Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DX: All the Available Starters and the Best Starters to Use

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, you play as a human who suddenly wakes up as a Pokémon, but to decide which Pokémon you are, the game asks you a series of odd questions.

Once the quizzer has come to some often unflattering conclusions about your personality, they’ll suggest which Pokémon best suits your personality.

Luckily, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX allows you to change your starter. So, if you get labelled a Meowth, you can reject the claim and then pick a different Pokémon to use as your starter.

Your starter Pokémon also gets a partner to forge the foundations of your rescue team, but you won’t be able to select one that’s the same type as your first starter Pokémon selection.

For example, if you pick Charmander first, you won’t be able to have Cyndaquil or Torchic as the second member of your team.

So, to help you pick the best starters in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, we’ll be breaking down each one, detailing their starting moves and weaknesses, and then suggesting the best starters to pick.

Bulbasaur starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

As the very first Pokémon on the Pokédex, Bulbasaur is one of the most iconic in the franchise. Many people will select Bulbasaur as their starter in Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX because it is their go-to starter Pokémon in Generation I games.

In this selection of starter Pokémon, Bulbasaur is unique because it is of two types, grass and poison, which means that it’s weak against fire, ice, flying, and psychic-type attacks.

Bulbasaur starts with the following moves:

• Seed Bomb (Grass) 16 PP
• Vine Whip (Grass) 17 PP
• Sludge (Poison) 17 PP
• Tackle (Normal) 25 PP

Charmander starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

Perhaps the most popular of all three of the Generation I starter Pokémon, mostly due to its final evolution being Charizard, Charmander will undoubtedly be one of the most commonly selected starter picks in this new Mystery Dungeon game. It’s even the only first-gen starter to be included in the initial release of Pokémon Sword and Shield, and you can find the Charmander with Gigantamax capabilities.

Charmander is one of three fire-type Pokémon to select from the starters. So, if you pick Charmander as your starter, you should know that it will be susceptible to water, ground, and rock-type attacks.

Charmander starts with the following moves:

• Flame Burst (Fire) 12 PP
• Dragon Rage (Dragon) 13 PP
• Bite (Dark) 18 PP
• Scratch (Normal) 25 PP

Squirtle starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

With its last evolution literally being a tortoise with cannons, Squirtle has remained a fan-favourite since Generation I. The Pokémon was made even more popular in the animated series, with the Squirtle Squad leader becoming Ash Ketchum’s Squirtle.

There are four water-type starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, with Psyduck joining the three starters. Squirtle, being one of the water-type starters, is weak against electric and grass-type attacks.

Squirtle starts with the following moves:

• Water Gun (Water) 16 PP
• Bite (Dark) 18 PP
• Brick Break (Fighting) 18 PP
• Tackle (Normal) 25 PP

Pikachu starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

Despite not being one of the original starter Pokémon of Generation I, Pikachu is still the mascot of the Pokémon franchise, with millions of fans hailing the electric mouse as their favourite Pokémon.

Pikachu is the only electric-type Pokémon available to select as one of your two starters in the new Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game, and it’s only weak to ground-type attacks.

Pikachu starts with the following moves:

• Fake Out (Normal) 13 PP
• Iron Tail (Steel) 16 PP
• Electro Ball (Electric) 17 PP
• Grass Knot (Grass) 20 PP

Meowth starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

Being a part of Team Rocket and being able to speak human languages, Meowth is one of the more memorable Pokémon from Generation I in the animated series, but perhaps isn’t a go-to Pokémon in the games – unless you want a Persian, and your name is Giovanni.

Meowth is one of the three normal-type starter Pokémon in the game. Only fighting-type moves are super effective against normal-type Pokémon, and ghost-type moves don’t affect them at all.

Meowth starts with the following moves:

• Fake Out (Normal) 13 PP
• Foul Play (Dark) 17 PP
• Bite (Dark) 18 PP
• Scratch (Normal) 25 PP

Psyduck starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

Not to the extent of a Magikarp, but Psyduck certainly has some powerful abilities hidden behind its oft-confused demeanour. The Generation I Pokémon can tap into psychic and water-type moves, which makes the tubby yellow duck a good addition to any team.

As Psyduck is a water-type Pokémon, it will take additional damage from electric and grass-type moves.

Psyduck starts with the following moves:

• Zen Headbutt (Psychic) 15 PP
• Water Gun (Water) 16 PP
• Confusion (Psychic) 18 PP
• Scratch (Normal) 25 PP

Machop starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

Machamp has long been known as one of the best attacking Pokémon in the Pokédex, let alone from Generation I, which is why so many trainers took the time to catch and train Machop.

Machop is the only fighting-type Pokémon available to select from the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX starters. It is weak against flying, psychic, and fairy-type moves.

Machop starts with the following moves:

• Strength (Normal) 15 PP
• Bullet Punch (Steel) 16 PP
• Brick Break (Fighting) 18 PP
• Karate Chop (Fighting) 20 PP

Cubone starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

Cubone has one of the most interesting, adorable, and perhaps creepy Pokédex entries, with the Lonely Pokémon said to be wearing the skull of its deceased mother. The Pokémon is, however, a very popular one from the first generation.

It is the only ground-type starter Pokémon that you can select in Rescue Team DX, which means that Cubone is weak against water, grass, and ice-type moves, but is immune to electric-type attacks.

Cubone starts with the following moves:

• Headbutt (Normal) 15 PP
• Brutal Swing (Dark) 17 PP
• Bone Club (Ground) 17 PP
• Brick Break (Fighting) 18 PP

Eevee starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

Just as prized as Pikachu for its adorable nature, Eevee has become famous in Pokémon for its many stone-induced evolutions. In Generation I, Eevee could evolve into three different Pokémon, but now, it can evolve into eight different forms – one of which is without the use of an evolution stone.

As a normal-type Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon, Eevee doesn’t sustain any damage from ghost-type moves, but fighting-type attacks are super effective against it.

Eevee starts with the following moves:

• Swift (Normal) 13 PP
• Bite (Dark) 18 PP
• Quick Attack (Normal) 15 PP
• Tackle (Normal) 25 PP

Chikorita starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

When Generation II came around, Chikorita was the first new starter in the Johto section of the Pokédex, with its name deriving from the ‘chicory’ plant being combined with the Spanish suffix from small, ‘ita.’

Being a grass-type starter Pokémon, Chikorita is weak against ice, fire, poison, flying, and bug-type moves.

Chikorita starts with the following moves:

• Razor Leaf (Grass) 15 PP
• Ancient Power (Rock) 15 PP
• Grass Knot (Grass) 20 PP
• Tackle (Normal) 25 PP

Cyndaquil starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

Cyndaquil had some huge shoes to fill as the Generation II fire-type starter Pokémon, following on from Charmander. But its final evolution, Typhlosion, proved to be a very powerful Pokémon with high speed and special attack ratings.

As you’ll know by now, Cyndaquil is a fire-type starter, and so, it is susceptible to ground, rock, and water-type moves.

Cyndaquil starts with the following moves:

• Ember (Fire) 15 PP
• Quick Attack (Normal) 15 PP
• Facade (Normal) 17 PP
• Double Kick (Fighting) 20 PP

Totodile starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

The little blue crocodile Totodile comes in as perhaps the most memorable of the three starters in Generation II, with its final form, Feraligatr, being a menacing Pokémon.

Totodile is a water-type Pokémon, so the starter in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is weak against electric and grass-type moves.

Totodile starts with the following moves:

• Ice Fang (Ice) 15 PP
• Water Gun (Water) 16 PP
• Metal Claw (Steel) 25 PP
• Scratch (Normal) 25 PP

Treecko starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

Generation III of Pokémon took us to the Hoenn region, where we meet the Wood Gecko Pokémon, Treecko. A sound pick in Ruby and Sapphire, its final evolution, Sceptile, was very quick for a starter Pokémon at the time.

Being a grass-type Pokémon, Treecko is weak against ice, fire, bug, flying, and poison-type moves in Rescue Team DX.

Treecko starts with the following moves:

• Dragon Breath (Dragon) 12 PP
• Quick Attack (Normal) 15 PP
• Iron Tail (Steel) 16 PP
• Absorb (Grass) 18 PP

Torchic starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

The fire-type starter Pokémon are always good in the early game, but in Generation III, the fire-type starter Torchic evolved into an almighty final stage, Blaziken. The fire-fighting type Pokémon boasts lofty attack and special attack ratings.

Unlike Blaziken, Torchic is only a fire-type Pokémon, and so, the Chick Pokémon is susceptible to ground, rock, and water-type attacks.

Torchic starts with the following moves:

• Low Kick (Fighting) 13 PP
• Ember (Fire) 15 PP
• Quick Attack (Normal) 15PP
• Peck (Flying) 25 PP

Mudkip starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

While each of the water-type starter Pokémon through to Mudkip in the first three generations were all excellent, Mudkip might be the best. Not so much for its aesthetics, but its final evolution, Swampert, is water-ground type, meaning that electric moves don’t have an impact, and its only major weakness is grass-type attacks.

Mudkip, however, doesn’t benefit from the superb type-combination of Swampert and Marshtomp: it is strictly a water-type Pokémon. As such, Mudkip is weak to electric and grass-type moves.

Mudkip starts with the following moves:

• Mud Bomb (Ground) 13 PP
• Mud-Slap (Ground) 13 PP
• Water Gun (Water) 16 PP
• Tackle (Normal) 25 PP

Skitty starter Pokémon in Mystery Dungeon

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, the Generation II selection only went as far as the three starters, but the Generation III selection also includes the pink kitten, Skitty. Including Skitty effectively gives players the option to have a cute dog and cat team of Eevee and Skitty if they so choose.

Skitty, like Eevee, is a normal-type Pokémon, and so, only fighting-type moves are super effective against the Pokémon.

Skitty starts with the following moves:

• Fake Out (Normal) 13 PP
• Charge Beam (Electric) 13 PP
• Echoed Voice (Normal) 15 PP
• Grass Knot (Grass) 20 PP

How to pick your Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX starters

For many players, picking the best starters for your team comes down to which Pokémon are your favourites.

However, with the 16-strong starter selection featuring so many great Pokémon, most of us will have trouble picking between a few of them. As such, you may as well go for the ones that will perform the best in the game.

An important aspect to consider is that there are many, many flying-type enemy Pokémon in the new Mystery Dungeon game, which means that Bulbasaur, Machop, Chikorita, and Treeko will be at a disadvantage when they face flying-type attacks in the dungeons.

On the flip side, the electric-type Pikachu and Skitty with its starting electric-type move, Charge Beam, have an advantage from the start.

As all wild Pokémon in the game aren’t flying-type, there will be times when those who are susceptible to flying attacks can still be strong Pokémon to use. On top of this, you can add more Pokémon to your team as you progress.

The best way to pick your starters is to go with your favourite Pokémon and then build around them with a partner Pokémon which can counter those that are super effective against your primary starter.

For example, if you pick Machop, you’ll know that the common flying-type Pokémon have moves that are super effective against your fighting-type Pokémon. So, pick Pikachu as your partner starter as its electric-type moves are super effective against flying Pokémon.

The best starters to pick in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX

Here’s a list of all of the best starter Pokémon combinations to pick in Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX:

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX gives players a difficult choice from the very start, selecting just two starters from a great group of 16 Pokémon.

You can get most of the starters to join your rescue team later in the game, but if you want to start strong, pick one of the best starter combinations shown above.

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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DX: Gummis and Rare Qualities Guide

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DX: Complete Item List & Guide

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