The moment has finally arrived—you're stepping off the train into the bustling streets of Lumiose City, ready to begin your adventure in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. But before diving into the Z-A Royale or chasing down mighty Mega Evolutions, you face the most timeless and consequential decision in any Pokémon journey: which starter Pokémon will be your partner?
This time, the choice presents a unique cross-generational twist. Instead of a traditional trio from one region, you’re selecting from Chikorita (Johto), Tepig (Unova), and Totodile (Johto). This unexpected combination breaks from tradition, making your decision both exciting and strategically complex.
Your starter will shape your early-game experience, determine your battle approach, and influence your late-game power — especially with the shift to real-time combat, which changes how every move and stat works in battle.
This guide breaks down every stat, strength, weakness, and strategic factor for all three starters. We'll cover how they perform under the new battle system, their evolution paths, and even their Mega Evolution potential — so you can confidently choose your perfect partner.
🧭 Meet the Starters: A Cross-Generational Trio
Pokémon Legends: Z-A offers a distinctive starter lineup that blends classic nostalgia with modern gameplay depth:
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🌿 Chikorita — The Leaf Pokémon, a pure Grass-type from the Johto region.
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🔥 Tepig — The Fire Pig Pokémon, a Fire-type from Unova that later gains the Fighting type.
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🌊 Totodile — The Big Jaw Pokémon, a pure Water-type powerhouse from Johto.
Each maintains their traditional Ability — Overgrow, Blaze, and Torrent — boosting Grass, Fire, or Water-type moves by 50% when HP drops below one-third. Early reports hinted Abilities might be removed in Legends: Z-A, but official data confirms they’re active and functional.
🐊 Totodile: The Strategic Powerhouse
Stats and Evolution
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Evolution: Totodile → Croconaw (Lv. 18) → Feraligatr (Lv. 30)
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Key Stats: Highest Attack among starters, balanced defenses
Strengths and Advantages
Totodile stands out as the most strategically reliable starter, ideal for players seeking a powerful and straightforward playthrough. Its biggest edge? The earliest final evolution at Level 30 — giving you Feraligatr long before the others reach their peak forms.
Totodile’s pure Water typing brings only two weaknesses (Grass, Electric) and four resistances (Steel, Fire, Water, Ice), making it incredibly safe and flexible for early team-building.
Battle Performance and Mega Evolution
In Z-A’s real-time combat, Feraligatr’s high Attack and versatile movepool make it a consistent damage dealer. Cooldown-based combat rewards Pokémon with strong, repeatable attacks, fitting Totodile’s offensive playstyle perfectly.
Late-game, Mega Feraligatr evolves into a Water/Dragon-type, gaining STAB on Dragon moves and a massive offensive boost — easily one of the best Mega options in the game.
🍃 Chikorita: The Defensive Specialist
Stats and Evolution
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Evolution: Chikorita → Bayleef (Lv. 16) → Meganium (Lv. 32)
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Key Stats: High Defense and Special Defense
Strengths and Advantages
Chikorita is ideal for trainers who enjoy a strategic, defensive playstyle. Its strong defensive stats help it withstand attacks that would flatten others, and it has access to supportive moves like Leech Seed, Reflect, and status inflictions.
Pure Grass typing gives it resistances to Ground, Water, Grass, and Electric, all useful early-game. It also evolves into Bayleef slightly earlier than its rivals hit their second stages, offering a brief power advantage.
Considerations and Mega Evolution
The catch? Chikorita has five weaknesses — Flying, Poison, Bug, Fire, and Ice — making matchups more punishing in the fast-paced, real-time system.
Its saving grace is Mega Meganium, which gains a secondary Fairy typing, giving it a new edge against Dragons and adding fresh offensive utility for late-game battles.
🔥 Tepig: The Balanced Brawler
Stats and Evolution
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Evolution: Tepig → Pignite (Lv. 17) → Emboar (Lv. 36)
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Key Stats: Highest HP, solid Attack and Defense
Strengths and Advantages
Tepig starts strong with the highest base HP and several useful resistances (Bug, Steel, Fire, Grass, Ice, Fairy). Upon evolving into Pignite at Level 17, it gains the Fighting-type, adding major offensive flexibility early on.
Its Fire/Fighting typing in final form gives great coverage and strong synergy with Z-A’s fast-paced battles, while its bulk allows for more forgiving mistakes.
Considerations and Mega Evolution
However, Tepig’s drawbacks are noticeable. It evolves last (Level 36) and has four weaknesses (Water, Ground, Flying, Psychic), some of which are common.
In early zones, you can even find Houndour, another strong Fire-type — which may make Tepig feel less unique. Mega Emboar keeps the Fire/Fighting typing, making it strong but less distinct compared to the others’ flashy new combinations.
⚖️ Head-to-Head Starter Comparison
| Starter | Final Evolution Level | Final Typing | Weaknesses | Mega Evolution Typing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totodile | Level 30 | Water | 2 | Water/Dragon |
| Chikorita | Level 32 | Grass | 5 | Grass/Fairy |
| Tepig | Level 36 | Fire/Fighting | 4 | Fire/Fighting |
⚔️ How the New Battle System Affects Your Choice
Pokémon Legends: Z-A completely replaces the old turn-based formula with real-time action combat, meaning every move, dodge, and cooldown matters. Here’s how that impacts your starter choice:
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Positioning Matters: You must physically dodge attacks. Bulkier Pokémon like Chikorita can take more hits, making them ideal for beginners adapting to the new system.
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Cooldown Management: No more PP — each move has its own cooldown. Pokémon with quick and reliable attacks (like Totodile) thrive in this setup.
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Mega Synchronization: During Rogue Mega Battles, collecting orbs powers your Mega form. Starters with strong Mega Evolutions, like Totodile and Chikorita, shine in these moments.
🏆 The Verdict: Which Starter Should You Choose?
After breaking down their evolutions, typings, and combat potential, here’s the final recommendation:
💧 For Most Players: Totodile
Totodile is the best all-rounder — fast evolution, low weaknesses, and powerful Mega form. Its simplicity and strength make it ideal for mastering Legends: Z-A’s real-time combat.
🌿 For Strategic Players: Chikorita
Perfect for those who enjoy defense, team synergy, and long-term planning. It’s more demanding but deeply rewarding for players who enjoy tactical play.
🔥 For Personal Preference: Tepig
If you love Tepig, go for it! It’s perfectly viable with high HP and great coverage — just expect a slower early-game curve.
Ultimately, the best starter is the one that fits your playstyle. All three can lead you to victory — that’s the magic of Pokémon.
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