One could argue that Fuecoco and Sprigatito are the most popular starters coming out of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, at least based on the one trailer it has had thus far. Fuecoco’s popularity hinges on its design almost entirely, though, and Sprigatito’s popularity is based on what the grass cat starter can be associated with.

Yet, in just about every generation like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the Fire Starter does prove to be pretty popular. There was one major issue for a few generations, but otherwise, several Fire Starters have a special place in many trainers’ hearts. It’s hard to say that any one of them is definitively the best, but their design and typing often play a major role. Stats, at least here, will serve a tertiary role.

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For this Fire Starter tier list, design is king, typing is nearly as important, and stats come in last. Design of the first and final form is where the most attention is paid, and then these Pokemon were sorted into tier lists and then sorted numerically based on the starter’s generation.

S-Tier

Pokemon Animation Shows Charmeleon Evolve Into Charizard

Gen 1: Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard – Charmander has a simple but powerful design: fire-lizard dinosaur thing. It’s beloved for a reason and has the typing evolutions to match. Fire/Flying is workable, but with two Mega Evolutions (one being Fire/Dragon), a Gigantamax form, and stellar stats, Charmander literally checks off every box.

Gen 3: Torchic, Combusken, and Blaziken – Ironically, Torchic and Blaziken are what began the Fire/Fighting starter trend, if because of how cool Torchic and Blaziken Are. Their design carries them far, its typing gets a pass here since it was the first one, and its stats make sure Blaziken is fun for casual or competitive Pokemon Battles.

A-Tier

Pokemon Typhlosion

Gen 2: Cyndaquil, Quilava, and Typhlosion – Cyndaquil is another beloved starter, meaning Gen 1, 2, and 3 dominate the upper half of this tier list. It embraces the same elements of Charmander. It’s a symbol but powerful, beloved design, and pure fire type doesn’t really help or hurt it. Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ Fire/Ghost Typhlosion does help here, though, and its stats fall into neutral territory mostly. In other words, it pays to have simple but well-executed elements.

Gen 8: Scorbunny, Raboot, and Cinderace – There was a time when fans worried Scorbunny would be a Fire/Fighting-type again, but Cinderace is pure Fire-type. There’s some creativity with the Fire/Soccer bunny motif here, and it doesn’t lose points for its typing. Indeed, the Gigantamax Form of Cinderace does a lot of work for it. Combine with some solid stats, and it’s hard to go wrong with Cinderace.

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B-Tier

Pokemon Pearl

Gen 4: Chimchar, Monferno, InfernapeChimchar and Infernape’s mixed attack/glass cannon stats do a lot of work for it. If Chimchar and Infernape had a little more going for them than Fire/Monkey, then it would certainly be an A-Tier, but it’s also certainly understandable if Chimchar/Infernape is someone’s personal S/A-Tier. The design works. But more than anything, the repeat of Fire/Fighting hurts here.

Gen 6: Fennekin, Braixen, and Delphox – Fennekin gets points for breaking the Fire/Fighting trend, but its Fire/Fox design has been seen before. It’s further undermined by making a quadrupedal Pokemon into a bipedal one, a trend many hope dies. Still, it’s not a bad design, and its unique typing goes a long way—this is especially true with its excellent stats. Fennekin is so close to A-tier that it can taste it.

Gen 7: Litten, Torracat, and Incineroar – Litten walks the line between good and bad in terms of design. Incineroar LOOKS like a Fire/Fighting-type, even if it’s a Fire/Dark type, and it does shift from quadrupedal to bipedal. But its popularity is undeniable. It’s typing brings it up a bit, but keeps it teetering on the line of B-Tier and C-Tier.

C-Tier

pokemon go best emboar moveset

Gen 5: Tepig, Pignite, Emboar – Tepig and Emboar suffer the same fate as Chimchar and Infernape, just worsened. Its stats shouldn’t be straight up ignored, but just about everything else can. Not only was this the third Fire/Fighting starter in a row, but Game Freak also made a quadrupedal Pokemon bipedal—something many fans hope Sprigatito avoids in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, for comparison. Between those two lackluster elements of its type/design and a more general “fire pig” stamped on it, Tepig isn’t winning many contests against other Fire Starters.

How Does Fuecoco Compare to Other Fire Starters

red-background-fuecoco

It would obviously be unfair to place Fuecoco exactly on this list when nothing about its typing, final forms, or stats have been made clear. The most realistic speculation thus far suggests Fuecoco could be a Fire/Ghost or Fire/Steel type, both of which are interesting and could put it up this tier list. At the same time, Fuecoco’s first form design presents a strong case for it to find itself on the upper half of the list, as long as Game Freak avoids making Fuecoco a Fire/Fighting-type.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet release in late 2022 for Nintendo Switch.

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