Pokémon Champions flips the traditional starter formula on its head. Instead of picking from three regional options, you're choosing from a roster of 10 fully evolved or iconic Pokémon, and each one brings a complete pre-built team with it. That's a lot of variables to weigh before you've even thrown a Poké Ball.
The good news: the choice isn't as permanent as it feels. The better news: some picks are objectively stronger out of the gate than others.
What makes a good starter in Pokémon Champions?
Your starter determines your initial six-member team. You get the lead Pokémon plus five teammates, all pre-selected to work together. After running through every option, the strongest starting rosters share common traits: broad type coverage spanning at least four damage types, a Pokémon with solid speed, and preferably a weather setter or status condition tool.
Personal preference counts, especially if you're importing from Pokémon Home. Any Pokémon you don't already own in another game is worth considering here, since recruiting them later means you miss out on the bonus teammates that come with the starter package.
The top starter picks and why they work
Tyranitar (Rock/Dark)
Tyranitar is the best competitive choice at launch. It's the only starter that brings immediate weather control, giving you board advantage from the opening turn. Rock/Dark typing hits hard offensively, and its supporting roster (Arcanine, Whimsicott, Drampa, Aggron, Sylveon) patches most of its defensive gaps. If you're playing to win, start here.
Pikachu (Electric)
Don't write off Pikachu as a mascot gimmick. The Static ability passively inflicts paralysis on physical attackers, which disrupts a massive chunk of common strategies. The team it brings (Kingambit, Garchomp, Azumarill, Gyarados, Gengar) is one of the most balanced in the entire starter pool. For players still learning competitive formats, this roster handles most matchups without requiring deep type expertise.
Charizard (Fire/Flying)
Charizard brings Blaze, which amplifies Fire-type moves when HP drops below one-third. That creates a real late-game threat in tight matches. Its team includes Azumarill, Steelix, Whimsicott, Gengar, and Drampa, giving you physical bulk and Fairy-type coverage. Not the most aggressive opener, but a forgiving roster for players still figuring out competitive play.
Gardevoir (Psychic/Fairy)
Gardevoir is the choice for special attack-focused teams. Psychic/Fairy typing covers a lot of the meta, and the supporting cast of Heracross, Drampa, Azumarill, Corviknight, and Abomasnow adds physical presence alongside the special damage. Abomasnow also triggers hail on entry, adding passive chip damage to the team's toolkit.
Tyranitar's full starting roster
All Starter Pokémon and their full teams
Every starter comes with five fixed teammates, forming your initial six-member roster. Here's the complete breakdown:
Can you get other starters later?
Yes. Picking one starter doesn't lock you out of the other nine. All of the Pokémon shown at the starter selection screen can reappear through the Recruit Pokémon feature, and you can also bring them in via Pokémon Home transfers.
The catch: recruiting them through normal gameplay won't include the bonus five-member team. That pre-built composition is exclusive to the initial starter selection. So if there's a specific team structure you want, your best shot at getting it intact is picking that starter at the beginning.
Also worth noting: Pokémon recruited in Pokémon Champions cannot be transferred back out of the game. That's a one-way door, so plan your Home transfers accordingly.
Which starter should you actually pick?
For competitive players, Tyranitar is the answer. Weather control at team preview is a genuine advantage, and its supporting cast handles most type matchups without requiring major adjustments.
For new players, Pikachu offers the most forgiving path. The team it brings covers physical, special, Water, Dragon, Ghost, and Steel types across six Pokémon, and the Static passive does real work without micromanagement.
For players who already have strong Pokémon in Home ready to import, the starter choice matters less. Grab whichever lead you're missing from your collection and build from there.
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