Black and White Pokemon Starters- A comprehensive overview 2023

If you are a fan of Pokemon, you probably know that every new generation of games introduces a set of three starter Pokemon that you can choose from at the beginning of your adventure. These Pokemon are usually based on a grass, fire, and water type, and they will accompany you throughout your journey as your loyal partners.

In this article, we will focus on the black and white Pokemon starters, which are the ones that appear in Pokemon Black and White, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, and Pokemon Masters EX. We will explore their characteristics, their strengths and weaknesses, their moves and strategies, and how they compare to each other. By the end of this article, you will have a better idea of which starter Pokemon suits your play style and preferences.

Table of Contents

What are black and white Pokemon starters?

The black and white Pokemon starters are Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott. They are the first Pokemon that you can obtain in the Unova region, which is the setting of Pokemon Black and White, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2, and Pokemon Masters EX. They are also known as the first partner Pokemon or the big three among Japanese fans. They are extremely rare in the wild, and they are usually gifted to you by a Pokemon Professor, a parent, or a teacher. They will be your first companions in your journey to become a Pokemon master.

Why are they important in the game?

The black and white Pokemon starters are important in the game for several reasons. First of all, they are your first allies in your battles against wild Pokemon, rival trainers, gym leaders, evil teams, and other challenges. They will help you gain experience, level up, learn new moves, evolve, and grow stronger. Second of all, they are part of your team composition, which means that they will affect your type coverage, your synergy, your strategy, and your performance in different situations.

Depending on which starter you choose, you will have different advantages and disadvantages against certain types of opponents. Third of all, they are part of your personal story, which means that they will reflect your personality, your style, your preferences, and your bond with your Pokemon. Depending on which starter you choose, you will have different interactions, dialogues, events, and outcomes with other characters in the game.

What are their types, abilities, and evolutions?

The black and white Pokemon starters have different types, abilities, and evolutions that define their roles and capabilities in battle. Here is a brief overview of each starter:

Snivy is a grass-type Pokemon that resembles a green snake with yellow eyes and a leafy tail. It evolves into Servine at level 17, and then into Serperior at level 36. Its ability is Overgrow, which boosts its grass-type moves when its HP is low. It is known for its speed, elegance, intelligence, and calmness.
Tepig is a fire-type Pokemon that resembles a red pig with orange markings and a curly tail. It evolves into Pignite at level 17, and then into Emboar at level 36. Its ability is Blaze, which boosts its fire-type moves when its HP is low. It is known for its power, endurance, courage, and appetite.
Oshawott is a water-type Pokemon that resembles a blue otter with a scallop shell on its belly. It evolves into Dewott at level 17, and then into Samurott at level 36. Its ability is Torrent, which boosts its water-type moves when its HP is low. It is known for its skill, loyalty, determination, and pride.

Snivy

Snivy is the grass snake Pokemon that represents the grass type among the black and white Pokemon starters. It has a slender body with green scales, yellow eyes, and a leafy tail. It is based on the concept of a snake that can photosynthesize. It is also inspired by the European green lizard and the vine snake.

Snivy’s strengths and weaknesses

As a grass-type Pokemon, Snivy has several strengths and weaknesses that affect its performance in battle. Here are some of them:

Snivy is strong against water, ground, and rock types, which means that it can deal more damage and take less damage from them. This gives Snivy an advantage against some common and powerful types in the game, such as Water, Ground, and Rock.
Snivy is weak against fire, ice, poison, bug, and flying types, which means that it can deal less damage and take more damage from them. This puts Snivy at a disadvantage against some common and powerful types in the game, such as Fire, Ice, Poison, Bug, and Flying.
Snivy has a high speed stat, which means that it can often act before its opponents and avoid their attacks. This gives Snivy an edge in terms of agility and evasion.
Snivy has a low attack stat, which means that it cannot deal much physical damage with its moves. This limits Snivy’s offensive potential and makes it rely more on its special moves.

Snivy’s moves and strategies

Snivy can learn a variety of moves that can help it in different situations. Here are some of the most notable ones:

Leaf Tornado is a grass-type move that has a 50% chance of lowering the target’s accuracy. This can help Snivy to reduce the damage it takes from its enemies and to set up for other moves.
Coil is a non-damaging move that raises Snivy’s attack, defense, and accuracy by one stage each. This can help Snivy to boost its stats and to improve its chances of hitting with its moves.
Leaf Blade is a grass-type move that has a high critical hit ratio. This can help Snivy to deal more damage and to bypass the enemy’s defenses.
Giga Drain is a grass-type move that restores half of the damage dealt as HP. This can help Snivy to recover its health and to sustain itself in battle.
Leech Seed is a grass-type move that plants a seed on the target that drains 1/8 of its HP every turn and gives it to Snivy. This can help Snivy to drain the enemy’s health and to heal itself over time.
Attract is a non-damaging move that makes the target infatuated if it is of the opposite gender. This can help Snivy to immobilize the enemy and to prevent it from attacking.

A possible strategy for using Snivy is to start with Coil to raise its stats, then use Leaf Tornado to lower the enemy’s accuracy, then use Leaf Blade or Giga Drain to deal damage and heal, then use Leech Seed or Attract to further weaken the enemy.

Tepig

Tepig is the fire pig Pokemon that represents the fire type among the black and white Pokemon starters. It has a round body with red fur, orange markings, and a curly tail. It is based on the concept of a pig that can ignite its snout. It is also inspired by the Chinese zodiac sign of the pig.

Tepig’s strengths and weaknesses

As a fire-type Pokemon, Tepig has several strengths and weaknesses that affect its performance in battle. Here are some of them:

Tepig is strong against grass, ice, bug, and steel types, which means that it can deal more damage and take less damage from them. This gives Tepig an advantage against some common and weak types in the game, such as Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel.
Tepig is weak against water, ground, and rock types, which means that it can deal less damage and take more damage from them. This puts Tepig at a disadvantage against some common and strong types in the game, such as Water, Ground, and Rock.
Tepig has a high attack stat, which means that it can deal more physical damage with its moves. This gives Tepig an edge in terms of power and damage output.
Tepig has a low speed stat, which means that it often acts after its opponents and gets hit by their attacks. This limits Tepig’s agility and evasion.

Tepig’s moves and strategies

Tepig can learn a variety of moves that can help it in different situations. Here are some of the most notable ones:

Flame Charge is a fire-type move that raises Tepig’s speed by one stage after hitting. This can help Tepig to overcome its low speed stat and to act faster than its enemies.
Flare Blitz is a fire-type move that deals high damage but also recoils 1/3 of the damage dealt as HP. This can help Tepig to finish off its enemies quickly but also puts it at risk of hurting itself. This can be a risky but rewarding move for Tepig.
Wild Charge is an electric-type move that deals high damage but also recoils 1/4 of the damage dealt as HP. This can help Tepig to cover its weakness against water types but also puts it at risk of hurting itself. This can be another risky but rewarding move for Tepig.
Heat Crash is a fire-type move that deals more damage depending on how much heavier Tepig is than the target. This can help Tepig to exploit its weight advantage and to deal massive damage to lighter enemies.
Brick Break is a fighting-type move that breaks through the target’s barriers, such as Reflect or Light Screen. This can help Tepig to bypass the enemy’s defenses and to deal more damage with its moves.
Work Up is a non-damaging move that raises Tepig’s attack and special attack by one stage each. This can help Tepig to boost its stats and to improve its damage output with both physical and special moves.

A possible strategy for using Tepig is to start with Work Up to raise its stats, then use Flame Charge to increase its speed, then use Flare Blitz or Wild Charge to deal high damage and cover its weaknesses, then use Heat Crash or Brick Break to deal more damage and break through the enemy’s barriers.

Oshawott

Oshawott is the sea otter Pokemon that represents the water type among the black and white Pokemon starters. It has a round body with blue fur, white markings, and a scallop shell on its belly. It is based on the concept of an otter that can use its shell as a weapon. It is also inspired by the Japanese folklore of the kappa, a water creature that has a dish on its head.

Oshawott’s strengths and weaknesses

As a water-type Pokemon, Oshawott has several strengths and weaknesses that affect its performance in battle. Here are some of them:

Oshawott is strong against fire, ground, and rock types, which means that it can deal more damage and take less damage from them. This gives Oshawott an advantage against some common and weak types in the game, such as Fire, Ground, and Rock.
Oshawott is weak against grass and electric types, which means that it can deal less damage and take more damage from them. This puts Oshawott at a disadvantage against some common and strong types in the game, such as Grass and Electric.
Oshawott has a balanced stat distribution, which means that it has no major strengths or weaknesses in terms of stats. This gives Oshawott an edge in terms of versatility and adaptability.
Oshawott has a limited move pool, which means that it cannot learn many different types of moves. This limits Oshawott’s type coverage and diversity.

Oshawott’s moves and strategies

Oshawott can learn a variety of moves that can help it in different situations. Here are some of the most notable ones:

Razor Shell is a water-type move that has a 50% chance of lowering the target’s defense. This can help Oshawott to reduce the enemy’s resistance and to deal more damage with its moves.
Aqua Jet is a water-type move that always goes first. This can help Oshawott to outspeed its enemies and to hit them before they can react.
Waterfall is a water-type move that has a 20% chance of making the target flinch. This can help Oshawott to prevent the enemy from attacking and to create an opening for other moves.
Ice Beam is an ice-type move that has a 10% chance of freezing the target. This can help Oshawott to cover its weakness against grass types and to immobilize the enemy with a status condition.
Swords Dance is a non-damaging move that raises Oshawott’s attack by two stages. This can help Oshawott to boost its stats and to improve its physical damage output.
Scald is a water-type move that has a 30% chance of burning the target. This can help Oshawott to cover its weakness against electric types and to inflict damage over time with a status condition.

A possible strategy for using Oshawott is to start with Swords Dance to raise its attack, then use Razor Shell or Waterfall to lower the enemy’s defense or make it flinch, then use Aqua Jet or Ice Beam to deal fast or super effective damage, then use Scald or Razor Shell to burn or lower the enemy’s defense again.

Comparison of the three starters

The three black and white Pokemon starters have different strengths and weaknesses that make them suitable for different players and situations. Here are some factors that you may want to consider when choosing your starter:

Snivy is best for beginners who want a fast and elegant Pokemon that can avoid damage and use status moves to weaken the enemy. Snivy is also good for competitive players who want a speedy and reliable Pokemon that can set up and sweep with its moves. Snivy is the most popular among fans who like its design, personality, and evolution.

Tepig is best for beginners who want a powerful and enduring Pokemon that can deal high damage and take hits. Tepig is also good for competitive players who want a strong and versatile Pokemon that can cover its weaknesses and use risky moves. Tepig is the least popular among fans who dislike its design, personality, and evolution.
Oshawott is best for beginners who want a balanced and adaptable Pokemon that can handle different situations and enemies. Oshawott is also good for competitive players who want a flexible and unpredictable Pokemon that can use status moves and type coverage. Oshawott is the second most popular among fans who like its design, personality, and evolution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the black and white Pokemon starters are Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott. They are the first Pokemon that you can obtain in the Unova region, and they will be your first companions in your journey to become a Pokemon master. They have different types, abilities, and evolutions that define their roles and capabilities in battle.

They also have different strengths and weaknesses that affect their performance against different types of opponents. Depending on which starter you choose, you will have different advantages and disadvantages in the game. You will also have different interactions, dialogues, events, and outcomes with other characters in the game. Therefore, choosing your starter is an important decision that will shape your experience and enjoyment of the game.

FAQs

Which starter has the best overall stats in Pokémon Black and White?
All starters have their own strengths: Snivy is fast and defensive, Tepig has robust attack stats, and Oshawott offers balanced attributes.
Can I catch the other starters later in the game?
No, you can only choose one starter, but you can trade with others to acquire the rest.
What are the final evolution types for each starter?
Snivy evolves into the pure Grass-type Serperior, Tepig into the Fire/Fighting-type Emboar, and Oshawott into the Water-type Samurott.
Which starter is considered the best for a beginner?
Many consider Oshawott and its evolutions to be well-balanced for beginners due to its versatile move set and fewer type vulnerabilities.
Can starters be found in the wild in Unova?
No, starters cannot be found in the wild and are only obtainable at the beginning of the game or through trading.