Lightning Rod ability, remains one of the most original Mega Evolutions in the remake. Just plan to make up for its weaknesses against the Electric-, Fire- and Flying-type Gyms.

For a challenge: Torchic

Torchic has the hardest progression: the first Gym is a wall, and the Fire type is effective neither against the Water Pokémon that fill the region nor against Rock. It makes up for it from level 16, when it gains the Fighting type. Blaziken is a very well-rounded attacker, and Mega Blaziken, already familiar to X and Y players, keeps the Speed Boost ability.

The Other Starter Pokémon, Offered After the League

As in Pokémon Emerald, Professor Birch then gives you other starter Pokémon, still at level 5, after a short scene in front of your house. It is an easy way to add Pokémon to your Pokédex that cannot be found in Hoenn.

Starter Pokémon offered after the League

• #0152ChikoritaGrass
• #0155CyndaquilFire
• #0158TotodileWater
• #0387TurtwigGrass
• #0390ChimcharFire
• #0393PiplupWater
• #0495SnivyGrass
• #0498TepigFire
• #0501OshawottWater

Each time, the professor is in a tight spot on Route 101: a Shroomish, a Machoke from the delivery service, then his wife mistaken for a wild Pokémon. He offers you a Pokémon from his bag, which you then keep.

Going Further

Our November 2014 archives present the choice of starter Pokémon in Starter Pokémon: Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip. For the rest of the adventure, follow the walkthrough index, and for the opening scene, the first chapter of the walkthrough. The three starter Pokémon are also the flagship Pokémon of Hoenn in the Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald mini-site.