Board 8 > Favourite unevolved water starter pokemon?

(+) Yeah! (+)

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It is of course time for our final set of starters, the blue ones that spit water at their opponents.

Previous results
Basic early rodent: Zigzagoon > Bidoof >> Sentret
Evolved rodent: Furret >> Raticate > Linoone
Basic early bird: Starly > Pidgey > Hoothoot
Middle bird: Pidgeotto > Fletchinder > Corvisquire
Fully evolved bird: Corviknight > Staraptor > Talonflame
Larval bug: Caterpie > Venipede > Sewaddle
Middle bug: Swadloon > Charjabug > Whirlipede
Fully evolved 3-stage bug: Scolipede > Butterfree > Beedrill
Basic early 2-stage bug: Cutiefly > Spinarak > Combee
Evolved 2-stage bug: Shedinja > Ribombee > Centiskorch
Pikaclone: Mimikyu >> Emolga > Pachirisu
Basic 2-stage primary ghost: Misdreavus > Drifloon > Pumpkaboo
Evolved 2-stage primary ghost: Mismagius > Trevenant > Cofagrigus
Basic 2-stage pure grass: Skiddo > Tangela >> Petilil
Evolved 2-stage pure grass: Lilligant > Gogoat > Lurantis
Basic 2-stage primary fire: Vulpix > Growlithe >>> Slugma
Evolved 2-stage primary fire: Arcanine > Ninetales >> Alolan Marowak
Basic crustacean: Dwebble > Krabby > Clauncher
Evolved crustacean: Clawitzer > Golisopod > Kingler
Basic 2-stage pure ground: Cubone > Sandshrew > Phanpy
Evolved 2-stage pure ground: Sandslash > Marowak > Mudsdale
2-stage baby: Riolu > Mantyke > Munchlax
3-stage baby: Elekid > Pichu > Togepi
Basic fossil: Tyrunt > Omanyte > Archen
Evolved fossil: Kabutops > Tyrantrum > Archeops
Chimeric fossil: Dracovish > Arctozolt > Dracozolt
Basic human-like: Abra > Ralts > Machop
Middle human-like: Kadabra > Electabuzz > Machoke
Fully evolved human-like: Gardevoir > Alakazam > Gallade
Basic 2-stage primary ice: Alolan Vulpix > Snom > Cubchoo
Evolved 2-stage primary ice: Froslass > Alolan Ninetales > Glalie
Basic mollusc: Shellos > Shellder > Inkay
Evolved mollusc: Cloyster > Gastrodon > Octillery
Basic 2-stage primary fighting: Pancham > Galarian Farfetch'd > Mienfoo
Evolved 2-stage primary fighting: Lucario > Pangoro > Mienshao/Sirfetch'd
Basic pseudo-legendary: Goomy > Dratini > Larvitar
Middle pseudo-legendary: Dragonair >>>> Drakloak > Gabite
Fully evolved pseudo-legendary: Tyranitar > Metagross > Garchomp
Basic pure poison: Koffing > Ekans > Trubbish
Evolved pure poison: Arbok > Garbodor > Muk
Basic 2-stage primary electric: Blitzle > Yamper > Voltorb
Evolved 2-stage primary electric: Toxtricity > Zebstrika > Electrode
Single stage rock: Shuckle > Corsola > Relicanth
Single stage flying: Hawlucha > Skarmory > Aerodactyl
Basic primary fairy: Flabb > Snubbull > Spritzee
Middle fairy: Jigglypuff >> Clefairy > Togetic
Fully evolved fairy: Togekiss > Alcremie > Clefable
Basic 2-stage pure normal: Meowth > Wooloo > Teddiursa
Evolved 2-stage pure normal: Snorlax >> Ursaring/Cinccino
Basic 2-stage primary dark: Houndour > Sneasel > Zorua
Evolved 2-stage primary dark: Houndoom > Weavile > Bisharp
Ultra Beast: Buzzwole > Guzzlord > Nihilego/Kartana
Basic 2-stage land-based water: Wooper > Slowpoke > Buizel
Evolved 2-stage land-based water: Araquanid > Quagsire > Dewgong
Basic primary steel: Aron > Honedge > Magnemite
Middle steel: Lairon > Magneton >> Doublade
Fully evolved steel: Aegislash > Aggron > Steelix
Basic 3-stage primary grass: Bellsprout > Oddish >> Hoppip
Middle

Squirtle the goat

Never really thought about how bad most of these were.

Sobble, easy. The sadboi is my 5th favorite pokemon overall. I love him.

Totodile > Squirtle > Piplup > Oshawott > Mudkip > Quaxly > Froakie > Popplio > Sobble

Water 1st Stage > Grass > Fire

man water might have the fewest #1 faves of mine but as a group I think they might beat out fire and grass through consistency

Gomamon

Squirtle > Piplup > Mudkip > Quaxly > Totodile > Froakie > Popplio > Oshawott > Sobble

Squirtle > Froakie > Totodile > Sobble > Piplup > Quaxly > Mudkip > Oshawott > Popplio

Water is the goat starter type.

so u herd i liek mudkips

Okay, being serious...
Mudkip (even before the meme) > Squirtle > Froakie > Piplup > Totodile > Oshawott > Popplio > Sobble

Not one to judge Quaxly yet tbh since I legit have no idea where he'll land at this point.

Squirtle/Toto/Piplup/Oshawott are all great

But discovering Totodile as a kid emulating JP Gold before global release is one of my stand-out Pokemon memories. Cyndaquil/Totodile was a tough choice but I went with Totodile and the strong contrast with the bright red on blue sprite had a big impact on me. It felt like such a big step-up from even Yellow as a GBC game that still felt so monochromatic.

...oh no I really like Quaxly

these are amazing

Really really tough choice vetween the turtle and the croc. Their evos are top notch too...ugh. Abstain.

Arti posted...

Gomamon

Topic over.

The pimp duck himself. Quack!

Squirtle for sure on day 1. Most of these are great, they first four are unfortunately all probably the best in their lines. Oshawott is great too and the new one has made an excellent first impression. The remaining three are fine, but nothing special. Two of them have fantastic final evos though.

Piplup here

Splendid fellows, all of them.

These are great, especially when you compare them to the Fire and Grass starters.

First four are great, but:

BlueCrystalTear posted...

so u herd i liek mudkips

Switching from fire starter guy to water starter guy was such a good decision. Water starters the best.

This might be the best selection of Pokemon this poll series has had and will have.

Squirtle > Totodile > Piplup > Froakie > Oshawott > Quaxly > Sobble > Popplio > Mudkip

started fire, turned water, then grass grass grass grass grass grass, and likely going grass again

GuessMyUserName posted...

started fire, turned water, then grass grass grass grass grass grass, and likely going grass again

Wow same here except Popplio finally broke that grass cycle for me (and then I skipped the following generation & don't know what I'd pick yet if I do get back with the upcoming games)

(those are the starters I went with at least. My actual preferences for each gen are a bit different in a number of places nowadays, but Popplio is my favorite of the water starters)

i was a smugleaf fan before gen 5's release and its line did turn out to be my favourite overall but

oshawott very cute

in truth i've gradually warmed up to a fair share of the later gen first form water starters, really like popplio and quaxly now and piplup is still great too

In what universe is Mudkip fourth? I voted Oshawott coming in without even checking the standings because I thought Mudkip was gonna be running away with it. Water starters are pretty much always fine, but rarely the best of their generation. Is what I thought, at least, but they're usually the best one in the generations with subpar starters and the worst in the good generations for starters.

Oshawott > Mudkip > Piplup > Popplio > Totodile > Squirtle > Froakie > Sobble > Quaxly

Also, my starter choices by game/gen

Gen 1 - Bulbasaur
Gen 2 - Cyndaquil
Gen 3 - Mudkip
Gen 4 - Chimchar
BW1 - Snivy
BW2 - Oshawott
Gen 6 - Fennekin
Gen 7 - Popplio
Gen 8 - Wonder traded it away instantly after catching a Wooloo and don't even remember which it was. Gen 8 starters are bad and the resultant Arroskuda was my starter in spirit.

Sheep007 posted...

In what universe is Mudkip fourth?

The universe where there's a gen 1 Pokemon in the poll.

GameBopAdv posted...

Wow same here except Popplio finally broke that grass cycle for me (and then I skipped the following generation & don't know what I'd pick yet if I do get back with the upcoming games)

(those are the starters I went with at least. My actual preferences for each gen are a bit different in a number of places nowadays, but Popplio is my favorite of the water starters)

Yeah I think for me it's gen 4 I'm actually kinda wishy-washy, I've done playthroughs with all 3 (my Pearl data corrupted, I re-purchased it, THEN played Plat). I think for the gen 4 starter lines I love Piplup for stage 1, Monferno stage 2, but Torterra final evo.

UF8 posted...

i was a smugleaf fan before gen 5's release and its line did turn out to be my favourite overall but

Snivy line hurts so bad, he starts out as an A+ pokemon but then immediately goes to shit, particularly Servine

GuessMyUserName posted...

Snivy line hurts so bad, he starts out as an A+ pokemon but then immediately goes to shit, particularly Servine

servine i'm also definitely not a fan of because of the lack of direction and the leaf hands??? are the worst but serperior's one of my favourite final form starters so disagree overall

Totodile is the reason why I've never used a Cyndaquil.

But as is tradition for the first stage starters, I think they're all quite good. Even Popplio and the goofy new duck.

I dont particularly care about its evolutions and always picked Cyndaquil, but going with Totodile today

Totodile is my boi.

Shoutout to Squirtle, Mudkip, Popplio and Quaxly tho.

Sheep007 posted...

In what universe is Mudkip fourth?

I can understand Squirtle beating him but getting doubled by Totodile really, really hurts.

IMO water starters are far and away the superior group and I'm glad others agree!

Mudkip is my easy choice, I love Squirtle but 'Kip's line is one of my all time favs. Surprised by the Totodile love tbh, though I'm not sure why. It's p cool I guess, I'm probs letting my opinions of its evos sour me on it.

First time through I've always picked the water starter except for gen 7 (Rowlet gang), though in retrospect I like Cyndaquil more than Toto.

Quaxly is adorable. He seems confiden but approachable. Got my vote.

Lot of great choices here though. I could've gone with Squirtle, Mudkip, Piplup, or Sobble as well.

Totodile might be my absolute favorite Pokmon. I have never felt closer to any of my starters than I did with him in Pokmon Silver.

Squirtle is also terrific, probably top 10, but I gotta go with Totodile.

Mudkipz

Two main surprises to me here are that Piplup has more votes than Mudkip and that Froakie isn't doing better.

Yeah I knew people liked Piplup but not this much! Empoleon may be one to watch...

Dawn & her Piplup were the best part of D&P anime

Squirtle > Totodile > Piplup

Clear top 3 for me. And Piplup is ways behind the top 2.

Sobble... my boy.... ;_;

Sobble deserves better.

Squirtle. It's cute and tough.

when will you learn andy. please start locking these

brotodile

bumpin' so this one is at the top >_>

okay, what happened here