Choosing a Starter for Every Type #1: Normal

In this eighteen part series, I will be choosing a starter Pokemon for every type. For this first part, I will do the Normal type. Before I start, I would like to lay down some ground rules.

1. The Pokemon in question must have three stages, meaning it has to evolve twice, and it has to maintain the specified type throughout its entire line.
2. The base stat total for each stage should get within or as close to the recommended range as possible (307-320 for base stage, 405-420 for middle stage, and 525-535 for final stage).
3. Although I will allow for non-level up evolutions (though I will try my best to avoid trade evolutions whenever possible), the evolution line should ideally be level up all the way through, and the evolution levels should ideally be in the teens (level 10 to 19) for the first evolution and in the thirties (level 30 to 39) for the second evolution.
4. I will try to find the option that is the most appealing to me as a starter, and I will allow for dual types, but I would rather avoid them if possible.

With all that said, let's look at our Normal type three stage options. Our options are as follows:

• Pidgey (Normal/Flying)
• Igglybuff (Normal/Fairy)
• Happiny (Normal)
• Porygon (Normal)
• Teddiursa (Normal)
• Galarian Zigzagoon (Dark/Normal)
• Slakoth (Normal)
• Whismur (Normal)
• Starly (Normal/Flying)
• Lillipup (Normal)
• Pidove (Normal/Flying)
• Pikipek (Normal/Flying)
• Smoliv (Grass/Normal)

Right off the bat, we can eliminate Pidgey, Galarian Zigzagoon, Starly, Pikipek, and Smoliv because they feel a lot more like one type than they do the Normal type. Also, I feel like all Normal/Flying Pokemon should be pure Flying by principle. Here are our remaining options:

• Igglybuff (Normal/Fairy)
• Happiny (Normal)
• Porygon (Normal)
• Teddiursa (Normal)
• Slakoth (Normal)
• Whismur (Normal)
• Lillipup (Normal)

Igglybuff, Happiny, Porygon, Teddiursa, and Slakoth are all three stages, but they have some sort of problem. Igglybuff has bad base stat totals all around and funky evolution methods (friendship and a stone), Porygon is significantly overpowered for its first two stages and evolves twice by trade while holding an item, Happiny also uses friendship and a stone, Teddiursa is consistently overpowered, has a late first evolution (level 30), and has a funky evolution method, and while Slakoth has good evolution levels of 18 and 36, its final stage, Slaking, is way too powerful and has a garbage ability. We're down to two options:

• Whismur (Normal)
• Lillipup (Normal)

Both Whismur and Lillipup are underpowered compared to traditional starters, but Lillipup is closer to the target ranges for all three of its stages and has better evolution levels. Lillipup evolves at 16 then 32, while Whismur doesn't evolve until 20 then 40.

Congratulations, Lillipup. You're the Normal type starter.

With all that said, Lillipup is my choice for the Normal type starter.

Join me for my next part, where I try to pick a starter for the Fighting type.