Pokémon Ultra Violet Starters: How to Get All Gen 1, 2 and 3 Starters

How Starters Work in Pokémon Ultra Violet

There are two ways to receive your very first Pokémon in Ultra Violet.

The normal method is choosing one of Professor Oak’s Kanto starters: Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. The alternative method is refusing Oak’s three Poké Balls so that he takes you to a special research facility, where you can catch a different Pokémon as your starter.

Your opening choice matters for the early game, but it does not stop you from collecting the other Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn starters later.

Choose a Kanto Starter from Professor Oak

Professor Oak offers the familiar three Pokémon at the start of the game:

• Bulbasaur
• Charmander
• Squirtle

This is the best route if you want a standard FireRed-style opening. You select one of Oak’s Poké Balls, battle your rival, and begin your journey normally.

The other two Kanto starters can still be caught around Pallet Town, so you can realistically obtain all three before challenging Brock.

Catch Your Own First Pokémon

If you speak to Professor Oak but do not choose Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle, he offers a different option. Oak takes you to a fenced research field with tall grass and gives you special Poké Balls, rocks, and bait, similar to the Safari Zone system.

You can catch one Pokémon there to become your starter. This is a one-time visit. You cannot return after leaving, so save your game before entering the field.

If you use this option, your rival chooses Charmander.

Research Facility Starter Encounter Rates

The special starter field has nine possible Pokémon. Pichu is the most common choice, while Houndour, Spheal, Larvitar, and Dratini are the rarest.

Pichu and Machop are easier to encounter if you want to catch a starter quickly. Larvitar and Dratini are much rarer, but they eventually evolve into Tyranitar and Dragonite. Ralts becomes Gardevoir, while Gastly can evolve into Gengar through Ultra Violet’s revised no-trade evolution system.

Can You Change Your Starter Later?

You cannot replace your original starter choice without beginning a new save file. However, Ultra Violet gives you many opportunities to catch other useful Pokémon as you progress.

You can catch the three Kanto starters near Pallet Town, find the Johto starters on the Sevii Islands, and obtain the Hoenn starters through 4-Points Isle. Your first Pokémon shapes the start of your journey, but it does not prevent you from building the team you want later.

Kanto Starter Locations

Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle are available from the beginning of the game. Along with Oak’s starter selection, all three can be found in the grass around Pallet Town.

This is especially useful if you choose the research-facility starter. You can still catch a Kanto starter before reaching Brock and create a more balanced early team.

Which Kanto Starter Is Best?

For most beginners, Bulbasaur is the easiest choice because it performs well against both Brock and Misty.

Choose Squirtle if you want a balanced, durable Water-type that remains useful for the entire story. Choose Charmander if Charizard is your favorite, or if you want a slightly more challenging early-game experience.

Johto Starter Locations

The Johto starters appear on the Sevii Islands. You will not find them at the beginning of the game, but they become available as the story opens island travel after the Cinnabar Gym.

Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile are all wild encounters, so bring enough Poké Balls before searching their areas.

Which Johto Starter Should You Catch?

Choose Cyndaquil if you want the earliest available Johto starter and need a Fire-type for your team.

Choose Chikorita if you want a defensive Grass-type and a Pokémon that can support your party with useful moves. Choose Totodile if you prefer physical Water-type attacks and do not mind waiting until later in the game.

Hoenn Starter Locations

The Hoenn starter Pokémon are found on 4-Points Isle, an area added in Pokémon Ultra Violet. The island contains Generation 3 Pokémon and unlocks more sections as you progress through the main story.

To begin accessing 4-Points Isle, speak to the little girl in the southernmost house in Vermilion City after beating Lt. Surge.

4-Points Isle Unlock Stages

The island opens gradually. Treecko and Mudkip are available early, while Torchic requires much later story progress.

This means you can catch Treecko and Mudkip well before the Pokémon League, but Torchic does not become available until after you defeat the eighth Gym.

Which Hoenn Starter Is Best?

For general team strength, Mudkip is often the easiest recommendation because Swampert’s Water/Ground typing gives it only one weakness—Grass—in Generation 3.

Choose Treecko if you want a fast Grass-type attacker. Choose Torchic if you want Blaziken’s Fire/Fighting coverage and do not mind waiting until after the eighth Gym.

All Starter Locations Table

This table includes all nine regional starter Pokémon that can be caught in Pokémon Ultra Violet.

All types in this guide use the Generation 3 type system used by Pokémon Ultra Violet.

Can You Catch Every Starter Pokémon?

Yes. Pokémon Ultra Violet lets you obtain all nine standard starter Pokémon from Generations 1–3 during one playthrough. Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle can be caught near Pallet Town from the start. Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile become available through the Sevii Islands, while Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip are found on 4-Points Isle.

Tips Before Choosing a Starter in Ultra Violet

• Save first: The research facility is a one-time area.
• Think about early battles: Dratini and Larvitar are strong later but harder to train early.
• Catch Kanto starters early: Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle are all available around Pallet Town.
• Balance your team: Choose later Pokémon that cover your starter’s weaknesses.
• Carry Poké Balls: You will need them for Johto and Hoenn starter hunts.
• Check story requirements: Treecko and Mudkip appear earlier than Torchic and Totodile

Conclusion

Pokémon Ultra Violet offers much greater freedom in choosing your starter compared to FireRed. You can start with a Kanto starter, select a unique partner at Oak’s lab, and later catch all nine starters from Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn.

For an easier start, choose Bulbasaur or Squirtle; for strength, opt for Machop; and for a challenging journey, go with Dratini or Larvitar. As you progress, visit the Sevii Islands and 4-Points Isle to add Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, and more Pokémon to your team.