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Which Pokémon count as Water-type starters?
This ranking covers the nine Water-type first-partner lines identified from Kanto through Paldea: Squirtle, Totodile, Mudkip, Piplup, Oshawott, Froakie, Popplio, Sobble, and Quaxly. A first partner is one of the Pokémon offered at the beginning of a main-series adventure; for example, the official Sword and Shield site presents Sobble alongside Grookey and Scorbunny as Galar’s three choices and labels Sobble Water type. Piplup is also explicitly one of the first partners in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
The rank applies to each full evolution line, not just the cute or memorable first form. The criteria are subjective design and personality, how satisfying the line feels as it evolves, and game utility where a particular game is named. There is no standardized scorecard or official best-to-worst order; the Pokémon Forums poll is a self-selected thread with 20 votes, not a measure of broad popularity.
Water-type starter rankings
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1. Mudkip
Mudkip’s line earns the top spot for a strong combination of charm and a clear evolutionary payoff. Mudkip is expressive and instantly recognizable, while Marshtomp and Swampert make the progression feel substantial without losing the line’s aquatic identity. This is a design judgment, not a claim that the line is objectively superior in every game.
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2. Squirtle
Squirtle’s appeal carries cleanly through Wartortle to Blastoise: a small, lively turtle becomes a confident final evolution with an unmistakable silhouette. As a line, it has one of the clearest transformations from playful starter to imposing partner. Its long-standing place among the original Kanto choices also makes it a natural point of reference, though that familiarity alone does not decide the ranking.
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3. Froakie
Froakie’s line has a particularly coherent visual identity, developing from an agile-looking frog into the sleek Greninja. The successive forms feel connected while still becoming more dramatic, which gives the line broad appeal as a complete design. The ranking reflects that visual progression rather than a universal battle assessment.
Rank #2
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4. Piplup
Piplup’s proud, slightly fussy personality gives it a distinct character from the start, and Empoleon’s final design makes the line’s endpoint feel deliberately different from its small penguin beginnings. That contrast is a strength for some players and a less seamless evolution for others. Piplup’s status as a starting choice in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is confirmed on the official game site.
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5. Oshawott
Oshawott is an expressive base form with a memorable shell motif, and Samurott gives the line a strong, composed finish. The shift in feel between Oshawott and its later forms is noticeable, but the line remains distinctive rather than generic. Its ranking lands in the middle because the individual designs are appealing even if the evolution’s tonal progression may not work for every player.
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6. Totodile
Totodile brings more mischievous energy than most starters, and that personality is backed by an official description: the Legends: Pokémon Totodile page calls it rowdy and warns, “Because Totodile will bite indiscriminately, even its Trainer must be careful.” Croconaw and Feraligatr develop that bite-first attitude into a more imposing line. Its lively character is a major asset, though the later designs are less cohesive to this ranking’s taste than the entries above it.
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7. Quaxly
Quaxly’s tidy, confident look sets up an evolution line with a strong sense of performance and style. That commitment makes it memorable, though the direction is more specific—and therefore more divisive—than the adaptable appeal of the higher-ranked lines. Quaxly represents Paldea’s Water-type starter in this nine-line comparison.
Rank #4
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8. Popplio
Popplio starts with a playful, circus-like personality that distinguishes it immediately. Its evolution line leans further into theatrical flair, a coherent idea that will appeal to players who like expressive, unusual designs but may feel less natural to those who prefer a more straightforward animal-to-monster progression. Its lower position is a matter of taste, not a judgment of battle strength.
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9. Sobble
Sobble’s anxious, shy character makes its first form unusually relatable, and that contrast gives the line a recognizable starting point. The later design direction is more dramatic and stylized, which creates a bigger gap between the base Pokémon and the line’s overall aesthetic than this ranking prefers. Sobble is still a clear Galar Water-type choice, as the official Sword and Shield starter page confirms.
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How to use this ranking
Starter preference is personal, and a line’s battle value can change with the game, available moves, team composition, and version. The order here is best read as a design-and-character ranking of complete lines—not a claim that the ninth-place choice is a poor pick for a playthrough. If you already have a favorite, its fit with your adventure matters more than this list.
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