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All three Sinnoh starters are viable, so the right pick depends on how you want to fight. Turtwig suits a sturdier Grass/Ground route, Chimchar suits a fast, offensive style with early Fighting moves, and Piplup suits a defensive route that ends in Water/Steel Empoleon. The official Pokémon Trainers Guide for the Switch remakes makes the same point: “You can only choose one of Sinnoh’s three first partner Pokémon to join you in your adventure, but luckily there’s no wrong choice.” Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Trainers Guide
Which games this choice applies to
Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup are the Sinnoh starters of Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl and Pokémon Platinum, and they return in the Nintendo Switch role-playing games Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl, where you choose one of the three. The official Pokémon product page confirms the remake selection, and the official Sinnoh story page confirms the starter types and setting.
Generation IV also includes HeartGold and SoulSilver, which are set in Johto and offer a different starter trio. This article covers only the Sinnoh choice.
The three starters at a glance
| Starter | Starting type | Final form and type | Route it points toward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtwig | Grass | Torterra, Grass/Ground | Sturdy, well-rounded, defensive |
| Chimchar | Fire | Infernape, Fire/Fighting | Swift, offensive, early Fighting moves |
| Piplup | Water | Empoleon, Water/Steel | Defensive, many type resistances |
Choosing by playstyle
Turtwig: the sturdy Grass route
Choose Turtwig if you like a starter that feels solid and want Torterra’s Grass/Ground combination. The official guide describes Torterra as having a well-rounded moveset and strong defensive stats. It also advises leveling Turtwig before the first Gym so it learns useful Grass moves in time.
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Chimchar: speed, offense and early Fighting moves
Chimchar is the aggressive pick. Its middle evolution, Monferno, arrives at level 14 and gains Fighting moves. The guide says Chimchar starts at a type disadvantage in the first Gym, but calls its line a major asset in later Gyms and challenges. If you pick it, plan to cover that first Gym with other team members.
Piplup: defense and Empoleon’s resistances
Piplup suits players who prefer to absorb hits rather than trade blows. Empoleon’s Water/Steel typing gives it resistance or immunity to 11 Pokémon types, according to the guide. The same guide warns that Piplup may struggle at the second Gym and recommends building other team options for the early game.
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Early-game matchups depend on the release
The Gym warnings above come from the Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Trainers Guide. They describe those remakes specifically. The guide does not establish that the same move-learning levels, encounters and Gym difficulty apply to the original Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, so check version-specific advice against the game you are playing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to decide
- Do you want to attack quickly and accept a rough early Gym, or absorb hits and grow steadily?
- Are you willing to level your starter early so it learns the moves you need?
- Will you build a team with backup options for the early Gyms, whichever starter you pick?
- Does Empoleon’s Water/Steel typing appeal more than Torterra’s or Infernape’s final form?
No official source ranks the three starters by overall strength. The choice is about the team you want to build and the style you enjoy.
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