First partner Pokémon: Difference between revisions

[[File:25th Anniversary key art.png|thumb|250px|Artwork for the [[Pokémon 25th Anniversary]] featuring the player's first partner Pokémon from [[Generation]]s {{Gen|I}} through {{Gen|VIII}} (except Eevee)]]

In the games, the player's first partner will be used to battle the first [[wild Pokémon]] they encounter. Once another Pokémon is {{pkmn2|caught}}, their first partner may be retired, but it is often with this Pokémon that Trainers learn [[friendship]] and trust. As such, even advanced Trainers may still use their first partner Pokémon, and they will often be the most powerful Pokémon on their respective teams.

In contrast to the English terminology, Japanese is not known to prefer any single way of referring to first partner Pokémon. Most commonly, パートナー (''partner'') will be used, but occasionally 相棒 (''partner'') or simply ポケモン (''Pokémon'') may also be used. This is usually paired with 最初の (''first'') or 初めての (''first''), but there may also be some variations on this like 最初に選んだ (''that was chosen first'') or はじめに選んだ (''that was chosen first''). Japanese marketing also has fewer promotions highlighting first partner Pokémon than English marketing. Among fans, 御三家 (''the big three'') refers to the Grass, Fire, and Water trios.

Most marketing refers exclusively to the standard trios of {{t|Grass}}-, {{t|Fire}}-, and {{type|Water}} Pokémon that can be chosen at the start of most [[core series]] games.

Aside from the regional trios, a few other Pokémon have been explicitly referred to as first partner Pokémon.

{{p|Pikachu}} and {{p|Eevee}} are given out as first partner Pokémon in [[Kanto]] by [[Professor Oak]] in some media. Pikachu is the first Pokémon given to the player in {{game|Yellow}}, while {{ga|Blue}} gets an Eevee. The {{pkmn2|partner}} Pikachu and Eevee are the first Pokémon caught by the player in {{LGPE|Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!}}, respectively, while {{ga|Trace}} receives from Oak a standard Eevee in Let's Go, Pikachu! or a standard Pikachu in Let's Go, Eevee!

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The table below shows the Pokémon that are choosable at the start of each core series game, and which other games they can also be obtained in.

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==In the anime==

[[File:Sinnoh first partners anime.png|thumb|300px|The Sinnoh first partner Pokémon in [[Professor Rowan]]'s laboratory]]

In the [[Pokémon anime|anime]], upon their tenth birthday, youths can register for a [[Pokédex]] and pick up a first partner Pokémon from the local [[Pokémon Professor]] or [[Pokémon Center]] free of charge. First partner Pokémon are usually raised specifically to be easy to train.

The [[Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer|Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer]]'s extended cut features all three of [[Unova]]'s first partner Pokémon: {{ga|Nate}} is shown with an {{p|Emboar}}, [[Hugh]] is seen with a {{p|Samurott}} (having picked the opposing type, like most [[rival]]s do in the games), and {{ga|Rosa}} uses a {{p|Serperior}} to battle [[Cheren]]'s {{p|Stoutland}}.

The [[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Animated Trailer]] also features all three of [[Hoenn]]'s first partner Pokémon, in all forms including their [[Mega Evolution]]s. {{ga|Brendan}} is shown to have picked a {{p|Treecko}}, while {{ga|May}} has both a {{p|Torchic}} and {{p|Mudkip}}.

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==Trivia==

* The only two first partner Pokémon that are dual-type in their initial form, {{p|Bulbasaur}} and {{p|Rowlet}}, are both {{type|Grass}}.

* Since both first partner Pokémon in [[Pokémon Colosseum]] are always male, this had the outcome of preventing players from obtaining {{p|Eevee}} in [[Generation III]] (by [[trade|trading]] with {{game|Ruby and Sapphire|s}} and [[breeding]]) until the release of {{game|FireRed and LeafGreen|s}}.

** Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!'s respective first partners are also the only ones that cannot be traded to other games.

** By contrast, with the exception of Blaziken having a lower base stat total than Swampert, no fully evolved Fire-type first partner Pokémon has a lower base stat total than either of its two counterparts.

===In the anime===

* Both May and Dawn have a second first partner Pokémon from a previous generation with a type disadvantage to their first. These first partner Pokémon are both from two generations prior to their owner's introduction and featured in the anime likely due to the same-generation [[remake]]s.

==In other languages==

==See also==

==References==