Sinnoh first partner Pokémon
The Sinnoh first partner Pokémon are the trio of Pokémon—Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup[1]—chosen by Trainers at the start of their journey in Sinnoh. These are traditionally given out by Professor Rowan 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 "Sinnoh first partner Pokémon"[2], "first partner Pokémon of the Sinnoh region"[1], and more.
In the Sinnoh-based core series games, the player can choose a Fire-, Water-, or Grass-type first partner Pokémon at level 5.
List of Sinnoh first partner Pokémon and their Evolutions
In the core series games
Availability
As first partner
| Game(s) | First partner | Location/Acquisition | Other effects | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas/Dawn raises | Barry raises | |||
| DPPt BDSP |
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Lake Verity: from a briefcase left by Professor RowanDPBDSP
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Other methods
In The Indigo Disk DLC, the Sinnoh 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ORAS |
|
Route 101: from Professor Birch after entering the Hall of Fame twice (choose one) |
| USUM |   
|
Ula'ula Island: Island Scan |
| BDSP |
|
Grand Underground: Grassland Cave, Sunlit Cavern, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern (after obtaining the National Pokédex) |
|
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Grand Underground: Sandsear Cave, Typhlo Cavern, Volcanic Cave (after obtaining the National Pokédex) | |
|
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Grand Underground: Fountainspring Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern (after obtaining the National Pokédex) | |
| LA | 
|
Crimson Mirelands |
|
Obsidian Fieldlands | |
|
Cobalt Coastlands | |
| SV (TM) |
|
Reveler's Road: Received as an Egg from Jacq (random between Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup) |
| SV (ID) |
|
Terarium: Canyon Biome |
|
|
Terarium: Polar Biome |
Base stat comparison
| Pokémon | HP | Atk | Def | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Spd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
55 | 68 | 64 | 45 | 55 | 31 | 318 |
 |
75 | 89 | 85 | 55 | 65 | 36 | 405 |
 |
95 | 109 | 105 | 75 | 85 | 56 | 525 |
 |
44 | 58 | 44 | 58 | 44 | 61 | 309 |
 |
64 | 78 | 52 | 78 | 52 | 81 | 405 |
 |
76 | 104 | 71 | 104 | 71 | 108 | 534 |
 |
53 | 51 | 53 | 61 | 56 | 40 | 314 |
 |
64 | 66 | 68 | 81 | 76 | 50 | 405 |
 |
84 | 86 | 88 | 111 | 101 | 60 | 530 |
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Duel
In Pokémon Duel, all Sinnoh first partner Pokémon and their Evolutions received figures.
  Piplup |
 Turtwig |
 Chimchar |
  Monferno |
 Grotle |
 Prinplup |
  Empoleon |
 Infernape |
 Torterra |
Pokémon GO
In Pokémon GO, all three Sinnoh first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions.
Pokémon Masters EX
In Pokémon Masters EX, Barry joins the player by clearing Chapter 2 of the PML arc, while Flint joins the player by clearing Chapter 12 of the same arc.
Several other characters also form sync pairs with the Sinnoh 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #029 | 
|
Barry | #0395 | 
|
Piplup → Prinplup → Empoleon♂ |
Water
|
Grass
|
|
★★★☆☆☆EX | Story Chapter 02 | |
| #035 | 
|
Flint | #0392 | 
|
Infernape♂ |
Fire
|
Water
|
|
★★★★☆☆EX | Story Chapter 12 | |
| #094 | 
|
Dawn | #0389 | 
|
Turtwig → Grotle → Torterra♀ |
Grass
|
Bug
|
|
★★★★★☆EX | Sync Pair Scout | |
| #145 | 
|
Lucas | #0389 |
|
Torterra♂  |
Ground
|
Ice
|
|
|
★★★★★☆EX | Mix Sync Pair Scout |
| #094 |
|
Dawn | #0395 |
|
Empoleon♀ |
Steel
|
Electric
|
|
|
★★★★★☆EX | Mix Sync Pair Scout |
| #029 |
|
Barry | #0392 |
|
Infernape♂ |
Fighting
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Water
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★★★★★☆EX | Mix Sync Pair Scout |
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, the Sinnoh 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 Sinnoh first partner Pokémon can be caught and encountered along with their Evolutions.
Pokémon Shuffle
In Pokémon Shuffle, all three Sinnoh 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 | |||||||||
| #356 | #0387 | 
|
Turtwig | Grass | 50 | 100 | 5 | Leaf Combo | N/A | 1 |
| #356 | #0387 | 
|
Turtwig Winking |
Grass | 50 | 100 | 5 | Hammering Streak | Three Force | 1 |
| #357 | #0388 | 
|
Grotle | Grass | 60 | 105 | 5 | Shot Out | N/A | 2 |
| #358 | #0389 | 
|
Torterra | Grass | 70 | 110 | 5 | Cross Attack+ | N/A | 2 |
| #359 | #0390 | 
|
Chimchar | Fire | 50 | 100 | 5 | Prank | N/A | 0 |
| #359 | #0390 | 
|
Chimchar Winking |
Fire | 50 | 100 | 5 | Hammering Streak | Three Force | 1 |
| #360 | #0391 | 
|
Monferno | Fire | 60 | 105 | 5 | Swap | N/A | 0 |
| #361 | #0392 | 
|
Infernape | Fire | 70 | 125 | 10 | Hitting Streak | Shock Attack Final Effort |
1 |
| #362 | #0393 | 
|
Piplup | Water | 50 | 100 | 5 | Counterattack+ | N/A | 1 |
| #362 | #0393 | 
|
Piplup Winking |
Water | 50 | 100 | 5 | Hammering Streak | Three Force | 1 |
| #363 | #0394 | 
|
Prinplup | Water | 60 | 105 | 5 | Three Force | N/A | 1 |
| #364 | #0395 | 
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Empoleon | Water | 70 | 110 | 5 | Up, Up, Up | N/A | 2 |
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
In Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, all three Sinnoh first partner Pokémon be obtained as optional Partner Pokémon (Ranger). This is done by completing Ranger Quests.
Pokémon UNITE
In Pokémon UNITE, one Sinnoh first partner Pokémon has a Unite license and can be played as in Unite Battles. Empoleon was added on September 19, 2025.
Pokkén Tournament
In Pokkén Tournament, Empoleon is a playable Battle Pokémon for the Arcade and Switch versions.
Super Smash Bros. series
In the Super Smash Bros. series, Piplup was a Poké Ball Pokémon summon exclusive to Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, it was seen in the background of Kalos Pokémon League Stage during the Flood Chamber hadzard.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
In Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, Professor Rowan was only seen distributing one Pokémon to a new Trainer, Dawn. During her debut episode, Chimchar and Piplup escaped from his lab, and once Dawn assisted in retrieving them, he let her keep Piplup, along with a set of Poké Balls and a Pokédex.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
In Pokémon Adventures, Professor Rowan is tasked with distributing the Sinnoh first partner Pokémon to Trainer's. After giving Piplup to Platinum, he also gave her the remaining two Poké Balls to distribute to her body guards Paka and Uji. However, due to a mix up, they are given to Diamond and Pearl instead who received Chimchar and Turtwig respectively.
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!, whilst being in charge of distributing the Sinnoh first partner Pokémon, Professor Rowan is also tasked with adopting Hareta the protagonist of this manga. When Hareta is sent on his adventure with Professor Rowan's assistant Mitsumi he gives them a Piplup and Chimchar respectively.
Gallery
  
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| Artwork from Pokémon Platinum |
        
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| Artwork from Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl |
Trivia
- The Piplup line is the most frequently chosen Sinnoh first partner Pokémon in Pokémon the Series, having been selected by Dawn, Kenny, and Tyler.
- The Turtwing line has unqiue distinctions:
- Turtwig is the heaviest of all of the first partner Pokémon basic forms.
- It has the lowest base Speed stat out of all first partner Pokémon.
- Turtwig is the only first partner Pokémon to know a stat-raising move when initially received as a player's first Pokémon.
