History Characters / PokemonRecurringArchetypes

->'''Pokémon similar to this archetype:''' Scyther line and Pinsir & Heracross[[note]]Scyther and Pinsir were simply version exclusive pairs, but Scyther received an evolution in Scizor(later Kleavor) while Pinsir received a different counterpart in Heracross. All share a base stat total (including, uniquely, Scyther and its evolutions) and have been grouped together in [[DivergentCharacterEvolutioni different ways over time]][[/note]] (''Gen II''); Tatsugiri & Dondozo [[note]]An imbalanced symbiosis rather than being equal counterparts, breaking the base stat rule and the general design philosophy[[/note]]

* BirdsOfAFeather: Often partners, or friendly rivals.

** Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan were unrelated in Gen I. In Gen II, they got a baby form and a third member. No other pairs have ever been retroactively linked like this.
** Pinsir and Scyther were just version exclusive counterparts in Gen I. Both received evolutions in Gen II's betas. Somewhere in development, however, it was decided to separate Pinsir and Heracross into a cross-gen thematic duo, while Scyther still evolved into Scizor. Down the road, this also had the weird effect of giving us Mega Pinsir, Heracross, and Scizor, but because only fully evolved Pokémon are capable of Mega Evolution, there is no Mega Scyther.
** Scyther and Scizor. Uniquely, the thematic duo here is formed from a Pokémon and its immediate evolution. Scyther is ''the only'' Pokémon that doesn't change base stat total upon evolving. Scyther and Scizor are equally powerful, just differently balanced (like all other thematic duo pairs). This would be reprised with Kleavor making them three that share stat totals.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The archetype is a series staple, but Generation II didn't exactly follow it to the letter. The [[WordOfGod intended]] [[https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/23/pokemon-creators-on-platinum Pikaclone is Pichu,]] a pre-evolution for Pikachu rather that a unique new line. The fanbase also took to the Marill line, which debuted early in the anime and had incidental similarities to Pikachu such as a rodent design, zig-zagging tail, two-stage evolution, with a baby pre-evolution introduced a generation later, and placement in the Fairy egg group. It was even given the FanNickname "Pikablu" in its day. The archetype wasn't well and truly established until Generation III, where Plusle and Minun established the obligatory non-evolving electric rodent for each generation from then on.

** Gen IV only had one evil team that was after either mascot, and gave the third member a unique Forme Change in their enhanced game. Otherwise, it echoed Gen III closely.

In the first five generations the straightest examples had a completely even 100 across all six stats, wide movepools, and in 4/5 cases Psychic-typing. Starting around Gen IV they started to incorporate forme changes, and since then the archetype has been increasingly played with. Still, every generation has included at least one cute tiny Mythical as an homage to the original Mew.

** In Gen VII, Incineroar (a {{Heel}} wrestler with high physical stats) is the Fighter, Primarina (a SquishyWizard with high special stats) is the Mage, and Decidueye (an archer with balanced stats and Ghost typing) is the Thief.
** Gen IX features this as well, with the added twist that each first partner's final evolution is inspired by a type of entertainer. Quaquaval (a DanceBattler based on Brazilian capoeira and carnival dancers) is the Fighter, Skeledirge (a singer using MagicMusic) is the Mage, and Meowscarada (a Dark-type StageMagician) is the Thief.

* TheHero: The closest monsters to being main characters are the first partners. First partners get a lot of facetime in the marketing. First partner designs give them pretty strong "canon" personalities (i.e. Sobble is anxious, Scorbunny is energetic.) First partners are also heavily associated with the human lead characters. Protagonists in spinoffs and marketing materials almost always have first partners. However the player's first partner choice basically only influences some rivals' teams, with you being free to bench and even release them as you soon as you catch another Pokémon. Only in ''Yellow'' and ''Let's Go'' do they play a deeper role.

* MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers: Only one of the first partners is given to you at the start of any playthrough. In most games, the only way to get the others is by trading.

* RecurringBoss: At least one rival's Ace will be a first partner, so you'll watch one you didn't pick steadily grow as an adversary over the game. Generic [=NPC=]s rarely use any first partner Pokémon from any of these lines.

*** The second set of first partner exclusive moves, introduced in Gen V, are the Pledge moves: Fire Pledge, Water Pledge, and Grass Pledge. While the moves are rather standard on their own, if two first partners use different Pledge moves in doubles, the two will unleash a powerful CombinationAttack with a secondary FieldPowerEffect on the opponent's side. The "secret" part is later downplayed slightly, as they are shared as of Gen VII with the Elemental Monkeys while Grass Pledge alone can be taught to Silvally.
** It's also become common practice to give first partner Pokémon their own exclusive moves in their debut generation/game, though these moves usually get subjected to UniquenessDecay later on. This started in Gen III (with Sceptile, Blaziken, and Swampert getting exclusive access to Leaf Blade, Blaze Kick, and Muddy Water, respectively), but it didn't become a recurring trend until Gen VI.
* StarterMon: These Pokémon are the TropeMaker.[[note]]The term "starter" was the long-time informal designation for these Pokémon, a term that was briefly adopted for official media. However, starting with Gen VI, the term "starter" was phased out in favor of "first partner" instead.[[/note]] They're always the first Pokémon you receive, and a handy first partner to keep throughout the game.

** Magikarp line: Simply reach Level 20.

** Gen VI does this most explicitly with Chesnaught, Delphox, and Greninja in that order by number.

* JackOfAllStats: In the earlier games, the first partners tend to have pretty well-rounded stats, so they can help out in any situation you get into early on. The later-introduced first partners slowly bucked this trend, though their first partner's first forms are still usually well-rounded.

Informally ([[https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Terminology_of_first_partner_Pok%C3%A9mon#Starter_Pok%C3%A9mon and for a brief time, officially]]) called the Starter Pokémon. The Big Three. They are, true to name, the first Pokémon you receive in the core series games. Entrusted to you by the regional Professor, first partners come in three different types: Grass, Fire, or Water. Your rival gets one you don't choose, teaching a basic ElementalRockPaperScissors relationship between them.[[note]]Earlier games always have the rival choosing the first partner stronger to yours, while some later games have the rival choosing the first partner weaker to yours; some games have ''two'' rivals who take both.[[/note]] Since abilities were introduced, first partners get one of three abilities that are type variants of each other: Overgrow, Blaze, and Torrent, which boosts the power of their primary type when their HP gets low. \\

* CantDropTheHero: Strongly averted. You could release the first partners forever as soon as you catch your first ComMon, or trade them at any point in time. Still, the game reminds you of your first partner choice through TheRival, and sometimes other characters.
** Played mostly straight in ''Let's Go! Pikachu'' and '' Eevee.'' You can't release your respective first partner at all, and while you ''can'' switch them out of your battling party, they'll never leave your side in the overworld.
* ChromaticArrangement: GreenMeansNatural, FireIsRed, and WaterIsBlue (and [[YellowLightningBlueLightning Pikachu is Yellow]]). The Grass-types may also be part plant, and the Fire-types are sometimes literally on fire. The first games in the series were named after their respective colors.

* CrutchCharacter: ZigZagged. Their decent starting level of 5 and quick access to their early game STAB move means that, barring a few inconvenient matchups, first partners can usually solo the early game with no issue. The game is designed for the player to rely on first partners at the outset [[ComplacentGamingSyndrome if not the entire game if they end up overleveled.]] First partners can all easily overpower generic trainers and early ComMons. When it comes to gyms, depending on them is a rough answer to DifficultyLevels for how much [[ThresholdGuardians grinding]] or [[ConvenientWeaknessPlacement catching]] and [[SocializationBonus trading]] it takes to win.[[note]]Famously, Bulbasaur and Squirtle dealing 4x STAB damage to breeze through Brock on their own and at least having a defensive resistance to Misty, where Charmander is inconvenienced by dealing x0.5 to both and is weak to Misty's Bubblebeam, without getting an advantage on a gym until the fourth.[[/note]] Gen V goes out of its way to challenge this playstyle by giving the first gym the advantage with the Elemental Monkeys regardless of your choice in ''BW'', and then having a neutral Normal Gym up first for ''[=B2W2=]''.
* ElementalRockPaperScissors: Applies to the whole game, but the first partner trio adheres to one of the simplest RPS trios of types. Grass beats Water, which beats Fire, which beats Grass - though the secondary types of their final forms play with this sometimes:

* TheHero: The closest monsters to being main characters. First partners get a lot of facetime in the marketing. First partner designs give them pretty strong "canon" personalities (i.e. Sobble is anxious, Scorbunny is energetic.) First partners are also heavily associated with the human lead characters. Protagonists in spinoffs and marketing materials almost always have first partners. However the player's first partner choice basically only influences some rivals' teams, with you being free to bench and even release them as you soon as you catch another Pokémon. Only in ''Yellow'' and ''Let's Go'' do they play a deeper role.
* JackOfAllStats: In the earlier games, the first partners tend to have pretty well-rounded stats, so they can help out in any situation you get into early on. The later-introduced first partners slowly bucked this trend, though their first forms are still usually well-rounded.

* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Their first forms are usually designed to be adorable and highly appealing.

*** The first set, introduced in Gen III, consists of Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon. These moves have the same effect as Hyper Beam: 150 power, 90% accuracy, and causes a recharge on the following turn.
*** The second set, introduced in Gen V, are the Pledge moves: Fire Pledge, Water Pledge, and Grass Pledge. While the moves are rather standard on their own, if two first partners use different Pledge moves in doubles, the two will unleash a powerful CombinationAttack with a secondary FieldPowerEffect on the opponent's side. The "secret" part is later downplayed slightly, as they are shared as of Gen VII with the Elemental Monkeys while Grass Pledge alone can be taught to Silvally.

[[caption-width-right:1000:[[labelnote: The Grass Starters]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/grass_6.png[[/labelnote]]]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:[[labelnote: The Fire Starters]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fire_85.png[[/labelnote]]]]
[[caption-width-right:1000:[[labelnote: The Water Starters]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/water_32.jpg[[/labelnote]]]]

Informally ([[https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Terminology_of_first_partner_Pok%C3%A9mon#Starter_Pok%C3%A9mon and for a brief time, officially]]) called the Starter Pokémon. The Big Three. They are, true to name, the first Pokémon you receive in the core series games. Entrusted to you by the regional Professor, they come in three different types: Grass, Fire, or Water. Your rival gets one you don't choose, teaching a basic ElementalRockPaperScissors relationship between them.[[note]]Earlier games always have the rival choosing the first partner stronger to yours, while some later games have the rival choosing the first partner weaker to yours; some games have ''two'' rivals who take both.[[/note]] Since abilities were introduced, first partners get one of three abilities that are type variants of each other: Overgrow, Blaze, and Torrent, which boosts the power of their primary type when their HP gets low. \\

* BreakoutCharacter: Being a first partner vastly increases a Pokémon's chance of gaining widespread popularity and recognition. In particular, all three Kanto first namer lines (especially Charizard), Blaziken, Greninja, and Cinderace have become major icons of the franchise.
* CantDropTheHero: Strongly averted. You could release them forever as soon as you catch your first ComMon, or trade them at any point in time. Still, the game reminds you of your first partner choice through TheRival, and sometimes other characters.

* CriticalStatusBuff: Their default ability is either Overgrow, Blaze, or Torrent, which increases the power of Grass/Fire/Water moves respectively by 1.5 when they are at one-third of their health.
* CrutchCharacter: ZigZagged. Their decent starting level of 5 and quick access to their early game STAB move means that, barring a few inconvenient matchups, they can usually solo the early game with no issue. The game is designed for the player to rely on them at the outset [[ComplacentGamingSyndrome if not the entire game if they end up overleveled.]] They can all easily overpower generic trainers and early ComMons. When it comes to gyms, depending on them is a rough answer to DifficultyLevels for how much [[ThresholdGuardians grinding]] or [[ConvenientWeaknessPlacement catching]] and [[SocializationBonus trading]] it takes to win.[[note]]Famously, Bulbasaur and Squirtle dealing 4x STAB damage to breeze through Brock on their own and at least having a defensive resistance to Misty, where Charmander is inconvenienced by dealing x0.5 to both and is weak to Misty's Bubblebeam, without getting an advantage on a gym until the fourth.[[/note]] Gen V goes out of its way to challenge this playstyle by giving the first gym the advantage with the Elemental Monkeys regardless of your choice in ''BW'', and then having a neutral Normal Gym up first for ''[=B2W2=]''.

** In Gen IV, Torterra is Grass/Ground, Infernape is Fire/Fighting, and Empoleon is Water/Steel, meaning every member is capable of dealing super-effective damage to the other two. [[note]]Except Empoleon, whose [=STABs=] are only neutral against Torterra, but Torterra has a double weakness to the [[IceMagicIsWater Ice Beam]] that Empoleon [[ComplacentGamingSyndrome is practically guaranteed to run]].[[/note]]

* FighterMageThief: As your first choice in your RPG experience, they sometimes mirror a classic jobs system:

* TheHero: The closest monsters to being main characters. They get a lot of facetime in the marketing. Their designs give them pretty strong "canon" personalities (i.e. Sobble is anxious, Scorbunny is energetic.) They're also heavily associated with the human lead characters. Protagonists in spinoffs and marketing materials almost always have them. However the player's first partner choice basically only influences some rivals' teams, with you being free to bench and even release them as you soon as you catch another Pokémon. Only in ''Yellow'' and ''Let's Go'' do they play a deeper role.

* RecurringBoss: At least one rival's Ace will be a first partner, so you'll watch one you didn't pick steadily grow as an adversary over the game. Generic [=NPC=]s rarely use Pokémon from any of these lines.

** The archetype as a whole has two sets of them, both of which have one for each type. These moves must be taught by a designated tutor somewhere in each game.
*** The first set, introduced in Gen III, consists of Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon. These moves have the same effect as Hyper Beam: 150 power, 90% accuracy, and causes a recharge on the following turn.

* StarterMon: These Pokémon were the TropeNamer.[[note]]The term "starter" was the long-time informal designation for these Pokémon, a term that was quickly adopted for official media. However, starting with Gen VI, the term "starter" was phased out in favor of "first partner" instead, though the "starter" term still crops up from time to time.[[/note]] They're always the first Pokémon you receive, and a handy partner to keep throughout the game.

Informally ([[https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Terminology_of_first_partner_Pok%C3%A9mon#Starter_Pok%C3%A9mon and for some time, officially]]) called the Starter Pokémon. The Big Three. They are, true to name, the first Pokémon you receive in the core series games. Entrusted to you by the regional Professor, they come in three different types: Grass, Fire, or Water. Your rival gets one you don't choose, teaching a basic ElementalRockPaperScissors relationship between them.[[note]]Earlier games always have the rival choosing the starter stronger to yours, while some later games have the rival choosing the starter weaker to yours; some games have ''two'' rivals who take both.[[/note]] Since abilities were introduced, first partners get one of three abilities that are type variants of each other: Overgrow, Blaze, and Torrent, which boosts the power of their primary type when their HP gets low. \\

-->'''Grass-type Starters:''' Bulbasaur line (''Gen I''); Chikorita line (''Gen II''); Treecko line (''Gen III''); Turtwig line (''Gen IV''); Snivy line (''Gen V''); Chespin line (''Gen VI''); Rowlet line (''Gen VII''); Grookey line (''Gen VIII''); Sprigatito line (''Gen IX'')

-->'''Fire-type Starters:''' Charmander line (''Gen I''); Cyndaquil line (''Gen II''); Torchic line (''Gen III''); Chimchar line (''Gen IV''); Tepig line (''Gen V''); Fennekin line (''Gen VI''); Litten line (''Gen VII''); Scorbunny line (''Gen VIII''); Fuecoco line (''Gen IX'')

-->'''Water-type Starters:''' Squirtle line (''Gen I''); Totodile line (''Gen II''); Mudkip line (''Gen III''); Piplup line (''Gen IV''); Oshawott line (''Gen V''); Froakie line (''Gen VI''); Popplio line (''Gen VII''); Sobble line (''Gen VIII''); Quaxly line (''Gen IX'')

-->'''Starters of different types:''' Pikachu & Eevee [[note]]Used as the player and rivals respective starters in ''Yellow,'' and again in the ''Let's Go'' remakes now letting the player to choose Eevee as well. When used by the player they are not allowed to evolve[[/note]] (''Gen I'')

* BreakoutCharacter: Being a StarterMon vastly increases a Pokémon's chance of gaining widespread popularity and recognition. In particular, all three Kanto first namer lines (especially Charizard), Blaziken, Greninja, and Cinderace have become major icons of the franchise.

* GreenThumb: The first numerical starter line in each Pokédex is that of the Grass-type starter.

* JackOfAllStats: In the earlier games, the starters tend to have pretty well-rounded stats, so they can help out in any situation you get into early on. The later-introduced first partners slowly bucked this trend, though their first forms are still usually well-rounded.
* LimitBreak: Several starters take part in having "battling gimmicks". The Galar starters have Gigantamax forms, the Alola starters have exclusive Z-moves, the Hoenn starters have Mega Evolutions, and the Kanto starters have both Gigantamax forms and Mega Evolutions.
* MakingASplash: The third numerical starter line in each Pokédex is that of the Water-type starter.

* PlayingWithFire: The second numerical starter line in each Pokédex is that of the Fire-type starter.
* RecurringBoss: At least one rival's Ace will be a starter, so you'll watch one you didn't pick steadily grow as an adversary over the game. Generic [=NPC=]s rarely use Pokémon from any of these lines.

* StarterMon: These Pokémon are the TropeNamer.[[note]]The term "starter" was and remains the long-time informal designation for these Pokémon, a term that was quickly adopted for official media. However, starting with Gen VI, the term "starter" was phased out in favor of "first partner" instead, though the "starter" term still crops up from time to time.[[/note]] They're always the first Pokémon you receive, and a handy partner to keep throughout the game.

* SpotlightStealingSquad: Despite having a "new Pikachu" in every Generation, the original Pikachu always sticks around to get top billing. For example, marketing often packages the three new starters and Pikachu, rather than the three new starters and the new Pikaclone, despite Pikachu only officially having starter status in Kanto. Even ''Anime/PokemonHorizonsTheSeries'' (post Ash retirement) puts the new Captain Pikachu in a more prominent role than the Pawmi that roams around the ship.

The monsters that let you know you're coming to the end. Like starters, they are also "main characters" who serve more traditional roles in the story like the SwordOfPlotAdvancement, the SignatureMon of the BigBad, the FinalBoss, or an OptionalBoss who gives you a PurposelyOverpowered reward by catching them.

-->'''Pokémon similar to this archetype''': The Kanto Starters and the Mew Duo[[note]]as outlined below, elements of the archetype come from combining traits of Charizard, Venusaur, & Blastoise and Mewtwo & Mew.[[/note]] (''Gen I'')

* ClimaxBoss: They usually are faced at the end of the "villainous team" plot. The mascots who play this straight are those from ''Ruby and Sapphire'', Gen IV, the Gen II remakes, Gen VI, and Gen VII. Others [[ZigZagged zig-zag]] the trope: Rayquaza in ''Emerald'' is awakened by the player in the main story but can only be fought (and caught) in the post-game; the Gen V mascots are fought ''before'' the last boss(es) of said plot; the Gen VIII mascots are the ClimaxBoss of the post-game plot, and before then they play a role similar to Rayquaza. The Kanto Starters for obvious reasons aren't hunted by the main villain team nor do they have a significant role in the plot, but depending on the one the player chose, the one in the boxart can be the FinalBoss of the rival's team during their championship battle.

** Note in the Kanto games, Venusaur was Charizard's first cool colored mascot counterpart in the Japan only ''Red and Green'', a role that would be reprised in ''[=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]'' in all regions. This tied in with the tradition of the Grass starter coming first in dex order.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The Kanto games are the only ones to use starters as version mascots.

** Kanto doubled down on starter mascots again in the ''Let's Go'' series with Pikachu and Eevee. Then again, its only real alternative is Mewtwo.

* SwordOfPlotAdvancement: The starters of course are the original [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest sword of plot beginnings]]. In later games, you may be forced to battle or catch the mascot legendary to progress. This happens typically during the showdown with the boss of the evil team, or as a rite of passage before facing the Elite Four.
* VersionExclusiveContent: The mascot of the game you're playing takes the starring legendary role in the main story while the other is a post-game OptionalBoss, if not totally unavailable. Subverted by the Kanto Starters. You can only pick one, but which one you pick isn't tied to which Version you're playing... until the ''Let's Go'' remakes.

*** The warm/cool ColorContrast on the cover art came from the Kanto starters. Charizard the warm-colored mascot in ''Red'' and ''[=FireRed=]'' in all regions and the cool-colored mascots being Venusaur (''Green'' in Japan, ''[=LeafGreen=]'' in all regions) and Blastoise (''Blue''). Pikachu in ''Yellow'' set the standard for ChromaticArrangement with the "third member". Only Pikachu (only in the anime) was the target of the evil team. While not Legendaries, in the Gen I games, they are one of a kind for their species. In the Gen III remakes and beyond, you can get more by breeding.

* CrutchCharacter: Although not as heavily so as the early Bug-types which evolve early and fall off early, a good chunk of the Rattata archetype evolves early, is very good into the mid-game, and then falls off in usefulness. Some of the archetype averts this, however: two examples are Galarian Zigzagoon and Lillipup, which eventually evolve into Obstagoon and Stoutland, respectively, who are still very usable in the endgame.

Three-stage versions usually resemble the larva, pupa, and adult stages of complete {{Metamorphosis}} of many RealLife insects, while two-stage versions are like incomplete metamorphosis with a regular younger form and bigger form-type evolution. They typically come in one of two flavors, a rounder one that may be flying and a sharper one that may be part poison, evoking the original Butterfree and Beedrill. .

Trainers learn basics of the games' mechanics through them such as ElementalRockPaperScissors, high catch rates that only require the default balls, level-up evolution etc.

A two-stage mon, always Normal-type (sometimes with a Dark-type counterpart after Poochyena in Gen III) that is particularly common on early game routes, if not throughout the entire region. They are generally designed to be unremarkable, having low stats even upon evolution. Early-game opponent trainers such as Youngsters, Lasses, and Grunts may favor them. Especially the Dark-types for the latter.\\

Sometimes called the "rodent," they've been a variety of field and urban mammals that live near humans (such as rabbits, raccoons, badgers, mongooses, and even pigs). They typically evolve once around level 20 and have a base stat total in the lower 400s. Moderately useful early on, but poor coverage options, plain typing and low stats make them obsolete quickly. However they may have abilities (like Runaway or Pick Up) that make them a good UtilityPartyMember if you have extra space in your party. In addition they can usually learn a lot of field moves in Generations that use [=HMs=].\\

->'''Pokémon of this archetype:''' Rattata line (''Gen I''); Sentret line (''Gen II''); Zigzagoon line (''Gen III''); Bidoof line (''Gen IV''); Patrat line (''Gen V''); Bunnelby line (''Gen VI''); Yungoos line (''Gen VII''); Skwovet line (''Gen VIII''); Lechonk line (''Gen IX'')

* TheGenericGuy: They're about as unremarkable as you can get with Pokémon, being [[NonElemental Normal type]], having perpetually subpar stats, and closely resembling very common everyday animals.

* PredatorsAreMean: They Dark-types are more geared towards carnivorous predators and to the more herbivorous/omnivorous Normal counterpart.
* RatStomp: While they aren't always rodents, the Common Rodent is virtually guaranteed to be the first Pokémon you encounter in the wild and in a trainer battle, and they consistently serve as [[TheGoomba weak, early-game enemies]] that let the player get used to the game's UI.

* MakingASplash: Most members of the archetype are pure Water-type.

[[folder:The Aquatic Magikarp Power]]
!!The Aquatic Magikarp Power

** Palafin must be [[SecretIdentityChangeTrick switched out of battle and switched back in]], therefore potentially exposing itself to danger on the latter stipulation.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: While the [[GameplayAndStorySegregation player]] may be tricked into activating a Voltorb or Electrode thinking it was an item ball, this is only because they use the [[GraphicsInducedSuperDeformed same icon on the world map]]. InUniverse, a Poké Ball can fit in a ten-year-old's palm, while an Electrode is a little over ''three'' feet in diameter. In non-game material, they're simply living land mines rather than Poké Ball fake-outs. Foongus is appropriately much smaller, and Stunfisk only shows its small Poké Ball-shaped mouth while concealing the rest of its body.

* ShockAndAwe: They're always Electric-type.

[[caption-width-right:1000:The Early Birds of Gens I-VIII]]

[[folder:The Starter Trio]]
!!The Starter Trio

The Starter Pokémon. The Big Three. Later officially renamed the First Partners. They are, true to name, the first Pokémon you receive in the core series games. Entrusted to you by the regional Professor, they come in three different types: Grass, Fire, or Water. Your rival gets one you don't choose, teaching a basic ElementalRockPaperScissors relationship between them.[[note]]Earlier games always have the rival choosing the starter stronger to yours, while some later games have the rival choosing the starter weaker to yours; some games have ''two'' rivals who take both.[[/note]] Since abilities were introduced, starters get one of three abilities that are type variants of each other: Overgrow, Blaze, and Torrent, which boosts the power of their primary type when their HP gets low. \\

Storywise, the starters are intended to play TheHero role among your party for your first play through. In gameplay, they are the first customization option on your RPG experience: a choice of [[FighterMageThief build]] or [[BalanceSpeedStrengthTrio stats]]. In the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series, the concept of the starter trio along with the player character is represented by the "Pokémon Trainer" fighter (based on Red/Leaf from ''[=FireRed=]'' and ''[=LeafGreen=]''), who stands in the background while the player interchangeably controls Kanto's starter trio in different stages of evolution.

* BreakoutCharacter: Being a StarterMon vastly increases a Pokémon's chance of gaining widespread popularity and recognition. In particular, all three Kanto starter lines (especially Charizard), Blaziken, Greninja, and Cinderace have become major icons of the franchise.
* CantDropTheHero: Strongly averted. You could release them forever as soon as you catch your first ComMon, or trade them at any point in time. Still, the game reminds you of your starter choice through TheRival, and sometimes other characters.
** Played mostly straight in ''Let's Go! Pikachu'' and '' Eevee.'' You can't release your respective starter at all, and while you ''can'' switch them out of your battling party, they'll never leave your side in the overworld.

* ElementalRockPaperScissors: Applies to the whole game, but the starter trio adheres to one of the simplest RPS trios of types. Grass beats Water, which beats Fire, which beats Grass - though the secondary types of their final forms play with this sometimes:

** In Gen IX, Meowscarada is Grass/Dark, Skeledirge is Fire/Ghost, and Quaquaval is Water/Fighting, creating a reverse triangle along with the classic starter one.[[note]]Except for Skeledirge's Ghost type, which is only neutral against Quaquaval but is immune to its Fighting-type moves in turn.[[/note]]

** Gen IX features this as well, with the added twist that each starter's final evolution is inspired by a type of entertainer. Quaquaval (a DanceBattler based on Brazilian capoeira and carnival dancers) is the Fighter, Skeledirge (a singer using MagicMusic) is the Mage, and Meowscarada (a Dark-type StageMagician) is the Thief.

* TheHero: The closest monsters to being main characters. They get a lot of facetime in the marketing. Their designs give them pretty strong "canon" personalities (i.e. Sobble is anxious, Scorbunny is energetic.) They're also heavily associated with the human lead characters. Protagonists in spinoffs and marketing materials almost always have them. However the player's starter choice basically only influences some rivals' teams, with you being free to bench and even release them as you soon as you catch another Pokémon. Only in ''Yellow'' and ''Let's Go'' do they play a deeper role.
* JackOfAllStats: In the earlier games, the starters tend to have pretty well-rounded stats, so they can help out in any situation you get into early on. The later-introduced starters slowly bucked this trend, though their first forms are still usually well-rounded.

* MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers: Only one of the starters is given to you at the start of any playthrough. In most games, the only way to get the others is by trading.

*** The second set, introduced in Gen V, are the Pledge moves: Fire Pledge, Water Pledge, and Grass Pledge. While the moves are rather standard on their own, if two starters use different Pledge moves in doubles, the two will unleash a powerful CombinationAttack with a secondary FieldPowerEffect on the opponent's side. The "secret" part is later downplayed slightly, as they are shared as of Gen VII with the Elemental Monkeys while Grass Pledge alone can be taught to Silvally.
** It's also become common practice to give starter Pokémon their own exclusive moves in their debut generation/game, though these moves usually get subjected to UniquenessDecay later on. This started in Gen III (with Sceptile, Blaziken, and Swampert getting exclusive access to Leaf Blade, Blaze Kick, and Muddy Water, respectively), but it didn't become a recurring trend until Gen VI.
* StarterMon: They're always the first Pokémon you receive, and a handy partner to keep throughout the game.

* MagikarpPower: Their initial stages tend to have low stats for the point in the game they are found, usually a base stat total of 300 (with Dreepy's being even lower at 270). Most of them also evolve later than the vast majority of other Pokémon. For reference, among Pokémon with a three stage evolution line that evolve only through level, the average level of the first evolution is 23, and the average level of the second evolution is 36. For the pseudo-legendary lines, those averages are instead 34 and 52, respectively. The Deino line is particularly egregious about this. Not only does its first evolution come at level 50 (which it shares with the Dreepy line), but its second evolution comes at level '''64''', which is higher than all other Pokémon (beating out even the Dreepy line by 4 levels). By the time the Deino line reaches its first evolution, over half of the other pseudo-legendary lines will have reached their second (Bagon and Goomy lines at the same level, Gible line at level 48, and Beldum and Jangmo-o lines at level 45). If all of that wasn't enough, they require a high amount of experience points to level up. But when they fully evolve, they rival actual legendaries.

They mainly exist to teach the mechanic of evolution early in the game, as they often evolve earlier than practically all other Pokémon. They may reach their second or even third stage by level 10. Earlier members of the archetype can be useful in the early game thanks to their early high stats and status effects, but they are generally outclassed anywhere later than the early game. Some that reach their final form at higher levels can be more powerful, especially those from later generations. The ones that evolve early tend to have base stat totals in the high 300s or low 400s.\\

[[ZigZaggingTrope This archetype is never exactly the same from game to game]], though its purest form was defined in Gens III and Gen IV. In most cases, they are Legendary Pokémon which are far above both common wild Pokémon and minor Legendaries, often treated as major deities in their own right. Because of their overwhelming power, mascot Legendaries are generally banned from official tournaments and battle facilities and have the highest stats in the game.

->'''Pokémon of this archetype:''' Pikachu line (''Gen I''); Pichu [[note]]Can be lumped with the Pikachu line, but a newly introduced baby form for Gen II that [[WordOfGod was meant]] to be "the next Pikachu"[[/note]] and Marill line[[note]]A water type with some design similarities that was popular pre-release[[/note]] (''Gen II"); Plusle & Minun (''Gen III''); Pachirisu (''Gen IV''); Emolga (''Gen V''); Dedenne (''Gen VI''); Togedemaru and Mimikyu[[note]]Togedemaru is a straightforward example, Mimikyu is a Ghost/Fairy-type that deliberately but [[PaperThinDisguise poorly]] mimics Pikachu in order to make friends[[/note]] (''Gen VII''); Morpeko (''Gen VIII''); Pawmi line (''Gen IX'')

->'''Pokémon of this archetype:''' Pikachu line (''Gen I''); Pichu [[note]]Can be lumped with the Pikachu line, but a newly introduced baby form for Gen II that [[WordOfGod was meant]] to be "the next Pikachu"[[/note]] and Marill line[[note]]A water type with some design similarities that was popular pre-release[[/note]] ("Gen II"); Plusle & Minun (''Gen III''); Pachirisu (''Gen IV''); Emolga (''Gen V''); Dedenne (''Gen VI''); Togedemaru and Mimikyu[[note]]Togedemaru is a straightforward example, Mimikyu is a Ghost/Fairy-type that deliberately but [[PaperThinDisguise poorly]] mimics Pikachu in order to make friends[[/note]] (''Gen VII''); Morpeko (''Gen VIII''); Pawmi line (''Gen IX'')