Which Hisuian Starter is the Best? A Deep Dive for Trainers

Welcome, Pokémon trainers! If you're venturing into the ancient and rugged land of Hisui in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, you're faced with a crucial decision right at the beginning: which starter Pokémon will accompany you on your journey? Unlike the traditional Pokémon games where you might pick based on your favorite design or type advantage against the first gym, Hisui throws a curveball. The starters here – Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott – all have unique Hisuian regional forms and powerful evolutions that significantly impact your early and mid-game experience. So, which Hisuian starter is truly the best?

Let's break down each contender:

Rowlet: The Grass/Flying Type with a Twist

Your familiar feathered friend, Rowlet, returns with a Hisuian twist. In Hisui, Rowlet evolves into Hisuian Decidueye, a Grass/Fighting type. This is a significant departure from its original Grass/Flying typing. This new typing offers a few key advantages:

Type Coverage: Grass/Fighting is a solid offensive typing, hitting a wide range of Pokémon for super-effective damage. It's particularly strong against Rock, Ground, Water, and Electric types.
Early Game Strength: Hisuian Decidueye's movepool early on will likely include powerful Grass and Fighting attacks, making the initial areas and encounters relatively manageable.
Defensive Capabilities: While not a defensive powerhouse, the Grass/Fighting typing can resist Water, Electric, Ground, Rock, and is immune to Psychic. However, it does have some notable weaknesses to Fire, Ice, Flying, Poison, and Fairy.

Pros of choosing Rowlet:

Excellent offensive typing for a significant portion of the game.
Access to powerful STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves early on.
A unique and interesting evolution that offers a different strategic niche than its original form.

Cons of choosing Rowlet:

Vulnerable to common early-game Pokémon types like Fire.
Can struggle against certain prevalent Pokémon in later stages of the game without careful team building.

Cyndaquil: The Fiery Powerhouse

Next up is Cyndaquil, the fire-type from the Johto region. Its Hisuian evolution, Hisuian Typhlosion, transforms into a Fire/Ghost type. This is a game-changer and often considered by many to be the top pick for its sheer offensive prowess and unique typing.

Offensive Dominance: Fire/Ghost is an incredibly potent offensive combination. Fire attacks are super-effective against Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel types, while Ghost attacks target Psychic and Ghost types. This dual typing allows Hisuian Typhlosion to hit a vast number of Pokémon for super-effective damage.
Speed and Power: Hisuian Typhlosion is known for its high Special Attack and Speed stats, allowing it to outspeed and dish out heavy damage before opponents can retaliate.
Immunity: As a Ghost-type, it's immune to Normal and Fighting-type attacks, which are very common.

Pros of choosing Cyndaquil:

Exceptional offensive typing that covers a wide array of Pokémon.
High offensive stats make it a swift and devastating attacker.
Immunity to two common attacking types provides a significant defensive advantage.
Its signature move, Infernal Overdrive, is incredibly powerful.

Cons of choosing Cyndaquil:

Shares common weaknesses with other Fire-types, such as Water, Ground, and Rock.
Can be vulnerable to strong Dark-type Pokémon.

Oshawott: The Aquatic Warrior

Finally, we have Oshawott, the water-type starter. In Hisui, it evolves into Hisuian Samurott, which boasts a Water/Dark typing. This offers a blend of offense and defense that can be very effective throughout the game.

Balanced Typing: Water/Dark is a great typing, offering resistances to Steel, Fire, Ice, Water, and Psychic. It's super-effective against Fire, Ground, Rock, and Psychic types.
Solid Stats: Hisuian Samurott typically has good Attack and Defense stats, making it a reliable physical attacker and capable of taking a hit.
Access to Strong Moves: Its movepool will likely include powerful Water and Dark STAB moves, giving it good coverage.

Pros of choosing Oshawott:

A balanced offensive and defensive typing.
Good physical presence, making it effective against many common threats.
Resistances to several common attacking types.

Cons of choosing Oshawott:

Weaknesses to Grass, Electric, Fighting, and Bug-type attacks.
May not have the same immediate offensive "wow" factor as Hisuian Typhlosion in the early game.

The Verdict: Which is the "Best"?

When it comes to sheer ease of progression and raw power, many players will argue that Hisuian Typhlosion (from Cyndaquil) is the best Hisuian starter. Its Fire/Ghost typing provides incredible offensive coverage, allowing it to breeze through many early and mid-game challenges. The immunity to Normal and Fighting types is also a significant boon.

However, "best" is subjective and depends on your playstyle and team composition. If you prefer a more physically oriented Pokémon with good bulk, Hisuian Samurott (from Oshawott) is an excellent choice. If you enjoy a balanced offensive and defensive approach with a unique typing, Hisuian Decidueye (from Rowlet) can also be a strong contender.

Ultimately, all three Hisuian starters are viable and can lead you to victory. The journey through Hisui is about adapting and building a strong team. Don't be afraid to experiment, and pick the starter that resonates most with you!

"The best starter is the one that complements your team and playstyle. While Hisuian Typhlosion offers undeniable offensive power, the strategic advantages of the other two should not be underestimated."

FAQ Section

How does the Hisuian starter typing affect gameplay?

The Hisuian starter typings are significantly different from their original forms and have a major impact on their strengths and weaknesses. For example, Hisuian Decidueye's Grass/Fighting typing makes it potent against certain Pokémon but vulnerable to others that its original form wasn't. Hisuian Typhlosion's Fire/Ghost typing provides an immense offensive advantage with fewer common resistances to worry about. Hisuian Samurott's Water/Dark typing offers a solid defensive backbone alongside offensive pressure.

Why is Hisuian Typhlosion often considered the best?

Hisuian Typhlosion is frequently cited as the best due to its exceptional Fire/Ghost offensive typing. This combination allows it to hit a very wide range of Pokémon for super-effective damage. Furthermore, its high Special Attack and Speed stats mean it can often defeat opponents before they can even attack, making the early and mid-game progression smoother.

Can I complete the game with any starter?

Absolutely! While some starters might make certain parts of the game slightly easier, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is designed so that any of the starters can be used to successfully complete the main story and beyond. The key is to build a well-rounded team that can cover the weaknesses of your chosen starter and take advantage of their strengths.

Does the starter choice affect the story in Pokémon Legends: Arceus?

No, the starter Pokémon you choose at the beginning of Pokémon Legends: Arceus does not significantly alter the main story progression or narrative. Your choice primarily impacts your gameplay experience and how you approach battles and team building throughout your adventure in Hisui.