Starters I Initially Picked Vs. What I prefer

Today I'll be talking about Pokemon Starters over than years. When each new Gen came out, we ALL had our hearts set on which starter we were going to pick. Sometimes however, our heart set starter didn't meet our expectations and upon a replay of said game, you realized you prefer another starter over another and that your initial choice was the WRONG choice. So yeah, today, I'll talk about the games over the years, which starter I had my heart set on and whom I actually chose in the end.

1. Kanto/Leafgreen

Leafgreen was my first ever Pokemon game. I was playing this game before I could even read. That being said, I didn't understand save files and kept restarting my game... Almost each and everytime I restarted my save, I chose Charmander. HOWEVER Charmander, as I realized, is the worst choice as a starter since the first two gyms are strong against it. Therefore, I ended up choosing Squirtle and once again, being as young as I was, wasn't aware that you could switch out what position your Pokemon were and nearly played the entire game with only my starter. No joke. While Bulbasaur is my favorite of the Kanto Starters, I always choose Squirtle if I'm playing a Kanto Region game.

2. Johto/Heartgold & SoulSilver

In every single playthrough of Soulsilver, or any game where the Johto starters are available, I ALWAYS choose Totodile. Feraligatr is over powered LOL. However, I was once given a copy of Heartgold from a friend. He wanted my really cool metal bookmark and thought trading it for a DS game was fair trade at the time and guess what? I didn't argue lol! This was fifth grade so I was 11 or 12 at the time. I decided against restarting the game and continued where he had left off and he had chosen Cyndaquil as his starter. Cyndaquil did not disappoint. I even once chose Quilava instead of Croconaw in a playthrough of Pokemon Colosseum and again it was capable. So while I'll ALWAYS choose Totodile, Cyndaquil is a phenomenal second.

3. Hoenn/Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald

I've actually never completed a Hoenn game with a Torchic. I do vividly remember restarting my friends Ruby save and choose Torchic due to May having one in the anime. Due to such, my friend was so upset with me that he forced me to get back to where his progress was in his previous save. If you ask me, that was so stupid of him because I ended up taking Blaziken to the Elite 4 before he took the game back. Afterwards when my cousin passed down her copy of Emerald to me, I always choose Mudkip. Even in the remakes I chose Mudkip. The Mudkip line is one of the most overpowered Pokemon in existence. However, the Treeko line is one of my all time favorite Pokemon. So while I did initially choose Torchic, in the end I prefer Mudkip.

4. Sinnoh/Diamond, Pearl & Platinum

When Diamond and Pearl came out I had my heart set on Piplup, even completed my first playthrough of Diamond with Piplup. I've since replayed Diamond & Platinum more times than I can count and will NEVER choose Piplup again. While Piplup is one of my feel-good Pokemon due to how adorable it is, I've since will ALWAYS choose Turtwig instead due to how strong it is and me being blind to how weak Piplup was.

5. Unova/Black & White

When Black & White came out, I had my heart set on Snivy ESPECIALLY since I saw a fanart and thought that said fanart was what Snivy would eventually evolve into. I was so painfully disappointed... To put it simply, I was so upset and disappointed that I'll never choose Snivy as my starter ever again. On top of the fact that Tepig & Oshawott are MILES better than Snivy in battle. In fact, any game where the Unova starters are present, I ALWAYS choose Oshawott. Oshawott not only is another feel-good Pokemon of mine, but Samurrott is a phenomenal final stage too.

6. Kalos/X & Y

I've only ever played X & Y twice. I'm not a fan of this game to put it simply. When X and Y were coming out, I had my heart set on Fennekin since it was a fox and I love foxes. In my first playthrough I choose Fennekin as expected while in my second I choose Froakie. I don't understand why Greninja had an occult following cause it's weak!!! The only thing I remember from Greninja was that it's attack stats were horrible and the only thing going for it was its high speed stats. In the end, I'll most likely always choose Fennekin. It's the first time the starter I had my heart set on IS the starter I prefer over the others.

7. Alola/Sun & Moon

Alright, this one is a trip. I had my heart set on Rowlet when these games were advertised UNTIL Pokemon unvield their final evolutions and I realized VERY quickly that I hate Decidueye. Still do to be exact. So, I settled on choosing Popplio as my starter. Guess what, I don't like Popplio either!!!!! So Ultra Sun & Moon came out and I picked Litten. Sure enough as most of you already know, Incineroar is one of my all time favorite Pokemon. This is the first time that I hate every starter except one, and it wasn't the one I initially wanted either!!!

8. Galar/Sword & Shield

This was the first game that I could not decide on a starter. Or to be technical, it was the first game that I did not care for the starters when they were advertised. Grookey was boring... Sobble was questionable so I initially had my heart set on Scorbunny since I didn't want the other two. Well, the games came out and I made the safe decision to pick Sobble since Water types are often a sturdy pick compared to Grass and Fire of which have a multitude of weaknesses. I later went on to pick Scorbunny in a replay and yeah, I'll ALWAYS pick Sobble from here on out. It doesn't help that fire types are next to useless in Sword & Shield. Fire is especially useless in Sword where practically every gym leader is strong against it. Sobble is not only one of my all time favorite Pokemon but it's the best possible choice in Sword and Shield.

9. Titan/Scarlet & Violet

This is the first time that I fell in love with a starter Pokemon the second I layed my eyes on it! Sprigatito!!! I'm sticking strong to my guns here. Until those final evolutions/final typings are released, I'm sticking with Sprigatito the grass starter. This is also the first time that I do not care for the water starter. In fact, I want nothing to do with Quaxly. A duck starter? Like why? It looks too similar to Ducklett too. If Sprigatito's eventual final evolution disappoints me, I'll be turning to Fuecoco next but I'm 95% sure I'll be picking Sprigatito when Scarlet and Violet release later this year. ESPECIALLY with all the awesome final evolutions the fanbase is creating for it.

Which starters are you choosing for Scarlet & Violet?