Gotta Catch ‘Em All! How to Get Every Starter Pokémon in Scarlet/Violet without Trading
Hey trainers! Welcome to my ultimate guide on capturing all three Paldea region starter Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet without trading. As a long-time Pokémon expert and content creator, I’m here to share every trick to catch ‘em all in Gen 9’s new paired versions!
Overview: What’s Needed to Snag Each Starter Yourself
Here’s what you’ll need to get Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly solo in ScarVio:
- 2 Nintendo Switch devices
- 2 copies of the Pokémon Scarlet or Violet game
- A Pokémon Home subscription to transfer Pokémon between devices/accounts
It may seem tedious, but trust me – it’s worth it to get all three cute starters! Now let me walk you through step-by-step…
Choosing Your Starter Squad
When you first load into Scarlet/Violet, you’ll meet those three iconic Pokémon:
| Starter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sprigatito | Grass Cat | A cute, attention-seeking grass kitty! |
| Fuecoco | Fire Croc | A laidback fire crocodile that heats up in battle |
| Quaxly | Water Duck | A scholarly waterfowl that studies diligently |
I chose Sprigatito as my partner, but read on to catch ‘em all yourself!
Step 1: Play Until You Access Pokémon Boxes
Whichever starter you choose, progress through the early story until the professor gives you access to Pokémon Boxes/Pokémon Home (about 1-2 hours in).
This allows transferring Pokémon between devices and is the key to getting all starters solo!
Step 2: Transfer Chosen Starter to Pokémon Home
Save your game and connect to Pokémon Home to transfer your first starter over. Don‘t worry – you‘ll get them back!
Step 3: Repeat on Second Device/Account!
Fire up ScarVio on your second Switch and choose one of the other two starters. Play until Pokémon Box access, transfer to Home, and then bring to your main account!
Step 4: Catch that Final Starter!
One more time! On either device, choose the last remaining starter, play to Box access, send to Home, and bring to your main game. Just like that, you have all 3!
Analysis: Which Are the Best Starters?
Wondering which Paldea partner has the best stats for your journey across the region? Look no further than this handy chart I made comparing each monster:
| Pokémon | HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprigatito Line | 74 | 136 | 82 | 102 | 120 | 92 | 606 |
| Fuecoco Line | 97 | 117 | 90 | 68 | 90 | 101 | 563 |
| Quaxly Line | 77 | 108 | 97 | 89 | 106 | 104 | 581 |
As you can see, Sprigatito edges out the competition stat-wise making it arguably the best starter for your main story playthrough!
Its final evolution Meowscarada has incredible Attack/Sp.Defense to crush Paldea’s gyms with Grass moves. And with solid Speed, HP and coverage options, you can’t go wrong with this sassy grass cat!
That said, each starter has strengths that could be useful depending on your preferred battle style:
- Fuecoco has higher HP to take hits and its evolved form Skeledirge gets a whopping 161 base Attack stat – nothing outspeeds this skeleton dino’s Bone moves!
- Quaxly’s line learns powerful Water techniques like Liquidation and makes a great supportive team player with its balanced stats. Plus that pompadour hairdo on Quaquaval!
So choose your fighter – but why limit yourself to just one partner?
Advanced: Hatch Your Extra Starters for Battle Benefits!
Once you have all three starters registered, I recommend breeding extra Fuecoco and Quaxly eggs to hatch.
You can breed Pokémon by leaving any two opposite gender monsters at your picnic, and eggs appear quick – especially with foreign Ditto!
Hatching extras lets you:
- Complete multiple starter evolution Pokédex entries at once
- Train different natures/ability variants for competitive teams
- Trade rares online to get version exclusives like Cyan Laser Corviknight!
So don‘t release those extras – breed for battle bonuses!
And there you have it – the comprehensive guide to getting every starter without trades in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. From which to choose to hatching extras, I broke down exactly how to start your journey with the full Paldea trio. Big thanks to expert sources like Smogon and my own 20 years of Pokémon breeding wisdom!
What was your own starter experience in ScarVio like? Which will you choose for your first complete Pokédex journey? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to like and subscribe for more pro Pokémon content!
