Pokémon Legends: Z-A gives you three first-partner options: Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile. The official game pages do not rank them or identify a strongest starter, so there is no evidence-backed universal winner. Choose the Pokémon you most want beside you, then build the rest of your team as you explore Lumiose City.
Which starters can you choose in Pokémon Legends: Z-A?
Your first-partner choices are Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile. The official Pokémon page presents the choice without comparative stats or a performance ranking: The Pokémon of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Which starter is best for your playthrough?
There is no officially established best starter. The available official information does not compare these three Pokémon’s stats, movesets, early encounters, or difficulty, so it cannot support a claim that one is objectively stronger or easier to use.
- Choose Chikorita if it is the partner you most want to travel with.
- Choose Tepig if it is your favorite of the three.
- Choose Totodile if you would most enjoy having it as your first partner.
That is a preference-based recommendation, not a claim about their battle performance. If you are deciding based on a specific role or matchup, the official pages do not provide enough comparative information to settle that question.
#1 Best Overall
![Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension DLC - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51r8yUj+syL._SL160_.jpg)
- Venture into Hyperspace Lumiose in this additional story content that can be accessed after completing the main game
- Work with the mysterious baker, Ansha, to make donuts that awaken the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa’s power and grant you and your Pokémon a variety of useful effects
- Join Team MZ and the Mega Evolution Successor, Korrina, to investigate Hyperspace Lumiose, the otherworldly home to rare and hyper-strong Pokémon
- Discover new Mega Evolutions such as Mega Raichu X, Mega Raichu Y, Mega Chimecho and Mega Baxcalibur
- Claim Holo-X and Holo-Y in-game apparel items, which you can wear as soon as you are able to customize your character’s look and outfit in the main game
Does your starter choice matter?
It determines which of these three Pokémon begins the adventure as your first partner, but the game’s official adventure guide also describes a broader team-building loop. The Z-A Royale begins at night; during the day, you can battle wild Pokémon and prepare for the next bout. You can catch Pokémon by throwing Poké Balls, and lowering a Pokémon’s HP can make it easier to catch. Some Pokémon flee if they spot you, while Alpha Pokémon are tougher and can chase and attack when they notice you.
That means your starter is one part of a team you can develop as you play, rather than the only Pokémon relevant to battles. Pokémon gain experience after winning battles; leveling raises stats, may teach moves, and can enable evolution. Some Pokémon evolve through other methods. The guide does not say that one of the three starters is easier to train or evolve than the others. These details are covered in The Pokémon Company’s adventure guide, dated July 22, 2025.
Rank #2
![Pokémon Legends: Z-A Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41IOdpg0EfL._SL160_.jpg)
- Your journey will take you to all manner of sights in the streets arrayed around Prism Tower, including shops, restaurants, and places called wild zones—where Pokémon roam free.
- As you catch, train, and battle Pokémon, there will be plenty of people to meet too—like AZ, the enigmatic owner of Hotel Z.
Should Mega Evolution affect your choice?
Mega Evolution is a battle system in which a Trainer’s Key Stone resonates with a Mega Stone held by a Pokémon, temporarily releasing hidden energy. Some Pokémon may change type while Mega Evolved. The official overview does not establish a starter-specific advantage among Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile, so Mega Evolution alone is not a supported reason to pick one over another. See the official Mega Evolution overview.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which edition should you buy?
If you are buying the game as well as choosing a starter, the official purchase page lists both Pokémon Legends: Z-A for Nintendo Switch and a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. It also says physical copies are sold through participating retailers. Check the edition and platform shown by the retailer before purchasing: Pokémon Legends: Z-A purchase options.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- An ambitious new adventure set in Lumiose City awaits in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, coming to Nintendo Switch in late 2025. Explore the city, unravel its secrets and battle Pokémon like never before!
- An urban redevelopment plan is underway in Lumiose City! The goal: to turn it into a place Pokémon and people can truly share. Shortly after arriving, you’ll choose from one of these partner Pokémon to accompany you on your journey – Chikorita, Tepig or Totodile.
- Together, you can explore the streets of this vast city or visit Wild Zones – habitats where you’ll encounter wild Pokémon. To catch them, aim carefully and throw a Poké Ball or take them on with the help of the Pokémon on your team.
- For the first time ever, Trainers and their Pokémon will move around and take action in real time during battles. Pokémon will unleash their moves when their Trainers command them to. In addition to type matchups, there will be new mechanics to consider, such as the precise timing for swapping out your Pokémon or using moves, the different lengths of time moves will take to launch, and how big an area the moves will impact.
- In Lumiose City, Pokémon can go beyond Evolution by undergoing Mega Evolution! When a Trainer’s Key Stone resonates with the Mega Stone held by their Pokémon, the Pokémon will do more than just change shape and size – it will unlock a new level of power, which could turn the tide of battle!
Rank #4
- Live the life of a Pokémon Trainer in the streets of Lumiose City!
- For the first time in the Pokémon RPG series, command your Pokémon in real-time battles
- Use the power of Mega Evolution in battle and take on rampaging Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon
- Compete in the Z-A Royale each night to test your skills and try to become the strongest Pokémon Trainer
- Visit shops, restaurants, and places called wild zones—where Pokémon roam free—all centered around Prism Tower
Rank #3
- [4K ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE] Protect the peace in Lumiose City in this enhanced edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 system, featuring native 4K resolution and a stable 60FPS frame rate. Experience the urban re-development plan with high-fidelity textures and advanced lighting effects centered around the iconic Prism Tower.
- [REAL-TIME BATTLE ENGINE] For the first time in the Pokémon RPG series, command your Pokémon in seamless real-time battles. Engage over 100+ unique species with zero loading transitions, utilizing an upgraded combat AI that leverages the increased processing power of the Switch 2 hardware.
- [MEGA EVOLUTION MECHANICS] Master the power of Mega Evolution to suppress rampaging Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon appearing across the Kalos region. This edition introduces 15+ newly discovered Mega-Evolved forms, each rendered with dynamic particle effects and exclusive Z-A signature moves for tactical depth.
- [MULTIPLAYER Z-A ROYALE] Compete in the Z-A Royale each night to test your skills against global Trainers. Supported by Nintendo Switch 2's improved low-latency wireless architecture, these competitive events allow you to climb leaderboards and unlock rare evolution stones in 20-player lobbies.
- [EXPANSIVE WILD ZONES] Explore vibrant Wild Zones where Pokémon roam free in their natural habitats, from bustling city shops to hidden restaurants. This Hong Kong physical edition is region-free and supports English, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese, featuring the enigmatic AZ and the peacekeeping Team MZ.
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