Jump to a step
What the first choice actually asks
The starter you choose becomes the first member of your League. The selection screen inspected in v0.8.25 on 23 October 2026 offers Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle, with a role, passive and starting attack shown for each.
Compare those three pieces of information together. A role name describes the direction of a partner's kit; it does not establish how an untested build will perform. In the inspected screen, left/right switches the selection and Enter is the displayed confirmation key.
The three starters at a glance
| Partner | Listed role | Passive | Starting attack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Healer | Synthesis | Vine Whip |
| Charmander | Fiery Assault | Sea of Flames | Ember |
| Squirtle | Defender | Torrent Shell | Water Gun |
Use the role to decide what you want to learn first: recovery-oriented play, an attack-oriented kit or a defensive one. Then read the current passive description in the game. A passive's name alone is not enough to infer its exact trigger, percentage or cooldown.
The table records menu information. Choose a role to explore rather than treating these three labels as a strongest-to-weakest ranking.
Make the first run answer one question
Choose one partner, keep the starting conditions consistent and pay attention to one thing: how the attack connects, how much room you need, or what the first upgrade changes. Trying to judge every system at once makes it difficult to understand why a run ended.
- Read the starting move before leaving the selection screen.
- Test movement away from a crowd rather than running straight into enemies.
- At the first upgrade, compare the actual options and choose one change you can recognize.
- Use the result or pause screen, if available, to inspect what the run recorded.
If you still need the full entry-to-upgrade path, follow the first-run guide.
Why the other two are not in your League yet
The inspected starter screen says that the other two partners join after completing their challenges and capturing them during a run. Selecting a first partner does not automatically add all three to your League.
Use each partner's current in-game challenge and capture instructions for the exact requirements. This guide has not completed all three unlock paths and does not substitute a guessed level or an old capture condition. Do not reset a Guest session or clear browser storage to reveal another starter. If your session looks unfamiliar, use the save and session checks first.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the partner whose current role and starting move are easiest for you to read. Try another run with that partner before judging its role, so you can distinguish a different upgrade choice from the partner's starting kit. A role label is a starting point for learning, not a guarantee that a character will be easiest or strongest.
Return to PokéBonk to inspect the current selection screen.