Scarlet, Violet · Paldea · 2022
Gen 9 starters
Complete guide to all three Gen 9 starter Pokémon. Story difficulty, competitive viability, and which one to pick.
→ 
Sprigatito → Meowscarada
Grass → Grass/Dark
Speedy magician cat. Protean Hidden Ability turns every attack into STAB.
View Meowscarada →
→ 
Fuecoco → Skeledirge
Fire → Fire/Ghost
Slow-but-tank ghostly crocodile with Torch Song (boosts SpA each use).
View Skeledirge →
→ 
Quaxly → Quaquaval
Water → Water/Fighting
Dancer duck with Moxie (Atk +1 on KO) and Aqua Step (always raises Speed +1).
View Quaquaval →Which Gen 9 starter should you pick?
For most players: pick Sprigatito. Meowscarada is the highest-tier competitive Pokémon of the three (UU-tier with Protean, similar to Greninja), and its Speed advantage makes it the easiest to use in the story (it outspeeds nearly every wild Pokémon).
For Trick Room teams or defensive players: pick Fuecoco. Skeledirge is a hard wall + Calm Mind-equivalent special attacker. It's the most unique starter design in years (Fire/Ghost typing isn't shared with any non-DLC Pokémon).
For setup sweepers: pick Quaxly. Quaquaval's Moxie + Aqua Step is a snowball wincon. Decent in singles, strong in doubles where Aqua Step's Speed boost gives it Tailwind-equivalent Speed control.
Type-matchup consideration: Fuecoco struggles against the first gym (Bug-type, Katy) since Fire is neutral to Bug — but it's fine if you grind a level. Sprigatito wins against the second gym (Grass, Brassius — wait, that's not type-favorable). Pure type advantage doesn't matter much in SV because the open-world structure lets you tackle gyms in any order. Pick whichever design you like.
Sprigatito → Meowscarada
Grass → Grass/Dark
Meowscarada is the highest-Speed starter in Gen 9 (base 123) and gets Flower Trick (always crits, ignores accuracy) as its signature move. Protean (Hidden Ability) lets it switch type to match the move it's about to use — every attack becomes STAB. Best for: speedy offensive players who want flexibility.
Fuecoco → Skeledirge
Fire → Fire/Ghost
Skeledirge is the bulkiest starter (104 HP / 100 Def) and uses Unaware to ignore opposing stat boosts. Torch Song raises SpA by 1 stage per use — essentially Calm Mind built into your STAB. Fire/Ghost typing is rare and powerful. Best for: defensive players who want a slow, methodical sweeper.
Quaxly → Quaquaval
Water → Water/Fighting
Quaquaval has the most balanced stats — base 120 Atk, 85 Speed, 85 HP. Moxie chains KO bonuses for snowball runs. Aqua Step (signature move) always boosts Speed +1 after use, so it becomes faster with every attack. Water/Fighting typing pairs well offensively. Best for: balanced players who like setup sweeping.
Story difficulty
All three are roughly equal story difficulty. Sprigatito → Meowscarada is the easiest because Speed lets you OHKO before being hit. Quaxly is the slowest-starting (it learns Aqua Cutter late) but has solid bulk throughout. Fuecoco is the easiest in the mid-game when Torch Song starts stacking SpA boosts.
Competitive viability
Meowscarada is the highest-tier of the three — solid UU placement with Protean + Flower Trick + Knock Off. Quaquaval sits in RU as a Moxie sweeper. Skeledirge is OU-tier with Unaware + Torch Song + Will-O-Wisp, often the most-used starter competitively due to its unique typing and defensive utility. See our Skeledirge build for the optimal set.
Fun facts about Gen 9 starters
All three Paldean starters get a second typing on final evolution (Grass/Dark, Fire/Ghost, Water/Fighting), continuing the post-Gen 5 trend. Meowscarada's design references stage magicians (cape, hat, theatrical pose). Skeledirge is the first Fire/Ghost-type ever. Quaquaval's design is inspired by Brazilian samba dancers — appropriate for the Spanish/Portuguese-inspired Paldea region.