So Pokemon Sun and Moon added at least 80 new Pokemon. Now, I have heard there was more on the way, but I only know up to Magearna, so we are doing the first 80 introduced as well as the Alolan Forms of new Pokemon to see who has benefited or devolved from previous editions. So with that out of the way, let's get started, and what better way than to start off with the Pokemon we begin our journeys with?
The Starters will be reviewed by evolutionary line to make sure that everything fits in the blog. I saw a blog about Carl Grimes earlier get cut off because too much was on it, so yeah... lol
The Rowlet Line – Rowlet was the Starter I chose, so I have a better perspective on the Rowlet than I do on the other 2 Starter lines for Gen. 7. Now, I know middle evolutionary lines get canned a lot for having mid-stage Syndrome, and for a lot of Starters in previous generations *cough* Quilladin *cough*, that was indeed true. BUT design-wise, none of the Rowlet line really seem that awkward although how Dartrix can transform into some Robin Hood-esque bird known as Decidueye can raise some eyebrows. In its first 2 stages, it has a double weakness to Ice while having an Immunity to Ground that it doesn’t really need. But replacing the Flying-type with the Ghost-type upon becoming Decidueye works. Losing the Immunity to Ground isn’t a total loss as it is now a resistance, and in exchange, it gains immunities to Normal AND Fighting! It also gains a resistance to the Electric-type, is no longer weak to the Rock-type (important because it is now no longer weak to Stealth Rock) as well as the Bug-type and Poison-types and most importantly reduces the double weakness it had to Ice. Sure, it’s weak to Dark now, but the change to a Ghost-type helps this line more than it hurts it. Plus, Decidueye is not a hard Pokemon to learn as you can learn a very offensive moveset with it, and knowing me, I like to finish my matches quickly, so an attacking Pokemon really gets the job done! One thing to keep in mind though is that after clearly Wishiwashi, you’re going to need to get help from other Pokemon to clear the rest of the trials as the Rowlet line will not do well against the next trial where you face Salazzle and can be risky to use in battles it might still have an advantage in. Rowlet was such a cute Pokemon that picking him really worked best when I was starting the story. Dartrix looks really handsome, and Decidueye looks like a genuine badass while still looking like someone you could chill with. So it’s safe to say that I liked this Rowlet line quite a bit AND has become my favorite Starter line since Gen. 3.
The Litten Line – If I had to go through the Sun and Moon adventure again and had to pick another Starter, I’d go with Litten. Litten is just SO cute and adorable! Honestly, with the exception of Tepig, Fire Starters normally hit the nail in the head when it comes to its initial form. Then it will evolve into Torracat, and while some say it looks like mid-stage Syndrome hit the Litten line hard, I don’t see it. If I’m being honest, Litten evolving into Torracat is actually a smooth transition. Same can NOT be said about Torracat evolving into Incineroar. The fact it goes from a still-relatively cute feline into some bipedal macho villain tiger that looks like it should be Tai Lung from Kung Fu Panda and not a Pokemon game can be, to say the least, offputting. That being said, I can’t complain too much since it’s not Fire/Fighting like the Fire Starters were 3 generations in a row. Instead, it gained the Dark-type, and quite frankly, it is a blessing it does. Its initial type keeps it from being weak to Fairy (as well as the ever-irrelevant Bug), and it gains an immunity to the type Delphox got upon evolution. So really, what new does Incineroar really have to fear when going into battle? As a stand-alone Pokemon, Incieroar works despite losing a dickload of Speed upon evolving. I do still like the design because he really feels like someone you can fight alongside, and he always looks like he’s raring for a battle, which is what I really like about Incineroar. However, the weaknesses it still has are weakness that get used a lot, so Incineroar will need to choose its matches wisely. Overall, I like this Starter line and think it’s a cool evolutionary line, though the final transition will raise more eyebrows than Dartrix becoming its final evolution Decidueye.
The Popplio Line – Let’s be honest, I was not impressed by the Popplio line at all. Now, I have never hated Popplio like other people did, but I also did not think Primarina was the “redemption” people made it out to be. Plus, not to be sexist or anything, but the whole line being a male after even becoming Brionne just doesn’t sit right with me. To be fair, it should have gotten the Marill treatment where it could switch genders upon evolving, but instead of the females becoming a male, it’s the other way around. But that’s the least of my complaints with the Popplio line. If any Starter in Gen. 7 has mid-stage Syndrome, it’s this line with Brionne, simply the transitioning in both evolutions are both awkward from Brionne’s end of the stick and so the whole Starter line just comes off as unsteady to me. Oh, and Primarina’s cry is god-awfully ANNOYING! Sure, it has an Irish kind of tone that keeps it true to its Fairy typing, but hearing it every battle can be grating to the ears. Also, during my adventure when I had to team up with Hau’s Primarina in the Aether Paradise, Primarina was basically Dusknoir 2.0, actively trying to kill my Pokemon during the battle while I was trying to win us the battle. That being said, I do still have compliments to give to the Popplio line. First, it gains the Fairy typing, meaning it is immune to Dragon! When the Starter types all can’t hit dragons very hard, the Fairy typing really comes into handy, and when dealing with the final trial of the game, Primarina will make short work of that trial, so that’s something to smile about. Also, the Water-typing keeps it from ever being weak to Steel types, so the only weakness it really gains upon evolving to Primarina is the Poison-typing. Of course, with Team Skull having tons of Poison Pokemon at their disposal, you need to give it some help if you have any hope of beating Team Skull. Oh, and don’t even TRY putting it up against the Ultra Beasts. Xurkitree and Kartana/Celesteela will slaughter Primarina and make it look like an accident, and if you wanna capture Guzlord, Primarina will just kill that, so yeah. Design-wise, I do like Primarina and its signature Z-move suits it well, and I can’t really hate Popplio either as Popplio has a campy look I do like with the circus approach and all. Overall, the Popplio line just doesn’t match up well to the other Water Starters in previous generations, although it will beat out Feraligatr for me as I don’t really like Feraligatr that much. On its own it’s good enough, but it could definitely have stood to be better because there just so much about it that didn’t sit right and that is a shame.
And that’s it for the Starters! Tell me what you thought, and if you wanna be tagged for future updates, comment below. I will tag some people who have done Pokemon things like the BB and Survivor and what not as well as some other people. If you don’t wanna be tagged, just request so.
I agree with everything, but I'd say Primarina is actually probably one of the better of the starters when it comes to battling cuz of water/fairy being a good typing (which you said) and I believe it's movepool is more diverse. Brionne isn't the best middle stage evo , I can agree to that lol
Sorry if that came out wrong andalarew_2231, but what I meant was Primarina was out of place being male when its design fits more of an all-female gender ratio as opposed to there being an 87.5% chance of it being male.
Also yes agreed although I love Incineroar