Galar first partner Pokémon

The Galar first partner Pokémon are the trio of PokémonGrookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble[1]—chosen by Trainers at the start of their journey in Galar. These are traditionally given out by Leon and are to be used to battle the first wild Pokémon that the Trainer encounters.

The Galar first partner Pokémon in Pokémon the Series

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

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

List of Galar first partner Pokémon and their Evolutions

Forms

The fully evolved Galar first partner Pokémon each have a Gigantamax form.

In the core series games

Availability

As first partner

Game(s) First partner Location/Acquisition Other effects
SwSh Grookey Postwick: from Leon Hop chooses: Sobble
Leon raises: Scorbunny
Scorbunny Hop chooses: Grookey
Leon raises: Sobble
Sobble Hop chooses: Scorbunny
Leon raises: Grookey

Other methods

In The Indigo Disk DLC, the Galar 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
SV (ID) Grookey Terarium: Coastal Biome
Scorbunny Terarium: Polar Biome
Sobble Terarium: Savanna Biome

Base stat comparison

Pokémon HP Attack Defense Sp. Attack Sp. Defense Speed Total
Grookey
50
65
50
40
40
65
310
Thwackey
70
85
70
55
60
80
420
Rillaboom
100
125
90
60
70
85
530
Scorbunny
50
71
40
40
40
69
310
Raboot
65
86
60
55
60
94
420
Cinderace
80
116
75
65
75
119
530
Sobble
50
40
40
70
40
70
310
Drizzile
65
60
55
95
55
90
420
Inteleon
70
85
65
125
65
120
530

In the spin-off games

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, all three Galar 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 Galar 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
#111 VSGloria Summer 2021 Masters.png Summer 2021
Gloria
#0818 MastersIcon0818.png Inteleon
Water
WaterIC Masters.png
Electric
ElectricIC Masters.png
Masters Special Strike.png ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout
#157 VSVictor Masters.png Victor #0812 MastersIcon0812.png Rillaboom Dynamax icon.png
Gigantamax
Grass
GrassIC Masters.png
Fire
FireIC Masters.png
Masters Physical Strike.png ★★★★★☆EX Poké Fair Sync Pair Scout
#111 VSGloria Masters.png Gloria #0811 MastersIcon0811.png Thwackey
Grass
GrassIC Masters.png
Fire
FireIC Masters.png
Masters Physical Strike.png ★★★★☆☆EX Trainer Lodge Friendship Level 100
#111 VSGloria Alt 2 Masters.png Alt. 2
Gloria
#0815 MastersIcon0815.png Cinderace Dynamax icon.png
Gigantamax
Fire
FireIC Masters.png
Ground
GroundIC Masters.png
Masters Tech.png Masters Support.png ★★★★★☆EX Poké Fair Sync Pair Scout

Pokémon UNITE

In Pokémon UNITE, the Scorbunny line and Sobble line have Unite licenses and can be played as in Unite Battles. Cinderace was added on July 21, 2021 while Inteleon was added on July 4, 2023.

Super Smash Bros series

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, all three Galar first partner Pokémon were added as Spirits during the New Galar Region Pokémon Discovered! Spirit Board event between November 22, 2019 to November 27, 2019. They were later added permanently on February 25, 2020

In animation

Goh's Galar first partner Pokémon in Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Pokémon the Series

In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, during his journey, Goh befriended and caught all three of the Galar first partner Pokémon. He first caught his Cinderace as a Scorbunny, and later caught his Inteleon as a Sobble, before finally catching his Grookey, completing the trio.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

In Pokémon Adventures, Professor Magnolia gives Henry Sword a Grookey. Marvin found a Sobble in the wild and eventually catches it. It is unknown how Casey Shield obtained her Scorbunny.

Trivia

  • The Galar first partner Pokémon are the only first partner trio in Pokémon the Series where any members have a trainer but none of their members are owned by Ash. Instead, all three are caught by Goh.
  • The Grookey line are the only first partner Pokémon to debut in animation outside of the animated series. Namely, they first appeared in the music video GOTCHA!.
    • Additionally, Grookey took the longest time of all first partner Pokémon to debut in the animated series within the concurrent generation, taking a total of 46 episodes before it first appeared in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.

References

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