Gen 5 Starter Acquisition and Availability in the Unova Region

Stepping into the Unova region for the first time is an experience unlike any other in the Pokémon world. Gone are the familiar faces of previous generations; Unova introduces 150 brand-new Pokémon, creating a fresh landscape for trainers. Central to this new journey is the critical decision of your first partner, defining your initial steps in the world of Gen 5 Starter Acquisition & Availability. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott, from how you acquire them in the main games to their surprising appearances elsewhere, ensuring you're well-equipped for your Unovan adventure.

At a Glance: Your Unova Starter Journey

Who are they? Snivy (Grass), Tepig (Fire), and Oshawott (Water).
Where to get them: Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2.
When you get them: Early in your adventure, gifted by Professor Juniper.
Key Fact: Tepig's final evolution, Emboar, is uniquely Fire/Fighting.
Beyond Unova: Oshawott appears as a starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus; Tepig will be a starter in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Can you get all three? Yes, through in-game trading, breeding, or special events.
Strategic Choice: Consider gym matchups, evolution types, and personal preference.

The Unova Region Welcome Wagon: Meet Your First Partner Pokémon

The Unova region, inspired by New York City, offers a bold new beginning. As you embark on your journey, Professor Juniper, the region’s Pokémon Professor, will present you with a choice of three distinct Pokémon. These are your first and most loyal companions, each bringing a unique flair to your team. Let's get to know the stars of the show: Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott.

Snivy: The Regal Grass Snake

Snivy, the Grass-type starter, embodies elegance and confidence. Known as the Grass Snake Pokémon, it carries itself with a dignified air, often seen with its arms crossed, observing its surroundings. Snivy's design evokes a sense of royalty, which extends through its evolutions.

Type: Grass
Evolutions:
Servine: (evolves from Snivy at Lv. 17) Retains its regal posture, becoming more agile.
Serperior: (evolves from Servine at Lv. 36) A majestic serpent Pokémon, known for its incredible speed and "Contrary" ability (which reverses stat changes, making moves like Leaf Storm incredibly powerful).
Early Game Strategy: Snivy offers a solid defensive start, with access to moves like Vine Whip. It's strong against the first Gym Leader, Cilan (Grass), which is a unique advantage, but struggles against Lenora's Normal-type team in the second gym.

Tepig: The Fire Piglet with a Fiery Spirit

Tepig, the Fire-type starter, is an energetic and passionate Pokémon. This Fire Pig Pokémon is known for its adorable appearance and its ability to breathe smoke from its snout when it's determined. Tepig's evolutionary line is famous—or infamous, depending on your perspective—for its unique typing.

Type: Fire
Evolutions:
Pignite: (evolves from Tepig at Lv. 17) Gains the Fighting-type upon evolution, making it Fire/Fighting. This dual-typing gives it an edge against a wider range of opponents.
Emboar: (evolves from Pignite at Lv. 36) The final evolution, Emboar, maintains the powerful Fire/Fighting typing. It's a formidable Pokémon with high Attack and Special Attack stats, though it sacrifices speed. This typing, while powerful, was a point of discussion among fans due to its prevalence in previous generations (Blaziken, Infernape).
Early Game Strategy: Tepig's Fire typing is excellent against the second Gym Leader, Lenora (Normal), and provides good coverage. However, its Fighting typing in later stages is invaluable, especially against many Steel, Ice, and Rock types in Unova.

Oshawott: The Sea Otter Pokémon

Oshawott, the Water-type starter, is a playful and somewhat clumsy Pokémon, known for its "scalchop" – a shell-like appendage on its belly that it uses as a weapon and tool. This Sea Otter Pokémon is full of personality, often seen practicing with its scalchop.

Type: Water
Evolutions:
Dewott: (evolves from Oshawott at Lv. 17) Becomes more adept with its two scalchops, wielding them like swords.
Samurott: (evolves from Dewott at Lv. 36) A majestic and powerful Pokémon, Samurott stands on all fours and commands its opponents with swift movements and sharp blades. It has balanced offensive stats, allowing for flexibility in its move set.
Early Game Strategy: Oshawott provides a strong, reliable start. It's effective against the first Gym Leader, Cilan (Grass), by virtue of its type advantage, and generally offers solid performance throughout the main story with a good balance of offense and defense.

Where and When: Acquiring Your Starter in Black, White, Black 2, and White 2

Unlike some previous generations where you might encounter the Professor in a lab, your journey in Unova begins directly in your hometown of Nuvema Town. The initial acquisition of your Gen 5 starter is a memorable event, setting the stage for the narrative-driven games of Pokémon Black and White, and their sequels.

Professor Juniper and the Gift

In both Pokémon Black and White and Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, the process for receiving your starter is delightfully personal. Professor Juniper, along with your childhood friends Cheren and Bianca (in B/W) or Hugh (in B2/W2), will meet you. They arrive with a special gift: a briefcase containing three Poké Balls, each housing one of the region's starter Pokémon.
You'll be prompted to choose between Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott. This isn't just a simple selection; it's presented as the beginning of your shared adventure, a bond between trainer and Pokémon. The excitement of unwrapping this gift in your own room, or with your rival by your side, truly solidifies the connection.

The Trio Battle and First Steps

Immediately after making your choice, the tradition of a friendly rival battle ensues. In Black and White, Cheren and Bianca will choose the remaining two starters, leading to a dynamic three-way battle. You'll face off against one of your friends, giving you an immediate opportunity to test your new partner's abilities and learn the ropes of Pokémon combat.
In Black 2 and White 2, your friend Hugh chooses the starter with a type advantage over yours (e.g., if you pick Snivy, he picks Tepig), leading to a more traditional 1-on-1 rival battle. These initial skirmishes are designed to be a gentle introduction, but they highlight the unique strengths and weaknesses of each Gen 5 starter right from the get-go. After these battles, you're free to explore Nuvema Town and begin your grand adventure across the Unova region.

Beyond the Initial Choice: Can You Get All Three?

While you're only given one starter at the beginning, the Pokémon world is vast and interconnected. The dream of collecting all three Gen 5 starters for your team is absolutely achievable. Here's how trainers typically round out their collection:

Trading with Friends: The Classic Method

This is, by far, the most straightforward and traditional way to acquire the starters you didn't choose. If you have friends who are also playing Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, or White 2, you can simply trade with them. Each of you chooses a different starter, plays through the initial part of the game, and then trades your chosen Pokémon once you gain access to the Union Room or Pokémon Center's trading features.
This method often involves a bit of coordination, perhaps an agreement on which starter each person will pick. It's a great way to engage with the social aspect of Pokémon games and build camaraderie with other trainers.

Breeding for More: The Day Care Route

For solo players or those without trading partners, breeding offers a reliable in-game method to obtain extra starters. Once you reach the Pokémon Day Care on Route 3 (or Route 20 in B2/W2), you can leave two compatible Pokémon there to produce an Egg.
To get another Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott:

Evolve your chosen starter: Your starter must be at least its first evolution (Servine, Pignite, or Dewott) to be eligible for breeding, as basic forms are often "baby" Pokémon that can't breed directly.
Pair with a Ditto: The easiest way to breed any Pokémon, including starters, is to pair it with a Ditto. Ditto can breed with almost any Pokémon, regardless of gender or Egg Group. Ditto can be found in the Giant Chasm in Black and White or Route 3 in Black 2 and White 2.
Hatch the Egg: After placing your evolved starter and Ditto in the Day Care, cycle around (a bicycle helps!) until the Day Care man indicates he has an Egg for you. This Egg will hatch into the basic form of your starter (Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott).
This method allows you to generate as many copies of your chosen starter as you like, which can then be used for trading to acquire the other two. For more strategic insights on team building and using your Pokemon Gen 5 Starters, exploring their full evolutionary lines is key.

Mystery Gifts and Special Events (Historical Context)

Historically, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have sometimes distributed event Pokémon, including starters, through Mystery Gift functions. These events might have been tied to movie releases, game anniversaries, or special promotions. While these events are long past for the original Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 games, it's worth noting that if you had participated back then, you might have received a special starter. These distributions often provided Pokémon with unique moves, abilities, or even Shiny forms.

The Gen 5 Starters in Other Generations: A Timeless Journey

While Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott are synonymous with Unova, their journey hasn't ended there. Game Freak often reintroduces popular Pokémon, including starters, in subsequent titles, giving them new life and new roles.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Oshawott's Hisuian Adventure

One of the most notable appearances of a Gen 5 starter outside its original region is Oshawott's starring role in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Set in the ancient Hisui region (the past version of Sinnoh), players are given a choice of three starters from different generations: Cyndaquil (Gen 2), Rowlet (Gen 7), and Oshawott (Gen 5).
In Legends: Arceus, Oshawott, along with its evolutionary line, receives unique Hisuian forms. This means Hisuian Dewott and Hisuian Samurott have different typings (Water/Dark for Hisuian Samurott) and appearances compared to their Unovan counterparts. This offers a fantastic new perspective on the beloved Sea Otter Pokémon and provides a fresh way for players to experience a Gen 5 starter in a new context.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Tepig's Future Appearance

Looking ahead, the recently announced Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set to feature another Gen 5 starter: Tepig. This upcoming title, set in the Kalos region's Lumiose City, will offer players a choice between Chikorita (Gen 2), Tepig (Gen 5), and Totodile (Gen 2).
This marks another significant return for a Unova starter, showcasing the enduring appeal of Tepig's evolutionary line. While details are still scarce, the inclusion of Tepig suggests it may also receive a new regional form or play a special role in the game's narrative, much like Oshawott did in Hisui. Fans eager to see Tepig's next adventure will have to wait until the game's release in 2025.

Virtual Console and Pokémon Bank/Home: Bringing Them Forward

For trainers who played the original Gen 5 games on the Nintendo DS, there are ways to bring your beloved Unova starters into newer generations.

Pokémon Bank: This 3DS application allowed players to store and transfer Pokémon from DS games (via Pokémon Transporter) to 3DS games. This meant you could move your Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott from Black/White/Black 2/White 2 up to games like X/Y, Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, Sun/Moon, and Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon.
Pokémon HOME: The successor to Pokémon Bank, Pokémon HOME is a cloud service that allows trainers to store Pokémon from various games and transfer them between compatible titles, including Pokémon Sword/Shield, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus, and Scarlet/Violet. If your Gen 5 starters made it to Pokémon Bank, they can then be transferred into Pokémon HOME, and from there, potentially into compatible Switch games.
This transfer capability ensures that the bond you forged with your Unova starter can continue for many generations of Pokémon games, making them truly timeless companions.

Strategic Considerations: Choosing Your Unova Partner Wisely

The choice of your starter Pokémon is more than just personal preference; it can significantly influence your early game experience and overall team composition. While all three Gen 5 starters are viable choices, understanding their strengths and weaknesses against the Unova region's challenges can help you make a more informed decision.

Gym Leader Matchups

Unova's Gym Leader lineup presents unique challenges. Considering type advantages is a time-honored strategy:

Cilan, Chili, Cress (Striaton City - Grass, Fire, Water): This first gym is unique. The leader you face depends on your starter.
Snivy: You face Chili (Fire), giving Snivy a disadvantage.
Tepig: You face Cress (Water), giving Tepig a disadvantage.
Oshawott: You face Cilan (Grass), giving Oshawott a disadvantage.
Tactical Note: This setup encourages you to catch a Pokémon on Route 1, such as Lillipup or Patrat, to cover your starter's weakness or use the elemental monkeys (Pansage, Pansear, Panpour) gifted in the city to gain an advantage.
Lenora (Nacrene City - Normal): The second gym leader.
Snivy: Struggles against Normal types, which have no weaknesses to Grass.
Tepig: Excels here. As a Fire-type, it resists many Normal-type attacks and can dish out strong damage.
Oshawott: Neutral matchup, but can learn Fighting-type moves through TMs to help.
Burgh (Castelia City - Bug): The third gym leader.
Snivy: Super effective against Bug.
Tepig: Neutral, but its Fire typing can be a good asset.
Oshawott: Neutral.
Elesa (Nimbasa City - Electric): The fourth gym leader.
Snivy: Neutral.
Tepig: Neutral.
Oshawott: Neutral. No type advantage or disadvantage directly here, but Electric types can be tricky for many teams.
Clay (Driftveil City - Ground): The fifth gym leader.
Snivy: Super effective against Ground.
Tepig: Weak to Ground.
Oshawott: Neutral.
Skyla (Mistralton City - Flying): The sixth gym leader.
Snivy: Weak to Flying.
Tepig: Strong against Flying (when it gains Fighting-type, which is not weak to Flying, but Fire is not super effective against Flying).
Oshawott: Neutral.
Brycen (Icirrus City - Ice): The seventh gym leader.
Snivy: Neutral.
Tepig: Strong against Ice with its Fire/Fighting typing.
Oshawott: Weak to Ice.
Drayden/Iris (Opelucid City - Dragon): The eighth gym leader.
All three starters have a neutral matchup against Dragon types. You'll need to rely on other team members for this challenge.
From this breakdown, Tepig often provides the most consistent type advantages against early and mid-game Gym Leaders, thanks to its Fire/Fighting typing. Snivy offers specific advantages but also has early weaknesses. Oshawott is a solid, neutral choice that rarely faces significant disadvantages but also few major advantages.

Type Coverage and Team Synergy

Beyond gym leaders, consider how your starter's final evolution fits into your broader team.

Serperior (Grass): Offers high Speed and often utilizes the "Contrary" ability for powerful Grass-type attacks. Its pure Grass typing can be a bit limiting defensively, so you'll want partners that cover its weaknesses to Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug, and Poison.
Emboar (Fire/Fighting): A powerhouse with high Attack and Special Attack. Its Fire/Fighting typing gives it excellent offensive coverage, hitting many types for super-effective damage. However, it's notably slow and has common weaknesses to Ground, Water, Flying, and Psychic. Building a team around Emboar might involve faster Pokémon or those with good special defense.
Samurott (Water): A balanced offensive threat. Its pure Water typing is defensively sound, with only two weaknesses (Grass, Electric). Samurott can learn a wide array of TMs, allowing it to provide good type coverage for your team. It's often a flexible anchor for many teams.
A well-balanced team should aim for diverse typings to handle various threats. Your starter's type influences what other Pokémon you'll want to catch to fill gaps.

Nuzlocke Challenges and Starter Impact

For players undertaking a Nuzlocke challenge (a fan-made set of rules for increased difficulty), your starter choice takes on even greater significance. Losing your starter can be devastating.

Tepig (Emboar): Its Fire/Fighting typing provides excellent offensive pressure early on, which can be crucial for quickly dispatching threats and minimizing damage. However, its low speed can make it vulnerable if not properly managed.
Oshawott (Samurott): Its balanced stats and relatively few weaknesses make it a safer, more consistent choice for Nuzlockes. It's less likely to be one-shot by unexpected threats.
Snivy (Serperior): While elegant, its pure Grass typing and struggles against early gyms (like Chili's Fire types in B/W) can make the initial stages of a Nuzlocke more challenging. Its reliance on setup moves or specific abilities for maximum impact might also be a higher risk.
Ultimately, your starter is your first true companion. Whether you pick based on competitive viability, Nuzlocke safety, or simply because you love its design, the bond you form will be the true determinant of your Unovan journey's success.

Common Questions About Gen 5 Starters

Navigating the world of Pokémon can sometimes bring up a few queries, especially when it comes to the crucial starter choice. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Gen 5 starters:

Which Gen 5 starter is the strongest?

"Strongest" is subjective and depends on context.

Emboar (Tepig's evolution) is often considered the strongest offensively due to its high Attack and Special Attack stats and powerful Fire/Fighting typing, which offers great coverage against many types.
Samurott (Oshawott's evolution) is generally seen as the most balanced, with solid offensive capabilities and a resilient pure Water typing.
Serperior (Snivy's evolution), while defensively solid and fast, often shines most with its hidden ability "Contrary," which makes certain moves incredibly potent, but this ability isn't available in the main story of the original games. For a typical playthrough, Emboar might feel the "strongest" due to its raw power.

Are Gen 5 starters good?

Yes, all three Gen 5 starters are considered very good and perfectly capable of carrying you through the main story and post-game content of Black, White, Black 2, and White 2. Each offers unique advantages and contributes effectively to a balanced team. Unlike some previous generations where one starter might significantly outshine the others, Unova's trio is well-balanced.

Can you get all three starters in Black and White?

Yes, but not within a single playthrough without external help. You can only choose one at the beginning of the game. To get all three in one game file, you would need to:

Trade with friends who chose the other starters.
Breed your chosen starter with a Ditto to get an egg, then trade the hatched Pokémon for the other two starters.
Transfer from other games (e.g., if you played through Black 2 with a different starter, you could transfer it to Black via Pokémon Bank/Home).

Do Gen 5 starters have hidden abilities?

Yes, like many Pokémon, the Gen 5 starters have hidden abilities.

Snivy's Hidden Ability: Contrary (Reverses stat changes. If a stat would be lowered, it is raised instead, and vice versa.)
Tepig's Hidden Ability: Thick Fat (Reduces damage from Fire and Ice-type moves by 50%.)
Oshawott's Hidden Ability: Shell Armor (Prevents the Pokémon from being hit by critical hits.)
These hidden abilities are typically acquired through special events, the Dream World (now defunct), or in later games (like Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's Island Scan feature for Unova starters). They are not available during a standard playthrough of Black, White, Black 2, or White 2.

How many new Pokémon did Gen 5 introduce?

Generation 5, set in the Unova region, introduced an impressive 156 new Pokémon, from #494 Victini to #649 Genesect. This was the largest number of new Pokémon introduced in a single generation since Generation 1, and crucially, only these new Pokémon were available in the main story of Black and White until the post-game, making Unova feel truly distinct and fresh.

Embarking on Your Unova Adventure: Final Thoughts on Starter Selection

Choosing your first Pokémon in the Unova region is more than just a mechanical game decision; it's the start of a deep, personal journey. Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott each offer a unique personality and strategic path, reflecting the fresh approach that Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 brought to the series.
Whether you gravitate towards Snivy's sophisticated speed, Tepig's fiery fighting spirit, or Oshawott's balanced versatility, know that any of these partners will serve you faithfully. The Unova region is a land of discovery, challenging Gym Leaders, and a rich storyline that will test your bond with your chosen companion.
Remember, the "best" starter isn't determined by stats alone, but by the connection you form. So, take a moment, weigh your options, and pick the Pokémon that truly calls to you. Your adventure in Unova, whether in its initial form or revisiting with their future appearances in games like Legends: Arceus and Legends: Z-A, promises to be an unforgettable one. Good luck, trainer!