List of characters' first Pokémon

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

In the games

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

Pokémon	Information
Blue's Eevee	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's Ralts	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.
Ethan/Lyra's Marill	The player's friend in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Ethan or Lyra, will have a Marill.
Alder's Larvesta	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.
Lillie's Clefairy	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 was not considered a Trainer prior to the events of the episode.
Trace's Eevee/Pikachu	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's Wooloo	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 Morpeko	Marnie's first Pokémon is her Morpeko, which she received as a gift when she was five from her brother, Piers.
Bede's Hatenna	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	Information
Anabel's Snorlax	In 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's Hisuian Decidueye	In Pokémon 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

Be the Best! Pokémon B+W

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

Monta, Bianca, and Cheren received a Snivy, Oshawott, and Tepig respectively as their first Pokémon. They evolve into their final stages later on.

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 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 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.

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.