List of characters' first Pokémon

Wally and his first Pokémon, Ralts

This page details the known first partners of various characters throughout the Pokémon franchise.

• For the list of Pokémon that are first available or choosable by the player in various games in the franchise, see List of the player's first Pokémon.
• For a list of characters who own first partner Pokémon, see List of characters with first partner Pokémon.

In the games

Lillie and Clefairy

The lists below show which Pokémon a character received as their first Pokémon, where this is known. The list does not include characters like rivals whose first Pokémon is dependent on the player's choice.

Core series

• The rival of Pokémon Yellow, Blue, starts with an Eevee originally intended for the player. The Eevee will evolve into a Vaporeon if the player loses against the rival at the lab, Jolteon if the player wins against the rival at both the lab and Route 22, and Flareon if the player wins against the rival at the lab, and loses or skips the other battle.
• Wally, with the help of the player and their father, will catch a Ralts. In the original Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, it evolves into Gardevoir, but in the remakes, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, it evolves into a Gallade capable of Mega Evolving.
• The player's friend in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Ethan or Lyra, will have a Marill.
• In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Alder mentions that a Larvesta was his first partner. This predates the usage of the term "first partner Pokémon". He mentions the same Pokémon in Pokémon Masters EX as his first partner.
• In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's Episode RR, Lillie owns a Clefairy. This Clefairy is Lillie's only known Pokémon until she joins the player at the Battle Tree, and Lillie was not considered a Trainer prior to the events of the episode.
• Trace will begin with either an Eevee^P or a Pikachu^E depending on the player's game of choice. It will evolve into either Jolteon or Raichu. These Pokémon differ from the Partner Pikachu and Eevee that the player obtains.
• Hop has a Wooloo that he has owned since before the start of the game, and uses it in his first battle against the player. Over the course of the story, it evolves into Dubwool.
• Marnie's first Pokémon is her Morpeko, which she received as a gift when she was five from her brother, Piers.
• Bede's first Pokémon, as revealed in conversations in The Isle of Armor, is his Hatterene, which he received as a Hatenna when he met Chairman Rose.

Other games

Pokémon Masters EX

• Anabel claims that her first partner was her Snorlax. Snorlax has appeared in both Pokémon Emerald and the Alola-based titles prior to Masters EX.
• Rei says that the first Pokémon that he befriended in Hisui was his Hisuian Decidueye. Rei is based on the player from Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

In the anime

Pokémon the Series

Main characters

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Dawn choosing Piplup as her first Pokémon

• Ash started with a Pikachu, which he received from Professor Oak. In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, he was revealed to be able to Gigantamax into a Gigantamax Pikachu.
• Misty started with Goldeen, Staryu, and Starmie. However, it's unknown how she got them, or which one she acquired first.
• Brock started with an Onix, which he received from his father and for some time stayed with his brother, Forrest, with whom it evolved into a Steelix. In Pokémon the Series: Sun and Moon, it was revealed to be able Mega Evolve into a Mega Steelix.
• Jessie started with an Ekans, which she received for chūgen (a birthday present in the dub), and who later evolved into an Arbok. In Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, she formally released it back into the wild.
• James started with his pet Growlithe, Growlie; however, he left it at home when he ran away.
• May started with a Torchic, which she received from Professor Birch and who later evolved into a Blaziken.
• Max intends to begin his journey with the Ralts he met in Do I Hear a Ralts?.
• Dawn started with a Piplup, which she received from Professor Rowan.
• Iris started with a Drilbur, which she saved from falling off a cliff when she was a little girl, who later evolved into an Excadrill.
• Cilan started with a Pansage, which he has had since childhood.
• Serena started with a Fennekin, which she received from Professor Sycamore, which has since evolved into Delphox.
• Kiawe started with a Charizard, which he received from his grandfather.
• Lillie started with an Alolan Vulpix that hatched from an Egg. She nicknamed it Snowy.
• Sophocles started with a Togedemaru.
• Mallow started with a Bounsweet, which she received in the forest behind the Pokémon School from her late mother. She has since evolved into a Tsareena.
• Goh initially wanted his first Pokémon to be a Mew like the one he met when he was six, but he changed his mind after befriending a wild Scorbunny in Galar, choosing it as his partner instead. It has since evolved into a Cinderace.

Supporting characters

• Gary started with a Squirtle, which he received from Professor Oak and who later evolved into a Blastoise.
• Casey started with a Chikorita, which she received from Professor Elm and who later evolved into a Meganium.
• Sakura started with an Eevee, which later evolved into an Espeon.
• Jimmy (The Legend of Thunder!) started with a Cyndaquil, which he received from Professor Elm and who later evolved into a Typhlosion.
• Marina started with a Totodile, which she received from Professor Elm and nicknamed Wani-Wani, and which later evolved into a Feraligatr.
• Vincent started with a Chikorita, which he received from Professor Elm and who later evolved into a Meganium.
• Harrison started with a Torchic, which he received from Professor Birch and who later evolved into a Blaziken.
• Nicholai started with a Mudkip, which later evolved into a Marshtomp.
• Jimmy (Judgment Day!) started with a Squirtle, which later evolved into a Blastoise.
• Yuzo said that he started his Pokémon journey with a Starly.
• Paul started with a Turtwig, which later evolved into Torterra.
• Zoey started with a Glameow, which she raised after it was abandoned.
• Kenny started with a Piplup, which later evolved into an Empoleon.
• Cynthia started with a Gible that she hatched from an Egg as a child, which has since evolved into a Garchomp.
• Barry's first Pokémon is currently unknown, but it was hinted in Stopped in the Name of Love! that his first Pokémon might be his Empoleon, which he received as a Piplup.
• Lyra started with a Chikorita.
• Khoury started with a Totodile, which later evolved into a Croconaw.
• Volkner started with a Pikachu, which later evolved into a Raichu.
• Trip started with a Snivy, which he received from Professor Juniper, who later evolved into a Serperior.
• Bianca started with a Tepig, which later evolved into an Emboar.
• Burgundy started with an Oshawott, which later evolved into a Dewott.
• Virgil started with an Eevee, which later evolved into an Umbreon.
• Alain started with a Charmander, which he received from Professor Sycamore, and which evolved into Charizard. It can Mega Evolve into a Mega Charizard X.
• Mairin started with a Chespin, which she received from Professor Sycamore. She nicknamed it Chespie.
• Tierno started with a Squirtle, which he received from Professor Sycamore and later evolved into Blastoise.
• Shauna started with a Bulbasaur, which she received from Professor Sycamore, which evolved into Ivysaur.
• Trevor started with a Charmander, which he received from Professor Sycamore, which evolved into Charizard. It can Mega Evolve into a Mega Charizard Y.
• Sawyer started with a Treecko, which he received from Professor Birch and later evolved into Sceptile. It can Mega Evolve into a Mega Sceptile.
• Professor Kukui started with a Litten that he received from his parents. It has since evolved into an Incineroar.
• Gladion started with an Eevee, which later evolved into an Umbreon.
• Chloe started with an Eevee that can't evolve, which she caught outside of Cerise Laboratory.

Characters of the day

• Zackie (A Bout With Sprout) started with a Bellsprout, which he accidentally caught in Violet City when trying to catch Ash's Pikachu, which he thought was a wild Pokémon.
• Tommy (Abandon Ship!) started with a Mudkip, which later evolved into a Swampert.
• Stephanie (Having a Wailord of a Time) started with a Mudkip, which she received from Nurse Joy at the Slateport City Pokémon Center.
  • Stephanie's father started with a Treecko, which he received at the same time.
• Gilbert (Journey to the Starting Line!) started with a Bulbasaur, which he received from Professor Oak.
• Zander's (Caterpie's Big Dilemma) Caterpie was implied to be his first Pokémon in the episode, mentioning that his Caterpie was his first, although it was "not caught".
• Tyler (The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!) started with a Piplup, which he nicknamed "Pippy", who he received from an unknown location in eastern Sinnoh.
• Emmy (The Dragon Master's Path!) started with her Druddigon, which she received from her father when she started her journey.
• Nanette (New Places...Familiar Faces!) started with a Tepig, which she received from Professor Juniper.

Alternate movie continuity

I Choose You!, a movie that started a continutity separate from the main anime series, focused on the developing friendship between Ash and the Pikachu he received from Professor Oak. In this continuity, Gary also started with a Squirtle, while the Oak's Bulbasaur and Charmander were revealed to have been picked by alternate versions of Marina and Tierno, respectively.

In The Power of Us, Ash and Pikachu helped Risa catch a wild Eevee that eventually became her first Pokémon.

Pokémon Horizons: The Series

• Liko started with a Sprigatito, which she recieved from her homeroom teacher at Indigo Academy. She later evolved into a Floragato.
• Roy started with a Fuecoco, which he adopted from the Rising Volt Tacklers after bonding with it.
• Dot started with a Quaxly, another wild Pokémon living with the Rising Volt Tacklers.
• Ann, Liko's classmate, also recieved her first partner, an Oshawott, from Indigo Academy. It has since evolved into a Dewott.

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer

Rosa and Serperior in the Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer

In the Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer, Nate is shown to have picked a Tepig, which appears as an Emboar throughout the trailer. Following the game's logic, Hugh is seen with a Samurott, which has a type advantage over Emboar. In the extended version of the trailer, Rosa is also seen using Serperior to battle Cheren's Stoutland.

Pokémon Origins

Red and Charizard in Pokémon Origins

In Pokémon Origins, Red's main Pokémon is his first, a Charmander he received from Professor Oak. It eventually evolves into Charizard and becomes able to Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X through a Key Stone and Charizardite X Red received as a thank-you gift from Mr. Fuji.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer

In the Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer, Brendan is shown to have picked a Treecko, while May has both a Torchic and Mudkip. All three Pokémon are seen in their middle, final, and Mega Evolved forms.

Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Buddy focuses on Hop and his first Pokémon, Wooloo, before the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield.

POKÉTOON

In Blossom's Dream, Blossom sought to catch her first Pokémon. Eventually, this Pokémon ended up being the Nidoran♂ she bonded with through the episode.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Most characters in Pokémon Adventures do not start out with one of the first partner Pokémon. Instead, they usually have a Pokémon they were given by their parents when they were infants. Occasionally, it is not directly stated which Pokémon was their first Pokémon in the manga, but in profiles of their teams, their first Pokémon is marked with a star and is among the highest level in the party, even if they acquired more than one Pokémon at first.

List of first Pokémon in Pokémon Adventures

• Red's first Pokémon was a Poliwag he had since his childhood, which has evolved into a Poliwrath.
• Blue's first Pokémon was a Scyther, now a Scizor, he took to the training with Chuck.
• Green's first Pokémon was a Jigglypuff, now a Wigglytuff, she received from the Masked Man.
• Yellow's first Pokémon was a Rattata that Red taught her to catch, which has evolved into a Raticate.
• Gold's first Pokémon was his Aipom, now an Ambipom, that his mother gave him.
• Silver's first Pokémon was the Sneasel, now a Weavile, that Giovanni gave to him as a child.
• Crystal's first Pokémon is officially her Smoochum, although she acquired many wild Pokémon that lived as a family while she was in the wild.

Ruby and his first Pokémon from the left to the right: Rara, Kiki and Nana

• Ruby's first Pokémon were the Poochyena, Skitty, and Ralts that he received from his father, all of them having evolved into Mightyena, Delcatty, and Gardevoir, respectively.
• Sapphire's first Pokémon was the Aron, now an Aggron her father gave her.
• Emerald's first Pokémon was a Sceptile he used as a rental Pokémon to challenge the Battle Factory. Emerald stole Sceptile, but it is later revealed it was always intended to be his, having been lost by Professor Birch before he could deliver it. He evolved from a Treecko under Wally's care, and later evolved on his own in the wild.
• Diamond's first was his Munchlax.
• Pearl's first was his Chatot.
• Platinum's first Pokémon was her Ponyta, now a Rapidash.
• Black started with a Rufflet that he captured with the help of a wild Munna he had befriended.
• White's first Pokémon was a Tepig named Gigi who she found alone in the rain. In a twist of fate, Gigi leaves White for N.
• Blake's first known Pokémon is a Dewott, given to him by the International Police Headquarters so he would have a partner Pokémon.
• Whitley's first known Pokémon is a Foongus, given to her by Team Plasma's Anthea and Concordia, who allowed Whitley to pick the Pokémon she felt closest to.
• X's first known Pokémon is a Kangaskhan.
• Y's first known Pokémon is a Fletchling.
• Sun's first known Pokémon is an Alolan Meowth, previously owned by his great-grandfather.
• Moon's first Pokémon is unknown, as she caught a Grubbin, Alolan Grimer, and Mareanie around the same time.
• Henry's first Pokémon is a Galarian Farfetch'd.
• Casey's first Pokémon is unknown, as she was shown owning an Arrokuda, Toxtricity, Falinks, Galarian Stunfisk, and Eiscue prior to her introduction.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, Professor Oak is depicted offering one of three first partner Pokémon—Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle—to Pokémon Trainers as they begin their journeys, much like in other media. Green chooses Charmander as his first Pokémon, and while Red was offered the choice as well, he decided to keep a Clefairy that he met on his way to Professor Oak's lab as his first Pokémon instead.

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu, unlike the anime from which the manga was based on, new Pokémon Trainers do not appear to be given any sort of starter Pokémon. Professor Oak is not shown residing at his laboratory handing out starter Pokémon to new Trainers, as in the anime, rather, he travels the Kanto region conducting research, often accompanied by Bill. Trainers in The Electric Tale of Pikachu must obtain a license before they can purchase Poké Balls or otherwise capture and train Pokémon. Ash found Pikachu under the floorboards of his home, keeping it as his first Pokémon. It is not currently known what Gary Oak's first Pokémon was in the manga, although he is at one point seen owning a Venusaur.

Pokémon Zensho

In Pokémon Zensho, much like in the Pokémon Red and Green games on which the manga was based, Professor Oak offers Satoshi and Shigeru their choice of one out of three first partner Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. Satoshi chooses Charmander, while Shigeru chooses Squirtle, leaving Bulbasaur with Professor Oak.

Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

In Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys, much like Pokémon Gold and Silver, Gold is offered the choice of one of the three Johto first partner Pokémon—Chikorita, Cyndaquil or Totodile—to borrow so that he may run an errand for Professor Elm. Gold chooses Totodile, who Elm allows him to keep after the errand is completed. Also, like in the games, Black (who is based on Silver) steals a Chikorita from Elm's lab while Gold is away on his errand.

Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire (CoroCoro Comic)

In Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire (CoroCoro Comic), Ruby picked a Pokeball that had a Mudkip in it, in order to save Professor Birch from a wild Poochyena. Professor Birch later lets Ruby keep the Mudkip as a gift for rescuing him. After Sapphire asks Ruby if he would like to battle her, she reveals her starter Pokémon Torchic.

Pokémon Battle Frontier

In Pokémon Battle Frontier, Enta's first Pokémon is Vulpix.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (manga)

In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (manga), Kenta and Barry find Professor Rowan's suitcase with Poké Balls inside it, after trying to run away from a flock of Starlys. Kenta takes the Poké Ball with Turtwig, while Barry takes the one with Chimchar, in order to defend themselves from the Starlys.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!, Hareta chose Piplup as his starter in order to save Mitsumi from a rampaging Onix, it later fully evolved into a Empoleon. Mitsumi received her starter Pokémon Chimchar from Professor Rowan, which would later evolve into an Infernape. Jun's starter Pokémon as a Turtwig, which later evolved into a Torterra.

Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure

In Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure, Jō chooses Totodile as his starter Pokémon, which would later evolve into Feraligatr. Tsubaki got his starter Chikorita from Professor Elm's lab, which would later evolve into Meganium.

Be the Best! Pokémon B+W

The fully evolved Unova first partner Pokémon in Be the Best! Pokémon B+W

In Be the Best! Pokémon B+W], Monta, Bianca, and Cheren received a Snivy, Oshawott, and Tepig respectively as their first Pokémon. They ended up evolving into their final stages later on.

Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends

In Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends, Touya, Bianca, and Cheren received a Oshawott, Tepig, and Snivy respectively as their first Pokémon. Only Touya's starter fully evolved into Samurott, while Bianca and Cheren's starters evolved into Pignite and Servine respectively.

Pocket Monsters BW

Pocket Monsters BW: The Heroes of Fire and Thunder

Shin's first Pokémon is Tepig, which would later evovled into Emboar.

Pocket Monsters B2 W2 ~ A New Legend ~

Arata is having trouble deciding which Pokémon he should choose from Bianca as his starter, only for two Team Plasma grunts to steal all three of the starter Pokémon. Luckily Arata managed to swipe one of them when the grunts attacked him. This Pokémon ended up being Oshawott, who would serve as his starter Pokémon and later evolve into Samurott.

Pokémon Omega Ruby Crimson Passion and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Indigo Wisdom

In Pokémon Omega Ruby Crimson Passion and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Indigo Wisdom, Omega's starter Pokémon is Mudkip, which later evolved into Swampert, while Alpha's starter Pokémon is Treecko, which later evolved into Sceptile.

Pokémon Horizon

In Pokémon Horizon, Akira first Pokémon is Rockruff, which has a unique ability to evolve into Lycanroc and then devolve into Rockruff again, thanks to the strange red stone on its neck. It also has the ability to change between its Midday and Midnight Forms while being evolved. Mana's first Pokémon is Rowlet which later evolved into Decidueye.

See also

• First partner Pokémon

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.