Best PokéSurvivor starter

There is no hidden best partner. A new save offers one of 29 starters from an eight-question quiz, and you can refuse it. Pick by the opening move. Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle are the three that teach the game: a burning shot, a melee swing, and a piercing shot. Later regions repeat those jobs with different HP and speed.

Take the starter quiz Play PokéSurvivor

Burning shot

Ember is a single fireball with a burn, and it becomes Fire Blast after a Power card. This is the easiest first run: you kite, the shot aims, and burn keeps working after you walk away. Charmander is the familiar one. Scorbunny and Litten are faster. Fuecoco has more HP and less speed.

Partner	Region	HP	Speed	Traits
Charmander Fire	Kanto	88	105	Brave + Impulsive · Ember
Cyndaquil Fire	Johto	88	105	Shy + Impulsive · Ember
Torchic Fire	Hoenn	90	97	Cheerful + Brave · Ember
Chimchar Fire	Sinnoh	90	104	Playful + Cheerful · Ember
Tepig Fire	Unova	99	97	Determined + Cheerful · Ember
Fennekin Fire	Kalos	88	103	Clever + Calm · Ember
Litten Fire	Alola	90	107	Loner + Proud · Ember
Scorbunny Fire	Galar	92	107	Impulsive + Cheerful · Ember
Fuecoco Fire	Paldea	100	93	Placid + Determined · Ember

Piercing shot

Water Gun keeps its damage at range and punches through a line. Squirtle is the simple pick. Froakie and Sobble are the fastest Water starters. Take it when you want the same kiting plan as Charmander without relying on burn.

Partner	Region	HP	Speed	Traits
Squirtle Water	Kanto	90	96	Cautious + Loyal · Water Gun
Totodile Water	Johto	92	96	Playful + Brave · Water Gun
Mudkip Water	Hoenn	92	95	Determined + Loyal · Water Gun
Oshawott Water	Unova	95	97	Brave + Playful · Water Gun
Froakie Water	Kalos	88	108	Calm + Clever · Water Gun
Sobble Water	Galar	92	107	Shy + Clever · Water Gun
Quaxly Water	Paldea	95	99	Proud + Cautious · Water Gun

Melee

Vine Whip is a long swing with knockback. While it is the active move you also take 25% less damage. Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Turtwig, Chespin, and Grookey all open on it. Stand in the pack. Do not pick melee if you are still dying to the first bomber.

Partner	Region	HP	Speed	Traits
Bulbasaur Grass Poison	Kanto	90	97	Loyal + Patient · Vine Whip
Chikorita Grass	Johto	90	97	Gentle + Patient · Vine Whip
Turtwig Grass	Sinnoh	95	91	Patient + Determined · Vine Whip
Chespin Grass	Kalos	95	94	Playful + Determined · Vine Whip
Grookey Grass	Galar	92	105	Cheerful + Playful · Vine Whip

Boomerang

Razor Leaf hits on the way out and on the way back. Treecko, Snivy, Rowlet, and Sprigatito start with it. Circle the horde. A straight sprint wastes the return hit.

Partner	Region	HP	Speed	Traits
Treecko Grass	Hoenn	88	107	Calm + Clever · Razor Leaf
Snivy Grass	Unova	90	104	Proud + Clever · Razor Leaf
Rowlet Grass Flying	Alola	101	96	Calm + Gentle · Razor Leaf
Sprigatito Grass	Paldea	88	105	Loner + Clever · Razor Leaf

Slowing nova

Piplup and Popplio start with Bubble, a slowing ring. It is strong once enemies are already touching you, and slow if you are trying to snipe. Pair the plan with a second move once you can afford Repertoire.

Partner	Region	HP	Speed	Traits
Piplup Water	Sinnoh	94	95	Proud + Cautious · Bubble
Popplio Water	Alola	92	95	Cheerful + Gentle · Bubble

Homing wave

Psyduck and Slowpoke start with Confusion, a homing wave the game already tuned down so it would not dominate. Slowpoke has 110 HP and 84 speed, the tank of the board. Psyduck is the quiz result for Chaotic and Shy. Both are fine. Neither is a secret best.

Partner	Region	HP	Speed	Traits
Psyduck Water	Kanto	92	101	Chaotic + Shy · Confusion
Slowpoke Water Psychic	Kanto	110	84	Placid + Patient · Confusion

What to do with the quiz result

Take the quiz in the game, or the same quiz on this site. The weights match, including the double count on the partner's first trait.
If the result is a move you do not want, choose “Choose another” in the game. The quiz only runs once. The menu partner can be anyone you own.
For a first clear, take Charmander if you like kiting, Bulbasaur if you like standing still, or Squirtle if you want pierce without burn.
Spend the starting 500 PokéCoins on that partner only. The upgrade order fits inside those coins.

Starter questions

Who is the best PokéSurvivor starter for a new player?

Charmander. Ember aims itself, applies a burn, and becomes Fire Blast after the Power card. Bulbasaur is the melee alternative. Squirtle is the piercing-shot alternative. The quiz suggestion is optional.

Can I ignore the PokéSurvivor personality quiz?

Yes. The result screen has a way to refuse and open the full board of 29 partners. Stats do not change if you refuse. A starter flag only means the Pokémon is on that board and has a fixed opening move.

Which starter is fastest?

Froakie has 108 speed. Treecko, Litten, Sobble, and Scorbunny sit at 107. Speed is how you walk out of telegraphs. It does not raise the damage of the opening move.

Which starter has the most HP?

Slowpoke has 110 HP and starts with Confusion. Fuecoco has 100. Rowlet has 101. Extra HP matters if you plan to stand inside Vine Whip or Bubble range.