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A guide to starting Kanto (or other Pokémon)
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In addition to the starter Pokémon that you get into the beginning of the game, Pokémon X and Y also allows you to get one of the Kanto starter Pokémon - Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. Read this article to find out how you can do so.

Getting Pokémon X and Y Starters

  1. Go to Lumiose City for the first time.
  2. Travel west and go inside the Sycamore Pokémon Lab.
  3. Take the elevator up to the 3rd floor of the lab.
  4. Battle and defeat Professor Sycamore.
  5. Choose Kanto as a starter for your reward.
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  2. He uses Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle.
  3. You only get one per file, so pick carefully.
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Join the Discussion...

wikiHow Editorial Team
With so many starter Pokémon to choose from, which one do you think is the best? Share your favorite starter from any generation, and explain why they're your favorite to use!
Josiah Campbell
Josiah Campbell
Pokémon Expert
From an iconic standpoint, I would have to say Charmander, just because it evolves into Charizard, and fans LOVE Charizard. Pikachu is also so iconic.

Competitively, I would say Litten, because Incineroar is the best competitive Pokémon of all time. For the best competitive Pokémon of all time to evolve from a starter is pretty impressive, and it's even from a quite underrated region.

My personal favorite is Chimchar, however, because Infernape is my favorite Pokémon. But an honorable mention goes to Froakie, because Greninja is another top Pokémon for me.
Grant Cunningham
Grant Cunningham
Gamer and Content Creator
My personal favorite is Mudkip from Gen 3. Mudkip is just really, really cute!

I would say competitively, if you want to play against other people, your best option is Charmander, as Charizard is such a strong final evolution Pokémon. Torchic and Froakie are also great options, as Blaziken and Greninja (their evolutions) are extremely strong too.

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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Where can I get TM Surf in Pokémon X and Y?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can obtain TM Surf from Tierno after progressing to a certain point in the story, which occurs relatively early in the game.
  • Question
    How do I get all the Kanto starters in Pokemon X and Y?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can only obtain one Kanto starter through normal gameplay. To acquire all three, you must trade with other players for the ones you don't receive.
  • Question
    Can I get a Sceptile in Pokémon X and Y?
    Victoria
    Victoria
    Top Answerer
    In Pokémon X and Y, Sceptile is only obtainable by trading it in from another game.
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About This Article

Ishrak
Reviewed by:
Gaming & Video Expert
This article was reviewed by Ishrak. Ishrak is a Gaming & Video Expert specializing in sharing Pokémon and Minecraft videos. With over eight years of gaming and streaming experience, Ishrak has a follower base of over 35,000 YouTube subscribers and over 8 million views. He is also a Pokémon ROM-Hacker and some of his most popular videos highlight tips and advice for people learning how to play Pokémon games. This article has been viewed 119,919 times.
23 votes - 75%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: April 22, 2025
Views: 119,919
Categories: Pokemon X and Y
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 119,919 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Andre Smith

    Andre Smith

    May 9, 2022

    "It helped me to get the best starter in the game."
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