With many Pokémon trainers visiting Sinnoh for the first time in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, players should begin considering whether Turtwig is the right starter for them. The Grass and Ground type Pokémon is one of the most iconic in the series, with its final evolution Torterra even being featured in the film Detective Pikachu. Besides its great design, it's also worth asking whether or not the Turtwig line is the best for players.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl are remaking Gen 4 and bringing back its starters Turtwig, Piplup, and Chimchar. Other than being some of the cutest the Pokémon series has to offer, their final evolutions are amongst the best. Turtwig's evolutions are Grotle and the monstrous Torterra, one of the few Grass and Ground types in the world of Pokémon. Its stats match its humongous design, as Torterra is a bulky tank that can take and give tons of damage.

Related: Which Pokémon BDSP Starter Evolution Is Best (& Why)

However, Torterra may not be right for everyone's playstyle in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. While very strong, Torterra may not be preferred by players who enjoy fast strikers or trap setters, and the Pokémon objectively has glaring weaknesses when it comes to some of the locations in Sinnoh. To figure out whether Turtwig makes for a good starter in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearlhere is a list of pros and cons to using the pocket monster.

Pros: Turtwig Has The Best Dual Typing For BDSP Matchups

Torterra prepares to battle in the Pokemon anime

Turtwig's evolution line follows that of Gen 1's Bulbasaur, in that they become a bulky, defensive tank as they evolves. However, unlike Venusaur's Poison dual typing, Torterra gains the amazing Ground type. While the lack of a Poison dual typing - and a mega evolution in Pokémon BDSP for that matter - disables Torterra from setting up the traps that make the Bulbasaur line such strong Pokémon, the Ground type may be one of the best types in all of Pokémon. Ground types have access to some of the strongest physical stab moves in the series, namely "Earthquake," which can hit multiple opponents at once with high damage and accuracy. On top of this, Ground moves are strong against a long list of Pokémon that include Fire types, Electric types, Rock types, Steel types, and even Poison types.

The Turtwig line also has a very good matchup list against the enemies of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. While Turtwig cannot do much against the Dark-type Pokémon of Team Galactic, Torterra decimates the evil organization's many Poison and Flying type Pokémon with its Ground and Rock moves. Leaders Jupiter and Mars especially fall victim to players who choose Torterra, as their Zubats and Gulbats are crushed by "Stealth Rock," and even Skuntank's bulky build cannot withstand an "Earthquake" from a higher leveled Torterra.

Related: Why Pokémon's Infamous Cynthia Fight Will Be Different in BD & SP

The Turtwig line's good matchups continue in Pokémon trainers' journeys through gym leaders and the Elite Four. Turtwig's Grass-type moves make Roark's Rock gym and Crasher Wake's Water gym cakewalks, and its later evolutions' Ground typing make Byron's Steel gym and Volkner's Electric gym very easy. Even Gardenia's Grass gym and Maylene's Fighting gym are not safe from the Turtwig line, as Roselia and Lucario - both gyms' strongest Pokémon - are weak to Ground moves. And though Gen 4's Elite Four rank amongst the strongest in the entire Pokémon series, members Bertha and Flint also succumb to Torterra because its Grass moves decimate all of Bertha's Ground types, and Torterra's own Ground type defeats Flint's Fire Pokémon. Finally, Torterra theoretically has the best type matchup against Cynthia, with its dual typing making it strong against her Roserade, Milotic, Gastrodon, and Lucario.

Cons: Turtwig's Dual Typing Still Has Severe Weaknesses

Turtwig leaps through the air in Pokemon anime

While Turtwig's Ground dual typing is perhaps its greatest strength, it also opens the Pokémon to severe weaknesses. Namely, both Grass and Ground are weak to Ice type moves. Ice types are usually the weakest Pokémon other than Bug types, but their moves are still incredibly strong. Both "Blizzard" and "Icebeam" are some of the most effective moves in all of Pokémon, as they are powerful and can even freeze opponents. The Turtwig line feels the force of these moves with an effectiveness four times more than usual because of its dual typing. Additionally, Torterra's stats specialize in Attack and Defense but not Special Defense, so it is especially weak against these Special Attack moves from other Pokémon.

What makes this Ice weakness even worse is that the Ice type had such a central role in the original Pokémon Diamond & Pearl. The long and slow Route 216 to Snowpoint City is one where snow is constantly falling and collecting in mounds so deep that players cannot see where other Pokémon trainers are waiting to fight them. For players who chose Turtwig, attempting to push through this area is a nightmare in which faster Pokémon await to knock Torterra out with a single Ice move. The reward for finally making it through Route 216 is Snowpoint City, where the Sinnoh Region's strongest Ice type battler Candice hosts her gym.

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Barry, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl's rival, also becomes much more of a threat because of the Grass and Ground typing. Barry usually runs his team with the Diamond & Pearl Pokémon Staraptor, a bird-type, out first. It's a quick, physical attacker that can deal serious damage to the Turtwig line with its Flying moves. Barry may then send out his Floatzel, who can make quick use of Torterra with an "Ice Fang," or his Heracross, who can use either stab Bug moves or even "Aerial Ace." If players' Torterras somehow make it through those Pokémon, Barry can end the fight with his Infernape, whose excellent Speed and Attack stats can one-shot an already weak Pokémon.

Though Turtwig has its faults, the Pokémon ultimately makes for a great starter. Turtwig's advantages against Sinnoh's gym leaders and the Elite Four are too immense to be forgotten just because of its four times weakness to Ice moves. And like the other starters, time and dedication put into raising Turtwig will always make it a viable choice for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.

Next: Pokémon Diamond & Pearl Remakes: All Version Exclusive Legendary Pokémon