Johto first partner Pokémon
The Johto first partner Pokémon are the trio of Pokémon—Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile[1]—chosen by Trainers at the start of their journey in Johto. These are traditionally given out by Professor Elm and are to be used to battle the first wild Pokémon that the Trainer encounters.
In official contexts, the group is referred to descriptively in several ways, including "Johto first partner Pokémon"[2], "first partner Pokémon of the Johto region"[1], and more.
In the Johto-based core series games, the player can choose a Fire-, Water-, or Grass-type first partner Pokémon at level 5.
List of Johto first partner Pokémon and their Evolutions
Forms
Typhlosion has a Hisuian form. For details on Hisuian Typhlosion as a first partner Pokémon, see Hisui first partner Pokémon.
In the core series games
Availability
As first partner
| Game(s) | First partner | Location/Acquisition | Silver takes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSC, HGSS | 
|
New Bark Town: from Professor Elm in his lab | 
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
Other methods
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Cyndaquil is one of the Hisui first partner Pokémon.
In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Chikorita and Totodile are two of the Lumiose first partner Pokémon.
In Pokémon Colosseum, the Evolutions of the Johto first partners are available as Shadow Pokémon from Mystery Troop members Verde, Rosso, and Bluno who each have the Pokémon corresponding to their color. They are first encountered in Phenac City where the player must choose one to battle; if that person's Shadow Pokémon is not caught, they will later appear at Realgam Tower. The person whose Shadow Pokémon is weak to the first person that was chosen will appear at Snagem Hideout, while the last person will appear at Shadow PKMN Lab.
In The Indigo Disk DLC, the Johto first partners can be caught in the wild at the Terarium. They are unlocked after upgrading the biomes through the League Club Room.
| Game(s) | Pokémon | Location/Acquisition |
|---|---|---|
| E |
|
Littleroot Town: from Professor Birch after completing the Hoenn Pokédex (not counting Jirachi and Deoxys; choose one) |
| Colo |   
|
Phenac City or Realgam Tower (first chosen); Snagem Hideout (type weak to first); Shadow PKMN Lab (type strong against first) |
| XD |
|
Mt. Battle: from Battlus after defeating all 100 Trainers without touching a PC (choose one; repeatable) |
| ORAS |
|
Route 101: from Professor Birch after entering the Hall of Fame (choose one) |
| SM |
|
Melemele Island: Island Scan |
| BDSP |
|
Grand Underground: Grassland Cave, Sunlit Cavern, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern (after obtaining the National Pokédex) |
|
|
Grand Underground: Sandsear Cave, Typhlo Cavern, Volcanic Cave (after obtaining the National Pokédex) | |
|
|
Grand Underground: Fountainspring Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern (after obtaining the National Pokédex) | |
| SV (ID) |
|
Terarium: Coastal Biome |
|
|
Terarium: Polar Biome | |
|
|
Terarium: Savanna Biome |
Base stat comparison
| Pokémon | HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Attack | Sp. Defense | Speed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
45
|
49
|
65
|
49
|
65
|
45
|
318 |
 |
60
|
62
|
80
|
63
|
80
|
60
|
405 |
 |
80
|
82
|
100
|
83
|
100
|
80
|
525 |
 |
39
|
52
|
43
|
60
|
50
|
65
|
309 |
 |
58
|
64
|
58
|
80
|
65
|
80
|
405 |
 |
78
|
84
|
78
|
109
|
85
|
100
|
534 |
 |
73
|
84
|
78
|
119
|
85
|
95
|
534 |
 |
50
|
65
|
64
|
44
|
48
|
43
|
314 |
 |
65
|
80
|
80
|
59
|
63
|
58
|
405 |
 |
85
|
105
|
100
|
79
|
83
|
78
|
530 |
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Duel
In Pokémon Duel, all Johto first partner Pokémon and their Evolutions received figures.
  Bayleef |
  Feraligatr |
  Cyndaquil |
 Croconaw |
 Totodile |
 Chikorita |
 Quilava |
 Typhlosion |
 Meganium |
Pokémon GO
In Pokémon GO, all three Johto first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions.
Pokémon Masters EX
In Pokémon Masters EX, several other characters form sync pairs with the Johto first partner Pokémon or their Evolutions. They can be obtained through various sync pair scouts.
| Dex | Trainer | NDex | Pokémon | Type | Weakness | Role | EX role | Base potential | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #010 | 
|
Kris | #0160 | 
|
Totodile → Croconaw → Feraligatr♀ |
Water
|
Grass
|
|
★★★★★☆EX | Sync Pair Scout | |
| #066 | 
|
Lyra | #0154 | 
|
Chikorita → Bayleef → Meganium♀ |
Grass
|
Fire
|
|
★★★★★☆EX | Sync Pair Scout | |
| #075 | 
|
Ethan | #0157 | 
|
Cyndaquil → Quilava → Typhlosion♂ |
Fire
|
Rock
|
|
★★★★★☆EX | Sync Pair Scout | |
| #091 | 
|
Silver | #0160 |
|
Feraligatr♂ |
Water
|
Electric
|
|
★★★★☆☆EX | Trainer Lodge Friendship Level 100 | |
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, the Johto first partner Pokémon can be selected as the hero and their partner, with the only exceptions being Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity and the three Japan-exclusive WiiWare games. The trio's evolved forms can also be recruited in the games out of the main character roles.
Pokémon Rumble series
In the Pokémon Rumble series, all three Johto first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions.
Pokémon Shuffle
In Pokémon Shuffle, all three Johto first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions.
| Dex# | NDex | Icon | Pokémon | Type | Attack Power | Max RML
|
Initial Skill |
 AlternateSkill(s) |
 Ameliaicons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lv 1 | Max | |||||||||
| #579 | #0152 | 
|
Chikorita | Grass | 50 | 120 | 15 | Rock Break+ | N/A | 1 |
| #579 | #0152 | 
|
Chikorita Winking |
Grass | 50 | 100 | 5 | Barrier Bash+ | N/A | 1 |
| #580 | #0153 | 
|
Bayleef | Grass | 60 | 105 | 5 | T-Boost | N/A | 1 |
| #581 | #0154 | 
|
Meganium | Grass | 70 | 140 | 20 | Stabilize+ | Block Shot | 1 |
| #582 | #0155 | 
|
Cyndaquil | Fire | 50 | 120 | 15 | Rock Break+ | N/A | 1 |
| #582 | #0155 | 
|
Cyndaquil Winking |
Fire | 50 | 100 | 5 | Eject+ | N/A | 1 |
| #583 | #0156 | 
|
Quilava | Fire | 60 | 105 | 5 | L-Boost | N/A | 1 |
| #584 | #0157 | 
|
Typhlosion | Fire | 70 | 140 | 20 | Hyper Punch | Rock Shot | 1 |
| #585 | #0158 | 
|
Totodile | Water | 50 | 120 | 15 | Rock Break+ | N/A | 1 |
| #585 | #0158 | 
|
Totodile Winking |
Water | 50 | 100 | 5 | Swap+ | N/A | 1 |
| #586 | #0159 | 
|
Croconaw | Water | 60 | 105 | 5 | Cross Attack | N/A | 1 |
| #587 | #0160 | 
|
Feraligatr | Water | 70 | 140 | 20 | Paralyze | Barrier Shot | 1 |
Pokémon Sleep
In Pokémon Sleep, the three Johto first partner Pokémon can be obtained by filling their Friendship Points after a sleep session.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
During Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver, Professor Elm gave away four of the Johto first partner Pokémon to new Trainers. Casey and Vincent both received a Chikorita, Jimmy began his journey with a Cyndaquil, and Marina was given a Totodile.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Exbo
- Main article: Silver's Feraligatr
- Main article: Megaree
In Pokémon Adventures, Professor Elm originally loans, and eventually gifts Cyndaquil to Gold. This is the only Pokémon which he gives out, however the other Johto first partner Pokémon are shown in his possession. A Totodile is stolen by Silver, which Gold is tasked with rescuing, whereas Chikorita runs away from the lab to join Crystal's team.
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
In Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys, much like Pokémon Gold and Silver, Gold is offered the choice of one of the three Johto first partner Pokémon – Chikorita, Cyndaquil or Totodile – to borrow so that he may run an errand for Professor Elm. Gold chooses Totodile, which Elm allows him to keep after the errand is completed. Also, like in the games, Black, who is based on Silver, steals a Chikorita from Elm's lab while Gold is away on his errand.
Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure
In Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure, Professor Elm gave Jō a Totodile, and Tsubaki a Chikorita. Although Professor Elm is not seen handing it out, he also gifts Cyndaquil to Trainers.
Trivia
- The Johto first partner Pokémon are the first trio where they do not gain a secondary Type when evolving or be a dual type.
- Typhlosion is the only fully evolved Johto first partner Pokémon to have a regional form.
- The Chikorita family is the only first partner Pokémon evolutionary line to keep their Japanese voices in the English dub of the animated series. The main reason is due to the Japanese voices having nearly identical names in English and Japanese.
- Chikorita have been owned by the most Trainers among the Johto first partner Pokémon in the animated series. One Chikorita has been trained by each of Ash, Casey, Vincent, Silver, Lyra and Horace. However, Ash is the only one who is confirmed to not have received Chikorita as a first partner Pokémon.
- Although all nine first partner Pokémon as of Generation III can be used in Pokémon Jump, Chikorita is the only one of the nine that doesn't fit the description of Pokémon that can be used (about 2'4" or 0.7 m or smaller and do not only swim, burrow or fly)
- The Johto first partner Pokémon are the only trio where all three of its members have been first partner Pokémon in other regions, with Cyndaquil being a first partner Pokémon in Hisui in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and Chikorita and Totodile being first partner Pokémon in Lumiose City in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
