Pokemon Sun and Moon Water Starter
Popplio (Water)
Pokemon Sun and Moon’s Water-type starter is Popplio, who didn’t have the best reception when starters were first revealed. Its uses odd bubble attacks and has a red nose. However, it has the potential to learn some interesting abilities as it evolves. It’s the slowest of the starters and has average ATK and DEF, but has the best SP ATK and SP DEF throughout its evolutions when compared to Rowlet and Litten. Its hidden ability Liquid Voice will allow it to change all sound-based abilities to water-type.
It evolves at Level 17 to Brionne.
HP – 50
ATK – 54
DEF – 54
SP ATK – 66
SP DEF – 56
Speed – 40
Brionne (Water)
Brionne doesn’t change too much from its first form, gaining modest boosts to its stats across the board, but retaining its water focus. It’s lacking in the HP and ATK department in comparison to the other second form starters, but that is again made up by its powerful SP stats.
Evolves to Primarina at Level 34.
HP – 60
ATK – 69
DEF – 69
SP ATK – 91
SP DEF – 81
Speed – 50
Primarina (Water/Fairy)
Popplio’s final form is when things get interesting. As has often been the case in newer Pokemon games, the starters take on a second type when reaching their final evolution. In Popplio’s case, Primarina becomes a fairy type. Fairy is a pretty great typing that only adds poison and steel as weaknesses, and adds an immunity to dragon, along with resistances to dark, fighting, and bug.
This at least evens the playing field when battling starters. In fact, Primarina is exceptionally effective against Incineroar, Litten’s final form which is Fire/Dark. Primarina also has access to Sparkling Aria, a move new to Pokemon Sun and Moon that heals burned Pokemon with 100% accuracy. It doesn’t have any other skills when it comes to support, though.
In the end, you have an interesting Pokemon who may do very well in a competitive setting. It leans more towards being a bulky special attacker with its high SP ATK and SP DEF and also has a nice stable of resistances with manageable weaknesses to compensate for its less than stellar speed stat.
HP – 80
ATK – 74
DEF – 74
SP ATK – 126
SP DEF – 116
Speed – 60
