Choosing your first Pokémon is one of the most iconic decisions in any trainer’s journey, a moment brimming with potential and strategic implications. In the vibrant, tropical region of Alola, the setting for Starter Pokémon & Recommended Teams (Gen 7), this choice feels particularly significant. Alola’s unique island challenge replaces traditional gyms with trials, and the journey is less about raw strength and more about adaptability and smart type matchups.
This guide isn't just about picking a cute companion; it's about setting yourself up for success, whether you're aiming to conquer every trial, defeat Team Skull, or ultimately become the first Champion of Alola. We'll dive deep into the Alolan starter trio – Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio – analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and how their evolutionary lines shape your adventure. More importantly, we'll help you build formidable teams around your chosen partner, ready to face any challenge the islands throw your way.
Alola's Starter Showdown: At a Glance
- Litten (Fire/Dark): The Strategic Powerhouse. While it might face a slight struggle early on, Litten and its final evolution, Incineroar, dominate many key trials and battles later in the game. Its Fire/Dark typing offers excellent offensive coverage and resistances, making it the top recommendation for a smoother journey.
- Rowlet (Grass/Ghost): The Versatile Archer. Rowlet evolves into Decidueye, a unique Grass/Ghost type. It offers early advantages against some Water-types but can struggle with its Flying (and later Ghost) weaknesses. Its ranged attacks and unique typing provide a distinct playstyle.
- Popplio (Water/Fairy): The Special Attacker. Popplio evolves into Primarina, a powerful Water/Fairy special attacker. It's solid against early Fire and Ground threats and gains an incredibly strong defensive and offensive typing with Fairy, but it does face common weaknesses.
- Alola's Unique Trials: Unlike traditional gyms, Alola's trials are diverse, requiring varied strategies. Your starter's type matchups against Totem Pokémon are crucial.
- Team Building is Key: No matter your starter, a well-rounded team is essential to cover weaknesses and leverage strengths against Alola's diverse Pokémon roster and challenging trainers.
The Alolan Trio: Who to Pick for Your Island Challenge?
Alola introduces us to three distinct starters, each with their own charm and strategic advantages. Let's break down Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio, considering their base stats, typing, and how they evolve to navigate the unique challenges of the Alolan region.
Rowlet: The Grass Quill Pokémon (Grass/Flying)
Rowlet, the adorable Grass Quill Pokémon, starts your journey as a pure Grass-type, gaining Flying upon evolving into Dartrix, and finally becoming the formidable Grass/Ghost-type Decidueye.
Early Game: Rowlet is fantastic against many early-game Water and Ground-types you'll encounter. It learns useful Grass-type moves quickly, giving it an edge against some of the first wild Pokémon on Route 1. However, its Flying typing as Dartrix introduces weaknesses to Electric, Ice, and Rock, which can be challenging on Melemele Island.
Evolutionary Line & Typing:
- Rowlet (Grass): Strong against Water, Ground, Rock. Weak against Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug, Poison.
- Dartrix (Grass/Flying): Strong against Water, Ground, Rock, Grass, Fighting, Bug. Weak against Fire, Ice, Flying, Poison, Rock (4x), Electric.
- Decidueye (Grass/Ghost): Strong against Water, Ground, Rock, Ghost, Psychic. Weak against Fire, Ice, Flying, Ghost, Dark. Immune to Normal, Fighting.
Trial Effectiveness:
Decidueye struggles against some key trials. Mallow's Grass trial is an obvious challenge, and Sophocles' Electric trial (featuring Steel and Bug types) isn't favorable. Acerola's Ghost trial is a mixed bag, with Decidueye sharing a typing but offering decent Ghost-type damage. Mina's Fairy trial is a distinct disadvantage.
Strengths: - Unique Grass/Ghost typing offers offensive STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) against Ghost and Psychic, which are prevalent.
- Decidueye has good Attack and Special Attack stats, making it versatile.
- Immunity to Normal and Fighting types is strategically valuable.
Weaknesses: - Shares numerous common weaknesses with other Grass-types (Fire, Ice, Flying).
- The Ghost typing introduces vulnerabilities to Ghost and Dark moves.
- Can struggle significantly against several Totem Pokémon and Elite Four members without strong team support.
Litten: The Fire Cat Pokémon (Fire/Dark)
Litten begins as a fiery pure Fire-type, evolves into Torracat, and culminates as the powerful Fire/Dark-type Incineroar. This evolution path makes Litten the overall most advantageous choice for a playthrough of Sun & Moon, according to many seasoned trainers.
Early Game: Litten’s early game can be a bit tricky. While Fire is strong against Grass, it doesn't have an immediate advantage over many early wild Pokémon. Captain Ilima’s Normal-type Totem Raticate/Gumshoos can be tough, and Lana’s Water trial is a clear disadvantage.
Evolutionary Line & Typing:
- Litten (Fire): Strong against Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel. Weak against Water, Ground, Rock.
- Torracat (Fire): Same as Litten.
- Incineroar (Fire/Dark): Strong against Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Psychic, Ghost. Weak against Water, Ground, Rock, Fighting. Immune to Psychic.
Trial Effectiveness:
This is where Litten, particularly as Incineroar, shines. - Mallow's Grass Trial: Incineroar has a distinct type advantage.
- Sophocles' Electric Trial: Its Fire typing is super effective against the Steel and Bug types on Sophocles' team.
- Acerola's Ghost Trial: Incineroar's newly acquired Dark typing makes it super effective against all Ghost-types. This is a crucial late-game advantage.
- Mina's Fairy Trial: While Incineroar takes normal damage from Fairy attacks, Mina's team also includes Steel, Grass, and Bug types, against which Incineroar performs well.
Strengths: - Dominant Type Combination: Fire/Dark is an incredibly potent offensive and defensive typing, hitting a wide range of common types for super effective damage.
- High Attack: Incineroar boasts excellent Attack and decent bulk, making it a reliable physical attacker.
- Immunity to Psychic: A valuable asset against many trainers and specific Pokémon.
- Strategic Acquisition: Gen 7 introduced few new Fire-type Pokémon (8 new vs. 13 Grass/Water), making Litten a strategically important addition to your team for type diversity. This makes finding alternative Fire-types much harder than finding Water or Grass types.
Weaknesses: - Early game can be a bit slower compared to Popplio.
- The Fighting weakness is significant, as Fighting-types are common.
- Still vulnerable to Water and Ground, two common attacking types.
Popplio: The Sea Lion Pokémon (Water/Fairy)
Popplio, the adorable Sea Lion Pokémon, starts as a pure Water-type, evolves into Brionne, and finally becomes the elegant Water/Fairy-type Primarina. This makes it Alola's dedicated special attacker.
Early Game: Popplio has a strong start, easily handling many early-game Ground and Rock-types. Its Water typing is useful against Hala's Fighting-type Kahuna battle, resisting his attacks. Lana’s Water trial is less of a challenge for Popplio than it would be for the other starters.
Evolutionary Line & Typing:
- Popplio (Water): Strong against Fire, Ground, Rock. Weak against Grass, Electric.
- Brionne (Water): Same as Popplio.
- Primarina (Water/Fairy): Strong against Fire, Ground, Rock, Fighting, Dragon, Dark. Weak against Grass, Electric, Poison. Immune to Dragon.
Trial Effectiveness:
Primarina has some good matchups but also faces significant hurdles. - Mallow's Grass Trial: A clear disadvantage.
- Sophocles' Electric Trial: Another tough match due to Electric weakness.
- Acerola's Ghost Trial: Takes normal damage from Ghost, but hits Dark-types neutrally.
- Mina's Fairy Trial: While Primarina shares the Fairy typing, it's not super effective against all of Mina's Pokémon, and it still takes super effective damage from Poison.
Strengths: - Outstanding Special Attack: Primarina has an incredibly high Special Attack stat, making it a powerhouse with Water and Fairy moves.
- Excellent Defensive Typing: Water/Fairy offers great resistances and an immunity to Dragon, which is incredibly useful in late-game and against certain powerful trainers.
- Strong against Fire and Ground, common early-game threats.
Weaknesses: - Vulnerable to common types like Grass, Electric, and Poison.
- Lower physical defense, making it vulnerable to physical attackers.
- Can struggle against several key trials, similar to Rowlet, requiring careful team planning.
Deep Dive: Why Litten (Incineroar) Reigns Supreme in Alola
While all three Alolan starters are charming and viable, Litten undeniably offers the smoothest and most strategically advantageous journey through Pokémon Sun and Moon, leading to its powerful evolution, Incineroar. The ground truth from countless trainer experiences points to its superior performance against crucial late-game challenges.
Here’s why Incineroar stands out:
- Trial Dominance: Alola's unique trial system means type matchups are paramount. Incineroar's Fire/Dark typing gives it critical advantages:
- Mallow's Grass Trial: Incineroar's Fire moves decimate Grass-types.
- Sophocles' Electric Trial: The Fire typing is super effective against the Steel and Bug Pokémon present in this trial, providing an unexpected edge.
- Acerola's Ghost Trial: This is where Incineroar truly shines. Its Dark typing makes it super effective against all Ghost-type Pokémon, turning what could be a tricky trial into a cakewalk. This late-game power spike is invaluable.
- Mina's Fairy Trial: Even here, where Fairy moves might be a concern, Incineroar’s Fire and Dark moves can still deal super effective damage to some of Mina's supporting Pokémon (Steel, Grass, Bug).
- Exceptional Offensive Coverage: The Fire/Dark combination is incredibly potent offensively. It hits Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Psychic, and Ghost types for super effective damage. These types are common throughout Alola, from wild encounters to Team Skull and various trainers.
- Key Defensive Resistances and Immunity: Incineroar resists Fire, Grass, Ice, Ghost, Steel, and Dark attacks, and is completely immune to Psychic-type moves. This immunity is a significant boon, protecting it from many powerful special attackers and status effects.
- Alola's Fire-Type Scarcity: As mentioned in our research, Gen 7 introduced far fewer new Fire-type Pokémon (only 8) compared to Grass (13) or Water (13). This scarcity makes acquiring a strong Fire-type for your team more challenging if you don't pick Litten. Choosing Litten ensures you have a powerful Fire-type throughout your journey, saving you the effort of seeking out and training a suitable alternative.
- Well-Rounded Stats: Incineroar has excellent Attack and solid defensive stats, making it a reliable physical attacker that can also take a hit. This balanced approach allows it to function effectively in various situations.
While Litten might face a slight struggle in the very early game (e.g., against Lana's Water Trial or Hala's Fighting-type), these challenges are easily managed with early-game catches. The long-term benefits and ease of navigating critical late-game trials with Incineroar simply outweigh these initial hurdles.
Building Your Alolan Dream Team Around Incineroar
Congratulations, you've chosen Litten and are on your way to commanding the powerful Incineroar! Now, let's assemble a diverse and effective team that complements your Fire/Dark starter, covering its weaknesses and maximizing your strengths across the Alolan islands. This team aims for excellent type coverage and strategic synergy.
Core Strategy: Cover Your Bases and Hit Hard
Incineroar's primary weaknesses are Water, Ground, Rock, and Fighting. Your team needs Pokémon that can confidently switch into these attacks and dish out super-effective damage in return.
1. The Reliable Water-Type: Araquanid or Vaporeon
- Why: To cover Incineroar's glaring Water and Ground weaknesses. Water-types are abundant in Alola, so you have choices.
- Recommendation 1: Araquanid (Water/Bug). Available fairly early (Route 7 as Dewpider). Its Water/Bug typing offers good offensive coverage and its ability, Water Bubble, makes its Water-type moves incredibly powerful (doubles power) and halves incoming Fire damage. It resists Ground, Water, Ice, and Fighting.
- Recommendation 2: Vaporeon (Water). If you prefer something more traditionally bulky with high Special Attack, an Eevee can be found and evolved. Vaporeon has massive HP, can learn Ice-type moves (for Grass coverage), and is a great special attacker.
- Role: Tank, Special Attacker, Ground/Rock/Fire counter.
2. The Speedy Electric-Type: Vikavolt or Alolan Raichu - Why: To counter Water and Flying types, and offer strong special attack power.
- Recommendation 1: Vikavolt (Bug/Electric). Found as Grubbin on Route 1. Evolves into Charjabug, then into Vikavolt by leveling up in Vast Poni Canyon. Vikavolt has incredibly high Special Attack and can learn Thunderbolt. Its Bug/Electric typing is unique and powerful.
- Recommendation 2: Alolan Raichu (Electric/Psychic). If you can get a Pikachu (Route 1) and evolve it with a Thunder Stone in Alola, it becomes Alolan Raichu. This variant boasts great speed and Special Attack, and its Psychic typing adds more coverage.
- Role: Special Attacker, Water/Flying/Ice counter.
3. The Solid Psychic/Fairy-Type: Espeon or Tapu Lele (Post-Game) - Why: To handle Fighting types (Incineroar's key weakness) and add powerful special attacking options, especially against Poison and Dragon.
- Recommendation 1: Espeon (Psychic). Evolve an Eevee (found on Route 4) with high friendship during the day. Espeon is a fast special attacker with access to strong Psychic moves. It resists Fighting and Psychic.
- Recommendation 2: Tapu Lele (Psychic/Fairy). This is a powerful post-game option, but worth noting for later. Its Psychic/Fairy typing is incredible, and its Psychic Surge ability boosts Psychic moves.
- Role: Special Attacker, Fighting counter, Dragon/Poison counter.
4. The Bulky Steel/Ground-Type: Mudsdale or Metagross - Why: To take hits, especially physical ones, and provide type coverage against Rock, Electric, and Fairy.
- Recommendation 1: Mudsdale (Ground). Found as Mudbray on Route 4. Mudsdale has incredible Defense and Attack, and its ability Stamina boosts its Defense every time it's hit, making it an excellent physical wall. It laughs at Rock and Electric attacks.
- Recommendation 2: Metagross (Steel/Psychic). A more challenging acquisition (Beldum on Mount Hokulani), but Metagross is a powerhouse. It resists a huge array of types and hits very hard physically.
- Role: Physical Wall, Tank, Electric/Rock/Poison/Fairy counter.
5. The Versatile Flying-Type (or Dragon): Salamence or Toucannon - Why: To provide speed, a reliable Flying STAB, and potentially intimidate foes.
- Recommendation 1: Salamence (Dragon/Flying). While harder to get (Bagon in Verdant Cavern), Salamence is a fantastic late-game addition. Its high Attack and Speed make it a devastating cleaner, and Intimidate is a great ability.
- Recommendation 2: Toucannon (Normal/Flying). Found as Pikipek on Route 1. Toucannon is a very reliable early-game bird Pokémon that evolves into a solid Flying-type attacker. Its skill, Skill Link, makes moves like Bullet Seed and Rock Blast incredibly powerful. It resists Grass and Bug.
- Role: Fast Attacker, Fighting/Bug/Grass counter, utility.
Example Incineroar Team Composition:
- Incineroar (Fire/Dark) - Physical Sweeper, Ghost/Psychic/Grass counter
- Araquanid (Water/Bug) - Special Sweeper, Ground/Rock/Fire counter
- Alolan Raichu (Electric/Psychic) - Fast Special Sweeper, Water/Flying/Fighting counter
- Mudsdale (Ground) - Physical Wall, Electric/Rock/Steel counter
- Espeon (Psychic) - Special Sweeper, Fighting/Poison counter
- Toucannon (Normal/Flying) - Physical Attacker, Grass/Bug/Fighting counter
This team offers excellent type synergy, covers Incineroar's weaknesses, and provides multiple options for special and physical attacks. As you explore Pokémon Generation 7 and its unique mechanics, remember to utilize Z-Moves effectively for burst damage!
Alternative Strategies: Team Building for Decidueye and Primarina
While Litten offers the most straightforward path, trainers who bond with Rowlet or Popplio can absolutely succeed. These starters require a bit more strategic team planning to cover their more pronounced weaknesses.
Building Around Decidueye (Grass/Ghost)
Decidueye is a unique physical attacker with good Attack and Special Attack. Its Grass/Ghost typing gives it immunities to Normal and Fighting but brings significant weaknesses to Fire, Ice, Flying, Ghost, and Dark.
Key Needs:
- Fire/Ice/Flying/Dark/Ghost resistance/counters.
- A reliable Water-type to handle Fire and Ground.
- A strong Dark-type or Psychic-type to handle Ghost and Psychic.
- A Fighting-type for Dark/Ice/Rock.
Recommended Teammates:
- Arcanine (Fire): Available relatively early (Growlithe on Route 2). Arcanine is fast, hits hard, and covers Decidueye's critical Fire and Ice weaknesses. Its Intimidate ability is also fantastic for lowering opponent's Attack.
- Toxapex (Poison/Water): Obtained as Mareanie (Route 9). Toxapex is an incredibly bulky special wall with a great defensive typing. It can handle Fire-types and resists Fighting, Bug, and Fairy. Crucially, it takes neutral damage from Ice and Flying.
- Alolan Dugtrio (Ground/Steel): Found as Diglett (Route 5). Alolan Dugtrio is lightning-fast and provides an Electric immunity. Its Ground/Steel typing is excellent defensively, resisting Psychic, Flying, Normal, Rock, Bug, Grass, Dragon, and Steel, while hitting Rock, Ice, and Fairy for super effective damage. Great against Flying and Rock.
- Kommo-o (Dragon/Fighting): Evolves from Jangmo-o (Vast Poni Canyon). Kommo-o is a powerful Dragon/Fighting type that covers Decidueye's Dark weakness. It also resists Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, and Bug.
- Mimikyu (Ghost/Fairy): Found in the Thrifty Megamart. Mimikyu's Disguise ability allows it to take one hit completely free, making it incredibly versatile. Its Ghost/Fairy typing offers fantastic offensive coverage and Ghost resistance, helping against other Ghost-types.
Building Around Primarina (Water/Fairy)
Primarina is a powerhouse Special Attacker with high Special Attack and Special Defense. Its Water/Fairy typing gives it excellent coverage and Dragon immunity but leaves it vulnerable to Grass, Electric, and Poison.
Key Needs:
- Grass/Electric/Poison resistance/counters.
- A strong Ground-type for Electric and Poison.
- A Fire-type for Grass and Ice.
- A Fighting-type for Steel and Ice.
Recommended Teammates:
- Salazzle (Poison/Fire): Found as Salandit (Route 8, female only). Salazzle is a fast Special Attacker with a unique typing that hits Grass and Ice for super effective damage. Crucially, its Poison typing helps deal with opposing Fairy-types that Primarina might struggle against defensively.
- Mudsdale (Ground): Found as Mudbray (Route 4). Mudsdale is an excellent physical wall, immune to Electric attacks and resistant to Rock, Bug, and Poison. It's perfect for switching into Electric and Poison attacks aimed at Primarina.
- Lycanroc (Rock): Found as Rockruff (Route 1). Lycanroc is a fast physical attacker (Midday form) or a strong offensive presence (Midnight form). It offers Rock STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) to hit Flying, Fire, Bug, and Ice. It resists Fire and Flying.
- Tsareena (Grass): Found as Bounsweet (Route 1). While Primarina is weak to Grass, Tsareena can be a surprisingly good partner. Its Queenly Majesty ability prevents priority moves from hitting your team, and it's a strong physical Grass attacker to cover Ground/Rock/Water.
- Aegislash (Steel/Ghost): Found as Honedge (Route 17). Aegislash is a unique defensive and offensive threat. Its Steel typing offers numerous resistances (Normal, Flying, Rock, Bug, Grass, Psychic, Ice, Dragon, Fairy, Poison) and an immunity to Poison, which is great for Primarina. Its ability, Stance Change, allows it to become a formidable attacker or a nearly impenetrable wall.
General Alola Team Building Tips
Regardless of your chosen starter, some universal principles will help you craft a winning team for your Alolan adventure.
- Type Coverage is King: Aim for a team where every Pokémon brings a different type advantage to the table. Ensure you have answers for common attacking types like Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Ice, Ground, Fighting, and Flying.
- Balance Physical and Special Attackers: Having a mix prevents opponents from simply walling your entire team with high Defense or Special Defense Pokémon. Incineroar is physical, so consider special attackers like Primarina (if not your starter), Alolan Raichu, or Gengar.
- Utilize Alolan Forms: Gen 7 introduced Alolan Forms, which are regionally adapted Pokémon with different typings and stats (e.g., Alolan Ninetales, Alolan Muk, Alolan Exeggutor). Integrate these unique variants to diversify your team's type coverage and abilities.
- Embrace Z-Moves: Z-Moves are one-time-per-battle, incredibly powerful attacks. Strategically using them can turn the tide of a tough battle. Equip your strongest attackers with appropriate Z-Crystals to maximize their impact.
- Don't Forget Abilities: Abilities like Intimidate (reduces opponent's Attack), Levitate (immune to Ground moves), or Protean (changes type to move used) can profoundly impact battles. Factor them into your team's strategy.
- Consider Speed Control: Having a mix of fast and slow Pokémon, or Pokémon with Trick Room/Tailwind, can help you control the battle flow.
- Experience Share Benefits: Alola’s games feature a mandatory (but toggle-able) Experience Share system. This makes training multiple Pokémon much easier, encouraging you to build a full, diverse team rather than relying on just your starter.
- Match with the Trials: As you approach a trial, consider training or catching a Pokémon with a type advantage against the Totem Pokémon you'll face. Even a temporary team member can make a huge difference.
Common Questions and Misconceptions
Q: Do I have to pick Litten for an easy playthrough?
A: No, you absolutely don't have to. While Litten (Incineroar) statistically offers the most consistent advantages against key trials and provides a hard-to-find Fire-type, both Rowlet and Popplio are perfectly viable. You'll just need to be more mindful of their weaknesses and build your team strategically to compensate. The "best" starter often comes down to personal preference and how you enjoy playing.
Q: Are Alolan Forms essential for my team?
A: Not "essential," but highly recommended! Alolan Forms offer unique typings and stat distributions that can fill gaps in your team's coverage. For example, Alolan Muk (Poison/Dark) is an excellent special wall and can handle Fairy and Psychic threats, while Alolan Ninetales (Ice/Fairy) is a fast special attacker with Snow Warning. They add a fresh dynamic to familiar Pokémon.
Q: How important are Z-Moves really?
A: Very important! Z-Moves are your ultimate ace in the hole. A well-timed Z-Move can one-shot a powerful Totem Pokémon or a key opponent in a trainer battle, saving you from a tricky situation. They can also break through defensive Pokémon that might otherwise wall your attacks. Don't underestimate their power.
Q: Should I prioritize physical or special attackers on my team?
A: A healthy balance is best. Incineroar is a physical attacker, so having strong special attackers like Alolan Raichu or Primarina (if you chose it) ensures you're not solely reliant on one attacking stat. This diversity makes your team much harder for opponents to counter defensively.
Your Alolan Journey Awaits!
Choosing your starter is just the beginning of a fantastic adventure in Alola. Whether you unleash the raw power of Incineroar, master the spectral arrows of Decidueye, or command the graceful melodies of Primarina, the true spirit of a Pokémon journey lies in the bonds you forge and the strategic decisions you make.
With this guide in hand, you're not just picking a Pokémon; you're charting a course for success, building a team that will stand by you through every trial, every Kahuna battle, and every challenge the Alolan islands present. Now go forth, trainer, and make your mark as Alola's next great champion!