The Definitive 2025 Ranking: Charmander, Bulbasaur, Or Squirtle? The Kanto Starter Showdown

The debate over the original three starter Pokémon—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—is the longest-running, most passionate argument in gaming history. Decades after the debut of Pokémon Red and Blue, the question of which Kanto starter is truly the best remains a hot topic, with new competitive metas, fan polls, and game re-releases constantly shifting the consensus. As of December 15, 2025, a deep analysis reveals that the "easiest" choice is rarely the "most popular," and the true winner depends entirely on your playstyle and goals, whether you're attempting a challenging Nuzlocke run or aiming for competitive glory with their final forms: Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise.

This exhaustive 2025 analysis cuts through the nostalgia to deliver an objective ranking based on three critical categories: in-game performance against the Kanto Gym Leaders, endgame competitive viability, and raw fan popularity. While many players gravitate toward the fiery appeal of Charmander, the data strongly suggests that the most powerful choice for a smooth first playthrough is often the one most overlooked, proving that utility can—and often does—triumph over popularity in the Pokémon world.

Kanto Starter Profiles: The Original Three

Before diving into the rankings, it is essential to understand the base stats and final evolutionary forms of the Generation 1 trio. These profiles detail the fundamental differences that define their in-game and competitive roles.

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• Bulbasaur (Grass/Poison Type)
  • Pokémon Number: #001
  • Final Evolution: Venusaur (Grass/Poison)
  • Key Strength: Highest Special stats in Gen 1, making it a formidable offensive and defensive tank. Its dual Grass/Poison typing provides excellent type coverage and resistance to common early-game types.
  • Signature Move: Leech Seed (excellent for stalling and recovery).
• Charmander (Fire Type)
  • Pokémon Number: #004
  • Final Evolution: Charizard (Fire/Flying)
  • Key Strength: High Speed and Special Attack, making it a potent sweeper. Its final form, Charizard, benefits greatly from Mega Evolutions in later games and is the only Kanto starter to have reached the OverUsed (OU) competitive tier in the past.
  • Signature Drawback: Struggles significantly against the first two Gym Leaders, Brock (Rock) and Misty (Water). It also gains a 4x weakness to Stealth Rock upon evolving into Charizard.
• Squirtle (Water Type)
  • Pokémon Number: #007
  • Final Evolution: Blastoise (Water)
  • Key Strength: Excellent all-around defensive stats, particularly its high Defense. It is a balanced, reliable choice that can learn a variety of coverage moves like Ice Beam and Earthquake.
  • Signature Feature: Its final form, Blastoise, is well-regarded for its visual appeal and balanced stats, making it a strong, consistent pick for both novice and experienced players.

Category 1: The Easiest Kanto Journey (In-Game Performance)

For a casual playthrough or a challenging Nuzlocke run of Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow (and their remakes), the best starter is the one that minimizes early-game difficulty. This category is dominated by one clear winner.

The Bulbasaur Advantage: Early-Game Dominance

The overwhelming consensus among trainers is that Bulbasaur provides the easiest, smoothest Kanto journey. This is primarily due to its type advantage over the first two Gym Leaders, which are traditionally the most difficult hurdles for a new player with limited team options.

• Brock's Gym (Rock Type): Bulbasaur's Grass-type moves are Super Effective, making the battle trivial. Charmander is at a severe disadvantage, and Squirtle is neutral.
• Misty's Gym (Water Type): Again, Bulbasaur's Grass-type attacks are Super Effective against Starmie and Staryu. Both Charmander and Squirtle face a type disadvantage or neutrality, respectively.

Beyond the Gyms, Bulbasaur's final evolution, Venusaur, is a phenomenal utility Pokémon. Its access to moves like Leech Seed and Sleep Powder allows it to stall tough opponents and recover HP, making it a reliable backbone throughout the entire game, including the Elite Four and Champion Gary/Blue.

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The Charmander Challenge: A Test of Patience

Conversely, Charmander is universally considered the most difficult starter for a first playthrough. Its Fire-typing is weak to Rock and Water, meaning it struggles against Brock and Misty. Trainers must rely on catching other Pokémon, like Mankey or Nidoran, to overcome these early obstacles, forcing a more complex team-building strategy from the start.

The Ranking for Easiest Kanto Journey:

1. Bulbasaur: Trivializes the first two Gyms.
2. Squirtle: Neutral against Brock, strong against Blaine, and a reliable tank.
3. Charmander: Requires significant grinding and supplemental Pokémon to pass the early game.

Category 2: Competitive Power and Endgame Viability

In the competitive scene, the game changes entirely. The focus shifts from early-game Gyms to maximizing Base Stats, Move Pools, and Mega Evolutions. Here, the final forms—Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise—are judged on their performance in the current meta, which often favors raw power and versatility.

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The Charizard Legacy: A Competitive Powerhouse

Historically, Charizard has enjoyed the highest competitive standing of the three, largely thanks to the introduction of Mega Evolutions.

• Mega Charizard X (Fire/Dragon): A physical powerhouse that gains a powerful Dragon typing, removing its weakness to Rock-type moves.
• Mega Charizard Y (Fire/Flying): A devastating Special Attacker that sets up the powerful Drought weather condition, boosting its Fire-type moves.

While the threat of Stealth Rock remains a major problem, as it instantly removes half of Charizard's HP upon switching in, its sheer offensive potential and the utility of its Mega Forms often make it the top choice for competitive play in formats where Megas are allowed.

The Tank and the Utility Player

Venusaur, while not as flashy as Charizard, remains a potent threat. Its dual Grass/Poison typing and access to the ability Chlorophyll (doubling its Speed in harsh sunlight) make it a formidable tank and a great partner for sun teams, often outclassing pure Grass-types like Vileplume or Victreebel. Mega Venusaur is a defensive monster, gaining the Thick Fat ability, which halves the damage from Fire and Ice attacks, removing two of its key weaknesses.

Blastoise, while balanced, often struggles to find a unique competitive niche against other powerful Water-types. However, its access to moves like Rapid Spin (to remove entry hazards like Stealth Rock) and its own Mega Evolution make it a reliable utility and damage dealer, though it rarely reaches the heights of Charizard or the defensive utility of Venusaur.

The Ranking for Competitive Viability:

1. Charmander (Charizard): Unmatched offensive power and versatility through Mega Evolutions.
2. Bulbasaur (Venusaur): Excellent defensive utility, bulk, and a crucial role in sun teams.
3. Squirtle (Blastoise): A balanced, reliable choice, but often outclassed by other Water-types.

Category 3: The Sentiment Vote (Fan Popularity)

The final, and perhaps most subjective, category is pure popularity. In the world of Pokémon, fan sentiment often overrides in-game utility or competitive prowess. Recent polls show a fascinating split in the community.

The Charmander and Bulbasaur Rivalry

While Charmander is often the most iconic and recognizable of the three, recent fan polls suggest its lead is not guaranteed, and in some cases, Bulbasaur has surged ahead. A 2020 "Pokémon of the Year" poll saw Bulbasaur beat both Charmander and Squirtle by a significant margin, thanks to a massive online campaign.

However, other recent surveys, such as one from YouGov, reveal that Charmander is still the favored Pokémon of the majority of fans. In a separate ranking of all 24 starters, Bulbasaur led the A-tier votes, with Charmander and Squirtle close behind. The results are consistently tight, proving the enduring love for all three.

The Ranking for Fan Popularity (Based on Recent Polls):

1. Charmander: Often wins the overall favorite vote due to its iconic status and final evolution, Charizard.
2. Bulbasaur: A close second, often hailed as the "underrated hero" and the best choice for in-game performance.
3. Squirtle: A beloved, well-balanced choice that consistently performs well but rarely takes the top spot in major polls.

The Final Verdict: Which Starter Should YOU Choose?

The ultimate answer to "Charmander, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle?" is that there is no single best choice in 2025; there is only the best choice for your specific goal. The debate continues to rage because each starter excels in a different domain.

Choose Bulbasaur if: You are a new player, attempting a challenging run like a Nuzlocke, or simply want the easiest, most stress-free journey through the Kanto region. Venusaur is the ultimate utility tank, making the early Gyms and the Elite Four manageable.

Choose Charmander if: You prioritize raw offensive power, competitive play in formats with Mega Evolutions, or if Charizard is simply your all-time favorite Pokémon. Be prepared for a challenging early game, but enjoy the immense payoff in the late game.

Choose Squirtle if: You value balance, consistency, and defense. Blastoise is a reliable, well-rounded Pokémon that never feels like a liability, making it a perfect middle-ground choice for any trainer.

In the end, while Bulbasaur wins the objective "easiest playthrough" title and Charmander takes the "highest competitive ceiling" award, the true winner is the one that brings the most joy to your adventure. The Kanto starters remain the gold standard against which all other trios are judged.