WaterTypeStarter
Well-Known Member
The thinking goes that Bulbasaur is easy mode and Charmander hard. However, a closer analysis shows just the opposite. I am going to focus on gen 1 as opposed to FRLG. So things may be different. Basically, the thinking goes that Bulbasaur will easily sweep Brock and Misty's gym, Squirtle will sweep Brock's while Charmander will be at disadvantage at both. However, if you take everything into consideration, it is the opposite:
Bulbasaur will struggle in Viridian Forest with only Tackle and Vine Whip to fight the Bug types, though it will have the advantage of not being poisoned. Squirtle will be quite neutral with Bubble while Charmander will easily sweep with Ember. The two still have to watch out for Poison.
Bulbasaur and Squirtle will quickly sweep Brock with four times effective moves. Charmander will take little longer but ultimately Brock has no super effective moves and must rely on Tackle and Bide. And Geodude and Onix have low special stats so Ember will not be that weak. And if you burn, you can weaken Tackle and avoid powering up Onix's Bide.
On the route to Mt Moon, there are several trainers with Poison types and Bug types. Charmander will easily beat the latter. Squirtle will do fine. But Bulbasaur will have to rely on Tackle, Bide (if you used the TM Brock have you) and a not very effective Vine Whip to fight them. Though the advantage again will be it can't get poisoned.
Mt Moon has a Pokemon that will give each starter a type disadvantage. Zubat for Bulbasaur, Geodude for Charmander, and Paras for both Squirtle and Bulbasaur. However, neither Geodude nor Paras have any moves to affect Charmander and Squirtle respectively, and only one trainer I think has Rock Types that have nothing super effective against Charmander and is avoidable I think. Though there is a trainer with Grass types that can easily beat Squirtle, though this is no problem if you avoid her. Bulbasaur on the other hand has it the toughest in Mt Moon. Due to Bug being super effective against Poison in Gen 1, Bulbasaur is actually four times weak to Leech Life which also restores Zubat's HP. And there are Rocket members with Zubat that cannot be avoided. And Bulbasaur must rely on Tackle, Bide, and Vine Whip to fight Zubat. That does not mention some skippable trainers with Poison types as well as the required super nerd whom I think has a Koffing. Hence, Mt Moon goes very rough on Bulbasaur.
That is pretty much it. Now it is true Misty will give Charmander trouble. However, you can just skip her and instead go to Bill, S S Anne and then Lt Surge. You will get the powerful Dig TM that will give Charmander an advantage in Lt Surge's gym. And if you do not evolve into Charizard yet, you will not have to worry about weakness while Squirtle will have the disadvantage even with Dig. Bulbasaur may be able to sweep both gyms easily but this really does not make much with what it has to go though in Mt Moon, and there are more Poison Types to battle on the way to Bill and Bulbasaur has no good moves either by level up or TM to counter them at the point in the game. Charmander can also easily sweep the required Lass battle that has two Oddish that will have the advantage against Squirtle and give Bulbasaur trouble. The Rock Types you encounter will have no moves to easily beat Charmander. And once you get Dig, Charmander is pretty much able to counter them, and if leveled up enough can sweep the S S Anne as well as Misty who can be saved for after Lt Surge. Whereas Bulbasaur cannot learn Dig at all, being deprived of a powerful 100 base move till you get Double Edge at the Rocket Hideout.
To conclude, many people look at the gyms and decide Bulbasaur is easy mode while Charmander is difficult mode, but when you analyze more closely, it is the exact opposite. Charmander might take a little longer at Brock's gym but ultimately has no super effective moves to worry about. Bulbasaur by contrast will have to struggle against Zubat and the unavoidable Rocket members that have it at Mt Moon. Charmander by contrast will actually resist Leech Life which is already a weak move. And while Squirtle and Charmander will have access to the overpowered Dig, Bulbasaur will be forced to rely on unreliable or weak moves for a long time. And Misty can be saved for later, making Bulbasaur's advantage redundant.
Note this is about the Gen 1 games. Hence, FrLG may be completely different. Edit: one thing I forgot. Bulbsuar actually gets Leech Seed early enough, so that is also an option beside Tackle, Bide, and Vine Whip. However, it also has a low 10PP (as does Vine Whip) making Tackle the only move it can really rely on for a long while. Also, it cannot learn Mega Punch which you can get as a TM in Mt Moon while the other starters can, another disadvantage for Bulbasaur.
Bulbasaur will struggle in Viridian Forest with only Tackle and Vine Whip to fight the Bug types, though it will have the advantage of not being poisoned. Squirtle will be quite neutral with Bubble while Charmander will easily sweep with Ember. The two still have to watch out for Poison.
Bulbasaur and Squirtle will quickly sweep Brock with four times effective moves. Charmander will take little longer but ultimately Brock has no super effective moves and must rely on Tackle and Bide. And Geodude and Onix have low special stats so Ember will not be that weak. And if you burn, you can weaken Tackle and avoid powering up Onix's Bide.
On the route to Mt Moon, there are several trainers with Poison types and Bug types. Charmander will easily beat the latter. Squirtle will do fine. But Bulbasaur will have to rely on Tackle, Bide (if you used the TM Brock have you) and a not very effective Vine Whip to fight them. Though the advantage again will be it can't get poisoned.
Mt Moon has a Pokemon that will give each starter a type disadvantage. Zubat for Bulbasaur, Geodude for Charmander, and Paras for both Squirtle and Bulbasaur. However, neither Geodude nor Paras have any moves to affect Charmander and Squirtle respectively, and only one trainer I think has Rock Types that have nothing super effective against Charmander and is avoidable I think. Though there is a trainer with Grass types that can easily beat Squirtle, though this is no problem if you avoid her. Bulbasaur on the other hand has it the toughest in Mt Moon. Due to Bug being super effective against Poison in Gen 1, Bulbasaur is actually four times weak to Leech Life which also restores Zubat's HP. And there are Rocket members with Zubat that cannot be avoided. And Bulbasaur must rely on Tackle, Bide, and Vine Whip to fight Zubat. That does not mention some skippable trainers with Poison types as well as the required super nerd whom I think has a Koffing. Hence, Mt Moon goes very rough on Bulbasaur.
That is pretty much it. Now it is true Misty will give Charmander trouble. However, you can just skip her and instead go to Bill, S S Anne and then Lt Surge. You will get the powerful Dig TM that will give Charmander an advantage in Lt Surge's gym. And if you do not evolve into Charizard yet, you will not have to worry about weakness while Squirtle will have the disadvantage even with Dig. Bulbasaur may be able to sweep both gyms easily but this really does not make much with what it has to go though in Mt Moon, and there are more Poison Types to battle on the way to Bill and Bulbasaur has no good moves either by level up or TM to counter them at the point in the game. Charmander can also easily sweep the required Lass battle that has two Oddish that will have the advantage against Squirtle and give Bulbasaur trouble. The Rock Types you encounter will have no moves to easily beat Charmander. And once you get Dig, Charmander is pretty much able to counter them, and if leveled up enough can sweep the S S Anne as well as Misty who can be saved for after Lt Surge. Whereas Bulbasaur cannot learn Dig at all, being deprived of a powerful 100 base move till you get Double Edge at the Rocket Hideout.
To conclude, many people look at the gyms and decide Bulbasaur is easy mode while Charmander is difficult mode, but when you analyze more closely, it is the exact opposite. Charmander might take a little longer at Brock's gym but ultimately has no super effective moves to worry about. Bulbasaur by contrast will have to struggle against Zubat and the unavoidable Rocket members that have it at Mt Moon. Charmander by contrast will actually resist Leech Life which is already a weak move. And while Squirtle and Charmander will have access to the overpowered Dig, Bulbasaur will be forced to rely on unreliable or weak moves for a long time. And Misty can be saved for later, making Bulbasaur's advantage redundant.
Note this is about the Gen 1 games. Hence, FrLG may be completely different. Edit: one thing I forgot. Bulbsuar actually gets Leech Seed early enough, so that is also an option beside Tackle, Bide, and Vine Whip. However, it also has a low 10PP (as does Vine Whip) making Tackle the only move it can really rely on for a long while. Also, it cannot learn Mega Punch which you can get as a TM in Mt Moon while the other starters can, another disadvantage for Bulbasaur.
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