Pokémon Gen 9 Starters

This post was last updated on September 1, 2023

In February 2022, The Pokémon Company revealed Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, two RPGs to be released on 18 November 2022. As the first installments in the ninth generation of the Pokémon game series, these Nintendo Switch games have stuck to the conventional gameplay structure.

Like their predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are exploration-driven and expansive. However, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are open-world games—a first in the series. These open worlds include urban areas and wilderness regions with no borders between them.

Additionally, these games feature the latest edition of Pokémon for players to catch and trade. These Pokémon include new Pokémon, regional variants, legendary Pokémon, and starters. In this article, the team at That VideoGame Blog takes an in-depth look at the Pokémon Gen 9 starters.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Pokédex – Gen 9 Starters

Each new generation has a selection of three starters available, and each starter is one of the following types: grass, water, or fire. The Gen 9 starters are the most significant in these games. Players choose the starter Pokémon as their first companions, and they set the stage for the trainer’s adventure.

In the past, most Pokémon series featured starters with three evolutions, and they revealed the theme of the game. Gen 9 starters in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet follow this format as well. For example, the Gen 9 starters indicate that the game might take place in a Spain-themed region.

The sections below discuss these three Pokémon Scarlet and Violet starters. We also provide a list of all Pokémon starters for those wanting more.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Grass-type Starter – Sprigatito

Grass-type Pokémon are among the 18 Pokémon types and one of the three starter Pokémon. A grass-type Pokémon’s attacks are effective against ground, rock, and water Pokémon. However, these Pokémon’s attacks are generally ineffective against fire, dragon, bug, flying, and other grass Pokémon.

Grass-type moves are an effective defense against grass, ground, water, and electric-type Pokémon, but they are ineffective against other types, including fire, ice, poison, bug, and flying Pokémon.

Sprigatito (Japanese: Nyahoja) is the Gen 9 grass-variant starter available in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. This cat Pokémon is 1’4” tall with a weight of 9 lbs. and has palish green fur with a plant-like composition. As a result, Sprigatito absorbs sunlight when it needs energy.

Sprigatito has green ears and a leaf-like fur tuft on its chest. Other cat-inspired features include a fluffy tail, tiny paws, and two pointed teeth in the upper jaw. The Pokémon grooms itself by absorbing moisture, which also helps it photosynthesize.

According to Sprigatito’s official description, the grass cat Pokémon is capricious and attention-seeking, and it tends to sulk when people ignore it.

The grass cat Pokémon is one of 17 Pokémon with the Overgrow ability. This primary ability increases the Pokémon’s moves’ power by 50%, provided that its HP is less than 30%. When Sprigatito rubs its front paws together, it emits a sweet aroma that puts its foes into a trance, causing them to stop battling.

Information about this starter’s evolutions is unavailable at the time of this writing, but we can expect it to evolve into a grass-type Pokémon.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Fire-type Starter – Fuecoco

Fire-type Pokémon are one of the primary starter elemental types, along with grass and water. Fire Pokémon are rare during the early stages of a Pokémon game, so players often choose the fire-variation starter.

Fire-type moves are generally effective against grass, ice, bug, and steel types when attacking. However, these attack moves are ineffective against water, rock, dragon, and other fire types. Fire Pokémon can effectively defend against most Pokémon types, but not water, ground, and rock.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Fuecoco (Japanese: Hogator) is the only fire-variant Gen 9 starter. The name Fuecoco hints at a Spain-related theme, as it is a portmanteau of fuego, the Spanish word for fire, and cocodrilo, which means crocodile in Spanish.

As a bipedal crocodilian, this adorable Pokémon shares similarities with a baby crocodile and a theropod dinosaur. Both of these characteristics might become more prominent in the Pokémon’s evolutions.

In starter form, the Fuecoco Pokémon’s height is 1’4”, and it has a weight of 21.6 lbs. The starter Pokémon has a red body with a white face and stomach. The yellow tufts on its head are a form of energy release, turning into flames when the Pokémon gets excited.

Other physical features of this Pokémon include black eyes, triangular nostrils, and three teeth: two in the lower jaw and one in the upper jaw. The yellow squares on Fuecoco’s stomach, tail, back, and feet soles are scales that absorb and transform external heat into fire energy.

According to Fuecoco’s official description, the Pokémon has a laid-back demeanor and follows its own pace, unlike Quaxly. The Pokémon likes to eat and rushes toward any food it encounters.

Fuecoco is one of 21 Pokémon with Blaze as a primary ability. Using the Blaze ability, Fuecoco can increase its fire-type moves by 50%. The Blaze ability only kicks in when Fuecoco’s HP drops below a third of the maximum level.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Water-type Starter – Quaxly

Water-type Pokémon are the most common in this game. Currently, 147 water-type Pokémon are available, which amounts to 15.89% of all Pokémon. Additionally, most water-based Pokémon have a pairing with every other type.

Water-type Pokémon can typically learn ice-type moves, which are effective against grass and dragon Pokémon. As a rule, the weather affects water-type moves in the world of Pokémon. For example, rain strengthens these moves while sunlight weakens them.

Water-type moves can effectively defend against most Pokémon, except for grass and electric variations. 

Quaxly (Japanese: Kuwassu) is the Gen 9 water-form starter available in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and it is already a favorite among fans. The duckling Pokémon height is 1’8”, and it weighs 13.4 lbs.

The Pokémon’s appearance is also duckling inspired, with physical features that include a yellow beak, blue eyes, webbed feet, and a smooth, feathery tuft. 

A teal coif crest covers the Pokémon’s head, resembling a sailor’s cap or beret. When the coif gets dry, it has an unkempt look.

According to Quaxly’s official description, the Pokémon is tidy with an earnest demeanor. With its strong legs, it can swim powerfully in strong currents and kick its foes, causing considerable damage. Quaxly’s feathers secrete a gel that protects it against grime and dirt, which the tidy duckling Pokémon seems to hate.

As a water-type Pokémon, Torrent is Quaxly’s primary ability. Torrent increases the power of water-type moves by 50%, provided that the user only has one-third or less of their maximum HP remaining. Outside of battle, the Torrent ability has no effect.

Currently, Pokémon Company fans can’t access information on Quaxly’s evolutions in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The information on other Gen 9 starters’ evolutions is also unavailable. However, based on past generation Pokémon evolutions, some believe that Quaxly might evolve into a water- or flying-form Pokémon that can potentially learn ice abilities.

We hope to hear more about the starters’ evolutions from the Pokémon Company and Nintendo as the release date approaches.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – Notable New Gen 9 Pokémon

In addition to starters, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet feature various new Pokémon. In the remaining sections of this article, we discuss some of these Gen 9 creatures that players can expect to encounter. 

Ceruledge

Ceruledge is a dual fire- and ghost-type Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet, and it has no evolutions.

This bipedal-inspired Pokémon has a humanoid form and carries a sword in each hand. The Pokémon’s physical features include a black body with large blue ears.

Ceruledge is 5’3” tall and weighs 136.7 lbs. The Pokémon’s gender ratio, catch rate, egg group, and hatch time are unknown. Ceruledge’s abilities include Flash Fire, which boosts its attack or special attack by 50% in the damage calculation.

Bellibolt

Bellibolt is an electric-type Pokémon living in the Paldea region in Scarlet and Violet. The frog-like Pokémon is 1’11” tall and weighs 249.1 lbs. Bellibolt’s round and elastic body expands and contracts to create electricity, which it releases through its head during a battle.

When this Pokémon is hungry, its stomach makes crying sounds. Another notable feature of Bellibolt is its primary ability, Electromorphosis, which is new to the game. As is the case with the starters, the Bellibolt evolutions are unknown.

Wiglett

Wiglett is a new water Pokémon available in Scarlet and Violet. Some believe this Pokémon might be a regional variation of Diglett, but this doesn’t appear to be the case.

Wiglett has a height of 3’11” and a weight of 4 lbs. When it smells other Pokémon, it digs itself into the sand to hide. Information on Wiglett’s evolutions is not available.

Greavard

Greavard is a ghost-type Pokémon under the ghost dog category with a height of 2’1” and a weight of 77.2 lbs. This Pokémon has a large tongue and teeth with a powerful bite that can break its foes’ bones.

Greavard spends most of its time underground and lets out eerie sounds when someone approaches it. This Pokémon likes to make friends, but it tends to absorb the life force from those who spend time with it. Greavard is not known to have evolutions.

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