A recent poll has revealed the most popular starter Pokémon in the brand-new Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games. Set in the Paldea region, Scarlet and Violet represents the ninth generation of the Pokémon gaming franchise, and features the cat-like Sprigatito, the reptilian Fuecoco, and the duck-like Quaxly as its starters.
According to a recent poll by the Japanese gaming magazine and news site Famitsu, fans have decided that the most appealing of the three new starters is the feline Grass-type Sprigatito. Known in Japanese as Nyahoja, the Grass Cat Pokémon reportedly took 40.68% of the vote. Many fans left comments regarding Sprigatito’s cute appearance and curiosity about its evolved forms. Second place, meanwhile, went to Fuecoco (or Hogator), with 35.32%. Quaxly (or Kuwassu) came in third with 23.89%. Of course, all three have collectively proved very popular; Pokémon fans began making plushes of the starters soon after their initial reveal. In the months leading up to the game's recent release, numerous other pieces of fan art depicting the trio have become common.
Sprigatito's Feline Charms Earned It The Top Spot
Although this poll only represents a small proportion of Pokémon fans worldwide, it is still easy to see why Sprigatito has won the Famitsu vote. As a result of being based on a popular pet, the cat-like Pokémon’s design is inherently appealing to many fans. Sprigatito is certainly cute, with green fur that forms a leaf pattern over its face and a pair of big pink eyes. Furthermore, its popularity actually has precedent. Generation 7’s Fire-type starter Litten is another undoubtedly cute Pokémon, and is similarly based on a cat.
Debates over which starter is the 'best,' whether within a Generation or in the entire franchise, have been a popular form of discussion for Pokémon fans over the years. With Gen 9’s starters having had their evolutions kept under wraps for players to discover in-game, all fans have been able to base their opinions on so far (without looking into leaks) are the starter trio’s base forms. To some extent, this means that preference has come down to which Type and animal one prefers; a Grass-type cat, a Fire-type crocodile, or a Water-type duck. In the past, similar debates have even been posed to real-life animals. For example, a group of animals at an aquarium chose Pokémon starters from the Gen 1 trio of Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle.
It must be said that a player’s favorite starter Pokémon is simply a matter of their own personal opinion, although it can be fun to compare these views with others. After all, although Sprigatito won 40% of the Famitsu vote, that means that the other 60% of those surveyed didn’t prefer the Pokémon, choosing either Fuecoco or Quaxly instead. And since it was based in Japan, Famitsu’s poll will not have reached many Pokémon fans in the west. Other polls and contests both can and have produced different results. For example, a recent crossover event saw a Splatoon 3 Splatfest decide Pokémon’s best starter type in honor of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and in that contest Water (and by extension, Quaxly) came out on top.
Source: Famitsu
-
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
- Released:
- 2022-11-18
- Developer:
- Game Freak
- Franchise:
- Pokemon
- Genre:
- RPG, Adventure, Action
- Platform:
- Nintendo Switch
- Publisher:
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
- ESRB:
- E
- Summary:
- Pokémon returns in its next installment series: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Set in a fictional town near Mediterranean Spain, gamers will explore Paldea, catching new and classic Pokémon. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is the first ever open-world game in the series and features new Pokémon that can transform into vehicles. Pokémon staples like gym battles are still present, but co-op exploration and Terastallize battles are also introduced.
- Multiplayer:
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Prequel:
- Pokémon Sword and Shield
- Mode:
- Single Player, Multiplayer
- How Long To Beat:
- 31 Hours
