Alola Starters: Rowlet, Litten & Popplio – Guide

Choosing the right companion in the Alola region is a pivotal decision for any trainer embarking on their journey in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Each starter Pokémon, Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio, offers unique strengths and playstyles that can significantly impact your adventure. The final evolutions decide the fate of a trainer in the game and the best starter may depend on individual preferences and strategies.

Embarking on Your Alolan Adventure: Choosing Your Starter

Alright, buckle up, Trainers! We all remember that feeling, right? The heart-pounding anticipation, the sweaty palms as you stare at the professor, a tiny pixelated Pokémon practically begging for you to choose them. It’s the starter selection, that pivotal moment in every Pokémon journey that sets the stage for an epic adventure. And Pokémon Sun and Moon, set in the tropical paradise of the Alola region, is no different!

Choosing your starter Pokémon in Alola isn’t just about picking the cutest critter; it’s about shaping your entire early game experience. Your starter will be your ride-or-die, your ace in the hole, and your loyal companion as you navigate the islands, tackle trials, and unravel the mysteries of Alola.

In this guide, we’re diving deep into the strengths and weaknesses of each Alolan starter: Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio. Our goal? To give you a balanced and informative look at each of these adorable little monsters, so you can pick the perfect partner for your play style.

Now, let’s get one thing straight right away: There’s no such thing as a universally “best” starter. The right choice for you depends on your personal preferences, your preferred battle strategies, and how you plan to build your dream team. Some of you might be all about raw power, while others prefer strategic type coverage. Some might be speed demons, and others will be stall lords. The possibilities are endless!

So, without further ado, let’s meet our Alolan contenders:

• Rowlet: The Grass/Flying-type, with a dapper bowtie made of leaves, is the chillest bird you’ll ever meet.
• Litten: The Fire-type, with a burning passion for… well, everything, especially battling.
• Popplio: The Water-type, is a playful and energetic sea lion with a knack for bubbles.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff!

Unlocking Alola’s Secrets: Game Mechanics 101

Okay, so you’re itching to dive into the sunny shores of Alola, but before you pick your adorable partner-in-crime, let’s talk shop! Pokémon Sun and Moon aren’t just about looking cute – there’s a whole lotta strategy bubbling beneath the surface. Understanding these key mechanics will make you a Pokémon master in no time, and help you choose the best starter for you.

Pokémon Types: The Rock-Paper-Scissors of Alola

Ever wondered why your Charizard’s Fire Blast does squat against a Squirtle? It’s all about types! Think of it like a cosmic game of Rock-Paper-Scissors. Fire beats Grass, Grass beats Water, and Water beats Fire. There are 18 types in total, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and resistances. Learning this is like unlocking a cheat code for Pokémon battles.

Now, let’s talk about STAB – the Same-Type Attack Bonus. This is super important. If a Pokémon uses a move that matches its type (say, a Fire-type using Ember), that move gets a 50% power boost! So, a STAB-boosted move can really pack a punch!

Type Matchups: Early Game Domination

Type advantages are especially crucial in the early game. Your starter’s type will determine how easily you breeze through (or struggle with) the first few challenges. For instance, a Grass-type like Rowlet will have an easy time against early Water-types, but will get roasted by Fire-types.

Let’s say you’re facing off against a tough opponent with a Rock-type Pokémon. If you chose Popplio, your Water-type moves will be super effective, dealing double damage! On the flip side, if you went with Litten, your Fire-type moves will be not very effective, doing only half damage. Knowing these matchups can turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Stats: The Numbers Behind the Power

Alright, time for some numbers! Each Pokémon has six main stats:

• HP (Hit Points): How much damage a Pokémon can take.
• Attack: How strong a Pokémon’s physical attacks are.
• Defense: How well a Pokémon can withstand physical attacks.
• Special Attack: How strong a Pokémon’s special attacks are.
• Special Defense: How well a Pokémon can withstand special attacks.
• Speed: Determines which Pokémon attacks first (usually).

These stats influence how your Pokémon performs in battle and also influence your battle strategies. A high-attack Pokémon will excel at dealing damage, while a high-defense Pokémon can act as a wall, soaking up hits. Speed can be crucial for landing the first blow or setting up strategic moves.

Movesets: Your Pokémon’s Arsenal

A Pokémon’s learnable moves are just as important as their type and stats. Moves determine what kind of damage you can dish out and what status conditions you can inflict. Some moves are physical, relying on the Attack stat, while others are special, relying on the Special Attack stat.

Keep an eye out for TMs (Technical Machines), which are items that teach your Pokémon new moves. You can find these scattered throughout the Alola region. Also, don’t forget about move tutors, who can teach your Pokémon powerful moves in exchange for certain items. A diverse moveset can make your starter a versatile powerhouse, ready to tackle any challenge!

The Starters Under the Microscope: An In-Depth Analysis

Alright, trainers, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty! It’s time to put Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio under the microscope and see what makes them tick. We’re talking stats, moves, and how they stack up against the Alolan landscape. No fluff – just the facts you need to make an informed (and awesome) choice.

Rowlet Line: From Feather Quill to Shadow Arrow

• Rowlet: Our little Grass/Flying friend starts off cute but don’t let looks fool you. Its initial strengths lie in its decent Speed and Attack stats, making it a reliable choice for early battles. However, its weaknesses include its vulnerability to common Flying, Fire, and Ice-type attacks prevalent in the early game. Its starting moves, like Tackle and Leafage, provide a basic but functional moveset to get you started.
• Dartrix: Ah, the emo phase! Dartrix’s mid-stage performance is… interesting. It gains a boost in stats, particularly in Attack and Special Defense, but its Speed remains relatively unchanged. This can lead to some frustrating battles where you’re just a hair too slow. Keep an eye on its moveset; it starts learning more powerful Grass-type moves to help deal with those pesky Water and Ground-type opponents.
• Decidueye: Here he is! Decidueye! Now a Grass/Ghost type, it gets some spooky new powers!
  • Typing and Stats: Decidueye’s unique typing gives it some surprising advantages, including immunity to Normal and Fighting-type moves! However, it becomes 4x weak to Ghost and Dark type moves. Its stats are fairly balanced, with a slight emphasis on Attack and Special Attack, making it a versatile offensive threat.
  • Signature Move: Its signature move, Spirit Shackle, is a Ghost-type physical attack that prevents the target from fleeing, which is great for catching wild Pokémon or trapping opponents in competitive battles.
  • Single-Player and Competitive Viability: In single-player, Decidueye can be a reliable team member thanks to its varied movepool and decent stats. In competitive battles, its unique typing and access to moves like Shadow Sneak and Leaf Storm make it a niche but effective choice, especially in Trick Room teams.

Litten Line: From Tiny Kitten to Wrestling Heel

• Litten: This fiery feline starts with a bang! Its initial strengths are its high Attack stat and access to Ember, a reliable Fire-type move that can burn opponents. However, its weaknesses include its low Speed and vulnerability to common Water, Ground, and Rock-type attacks.
• Torracat: Torracat brings some serious heat to the mid-game. It gains a significant boost in Attack and Defense, making it a formidable physical attacker. Keep an eye on its moveset; it learns more powerful Fire and Dark-type moves to help deal with a wider range of opponents.
• Incineroar: The heel Pokémon! Incineroar!
  • Typing and Stats: Incineroar’s Fire/Dark typing gives it a strategic advantage against Ghost and Psychic-type opponents. Its stats are heavily skewed towards Attack and Defense, making it a tanky physical attacker.
  • Signature Move: Its signature move, Darkest Lariat, is a Dark-type physical attack that ignores the target’s stat changes, making it useful against opponents who rely on boosting their stats.
  • Single-Player and Competitive Viability: In single-player, Incineroar can be a powerhouse thanks to its high Attack stat and access to moves like Flare Blitz and Earthquake. In competitive battles, its Intimidate ability and access to moves like Fake Out and U-Turn make it a versatile support Pokémon, especially in doubles formats.

Popplio Line: From Circus Seal to Diva of the Sea

• Popplio: Don’t let its clown-like appearance fool you; Popplio is a strong contender. Its initial strengths lie in its high Special Attack stat and access to Water Gun, a reliable Water-type move. However, its weaknesses include its low Defense and vulnerability to common Grass and Electric-type attacks.
• Brionne: Brionne evolves into a much more elegant version of Popplio. Brionne gains a boost in Special Attack and Special Defense, making it a strong special attacker and special wall.
• Primarina: From the circus to the opera! Primarina’s the grand finale.
  • Typing and Stats: Primarina’s Water/Fairy typing gives it a unique advantage against Dragon-type opponents and provides resistance to Water, Fire, Ice, Fighting, Bug and Dark type moves, talk about versatile! Its stats are heavily skewed towards Special Attack and Special Defense, making it a powerful special attacker and special wall.
  • Signature Move: Its signature move, Sparkling Aria, is a Water-type special attack that heals the burn status condition of the target.
  • Single-Player and Competitive Viability: In single-player, Primarina is an amazing team member because of its stats. In competitive battles, its stats can really help it in battle.

Comparative Analysis: Who Comes Out on Top?

Time to stack them up, trainers! Let’s see how our Alolan starters compare against each other in terms of stats and effectiveness against early-game challenges.

• Base Stat Comparison:
  • Insert Table Here: A table comparing Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio’s base stats at each evolution stage, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in each stat category.
• Effectiveness Against Early-Game Trial Captains and Totem Pokémon:
  • Rowlet/Decidueye: Excels against Totem Wishiwashi (Water) but struggles against Totem Araquanid (Water/Bug).
  • Litten/Incineroar: Shines against Totem Araquanid (Water/Bug) but struggles against Totem Lurantis (Grass).
  • Popplio/Primarina: Great against Totem Lurantis (Grass) but struggles against Totem Wishiwashi (Water).

So, who’s the ultimate winner? It all depends on what you’re looking for in a starter, trainers. Analyze your play style and what type of challenge you want and this information should help!

Abilities: The Unseen Edge in Alola Battles

Okay, so you’ve got your adorable little Rowlet, Litten, or Popplio. They’re cute, they’re cuddly (well, maybe not Litten, he’s got attitude), but do you know what really sets them apart? It’s not just their charming looks, it’s their Abilities! Think of them as secret weapons, always active and ready to give you an edge, whether you know it or not.

Each starter has an Ability that can subtly shift the tide of battle. For our leafy friend Rowlet, and its evolutions, it’s Overgrow. When their HP dips low, Grass-type moves get a serious power boost. Imagine your Decidueye, clinging on with just a sliver of health, unleashing a super-powered Leaf Blade! Talk about a comeback kid!

Fiery Litten and its evolutions boast Blaze. Similar to Overgrow, it buffs Fire-type moves when the Pokémon is in a pinch. Picture Incineroar, flames blazing brighter than ever, landing a devastating Flare Blitz!

And let’s not forget the bubbly Popplio! Its evolutions have Torrent. You guessed it – it’s the Water-type version of the same ability. Envision Primarina, singing its heart out, as its Hydro Pump becomes an absolute tsunami!

Learning to use the abilities of your Alolan Starter’s is one of the best things you can use to dominate the competition!

Z-Moves: Unleashing the Ultimate Power

But wait, there’s more! Alola isn’t just about Abilities; it’s also about the sheer spectacle of Z-Moves! These are one-time-per-battle super moves that can turn even the most desperate situation into a glorious victory. And guess what? Each of our final evolution starters has its own exclusive Z-Move!

Decidueye gets Sinister Arrow Raid, a Ghost-type Z-Move that is as stylish as it is devastating. It’s like watching an archer in a horror movie – seriously spooky and powerful!

Incineroar unleashes Malicious Moonsault, a Dark-type Z-Move that’s basically a wrestling move gone nuclear. It’s over-the-top, hilarious, and sends opponents flying!

And Primarina? It has Oceanic Operetta, a Water-type Z-Move as beautiful as it is destructive. It’s like a symphony of destruction, leaving opponents singing the blues (pun intended!).

To unlock these awesome Z-Moves, you’ll need to find the exclusive Z-Crystal for each starter’s final evolution. These Z-Crystals are like the keys to unlocking the ultimate power of your partner. These Z-Crystals are Decidium Z, Incinium Z, Primarium Z respectively.

Mastering Z-Moves is key to dominating in Alola. They’re not just about raw power, they’re about timing and strategy. Knowing when to unleash your Z-Move can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, choose wisely, trainers, and get ready to unleash the beast!

In-Game Usefulness: A Practical Perspective

Okay, so we’ve dissected each starter’s stats and moves, but how do they actually hold up when you’re knee-deep in Alolan dirt, battling your way to glory? Let’s ditch the theory and talk about real-world (well, game-world) usefulness.

Early Game: Smooth Sailing or Rocky Shores?

The early game is all about making a good first impression. So, who brings the heat (or the bubbles, or the…feathers) right out of the gate?

• Rowlet: Our feathered friend has a somewhat tricky start. While Grass/Flying is cool, it leaves you vulnerable to early-game Flying and Bug-types. Trial one will give you a tough time, if you don’t know that, or have a good strategy!

• Litten: This fiery feline has a slightly easier time early on. Fire-types are generally solid against early-game Bug-types, which is a plus. But make sure you watch out for those Water-types on the beach!

• Popplio: Popplio makes sure early-game a breeze! With a Water-typing, you can put out fires, and soak ground types!

  Early Battles: Think about that first battle against Hau. Who’s laughing all the way to the malasada shop? Also, consider those pesky Team Skull grunts. Type advantages can make or break these early encounters.

Mid-Game: Leveling Up and Facing the Heat

As you journey through Alola, battles get tougher and new challenges emerge. How do our starters adapt?

• Rowlet: Rowlet will learn to deal with the middle-game, and learn many new moves, to take on tougher challenges.

• Litten: Now, the Fire/Dark-typing is a double edged sword. Dark makes you immune to psychic and other ghost attacks, but that 4x weakness to Fighting will be pain!

• Popplio: Primarina can learn some pretty powerful Fairy-type moves, making it a formidable Special Attacker.

  Remember the increasing difficulty of the trials: Type matchups become even more crucial as you face Totem Pokémon with boosted stats.

Late Game: Conquering the Elite Four and Beyond

The Elite Four, the Champion, and the post-game challenges are the ultimate test. Who rises to the occasion?

• Rowlet: By this point, Decidueye can become a solid team member, with access to both grass and ghost attacks. It’s speed stat might leave much to be desired!

• Litten: Incineroar is a physical powerhouse, with a very high attack stats to deal with other teams.

• Popplio: Primarina may be a powerhouse in the late game, but other water types are on the same level, and the game might be starting to get a little stale.

Team Building: Finding the Perfect Synergy

No Pokémon is an island. Who pairs well with our starters to create a winning team?

• Rowlet: Look for Pokémon that cover Decidueye’s weaknesses to Fire, Ice, Flying, and Ghost-types. A strong Water-type or a solid Rock-type can be a great addition.

• Litten: Teammates that can handle Ground, Water, Fighting, and Rock-types are essential. Consider a Flying-type or a Grass-type to round out the team.

• Popplio: Grass, Electric, and Dragon-types can complement Primarina’s strengths and cover its weaknesses. A strong Ground-type is also a must.

Facing Alola’s Toughest Foes: Legendary Pokémon and Ultra Beasts

Alright, you’ve conquered the Trial Captains, earned your Z-Crystals, and maybe even built up the perfect team, but hold on, your Alolan adventure isn’t over just yet! Those Legendary Pokémon and Ultra Beasts are waiting in the wings to test your skills. Let’s quickly see how our starter buddies stack up against these powerhouses.

Legendary Encounters

Imagine facing down the majestic Solgaleo or the ethereal Lunala. Can your trusty starter hold its own? Let’s be real, these battles are tough, and no starter is a one-size-fits-all solution. Decidueye might have a slight edge against Solgaleo thanks to its Ghost-type moves, but Lunala’s Psychic powers could spell trouble for Incineroar. Primarina could make a good showing too but will need a carefully built team. The key is to remember your type matchups, bring a well-rounded team, and strategize carefully!

Ultra Beast Brawls

And then, there are the Ultra Beasts – those dimension-hopping weirdos that are as strong as they are bizarre. A Pokémon like Pheromosa with its Fighting and Bug typing can present issues for Incineroar. On the other hand, Popplio and its evolution’s Fairy typing can make quick work of Ultra Beasts with Dragon Typing. With all the power these creatures bring in their movepool, you’re going to have to level up accordingly!

Version Exclusives: Factoring in Game-Specific Content

Okay, so you’re almost ready to dive into Alola, but wait! Did you know that Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon aren’t exactly the same game? Yep, just like siblings, they share the same DNA but have their own quirks. Those sneaky version exclusives can actually tilt the scales when it comes to how awesome your starter feels throughout the game. Let’s break it down, shall we?

Totem Pokémon Tango: A Version-Specific Dance

Think of those intimidating Totem Pokémon! They’re basically the bosses of each Trial, and their types and strategies can seriously test your team. Now, here’s the kicker: some Totem Pokémon are different depending on whether you’re playing Sun or Moon. For instance, if one version has a Totem Pokémon that’s a total nightmare for Rowlet, but a piece of cake for Litten, you might find yourself regretting your feathered friend… or feeling like a genius for choosing that fiery feline! It’s all about that strategic advantage, baby!

Pokémon Pool Party: Different Swimmers in Each Game

It’s not just the Totem Pokémon, either. The actual Pokémon you can catch in each version are different too! Imagine if you chose Popplio, thinking, “Yeah, Water-types are gonna be my jam!”, but then you find out Sun has way fewer Water-type Pokémon available early on than Moon. Suddenly, Popplio isn’t looking so hot, is it? You gotta think about the overall team you want to build and how the available Pokémon in each version can help you achieve that!

Challenge Accepted (or Not!): Version-Exclusive Obstacles

And it’s not just about the Pokémon themselves! Some challenges and storylines are slightly different between the two games. Maybe one version has a recurring battle against a trainer who just loves Fire-types, making Litten’s journey a little bit smoother. Or perhaps another version throws a bunch of tough Grass-type trainers your way early on, leaving Popplio struggling to keep up. Keep in mind, that it could affect which Pokemon you get too. It’s all about knowing the lay of the land before you make that big starter choice.

So, yeah, version exclusives might seem like a small detail, but they can seriously influence how much you enjoy your Alolan adventure and how effective your starter feels. Do a little research, figure out which version tickles your fancy, and choose wisely, my friend!

So, there you have it! Whether you pick Rowlet, Litten, or Popplio, you’re in for an awesome adventure in Alola. No matter who you choose, you’ll have a great buddy by your side. Now get out there and catch ’em all!