With the release of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, a new set of starter Pokémon are available for fans to choose from. With all three possessing three total stages, there are nine starter forms in total with varying levels of love from fans.
There were many desires from the community when it came to the starter evolutions. Some are huge fans of the designs, while some aren't, and that's to be expected. However, the general consensus among the community is that the designs are well done across the board and that generation 9 may have the best set of starters in recent memory.
9 Quaxwell
Quaxwell is a Water-type evolution of Quaxly. Its average stats are pretty uninspiring across the board, and it doesn't seem to have an unevolved niche like Torracat or Thwackey from previous generations.
Many middle-stage evolutions feel like awkward, unrealized concepts that sit halfway between the first and final evolutions. Quaxwell is this flaw brought up to eleven, losing both the charming sailor theme of Quaxly and the interesting samba dancer theme of Quaquaval. Instead, it just takes Quaxly's hair up to a strange helmet-like shape and doesn't do anything particularly interesting with the body, either.
8 Floragato
The mono-Grass Floragato is the evolution of Sprigatito. It leans the majority of its stats into Attack and Speed. Aside from its charming name, there's not much of a reason not to evolve to Floragato immediately.
Floragato's design was one of the most disappointing Pokémon evolutions for many fans for one simple reason. After Incineroar in generation 7, many fans were looking for a fully realized cat evolution that was as quadrupedal as a real-life cat. However, Floragato ruined fans' hopes for that by standing up, even though the flower yo-yo is a fun touch.
7 Crocalor
The mono-Fire Crocalor evolves from Fuecoco at level 16. It boasts the highest offensive stat of the middle evolutions with 90 Special Attack, but is the slowest of the group by a considerable margin.
Crocalor has many of Fuecoco's crocodilian features, but it loses its charming grin and doesn't follow up as well on the chili pepper-inspired body. It once again feels like an awkward middle stage instead of a more fully realized design. The one thing that makes Crocalor stand out compared to the rest of the stages is the strange sombrero fire egg on its head, which is certainly unique.
6 Quaxly
Quaxly is the Water starter of the generation and is the second Water starter after Piplup to feature a bird-like design. Unlike Piplup, the Quaxly line focuses more on offense rather than bulk and utility.
The charming sailor hat hair was part of what made Quaxly so beloved when first revealed. Quaxly's future evolutions sadly didn't continue with what many thought would be a fun naval theme for the line. Regardless, Quaxly carries a strong identity and is undeniably a cute and charismatic starter that almost anyone would be a fan of.
5 Meowscarada
Meowscarada is the final evolution of the Sprigatito line. It has an amazing Speed stat and solid Attack stat along with a great ability in Protean. Sadly, due to recent competitive changes in Scarlet & Violet, Protean has been nerfed, so Meowscarada isn't as monstrous as it could have been.
Meowscarada takes the darkening leaf pattern on the previous two forms to its conclusion with an interesting masked magician twist. Its pink flower collar gives a nice splash of color to keep the design visually interesting, and regardless of how fans feel about its bipedal nature, it admittedly pulls off the idea of a cat magician well.
4 Sprigatito
Sprigagtito is one of the cutest Grass-type starters that fans have been offered in a while. The adorable feline is the fastest of the starter's first forms, a trend that continues throughout the entire evolution line.
Sprigatito's leaf collar successfully foreshadows future design elements like Meowscarada's cape while also resembling a true-to-life fur collar on many felines. A great starter first form should set up a solid, sensible line from the first form to the final while also being cute and memorable as a stand-alone design. Sprigatito accomplishes both of these well.
3 Quaquaval
Quaquaval is the Water/Fighting evolution of Quaxwell. It comes with a strong hidden ability in Moxie, which allows it to sweep teams when combined with its signature speed-boosting move: Aqua Step.
Quaquaval's dancer-inspired design isn't quite what many fans expected when they first saw Quaxly, but it does give Quaquaval a fun and unique place in the world of starters. While the navy/sailor theme would have been fun, it's undeniable that it would have clashed a bit thematically with Empoleon. Meanwhile, Quaquaval has a charismatic flair all its own, and while it may not be the strongest Pokémon of its generation, it's a powerhouse in its own right.
2 Skeledirge
The Fire/Ghost final evolution of Feucoco brings a new archetype to both Fire starters and Fire/Ghost types conceptually. It's the first bulky entry into both categories, and its Unaware ability allows it to properly answer a wide variety of threats.
For a line of Pokémon designed around chili peppers, Skeledirge takes peppers to their ultimate form: the ghost pepper. Having a ghost pepper as a Ghost-type is a fun concept, and the crocodile was an excellent animal to combine the motif with. Skeledirge is the cool finale of the adorable Fuecoco, and he perfectly delivers on an excellent idea.
1 Fuecoco
The chubby chili Fire starter Fuecoco starts his line off with a very concrete, creative design. He even has a strong identity in terms of stats as a slow, bulky special attacker.
Combining a chili pepper and a crocodile is one of the most creative designs ever for a starter. The best of starters have a concept more driven than just being an elemental version of an animal, and Fuecoco exemplifies the difference an extra layer of creativity can make. The design also succeeds in being one of the cutest starter designs of all time.
Source:gamerant.com