There are 29 starters: the three traditional starters from each of nine regions, plus Psyduck and Slowpoke. The game asks eight personality questions and suggests a partner from the winning trait. You can reject the suggestion and choose another. Starting moves are Vine Whip, Ember, Water Gun, Razor Leaf, Bubble or Confusion; Psyduck and Slowpoke both start with Confusion.
The 29 starters
The roster follows the traditional three starters from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar and Paldea. Psyduck and Slowpoke are the two extra options. That gives 27 regional starters plus two Water-types with a Psychic opening move.
Every starter is a normal partner after the first run. You can switch partners later from the collection, so the first choice is not a permanent account lock. It does decide which opening move and stat profile you learn first.
How the personality test works
The test has eight questions. Each answer adds points to traits such as brave, patient, calm, clever or mischievous. The game takes the highest trait and weights the first trait of each starter double when matching. If several starters tie, the result is chosen from the tied group.
The result is a suggestion, not a lock. The starting screen lets you reject it and pick another partner. If you already know which opening move you want, skip the test’s role-play and choose directly.
How to choose a first partner
- Pick the opening move you can use. Vine Whip is a wide melee arc, Ember is a fireball at the nearest enemy, Water Gun is a piercing jet, Razor Leaf is a boomerang, Bubble is a slowing burst and Confusion is a homing projectile.
- Check the type. A Grass starter handles Water and Rock early; Fire handles Grass and Bug; Water handles Fire and Rock. The first biome and enemy mix can vary, so do not over-plan around one type.
- Look at HP and speed, not just attack. A fast partner can leave a closing pocket; a high-HP partner can survive a mistake. The table below lists both.
- Do not chase the tier list. A 966-Pokémon ranking includes partners you cannot start with. The tier-list guide explains why a top model pick may not be a starter.
Starting moves and roles
| Opening move | Type | Shape | Good first use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vine Whip | Grass | Melee arc | Hitting a line of enemies in front while circling. |
| Ember | Fire | Projectile | Single-target pressure at a safe distance. |
| Water Gun | Water | Piercing projectile | Reliable damage at any range. |
| Razor Leaf | Grass | Boomerang | Hitting on the way out and back in a moving line. |
| Bubble | Water | Burst / slow | Slowing a pack that is closing from one side. |
| Confusion | Psychic | Homing | Keeping damage on a target while you reposition. |
Psyduck and Slowpoke are Water-types but start with Confusion. That is intentional in the official starter data, not a mistake in this table. Their later move pools differ from the traditional Water starters.
Starters vs gacha partners
Starters are not inherently stronger than gacha partners. They are the partners available before you spend tickets. A 4★ or 5★ gacha partner can have a higher stat total and a different move pool, but it also costs tickets and may need a specific regional banner.
The gacha guide covers rates and pity. The Pokédex has the full 966-entry roster. If you want a single partner to invest permanent upgrades in, pick one whose opening move and type you enjoy; upgrades are per Pokémon.
Starter stats and moves
HP, speed and attack are the game’s partner stats. Attack is the higher of the physical and special multiplier; the full split is in the Pokédex table.
Scroll the table sideways on a narrow screen.
| Partner | Types | Starting move | HP | Speed | Atk | Traits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Grass / Poison | Vine Whip | 90 | 97 | ×1.06 | loyal / patient |
| Charmander | Fire | Ember | 88 | 105 | ×1.03 | brave / impulsive |
| Squirtle | Water | Water Gun | 90 | 96 | ×0.97 | cautious / loyal |
| Chikorita | Grass | Vine Whip | 90 | 97 | ×0.97 | gentle / patient |
| Cyndaquil | Fire | Ember | 88 | 105 | ×1.03 | shy / impulsive |
| Totodile | Water | Water Gun | 92 | 96 | ×1.06 | mischievous / brave |
| Treecko | Grass | Razor Leaf | 88 | 107 | ×1.06 | calm / clever |
| Torchic | Fire | Ember | 90 | 97 | ×1.08 | cheerful / brave |
| Mudkip | Water | Water Gun | 92 | 95 | ×1.08 | tenacious / loyal |
| Turtwig | Grass | Vine Whip | 95 | 91 | ×1.07 | patient / tenacious |
| Chimchar | Fire | Ember | 90 | 104 | ×1.02 | mischievous / cheerful |
| Piplup | Water | Bubble | 94 | 95 | ×1.04 | proud / cautious |
| Snivy | Grass | Razor Leaf | 90 | 104 | ×0.95 | proud / clever |
| Tepig | Fire | Ember | 99 | 97 | ×1.05 | tenacious / cheerful |
| Oshawott | Water | Water Gun | 95 | 97 | ×1.05 | brave / mischievous |
| Chespin | Grass | Vine Whip | 95 | 94 | ×1.04 | mischievous / tenacious |
| Fennekin | Fire | Ember | 88 | 103 | ×1.04 | clever / calm |
| Froakie | Water | Water Gun | 88 | 108 | ×1.04 | calm / clever |
| Rowlet | Grass / Flying | Razor Leaf | 101 | 96 | ×1.00 | calm / gentle |
| Litten | Fire | Ember | 90 | 107 | ×1.06 | solitary / proud |
| Popplio | Water | Bubble | 92 | 95 | ×1.06 | cheerful / gentle |
| Grookey | Grass | Vine Whip | 92 | 105 | ×1.06 | cheerful / mischievous |
| Scorbunny | Fire | Ember | 92 | 107 | ×1.09 | impulsive / cheerful |
| Sobble | Water | Water Gun | 92 | 107 | ×1.08 | shy / clever |
| Sprigatito | Grass | Razor Leaf | 88 | 105 | ×1.04 | solitary / clever |
| Fuecoco | Fire | Ember | 100 | 93 | ×1.05 | quiet / tenacious |
| Quaxly | Water | Water Gun | 95 | 99 | ×1.06 | proud / cautious |
| Psyduck | Water | Confusion | 92 | 101 | ×1.06 | chaotic / shy |
| Slowpoke | Water / Psychic | Confusion | 110 | 84 | ×1.06 | quiet / patient |
After the first run, use the permanent upgrades guide to decide whether to invest in the starter or switch to a collection partner.
Quick answers
How many starters does PokeSurvivor have?
29: three traditional starters from each of nine regions, plus Psyduck and Slowpoke.
Can I change the partner suggested by the quiz?
Yes. The personality test suggests a partner, and the starting screen lets you reject it and choose another.
Which starter is best for a beginner?
There is no verified universal best. A beginner should pick a starting move they can aim and a partner with enough HP or speed to survive a mistake. Water Gun and Ember are straightforward ranged options; Vine Whip covers a wide arc.
Do starters have better stats than gacha partners?
Not as a rule. Starters are the starting pool, not a higher tier. Gacha partners can have higher stat totals and different move access.
Sources and scope
These sources were checked on 22 October 2026. This is source-based guidance, not a claim that the site played every route. The live game can change after an update.
- Official starters.js (GitHub main) — 29 starters, traits, starting moves and the eight-question test.
- Official Pokédex data (GitHub main) — Starter HP, speed and attack multipliers.
- PokéSurvivor official guide — Starter roster summary and personality-test behavior.
- PokeSurvival starter guide — Independent explanation that the suggestion can be rejected; checked 22 October 2026.