You’re standing there in Cabo Poco. Three small creatures are staring at you with big, hopeful eyes, and honestly, it’s the hardest decision you’ll make in the entire game. Most people pick based on cuteness. Sprigatito is a fan favorite for a reason, Fuecoco looks like he hasn’t had a single thought in his life, and Quaxly has that impeccable hair. But here’s the thing: those base forms are a lie.
Within a few hours of gameplay, that cute grass cat isn't just a cat anymore. It’s a magician with a dark streak. The scarlet and violet starter evolutions define your entire mid-to-late game experience in Paldea, and if you don't account for their secondary typing and hidden abilities, you’re going to hit a wall against the Elite Four or in competitive Ranked Battles.
The Paldean starters are unique because they lean so heavily into "job" archetypes—the magician, the singer, and the dancer. It’s a design philosophy Game Freak has been leaning into since the Galar region, but here, the execution is much more tied to the technical mechanics of the game.
The Meowscarada Meta: Speed and Critical Hits
Sprigatito starts as a pure Grass-type, but its final form, Meowscarada, picks up the Dark typing. This is a double-edged sword. You get an immunity to Psychic moves, sure, but you also become four-times weak to Bug-type attacks. One U-turn from a Scizor and your magician is folded.
However, Meowscarada is arguably the best "blind" pick for a first playthrough because of its signature move, Flower Trick. It never misses. It always crits. In a game where accuracy-lowering moves or defensive buffs can stall a fight into a boring slog, having a 70-base power move that effectively functions as a 105-base power nuke is a godsend. Its hidden ability, Protean, was nerfed in Generation 9—it only triggers once per switch-in now—but it still allows Meowscarada to change its type to match the move it’s using. This adds a layer of tactical depth most starters just don't have.
If you're looking for the mid-stage, Floragato, it’s basically the "awkward teenager" phase. It uses a vine as a yo-yo. It’s fast, but it’s frail. Most players find that the jump from Floragato to Meowscarada at level 36 is where the game truly opens up, especially when tackling the Great Crater of Paldea.
Why Skeledirge is the Secret MVP of Paldea
Fuecoco is the "safe" pick, but Skeledirge is a monster. Honestly, looking at a Fire/Ghost crocodile that sings into a flaming bird microphone is peak Pokemon design. While Meowscarada is about speed, Skeledirge is a literal tank.
Its signature move, Torch Song, is probably the most "broken" starter move in the series. Every time Skeledirge uses it, its Special Attack increases. In a long battle against a gym leader like Grusha or the late-game Titan Pokemon, Skeledirge becomes an unstoppable snowball. You start the fight doing decent damage; by turn four, you’re one-shotting everything in sight.
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The Ghost typing is huge here. It gives you immunity to Normal and Fighting moves. This is vital when you're dealing with the heavy-hitting paradox Pokemon in the endgame. While Crocalor (the middle evolution) looks a bit like it’s wearing a sombrero made of fire, the payoff at level 36 is worth the wait. Skeledirge’s Unaware hidden ability is also a competitive nightmare. It ignores the opponent's stat changes. If an opponent spends five turns boosting their attack, Skeledirge basically says, "I don't care," and hits them anyway.
Quaquaval and the Risk of the Water Type
Quaxly is the polarizing one. People either love the flamboyant dancing or they find it deeply unsettling. Quaquaval is a Water/Fighting type, which puts it in a weird spot. It’s an offensive powerhouse, but its defensive profile is... shaky. It’s weak to Flying, Grass, Electric, Psychic, and Fairy. That’s a lot of common threats in the Paldea region.
But let’s talk about Aqua Step. Every time Quaquaval uses its signature move, its Speed increases. If you can get a "Moxie" Quaquaval (its hidden ability), it becomes a terrifying sweeper. A Moxie boost increases Attack after a knockout, and Aqua Step increases Speed. After one turn, you are faster and stronger than almost anything else on the field.
The middle evolution, Quaxwell, really emphasizes the "practice" aspect of the dancer theme. It’s constantly moving. It’s high energy. But it struggles with a lack of bulk. If you aren't careful with your switch-ins, Quaxwell can get knocked out before it even gets a chance to show off its footwork.
Comparing the Final Stats
When you look at the raw numbers, the balance is surprisingly tight.
Meowscarada sits at a base speed of 123. That is incredibly high for a starter. It’s faster than most of the legendary birds. If you want to go first and hit hard, this is your pick.
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Skeledirge has a base HP of 104 and Physical Defense of 100. It’s meant to sit there and take hits. It’s the only one of the three that can reliably survive a super-effective hit from a boss-level encounter.
Quaquaval is the middle ground. Its Attack is 120, which is higher than the other two’s primary offensive stats, but its speed starts at a modest 85. You are forced to use Aqua Step to make it viable in the fast-paced endgame.
The Hidden Mechanics of Starter Breeding
Once you've finished the main story, the scarlet and violet starter evolutions take on a new role in breeding. Since you only get one starter, you’ll need to use the Picnic mechanic to get more.
A common mistake is trying to find these Pokemon in the wild. You can't. Not in the base game, anyway. To get the other two starters you didn't pick, you either have to trade with friends or use the "Version Exclusive" trade codes that the community established shortly after launch.
If you’re aiming for competitive play, you want those Hidden Abilities. You can’t get them through normal gameplay easily; you’ll need an Ability Patch, which is a rare drop from 6-star and 7-star Tera Raids. Using a Patch on your Meowscarada to get Protean or on your Skeledirge to get Unaware is what separates a casual player from someone who dominates the ladder.
Tera Types and Versatility
The Terastal phenomenon adds a layer of complexity to these evolutions. A Grass-Tera Meowscarada makes Flower Trick hit like a freight train. However, a lot of high-level players actually switch their Skeledirge to a Fairy or Water Tera type. This allows the crocodile to resist the very moves (like Ground or Dark) that would usually knock it out, all while it continues to boost its stats with Torch Song.
It’s about baiting the opponent. They think they have the advantage because they brought a Water-type to fight your Fire crocodile, then you Terastallize into a Grass-type and the tables turn instantly.
Which Evolution Should You Actually Choose?
If we're being totally honest, there is no "bad" choice, but there is a "wrong" choice for your playstyle.
- Pick Sprigatito if you like fast, glass-cannon gameplay. You’ll win fast or lose fast.
- Pick Fuecoco if you want to solo most of the game's difficult content without stressing too much about strategy.
- Pick Quaxly if you enjoy setup-based gameplay where you build momentum over several turns.
The middle stages—Floragato, Crocalor, and Quaxwell—are mostly just stepping stones. You’ll likely only spend about 15 levels with them before they reach their final forms. Don't judge the line by the middle evolution; focus on the Level 36 payoff.
Actionable Steps for Your Paldean Journey
To make the most of your starter, you need to stop thinking about them as just "Fire, Water, or Grass" and start thinking about their roles.
- Check your Nature immediately. If you picked Sprigatito and it has a "Modest" nature (which lowers Attack), you’re at a disadvantage. Use a Jolly or Adamant Mint as soon as you can buy them in Montenevera.
- Focus on signature moves. Do not replace Flower Trick, Torch Song, or Aqua Step. These are mathematically the best moves these Pokemon can learn because of their secondary effects.
- Hunt for the Ability Patch. If you plan on playing online, your starter is only half-complete without its Hidden Ability. Focus on clearing the post-game Ace Academy Tournament to unlock the high-level raids where these patches drop.
- Balance your team around the secondary typing. If you choose Meowscarada, stop adding Dark types to your team. You’re just creating a massive weakness to Bug and Fighting moves that will haunt you during the late-game Team Star battles.
The choice you make in the first five minutes of Scarlet and Violet ripples through the next 60 hours of gameplay. Whether you’re dancing with Quaquaval or burning down the house with Skeledirge, understanding these evolution paths is the difference between struggling through every gym and gliding into the Hall of Fame.