Alola first partner Pokémon

The Alola first partner Pokémon are the trio of PokémonRowlet, Litten, and Popplio[1]—chosen by Trainers at the start of their journey in Alola. These are traditionally given out by Melemele Island's kahuna, Hala, and are to be used to battle the first wild Pokémon that the Trainer encounters.

A Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio pin for the TCG

In official contexts, the group is referred to descriptively in several ways, including "Alola's first partner Pokémon"[2], "first partner Pokémon of the Alola region"[1], and more.

In the Alola-based core series games, the player can choose a Fire-, Water-, or Grass-type partner Pokémon at level 5.

List of Alola first partner Pokémon and their Evolutions

Forms

Decidueye has a Hisuian form. For details on Hisuian Decidueye 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 Other effects
Grass icon.png Fire icon.png Water icon.png
SM Rowlet Iki Town: from Hala
Hau eventually has: Flareon
Ilima's Smeargle knows Ember in his first battle
Hau chooses: Popplio
Litten
Hau chooses: Rowlet
Hau eventually has: Vaporeon
Ilima's Smeargle knows Water Gun in his first battle
Popplio
Hau eventually has: Leafeon
Ilima's Smeargle knows Leafage in his first battle
Hau chooses: Litten
USUM Rowlet Iki Town: from Hala
Gladion uses: Venusaur
Hau eventually has: Flareon
Teacher Emily at Trainers' School uses: Litten
Ilima's Smeargle knows Ember in his first battle
Hau chooses: Popplio
Litten
Hau chooses: Rowlet
Gladion uses: Charizard
Hau eventually has: Vaporeon
Teacher Emily at Trainers' School uses: Popplio
Ilima's Smeargle knows Water Gun in his first battle
Popplio
Hau eventually has: Leafeon
Teacher Emily at Trainers' School uses: Rowlet
Ilima's Smeargle knows Leafage in his first battle
Hau chooses: Litten
Gladion uses: Blastoise

Other games

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Rowlet is one of the Hisui first partner Pokémon.

In The Indigo Disk DLC, the Unova first partners can be caught in the wild at the Terarium. They are unlocked after upgrading the biomes through the League Club Room.

Pokémon marked with an asterisk (*) have their Hidden Ability.

Game(s) Pokémon Location/Acquisition Other requirements
SwSh (IA) Rowlet* Fields of Honor: from the Diglett Trainer once the player has found 100 of their Diglett If the player chose: Grookey
Litten* If the player chose: Scorbunny
Popplio* If the player chose: Sobble
SV (ID) Rowlet Terarium: Savanna Biome None
Litten Terarium: Canyon Biome
Popplio Terarium: Coastal Biome

Base stat comparison

Pokémon HP Attack Defense Sp. Attack Sp. Defense Speed Total
Rowlet
68
55
55
50
50
42
320
Dartrix
78
75
75
70
70
52
420
Decidueye
78
107
75
100
100
70
530
Hisuian Decidueye
88
112
80
95
95
60
530
Litten
45
65
40
60
40
70
320
Torracat
65
85
50
80
50
90
420
Incineroar
95
115
90
80
90
60
530
Popplio
50
54
54
66
56
40
320
Brionne
60
69
69
91
81
50
420
Primarina
80
74
74
126
116
60
530

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Duel

In Pokémon Duel, all Alola first partner Pokémon and their evolutions received figures.

Decidueye (347)EX
Decidueye
Incineroar (348)EX
Incineroar
Primarina (350)EX
Primarina
Dartrix (364)Rare
Dartrix
Torracat (365)Rare
Torracat
Brionne (368)Rare
Brionne
Rowlet (384)Uncommon
Rowlet
Litten (385)Uncommon
Litten
Popplio (389)Uncommon
Popplio

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, all three Alola first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions.

Pokémon Masters EX

In Pokémon Masters EX, several characters form sync pairs with the Alola first partner Pokémon or their evolutions. These sync pairs can be obtained through various sync pair scouts.

Dex Trainer NDex Pokémon Type Weakness Role EX role Base potential Availability
#121 VSSelene Masters.png Selene #0724 MastersIcon0724.png Rowlet → Dartrix → Decidueye
Grass
GrassIC Masters.png
Ice
IceIC Masters.png
Masters Physical Strike.png ★★★★★☆EX Sync Pair Scout
#122 VSElio Masters.png Elio #0730 MastersIcon0730.png Popplio → Brionne → Primarina
Water
WaterIC Masters.png
Grass
GrassIC Masters.png
Masters Support.png ★★★★★☆EX Sync Pair Scout
#132 VSMasked Royal Masters.png The Masked Royal #0727 MastersIcon0727.png Incineroar
Dark
DarkIC Masters.png
Rock
RockIC Masters.png
Masters Tech.png ★★★★★☆EX Sync Pair Scout

Pokémon Rumble series

In the Pokémon Rumble series, all three Alola first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions.

Pokémon Shuffle

In Pokémon Shuffle, all three Alola first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions.

After a certain update, the Alola first partner Pokémon appear with Pikachu as part of the title screen animation for the game. They replaced Eevee, Audino, and Espurr.[3]

Dex# NDex Icon Pokémon Type Attack Power Max
Raise Max Level RML
Initial
Skill
Skill Swapper.png Alternate
Skill(s)
Amelia icon.png Amelia
icons
Lv 1 Max
#707 #0722 Shuffle722.png Rowlet Grass 50 100 5 Rock Shot Unity Power 1
#708 #0723 Shuffle723.png Dartrix Grass 60 105 5 Last-Ditch Effort N/A 1
#709 #0724 Shuffle724.png Decidueye Grass 70 125 10 Super Arrow N/A 2
#710 #0725 Shuffle725.png Litten Fire 50 115 10 Barrier Shot N/A 1
#711 #0726 Shuffle726.png Torracat Fire 60 105 5 Last-Ditch Effort N/A 1
#712 #0727 Shuffle727.png Incineroar Fire 70 125 10 Super Tackle N/A 2
#713 #0728 Shuffle728.png Popplio Water 50 115 10 Block Shot N/A 1
#714 #0729 Shuffle729.png Brionne Water 60 105 5 Last-Ditch Effort N/A 1
#715 #0730 Shuffle730.png Primarina Water 70 125 10 Super Voice N/A 2

Pokémon UNITE

In Pokémon UNITE, Decidueye can be used in a Unite Battle by obtaining its Unite license. Decidueye starts battles as Rowlet, then evolves during the match. Decidueye was added on November 19, 2021.

Pokkén Tournament

Decidueye is a playable Battle Pokémon in Pokkén Tournament DX for the Nintendo Switch version.

In animation

The Alola first partner Pokémon in Pokémon the Series

Pokémon the Series

Ash owns two of the three Alola first partner Pokémon, having caught a wild Rowlet and Litten. Litten later evolved into Torracat and then Incineroar. Lana had also managed to catch a first partner, her Popplio, which would later evolve into Brionne and then Primarina. Lana also received a Primarium Z.

Professor Kukui also owns an Incineroar, which he used while disguised as the Masked Royal and during Battle Royals. It is seen as a Litten in some episodes and flashbacks. Hau owns a Dartrix which later evolved into a Decidueye.

The animation for title cards in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon includes all three of the Alola first partner Pokémon, as well as Pikachu.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

In Pokémon Adventures, Professor Kukui is responsible for handing out the Alola first partner Pokémon. Prior to the start of the chapter, he gives Sun a Litten, leaving Popplio and Rowlet at his lab. Rowlet is eventually claimed by Moon and the professor gives the Popplio to Hau.

Trivia

  • Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina are the only fully evolved first partner trio to:
    • Have exclusive Z-Moves.
    • Have at least one immunity, thanks to their secondary types.
      • Decidueye, being part Ghost-type, is immune to Normal- and Fighting-type moves.
      • Incineroar, being part Dark-type, is immune to Psychic-type moves.
      • Primarina, being part Fairy-type, is immune to Dragon-type moves.
  • Decidueye is the only fully evolved Alola first partner Pokémon to have a regional form.
  • The Rowlet line is the only Grass-type first partner Pokémon line to not have green as its Pokédex color, instead being brown.

References

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