If you’re just starting out in Pokemon Sword and Shield, you may be wondering which starter is the best, and which one you should choose right out of the gate. If you’re looking for a guide on which is the best starter to choose, go no further.
While our other Pokemon starter guide goes over each starter’s stats, moves, and evolutions, this one talks about the best starters, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
Pokemon Sword and Shield: Best Starters
When you set out from Postwick with Hop, you’re given a choice between three different starter Pokemon. Each of the three is attributed to their own “Type”, indicating which elements they’ll be strong and weak against, as well as which of their own attacks will be the most powerful.
Given that each starter Pokemon holds up against at least one other type of Pokemon, there’s no such thing as a “best” or “worst” choice here. Your effectiveness as a Pokemon Trainer is determined by how well you organize the layout of your team to match the strengths and weaknesses of each member, so the only real choice you’re making is what your party composition looks like early on.
Pokemon Sword and Shield Starter Strengths and Weaknesses
Scorbunny is a Fire-type Pokemon, Sobble is a Water-type Pokemon, and Grookey is a Grass-type Pokemon. Knowing that, here are the strengths and weaknesses of each of them to help you pick the best starter.
| Pokemon | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Scorbunny | Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel | Water, Ground, and Rock |
| Sobble | Fire, Ground, and Rock | Grass and Electric |
| Grookey | Water, Ground, and Rock | Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug |
How to Build the Best Party Around Your Starter in Pokemon Sword and Shield
Like in any other Pokemon game, the best party composition you can build is one where each of your Pokemon fills a role. For example, while it remains totally possible to configure parties however you’d like, it’s not likely that you need more than one Water-type Pokemon in your party once you’ve recruited Sobble. The same goes for Scorbunny and Grookey, respectively.
That said, you won’t be locked into having a starter once you’ve begun catching your own Pokemon. You can trade your starters away, or even have somebody else trade you theirs.
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That’s it for our guide on the best starter Pokemon in Pokemon Sword and Shield! Make sure to keep up to date with all of our Pokemon Sword and Shield guides.
