Best Starter For Black 2

Choosing the Best Starter Pokémon in Pokémon Black 2: A Comprehensive Guide

Picking your first Pokémon is a pivotal moment in any Pokémon journey. In Pokémon Black 2, this decision sets the tone for your adventure through Unova, influencing your team composition, battle strategy, and even the narrative experience. This in-depth guide will explore the three starter Pokémon – Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott – analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and overall viability throughout the game, helping you choose the best starter for your playstyle.

Introduction: The Trio of Unova

Pokémon Black 2 offers players a choice between three distinct starter Pokémon, each belonging to a different type:

• Snivy (Grass-type): A graceful and cunning Grass-type Pokémon known for its speed and agility.
• Tepig (Fire-type): A spirited Fire-type Pokémon with a powerful offensive presence.
• Oshawott (Water-type): A determined Water-type Pokémon boasting a balanced approach to combat.

The "best" starter is subjective and depends on your preferred playstyle and strategic approach. This guide aims to provide a detailed comparison of each, considering their evolution lines, type matchups, and overall effectiveness against the game's Gym Leaders and Elite Four.

Snivy: The Agile Grass-type

Snivy, the Grass-type starter, evolves into Servine and then Serperior. Serperior is a graceful and powerful Pokémon, renowned for its high Speed and Special Attack stats. Its elegant design and sophisticated moveset make it a popular choice among many trainers.

Strengths:

• High Speed: Serperior's impressive Speed stat allows it to outpace many opponents, securing crucial first strikes. This is particularly valuable in the early game where speed can significantly influence battle outcomes.
• Special Attack Focus: Serperior excels in Special Attacks, making it a potent offensive threat. Moves like Leaf Storm, Giga Drain, and Dragon Pulse deliver devastating blows.
• Access to Strong STAB Moves: Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) significantly boosts the power of moves that share the same type as the Pokémon. Serperior benefits greatly from STAB boosts on its Grass-type moves.
• Good Type Coverage: While weak against Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug, and Ice, Grass-type provides excellent coverage against many common Pokémon types.

Weaknesses:

• Fire Weakness: Fire-type attacks are super-effective against Grass, making Fire-type Gym Leaders and opponents particularly challenging. Careful team composition is needed to mitigate this vulnerability.
• Ice Weakness: Similar to fire, Ice-type attacks are also super effective against Grass, making Ice-type Pokémon a significant threat.
• Vulnerable to common early game types: Many early-game opponents use Bug and Flying-type Pokémon, meaning Snivy will struggle against them until it evolves and learns stronger moves.

Optimal Team Composition Considerations: To counter Snivy's weaknesses, consider adding a Fire-type or a Water-type to your team early on. This will provide valuable type coverage and make navigating certain parts of the game much easier.

Tepig: The Fiery Offensive Powerhouse

Tepig, the Fire-type starter, evolves into Pignite and then Emboar. Emboar is a formidable physical attacker with high Attack and HP stats. Its aggressive nature and powerful moves make it a strong contender for any team.

Strengths:

• High Attack Stat: Emboar boasts a high Attack stat, making it an excellent physical attacker. Moves like Head Smash, Flare Blitz, and Earthquake inflict significant damage.
• Strong Early Game Advantage: Fire-type is super effective against many early game Grass and Ice-type Pokémon, giving Tepig a significant advantage in the early stages of the game.
• Good Type Coverage: While weak to Water, Ground, and Rock, Fire-type offers excellent coverage against many common Pokémon types, particularly in the early game.
• Access to useful physical moves: Emboar's access to strong physical moves allows it to exploit the weaknesses of many opponents throughout the game.

Weaknesses:

• Water Weakness: Water-type moves are super-effective against Fire, making Water-type Gym Leaders and opponents a significant challenge.
• Ground Weakness: Ground-type moves deal double damage to Fire-type Pokémon. This weakness needs careful planning and strategy.
• Reliance on Physical Attacks: Emboar's reliance on physical attacks can be a drawback against opponents with high Defense stats. This is easily offset with the right movepool and training.

Optimal Team Composition Considerations: To counter Tepig's weaknesses, a Water-resistant Pokémon or a Ground-type counter would be very valuable. Consider adding a Water type to counter potential Water-type opponents later on in the game and adding a Ground or Rock-type to handle potential opponents.

Oshawott: The Balanced Water-type

Oshawott, the Water-type starter, evolves into Dewott and then Samurott. Samurott is a well-rounded Pokémon with decent Attack and Special Attack stats, making it a versatile choice for various battle situations.

Strengths:

• Balanced Stats: Samurott possesses a relatively balanced stat spread, offering a good mix of Attack, Defense, Special Attack, and Speed. This makes it adaptable to different battle scenarios.
• Good Type Coverage: Water-type is super effective against Fire, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon, offering good coverage against many common opponents.
• Access to diverse moves: Samurott can learn a diverse range of moves, including both physical and special attacks. This flexibility makes it suitable for different strategies.
• Consistent Performance: Samurott provides consistent performance throughout the game, making it a reliable choice for many players.

Weaknesses:

• Grass Weakness: Grass-type moves are super-effective against Water, making Grass-type Gym Leaders and opponents a significant challenge.
• Electric Weakness: Electric-type moves are also super effective against Water.
• Relatively Low HP: Samurott has relatively low HP compared to other fully evolved starters, meaning it can be knocked out early if it isn't carefully positioned.

Optimal Team Composition Considerations: A Grass or Electric type resistant Pokémon would work well to counter Oshawott's inherent weaknesses.

A Deeper Dive: Type Matchups and Gym Leader Strategies

The effectiveness of each starter is significantly influenced by the type matchups in the game. Let's examine how each starter fares against key Gym Leaders:

• Cheren (Normal): All three starters have a type advantage against Cheren's Normal-type Pokémon.
• Lenora (Rock): Tepig (Fire) and Samurott (Water) have a type advantage; Snivy will struggle.
• Burgh (Bug): Snivy (Grass) has a type advantage, while Tepig (Fire) and Samurott (Water) have a slight disadvantage.
• Elesa (Electric): Tepig (Fire) has a type advantage; Snivy (Grass) and Samurott (Water) have a significant disadvantage.
• Clay (Ground): Samurott (Water) has a type advantage; Snivy (Grass) and Tepig (Fire) have significant disadvantages.
• Skyla (Flying): Samurott (Water) and Tepig (Fire) have type advantages; Snivy (Grass) has a slight disadvantage.
• Marlon (Water): Tepig (Fire) has a type advantage; Snivy (Grass) and Samurott (Water) have neutral effectiveness.
• Iris (Dragon): None of the starters have a significant advantage against Iris's Dragon-type Pokémon.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Which starter is easiest to use?

A: Tepig is generally considered the easiest starter due to its strong early-game advantage against several common types.

Q: Which starter is the best for competitive battling?

A: This is highly dependent on team composition and preferred playstyles. All three starters can be incredibly effective in competitive battling with strategic training and moveset planning. Serperior's high speed and offensive power make it a popular choice in competitive environments.

Q: Can I change my starter?

A: No, you cannot change your starter Pokémon once you've chosen it. This decision is permanent throughout your playthrough.

Q: Does the starter choice affect the story?

A: The starter choice doesn't drastically alter the main storyline, but it can influence your battles and team composition throughout the game.

Conclusion: The Best Starter is the One You Enjoy Most

Ultimately, the "best" starter Pokémon in Pokémon Black 2 is a matter of personal preference. Each starter offers a unique gameplay experience, with its own strengths, weaknesses, and strategic advantages. Consider your preferred playstyle, your preferred type of Pokémon, and the challenges you anticipate facing. Don't be afraid to experiment and discover which starter resonates most with you. The journey through Unova is yours to shape, and your choice of starter is the first step in that exciting adventure. Happy battling!