Man, looking back at 2013, the hype for Pokémon X and Y was something else. It wasn't just the jump to 3D. It was that specific choice you had to make right at the start of your journey in Kalos. Everyone talks about the Pokémon XY evolution starter options like it's a simple "fire, water, or grass" decision, but it's actually way more layered than that because Game Freak did something they'd never done before: they gave you two sets of starters.
You’ve got the Kalos trio—Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie. Then, barely an hour into the game, Professor Sycamore just hands you a Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. It changed the math entirely.
Honestly, if you picked Chespin and then doubled down with a Bulbasaur, you were basically asking for a hard time against the first few gyms. People forget how much the secondary typing and the Mega Evolution mechanic warped the viability of these picks. We aren't just talking about base stats anymore. We're talking about competitive utility that lasted for years.
The Froakie Bias and Why It Happened
Let's be real. If you played through Kalos, you probably picked Froakie. Or you regretted not picking him.
The Pokémon XY evolution starter for the water slot is the undisputed king of the generation. Why? Protean. That’s the answer. While the standard Torrent ability is fine, the Hidden Ability Protean turns Greninja into a chameleon. Every time you use a move, Greninja's type changes to match that move. You use Ice Beam? You’re now an Ice-type. You use Shadow Sneak? You’re Ghost. It’s a defensive and offensive nightmare for opponents.
Greninja didn't just win the popularity contests; it redefined the meta. It was so good it eventually got banned to the "Uber" tier in Smogon competitive play for a while. None of the other Kalos starters even came close to that level of influence. Delphox and Chesnaught were... okay. They were fine for a casual playthrough. But Greninja was a god.
The Delphox Dilemma
Fennekin starts out adorable. It’s a fox. People love foxes. But when it hits that final evolution, Delphox, it becomes a Fire/Psychic type. On paper, that’s cool. In practice? You’re looking at a Pokémon with a lot of common weaknesses. Water, Ground, Rock, Ghost, Dark. It’s a long list.
I’ve seen a lot of players get frustrated because Delphox feels "squishy." It’s fast, and it hits hard with Special Attack, but it can’t take a hit. If you didn't pair it with a bulky teammate—maybe a Snorlax or a Lapras—you were constantly burning through Revives. It’s a glass cannon without the "cannon" power of something like Alakazam.
Chesnaught: The Underrated Tank
Poor Chespin. Everyone clowned on Quilladin because it looked like a green balloon, but Chesnaught is actually a beast. It’s a Grass/Fighting type with massive physical defense. If you were playing the long game, Chesnaught with the Bulletproof ability was a literal life-saver. It makes the user immune to "ball" and "bomb" moves. Sludge Bomb? Doesn't hurt. Shadow Ball? Negated.
The Sycamore Factor: The Second Starter
This is where the Pokémon XY evolution starter conversation gets complicated. About midway through Lumiose City, you fight Sycamore. He doesn't just give you a badge; he gives you a Kanto starter and their respective Mega Stone.
This choice usually serves to balance out whatever you picked at the beginning.
If you chose Froakie, you almost certainly didn't pick Squirtle. Most people went for Charmander because, let’s face it, Mega Charizard X and Y are iconic. But here’s the nuance: Mega Charizard Y with the Drought ability makes Delphox better because it boosts fire moves and weakens water moves. Most casual players didn't think about that synergy. They just wanted the cool dragon.
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- Mega Venusaur: Becomes a defensive wall with Thick Fat, losing its Fire and Ice weaknesses.
- Mega Charizard X/Y: Provides either a Physical Fire/Dragon powerhouse or a Special Fire/Flying nuke.
- Mega Blastoise: Turns into a Mega Launcher specialist, boosting pulse moves like Aura Sphere and Dark Pulse.
Hidden Mechanics Most People Missed
There is a weird quirk in how the Pokémon XY evolution starter stats are distributed. Kalos was the first time we saw a heavy emphasis on "Signature Moves" right out of the gate.
- Water Shuriken: Greninja’s move. Multi-hit, priority. It breaks Sturdy and Focus Sashes.
- Mystical Fire: Delphox’s move. It lowers the opponent's Special Attack every single time it hits.
- Spiky Shield: Chesnaught’s move. It’s like Protect, but it damages the opponent if they make contact.
These moves were designed to teach players about secondary effects. It wasn't just about dealing damage; it was about utility. If you were just spamming Flamethrower with Delphox, you were missing the point of its kit. Using Mystical Fire against a Special Attacker like Gardevoir makes the fight trivial.
Common Misconceptions About Kalos Starters
I hear this all the time: "Chesnaught is the worst starter because it has a 4x weakness to Flying."
Is it a problem? Sure. But how many Flying moves are you realistically facing in the late game that Chesnaught can't just switch out of? The "weakness" argument is a bit of a lazy take. In a real playthrough, Chesnaught's ability to sit in front of a Physical attacker and Leech Seed them into oblivion is incredibly satisfying.
Another one: "Greninja is only good if it has Protean."
Actually, even with Torrent, Greninja’s speed tier is so high for the Kalos region that it outpaces almost everything. You’ll almost always move first. In a game where "one-shotting" is the primary strategy for most players, speed is the only stat that truly matters.
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Maximizing Your Team Composition
If you are restarting Pokémon X or Y today, don't just pick based on looks. Think about the "Mega Gap."
Since you get a free Mega Lucario later in the game, and a free Lapras, and the Kanto Mega, your Pokémon XY evolution starter needs to fill a specific niche. If you go with Greninja, you have your fast sweeper. If you go with Chesnaught, you have your physical wall.
The "optimal" path for a smooth run usually looks like this:
Pick Froakie for the speed.
Pick Bulbasaur from Sycamore because Mega Venusaur is nearly unkillable in the mid-game.
Use the free Lucario for your Fighting-type coverage.
This covers almost every base before you even get to the fourth gym. It’s efficient, sure, but it also lets you see the variety of the mechanics Game Freak was trying to show off.
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Actionable Strategy for Your Next Run
To get the most out of your starter, you need to focus on EV training early, which was actually made easy in XY thanks to Super Training.
- For Greninja: Max out Speed and Special Attack. Don't bother with HP; if it gets hit, it’s probably fainting anyway.
- For Delphox: Focus on Special Defense and Speed. It can actually tank a few hits from other mages if you build it right.
- For Chesnaught: Max HP and Defense. Give it a Rocky Helmet. Watch physical attackers kill themselves trying to hit you.
Stop thinking about these Pokémon as just "starters" and start thinking about them as the foundation of a competitive-lite team. The depth is there if you actually look for it. Go check your PC—I bet that Chesnaught you boxed years ago is more useful than you remember.
The best way to experience these evolutions now is to try a "no-exp-share" run. It forces you to actually learn the movepools of these starters rather than just over-leveling and steamrolling the Elite Four with a single Water Shuriken.