In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you'll choose from three starter Pokémon that are also the same as back in the day. Whether this is your first encounter with Diamond and Pearl, or one of many, which starter Pokémon is best and which should you choose?
The choice is very subjective, but in this guide, we explain a few things about each starter in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl that may help with your decision.
Read More: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl: Version Exclusives and Differences
Starter Types and Evolutions
As is typical with traditional Pokémon games, there are three starter Pokémon for you to choose from as you begin your journey in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl. The three Pokémon and their evolutions are listed below:
Piplup
click to enlarge
+ 4Piplup, a water-type Pokémon, involves into the following:
- Level 16: Prinplup
- Level 36: Empoleon
Empoleon's final form is a dual-type; they are water and steel-type once evolved.
Turtwig
click to enlarge + 4Turtwig, a grass-type Pokémon, involves into the following:
- Level 18: Grotle
- Level 32: Torterra
Torterra's final form is a dual-type; they are grass and ground-type once evolved.
Chimchar
click to enlarge + 4Chimchar, a fire-type Pokémon, involves into the following:
- Level 14: Monferno
- Level 36: Infernape
Infernape's final form is a dual-type; they are fire and fighting-type once evolved.
Which Starter Should You Choose?
click to enlarge + 4Ultimately, which starter you choose in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl is subjective and entirely up to you. While you may want to be tactical about it, others may simply choose a starter because that's who they hung out with back in 2006. There will be plenty of other Pokémon to collect along the way to assist you around the Sinnoh Region.
The first Gym battle in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is rock-themed, and the second is grass-themed, meaning that fire-type Chimchar will have a tough time at first. A water-type, Piplup, will also have a tough time when it comes to a grass-themed Gym, so, if you're all about trying to breeze through the first portion of the game, then Turtwig may be for you.
However, with them being of the same type as the gym, they're still going to not be as effective at that second gym anyway. So, again, the choice is yours, and with all the alternative Pokémon to collect, you'll be able to get through any gym with any starter by your side.
Chimchar arguably is the most powerful of all three Pokémon when in their final form. Their fire and fighting-type moves can perform well in later-game gym battles. Yet, as we've said, your starter type Pokémon is not the be all and end all; the decision is entirely yours and is not going to transform your game experience dramatically, so just pick whoever suits you. Personally, I'm choosing Piplup for nostalgia purposes!
That's everything there is to know about the starter Pokémon in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Good luck taking on the Sinnoh Region and filling out your Pokédex!
For more articles like this, take a look at our Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Guides page.