So, you’re standing in Elm’s lab. The music is looping that hopeful, 8-bit (or orchestrated) melody, and you’ve got three Poké Balls staring you down. It’s been decades since Pokémon Gold and Silver dropped, yet we’re still arguing over these three.
Honestly, the Johto starters—Cyndaquil, Totodile, and Chikorita—occupy a weird space in the franchise. They aren't the untouchable icons like the Kanto trio, and they aren't the hyper-tuned competitive monsters from later generations. They’re just... the Johto kids. But there’s a lot of baggage here. If you pick the wrong one, the game basically punishes you for the first ten hours. If you pick the "best" one, you’re basically playing on easy mode.
The Elephant in the Room (Or the Flower on the Neck)
Let’s get real about Chikorita.
Being a Chikorita fan is basically like signing up for a "Hard Mode" run without the game telling you. Most people get this wrong—they think Chikorita is "bad" because it’s a Grass-type. That’s only half the story. The real problem is Johto itself. Look at the gym lineup. Falkner? Flying. Bugsy? Bug. Whitney? Normal (but let’s be real, Miltank doesn't care about your leaves). Morty? Ghost/Poison.
You don't get a "favorable" matchup until you hit Chuck or Pryce, and even then, it’s shaky. Game Freak basically designed a region that hates Grass-types.
But here’s the nuance: Chikorita isn't a sweeper. It’s a wall. While everyone else is spamming Ember or Water Gun, a savvy Bayleef user is setting up Reflect and Poison Powder. It’s a war of attrition. In a modern context, like in the Indigo Disk DLC or recent competitive shifts, the Meganium line is often mocked, but its utility in a Nuzlocke is actually decent if you know how to play defensively. You just have to accept that you aren't going to one-shot anything for a while.
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The Power Trip: Why Everyone Picks the Fire Mouse
If Chikorita is Hard Mode, Cyndaquil is the Golden Child.
Cyndaquil and its evolutions, Quilava and Typhlosion, are statistically identical to the Charmander line. Base stats? Exactly the same. $Base \ Speed \ 100$, $Special \ Attack \ 109$. It’s a glass cannon designed to move fast and hit hard.
Why does it rank so high for most players?
- Scarcity: Fire-types in Johto are rare. Unless you want to wait for Magmar in the Burned Tower or get lucky with a Vulpix/Growlithe (depending on your version), Cyndaquil is your only reliable source of heat.
- The Moveset: In the original games, Typhlosion with Thunder Punch (via TM) was a god. It covered its Water weakness and turned it into a coverage king.
- The Legend Factor: Its recent Hisuian form in Pokémon Legends: Arceus gave it a Ghost-type secondary, making it relevant again in the 2026 meta. It went from a "pure fire" boring pick to a purple-flamed spectral powerhouse.
Totodile and the Physical/Special Split Heartbreak
Then there’s Totodile. The middle child.
Everybody loves the design. I mean, it’s a dancing crocodile. But Totodile has historically been the victim of Pokémon’s internal mechanics. In the original Gen 2 games, all Water moves were Special. Totodile’s best stat? Physical Attack.
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This meant your Feraligatr was biting people with a $105 \ Base \ Attack$, but its Surf was coming off a mediocre $79 \ Special \ Attack$. It felt like driving a Ferrari in a school zone. It wasn't until the physical/special split in Gen 4 (HeartGold and SoulSilver) that Totodile finally got to shine with moves like Waterfall and Ice Fang.
In the 2026 gaming landscape, people are rediscovering Feraligatr because of its Hidden Ability, Sheer Force. Pair that with a Life Orb, and you have a monster that doesn't take recoil damage and hits like a freight train. It’s the sleeper hit of the trio.
Breaking Down the Stats (The Boring but Important Stuff)
If we look at the raw numbers, the balance is actually pretty tight, even if the "feel" of the game doesn't reflect it.
Typhlosion is your speedster. Its goal is to end the fight before it gets hit. Pure Fire typing is a double-edged sword—no 4x weaknesses, but no secondary STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) until the Hisuian variant.
Feraligatr is the bruiser. It’s got the highest physical bulk and attack. It’s built to take a hit and retaliate. If you can get a Dragon Dance off (via breeding or modern move tutors), it’s over.
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Meganium is the support. It has the highest $Defense$ and $Special \ Defense$ ($100$ each). In a 2v2 VGC (Video Game Championships) setting, Meganium has niche uses for screens and aromatherapy, though it’s often outclassed by Venusaur or Amoonguss.
Which One Actually Matters in 2026?
If you're looking at Google trends or what's popping on social media, the Johto starters are having a massive resurgence. This is largely due to the "Legends" series and the rumors swirling about the next big Switch title. People are nostalgic for the "Natural" designs of Gen 2. Unlike the modern starters who often look like they have "jobs" (a spy, a drummer, a dancer), Cyndaquil, Totodile, and Chikorita just look like animals that evolved naturally.
There’s a purity to them that’s missing lately.
The Verdict: How to Choose
Stop looking at "Best Starter" lists. Most of them are written by people who just want to sweep the Elite Four in twenty minutes.
If you want the classic "Ace" experience, go with Cyndaquil. It’s consistent, fast, and the Hisuian form is undeniably cool.
If you want a powerhouse that scales into the late game (especially in remakes), Totodile is your guy. Once it hits level 30 and becomes Feraligatr, the game shifts in your favor.
If you want to actually prove you’re a good trainer, pick Chikorita. It’s a slog. It’s frustrating. But winning a Johto championship with a Meganium is the ultimate flex. It shows you understand mechanics, switching, and status moves rather than just mashing the "A" button.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
- For Johto/HGSS: If you pick Chikorita, catch a Geodude or a Mareep immediately. You need the coverage for the first two gyms or you will get stuck.
- For Competitive: Focus on Feraligatr with Sheer Force. It’s the most viable of the three in standard tiers.
- For Legends Arceus: Stick with Cyndaquil to see the Hisuian Typhlosion evolution, which is arguably the most unique redesign Game Freak has done in years.
- Check the Gender: If you’re playing the original Gen 2 or HGSS, try to get a female starter. It’s only a 12.5% chance, but it makes Whitney’s Miltank and its "Attract" move much less of a nightmare.
Johto isn't about being the strongest; it’s about the journey. These three embody that better than any other generation. They aren't perfect, but that’s exactly why we’re still talking about them.