Pokémon Legends: Z-A Starters
The starters for Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Pokémon Legends: Z-A) are Chikorita (Grass), Tepig (Fire), and Totodile (Water). Totodile is the clear favorite, with over half of all players choosing it.
Totodile consistently tops polls on X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, Nintendo Life, and surveys by international media (IGN, Polygon, etc.). The main reasons for its popularity are its cute appearance and the strength of its final evolution, Feraligatr (a physical attacker with few weaknesses and a diverse movepool).
Chikorita is the runner-up. Its unexpected popularity is due to the anticipated enhancements to Mega Meganium (whose high Special Defense and recovery moves are well-suited for the real-time battles). It also benefits from a large fanbase of the Gold/Silver generation.
Tepig is the minority choice. While Emboar’s Fighting-type moves are useful, it is generally less popular than the other two.
| Starter Popularity Rank (Estimate) | Main Reasons |
| Totodile (1st Place, over 50%) | Cute, evolves quickly, few weaknesses, high versatility, powerful Mega Feraligatr. |
| Chikorita (2nd Place) | Mega Meganium’s excellent durability/recovery, large Gold/Silver fanbase. |
| Tepig (3rd Place) | Fighting-type moves are useful, but generally lagging behind the other two. |
Totodile is the top recommendation! It provides many advantages in the early-game Wild Zones, and its physical firepower and bulk are highly effective in the real-time action battles (ZA Royale). Even after Mega Evolution, it remains an S-tier choice.
If you need a Grass or Fire type, choose Chikorita (recovery focus) or Tepig (Fighting moves). Since you can immediately obtain the Kanto starters (Bulbasaur/Charmander/Squirtle) shortly after, you can easily balance your team. Ultimately, feel free to choose based on your preference for appearance or nostalgia! The other starters can be obtained later in the game.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Second Partner
The second set of partners in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the Kanto starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle), which become available during the side mission “A Call from Mable” (Side Mission 22) at the top floor of the Pokémon Research Lab. While specific poll data is scarce, player selection trends suggest Squirtle is the most popular, followed by Bulbasaur, with Charmander being the least chosen.
Reasoning: Squirtle offers high early-game bulk and the great versatility of Mega Blastoise. It also pairs excellently with the most common starter, Totodile (despite the Water-type overlap, it provides a good balance between Physical/Special attackers). Bulbasaur is popular because Mega Venusaur’s recovery and Special firepower are strong in the ZA Royale. Charmander has strong potential with Mega Charizard X/Y, but the Fire-type often overlaps with other popular choices.
Recommendations on X, Reddit, and various guides lean towards choosing a “partner that covers the starter’s weaknesses.” Since Totodile is the prevalent choice, Squirtle is frequently recommended.
| Second Partner Candidate Popularity Rank (Estimate) | Main Reasons |
| Squirtle (1st Place) | High durability, excellent Mega Evolution, pairs well with Totodile. |
| Bulbasaur (2nd Place) | Strong recovery/Special damage, perfect for Grass-type coverage. |
| Charmander (3rd Place) | High damage output, but suffers from type overlap. |
Squirtle is the top recommendation! If you chose Totodile as your first partner, Squirtle secures a reliable tank while you catch Fire/Grass types early on. Its Mega Evolution also performs at an S-tier level.
If your first partner was Tepig, choose Bulbasaur. If it was Chikorita, choose Charmander to ensure type balance. You can obtain the other two Kanto starters later in Wild Zone 20 (after the post-game content). Ultimately, choose the one you like! Type matchups are important in real-time battles, but you can adjust your team composition quickly in the early game.
