All Ash’s Starter Pokemon Ranked by Backstories and Growth

This anime series is a treat for Pokémon fans, letting us watch beloved starter Pokémon alongside Ash and his partner, Pikachu. While Ash doesn’t experience the classic tradition of choosing a starter Pokémon like most players do, the show focuses on how these Pokémon grow and evolve beyond just fighting or competing – they truly come into their own.

The starter Pokemon Ash meets throughout his journey each offer a unique perspective on the Pokemon world, both positive and negative. Because of this, there are many ways to compare and rank these Pokemon. We believe the best way to rank Ash’s starters is by looking at each Pokemon’s individual story and how their connection with Ash helps them develop over the course of the series.

16. Chikorita

The First Starter To Develop a Crush on Ash

Chikorita’s story isn’t as emotionally devastating as some famous anime episodes, but she definitely faces challenges throughout the series. She and Ash develop a strong connection after he saves her from Team Rocket, a harsh blizzard, and her own headstrong personality.

Chikorita’s ongoing competition with Pikachu was a turning point for her personality. Throughout the series, she grows and becomes a reliable teammate. However, despite her strong affection for Ash, Chikorita isn’t able to fully reach her potential as a Pokémon.

Chikorita becomes a pretty powerful Bayleef, but unfortunately, we never see her reach her full potential as Meganium. It’s disappointing that she doesn’t fully evolve, especially considering she was one of Ash’s most reliable Grass-type Pokémon throughout the series.

15. Oshawott

The First Starter To Stalk Ash Just To Join Him

Meeting Professor Juniper sparked the beginning of a friendship. What makes it unique is that, unlike most of Ash’s Pokémon, Oshawott actively sought him out – and continued to follow him around, almost like a little stalker.

Although Oshawott can be a bit of a show-off, he’s also kind and brave. When Team Rocket attempts to steal Pikachu and Iris’s Axew, Oshawott steps up to rescue them, using his Scalchop to break them free.

I always felt Oshawott had a lot of potential, but ultimately seemed like another Pokémon that didn’t quite reach its full capabilities. He does learn Aqua Jet and gains some confidence, but he never gets to learn really powerful Water-type attacks, and he doesn’t evolve. It’s a shame, because he feels more like a funny sidekick than a truly powerful Water-type battler.

14. Cyndaquil

The First Starter To Take the Longest Time To Evolve

Cyndaquil’s story involves escaping a cruel trainer, facing off against a Sandslash, and dodging Team Rocket’s robotic schemes. Luckily, he meets Ash, who offers him a safe haven. With Ash’s help, Cyndaquil grows from a shy, vulnerable Pokémon into a powerful Quilava.

Sadly, Cyndaquil stops developing in the anime after evolving into Quilava. While Quilava learns the strong move Earthquake, fans were let down that he never fully evolved into Typhlosion, one of the most powerful Fire-type Pokémon. Because of Cyndaquil’s story and role as a starter Pokémon, many fans hoped to see more of his adventures.

13. Totodile

The One and Only Starter Caught and Confined in an Apricorn Poke Ball

Totodile has one of the most playful origins of all of Ash’s starter Pokémon. It began when Ash and Misty both tried to catch it using Lure Balls, leading to a disagreement over who should keep it. They decided to settle things with a battle to see which trainer Totodile preferred. Ash won with a score of two to one, gaining a new, cheerful Pokémon friend.

Totodile, the playful crocodile Pokémon, often brings a lot of humor to Ash’s battles. However, despite being a charming and popular Water-type from the Johto region, Totodile never really gets a chance to develop as a fighter. He has a limited range of moves and doesn’t get the opportunity to grow and become a more powerful Pokémon.

12. Turtwig

The One and Only Starter To Evolve Into a Dual Ground/Grass-Type

Turtwig starts as a gentle protector of the forest, but grows into a powerful fighter – a pretty straightforward story. Ash often seems to find Grass-type Pokémon with great personalities, and Turtwig is a perfect example. As part of Ash’s team, Turtwig becomes a strong battler, eventually evolving into Torterra, one of the most powerful Grass-type starter Pokémon.

It’s great to see Turtwig evolve, but we haven’t really seen what Torterra is fully capable of yet. Even so, Torterra has become a valuable mentor to Ash’s other Pokémon at Professor Oak’s lab. With more training to master his size and a new approach to battling, he could become a powerful asset to Ash’s team.

11. Snivy

The First To Ditch Her Previous Pokemon Trainer

I watched Snivy arrive with a really unique attitude – she was confident, a little sassy, and determined to find a trainer who truly deserved her. It was refreshing because, unlike many Pokémon who get left behind, Snivy actually chose to leave her initial trainer. Then, she did something I’d never seen before – she essentially put Ash through a test, making him prove himself worthy of earning her trust and becoming her partner. She wasn’t just waiting to be chosen; she was doing the choosing!

It’s disappointing that Snivy doesn’t reach her full potential as Serperior in the anime. She’s a capable Pokémon with powerful moves like Leaf Storm and Attract, and could have become a truly impressive fighter. Unfortunately, it feels like Ash doesn’t give her enough training to help her develop those strengths.

10. Rowlet

The First Starter To Weaponize Comedy

Rowlet’s story begins with some funny moments as it learns to become independent and leave home. The family that fostered Rowlet in the anime is charming, and their encouragement of its development is just as strong as Ash’s commitment to helping this sleepy owl Pokémon grow.

Rowlet doesn’t evolve, but this little Pokémon is always getting better, and his training is full of funny mishaps, especially since he’s always falling asleep! Attempts to teach him Bullet Seed don’t really work, but they’re definitely entertaining. An accidental encounter with an Everstone actually helps Rowlet learn a special move called Seed Bomb instead.

Rowlet is remembered mostly for his ability to fall asleep, making him unique among Ash’s Grass-type Pokémon. It would have been interesting to see Rowlet evolve and become even stronger, and how that could have helped Ash during his adventures in Alola.

9. Tepig

The First Unova Starter To Evolve

Tepig has a sad past, marked by being abandoned and living in fear, which left him deeply traumatized. Before meeting Ash, he experienced terrible things. However, with Ash’s gentle and caring nature, Tepig finally finds the happiness and warmth he’s always longed for.

Tepig is different from most of Ash’s Pokémon because it doesn’t reach its strongest form, Emboar. However, Tepig still has a great journey! When it evolves into Pignite, it becomes a truly heartwarming success story, growing into a happy and self-assured fighter – arguably Ash’s most successful Fire-type Pokémon.

8. Squirtle

The First To Choose the Profession of a Firefighter

Squirtle has one of the most imaginative backstories in the Pokemon anime. He begins as a mischievous rebel leading a group of Squirtles, but eventually becomes a local hero. A key trait of Squirtle and his friends is their ability to stay calm and collected, even in tough situations.

Even though he doesn’t learn new moves and sometimes relies on his glasses for encouragement, Squirtle is a standout member of Ash’s Water-type Pokémon team. He’s proven himself in battles, like his victory over Ninjask during the Battle Frontier, and consistently demonstrates his strength both in competition and everyday life.

Squirtle grows into a wise mentor and the leader of the Squirtle Squad, completing his character development. He shows that evolving isn’t just about getting stronger—it’s also about personal growth and becoming a better version of yourself.

7. Treecko

The First Starter To Master Vertical Combat

Treecko’s journey shows us that even our best efforts don’t always guarantee success, and it’s important to be humble. Despite trying his hardest to protect his home, Treecko faced challenges he couldn’t overcome alone. With Ash’s support, he learned to accept things as they are and discovered a new path, becoming skilled in fighting from heights and finding peace through his unusual habit of chewing on twigs.

Having this attitude definitely allows Treecko to become the best Pokemon he can be. Despite often being overlooked as a starter, he powerfully evolves into Sceptile. He doesn’t just become much stronger and learn new moves, but also fully develops as a character, ultimately becoming one of Ash’s most outstanding Pokemon.

2026-05-03 00:36