There isn’t a single “right” starter in Pokémon Legends: Z‑A. The game drops the traditional gym progression; you’ll meet a wide variety of Pokémon early, and you can easily cover type gaps as you go. If you want the most straightforward start, Totodile is the cleanest pick thanks to strong early offense, the quickest final evolution among the trio, and only two weaknesses. If you prefer support or brawling, Chikorita and Tepig can anchor very different team styles—especially once Mega Evolutions come into play.

Starter quick comparison (type, evolutions, weaknesses, Mega typing)

Starter Base type Evolutions (levels) Final typing Mega typing Base weaknesses Super effective against
Chikorita Grass Bayleef (16) → Meganium (32) Grass Grass/Fairy Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug Water, Ground, Rock
Totodile Water Croconaw (18) → Feraligatr (30) Water Water/Dragon Electric, Grass Fire, Ground, Rock
Tepig Fire Pignite (17) → Emboar (36) Fire/Fighting (from Pignite onward) Fire/Fighting As Tepig: Water, Ground, Rock; as Pignite/Emboar: Water, Ground, Flying, Psychic Fire: Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel. Fire/Fighting adds strong options vs Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, Steel
Note: Legends: Z‑A does not use regional starter forms; all three follow their classic evolution lines. Mega Evolutions alter endgame typing in ways that meaningfully change matchups, so it’s worth factoring your preferred Mega path into the choice.

Early-game stat snapshot (immediately after your first battle)

Stat Chikorita Totodile Tepig
HP 22 23 25
Attack 12 14 12
Defense 14 12 12
Speed 12 12 10
Sp. Atk 10 12 11
Sp. Def 13 13 13

These values reflect the immediate early level you’ll hit right after choosing a starter. Totodile leans most into attack early, Chikorita opens with the strongest physical defense, and Tepig carries the highest HP with balanced offensive stats.

Pick by playstyle: what each starter does best

  • Totodile (Water) — The most practical all-rounder for a smooth start. It reaches Feraligatr at level 30 (earlier than the others reach their finals), has reliable early damage, and only two weaknesses to manage (Electric and Grass). Its Mega typing shifts to Water/Dragon, which meaningfully changes late-game coverage.
  • Chikorita (Grass) — The support/tank path. It evolves to Bayleef the earliest (16), trades raw power for durability, and gains value from sustain and utility moves common to Grass-types. You’ll need to play around five early weaknesses, but it can anchor longer battles and support item cooldown management by healing itself.
  • Tepig (Fire → Fire/Fighting) — The bruiser with stamina. It has the highest HP, evolves into a dual-type attacker at 17, and eventually brings classic Fire/Fighting coverage. It’s the slowest to its final form (36) and picks up common weaknesses as it evolves, so plan your party to cover Water, Ground, Flying, and Psychic threats.

How Mega Evolutions factor into the choice

Mega Evolutions are central in Legends: Z‑A and each starter’s final form can Mega Evolve:

  • Mega Meganium: Grass/Fairy
  • Mega Feraligatr: Water/Dragon
  • Mega Emboar: Fire/Fighting

If you’re undecided, pick the line whose Mega typing best reinforces your late-game plan. For example, Water/Dragon offers a very different set of resistances and neutralities than pure Water; Grass/Fairy changes how you check Dark, Fighting, and Dragon targets; Fire/Fighting stays focused on punching holes through Steel, Ice, and Dark with familiar trade-offs.

Early team-building context (gyms, opponents, and coverage)

Legends: Z‑A doesn’t use the old gym-leader ladder. Type-themed “Promotional Matches” arrive deeper into the campaign, and early opponents are varied rather than hard-countering any single starter. You’ll also gain access to more Pokémon quickly, so your first pick won’t lock you into a rough difficulty curve.

Early alternatives if you want to fill type gaps fast

  • Water alternatives: Magikarp and Staryu are available early. Magikarp is a slow start until 20, then Gyarados becomes a heavy hitter; Staryu evolves to Starmie with a Water Stone for immediate utility.
  • Grass alternatives: Bellsprout (evolves with a Leaf/Grass Stone to Victreebel) and Budew (friendship to Roselia, then Shiny Stone to Roserade) are strong once evolved and bring Grass/Poison coverage.
  • Fire alternative: Houndoom appears early and can stand in for or complement Tepig if you prefer a different starter.
Tip: A few hours into the story, you’ll be offered one of the Kanto starters (Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander) via a side mission at the Pokémon Research Center. Pick the one that complements your main starter to round out your core trio.

Bottom line

Totodile is the most straightforward recommendation for a low-friction run: best early attacking profile, the fewest weaknesses, and the fastest path to its final form. Chikorita rewards defensive play and sustain, while Tepig scales into a durable brawler with strong dual-type coverage. All three are viable—choose the partner and Mega path you’re most excited to build around, then use early catches to patch any gaps.