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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Froakie is the best Water starter overall: its compact, memorable design grows into a sharply distinctive evolution line. This is a subjective ranking of the nine established regional Water-type first partners, plus Gecqua, the Water-type starter revealed for the upcoming Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves. The ranking weighs each starter’s concept and silhouette, the payoff of its evolution line, and how clearly it develops its own identity—not competitive strength.
How this ranking works
The nine established choices are Squirtle, Totodile, Mudkip, Piplup, Oshawott, Froakie, Popplio, Sobble, and Quaxly. Each is the Water-type first partner in a regional main-series starter trio. The official Pokédex provides type and National Pokédex references, while Nintendo’s retrospective on first-partner Pokémon offers descriptions of several past trios.
The order below is an editorial judgment, not an official result or a measure of popularity. It compares the starter concept and silhouette, how satisfying the evolution line feels, and whether the design develops a recognizable identity. It does not rank battle performance across games, where mechanics and available moves differ.
Every Pokémon Water starter ranked
1. Froakie
Froakie begins with a simple, readable frog silhouette and the memorable foam collar that gives it personality without crowding the design. Its evolution line makes a strong visual and thematic leap, turning that modest start into a sleek, unmistakable identity. The line’s progression feels purposeful rather than merely bigger or more elaborate.
#1 Best Overall
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2. Mudkip
Mudkip’s broad head fin, bright coloring, and sturdy little body make it instantly recognizable. It has an appealing balance of cute and capable, and its line carries that grounded, amphibious feel into a more imposing final form. It narrowly misses the top spot because Froakie’s evolution concept feels more cohesive from first stage to finish.
3. Totodile
Totodile sells its character immediately: a little crocodilian with a huge grin and the energy of a mischievous biter. That expressive personality gives it a stronger starting concept than many competitors. Its line becomes more serious as it evolves, though the shift is less seamless than the top two entries’ development.
Rank #2
- POKÉMON PLUSH: Choose to cuddle Charizard, the Flame Pokémon
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- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Charizard looks like it jumped out of the Pokémon Animated Series
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4. Piplup
Piplup’s upright penguin shape and proud expression give it a clear personality from the outset. The line’s eventual regal, armored direction is a memorable payoff, transforming an initially small, dignified bird into something grand. The contrast is part of the appeal, even if the final design feels more imposing than the starter’s original charm.
5. Oshawott
Oshawott has one of the strongest starter-stage hooks: its shell-like scalchop is both a distinctive visual detail and a natural part of its identity. The line’s samurai-inspired direction gives it a recognizable endpoint, but the stages feel more like separate character concepts than one especially smooth transformation.
Rank #3
- POKÉMON PLUSH: Choose to cuddle Eevee, the Evolution Pokémon
- SPECIAL MATERIAL: Snuggly 8-inch Pokémon plush is made with super soft material
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Eevee looks like it jumped right out of the Pokémon Animated Series
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6. Squirtle
Squirtle is a classic for good reason: its turtle form, curled tail, and friendly expression make a compact, timeless design. The line has a clear progression toward a heavily armored final stage, although that escalation changes the lighthearted feel that makes Squirtle itself so charming. Its legacy does not automatically make it the strongest complete line in this particular design ranking.
7. Quaxly
Quaxly’s immaculate crest and composed expression make it one of the most polished-looking starter concepts. Its line leans into a flamboyant, performance-driven identity, which is bold and easy to tell apart from other Water starters. That strong direction is not as universally appealing as the more cohesive or instantly charming lines above it.
Rank #4
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8. Popplio
Popplio starts with an energetic circus-seal concept and an expressive, playful silhouette. Its evolution line commits to a more theatrical identity, giving it a distinctive endpoint rather than repeating the same look at larger scale. The shift is striking, but the starter and later stages can feel less connected than the higher-ranked designs.
9. Sobble
Sobble’s anxious expression and small, translucent-looking body make it a clear character from its first appearance. Its line develops that timid beginning into a more specialized, covert identity, a memorable idea that takes the design in a very different direction. The transformation is interesting, but it is the least satisfying overall progression in this ranking.
Best Value
- POKÉMON PLUSH: Choose to cuddle Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon
- SPECIAL MATERIAL: Snuggly 8-inch Pokémon plush is made with super soft material
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Pikachu looks like it jumped out of the Pokémon Animated Series
- TEAM BUILDING: Collect other 8-inch Pokémon plush and build your own unique team
- OFFICIAL PRODUCT: Officially licensed Pokémon product from Jazwares
10. Gecqua (provisional)
Gecqua is the announced Water-type first partner for Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves. The official announcement calls it the “Water Gecko Pokémon,” but the games have not yet been released, so its complete evolution-line payoff cannot be judged here. Its placement at the bottom is a placeholder for an unfinished evaluation—not a verdict that its design is worse than the established starters.
Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves are planned for simultaneous worldwide release in 2027, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, according to The Pokémon Company’s announcement. Gecqua is a forthcoming entry, not a tenth established regional starter from a released game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Water starter should you choose?
If you are choosing for a specific game, pick from the starters actually offered there and follow the design or personality that appeals to you; this ranking is not a guide to which one is strongest in battle. For a quick design-first recommendation, Froakie offers the most cohesive evolution-line concept here, while Mudkip and Totodile are strong alternatives if you prefer a sturdier amphibian or a more mischievous character.
Some starters also recur in special game contexts without becoming new regional entries. Oshawott, for example, is a first partner in Pokémon Legends: Arceus; that appearance does not make it a new species or an additional regional Water starter.
Quick Recap
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