Pokémon Scarlet and Violet - Best Pokemon for Clearing the Main Story

Best Pokemon for Clearing the Main Story of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

This page contains the best Pokemon to get for clearing the main story of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (Pokemon SV), including the best Pokemon teams for each starter Pokemon chosen (Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly), each recommended Pokemon’s type, how to get, and characteristics that make them useful in the game.

For a list of all new, regional, and returning Pokémon in the game, visit our Paldea Region Pokémon List:

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Paldea Region Pokémon List

For a list of new Pokémon that will debut in the game, visit our New Pokémon List:

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet New Pokémon List

For a list of Pokémon with new Paldean Forms, visit our Paldean Pokémon List:

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Paldean Pokémon List

For the Overall Best Gen 9 Starter, read our guide:

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Best Starter to Choose

For the Overall Best Pokemon for clearing the Tera Raid Battles, read our guide:

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Best Pokemon for Tera Raid Battles

Recommended Pokemon to Get (Regardless of Starter Pokemon Chosen)

Below is a list of recommended Pokemon to get regardless of the starter Pokemon you choose. These Pokemon have some of the best Abilities, moves, and typing that give them key advantages during major story battles (Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and Champion) throughout the game.

Pokemon	Type	How to Get
Gyarados	Water/Flying	Catch Magikarp from any of the various water biomes (lakes, oceans, and rivers) around the Paldea region. Then, level it up to 20 to evolve it to Gyarados.
Characteristics	Gyarados’ Intimidate ability lowers the enemy’s attack when it enters battle. This is useful against hard-hitting Pokemon you can encounter throughout the main story, especially those used by the Elite Four and Champion towards the end of the game.
Azumarill	Fairy/Water	Catch Marill at East Province – Area Two. Then, level it up to 18 to evolve it to Azumarill.
Characteristics	Azumarill is able to deal massive damage with Physical moves like Play Rough (Fairy) and Aqua Tail (Water) thanks to its Huge Power ability. These attacks allow it to remain a consistent offensive powerhouse from the early to late stages of the main story.
Krookodile	Ground/Dark	Catch Sandile at Asado Desert. Then, level it up to 29 to evolve it to Krokorok and up to 30 to evolve it to Krookodile.
Characteristics	Krookodile’s Moxie ability increases it damage output by one stage whenever it knocks out the enemy Pokemon. This makes Krookodile an excellent sweeper and finisher in any battle so try to switch it out when the enemy is at very low HP to gain the damage buff.
Paldean Tauros (Combat Breed)	Fighting	Can be found at East Province – Area Two and West Province – Area Two.
Characteristics	Paldean Tauros (Combat Breed) boasts good versatility, being able to learn a wide range of moves using TMs to exploit enemy weaknesses. This makes it a valuable member of any team.
Mimikyu	Ghost/Fairy	Catch Mimikyu at Ruins biomes at East Province – Area Two, Glaseado Mountain, and Forest biomes at Tagtree Thicket.
Characteristics	Mimikyu’s Disguise ability lets it nullify any incoming attack once during battle. A good strategy is to have it ignore an attack and use Swords Dance to buff yourself for the next turn. Then, unload on the opponent using powerful Fairy or Ghost moves for big damage.
Tinkaton	Fairy/Steel	Catch Tinkatuff at Mountain biomes in Glaseado Mountain, North Province – Area One and Area Two. Then, level it up to 38 to evolve it to Tinkaton.
Characteristics	Tinkaton’s signature move Gigaton Hammer (Steel) boasts a massive 160 attack power. This makes it an offensive powerhouse which can quickly take out enemies, especially those that have high HP and defense.
Rotom (Heat and Wash Form)	Electric/Fire (Heat Form) Electric/Water (Wash Form)	Catch Rotom at Town biomes of West Province – Area Two and East Province – Area Two. To change Rotom’s form, use the Rotom Catalogue obtained at the Porto Marinada Auction.
Characteristics	Rotom’s Heat and Wash forms negate Ground moves. Form change Rotom based on the enemy’s weakness and use the Pokemon as a special attacker to burst down the opponent.
Garchomp	Dragon/Ground	Catch Gible at Cave biomes in South Province – Area Six, West Province – Area One, and West Province – Area Two. Then, level it up to 24 to evolve it to Gabite and up to 48 to evolve it to Garchomp.
Characteristics	Garchomp’s reputation as a high-damage attacker with excellent speed carries over in SV, especially during the late stages of the game. As always, you want to catch and train Gible to have it learn most of its important moves. Be sure to get TM149 Earthquake (Ground) from the Pokemon League Rep north of Cascarrafa to complete its offensive moveset.
Baxcalibur	Dragon/Ice	Catch Frigibax in Cave and Snow biomes at Glaseado Mountain. Then, level it up to 35 o evolve it to Arctibax and up to 54 to evolve it to Baxcalibur.
Characteristics	Baxcalibur is another late game Pokemon with excellent Physical attack. The Pokemon’s Thermal Exchange ability allows it turn the tables against Fire type enemies by gaining even higher attack power when it is hit by Fire moves and will not get inflicted with Burn.
Dragonite	Dragon/Flying	Catch Dratini in water biomes at Casseroya Lake, North Province – Area One and Two, and South Province – Area Six. Then, level it up to 30 to evolve it to Dragonair and up to 55 to evolve it to Dragonite.
Characteristics	Dragonite boasts excellent tankiness thanks to its Multiscale ability which halves incoming damage when its HP is full. Dragonite’s endurance lets it buff itself with Dragon Dance before unloading on enemies with powerful Dragon type moves.
Volcarona	Bug/Fire	Catch Larvesta in Desert biomes at Asado Desert and West Province – Area Two. Then, level it up to 59 to evolve it to Volcarona.
Characteristics	Volcarona’s Quiver Dance (Bug) is a multibuff that raises the Pokemon’s special attack, special defense, and speed by one stage. This makes it one of the best special attackers during the end-game, especially against Poppy of the Elite Four who uses Steel type Pokemon.

Recommended Pokemon to Get for Sprigatito Starter

Pokemon	Type	How to Get
Bellibolt	Electric	Catch Tadbulb from any river or swamp biome around the Paldea region. Then, use a Thunder Stone to evolve it to Bellibolt.
Characteristics	Bellibolt’s Electropmorphosis ability allows it to deal more damage with Electric moves whenever it gets hit. This works well with its high HP and has access to Slack Off for added survivability.
Arcanine	Fire	Catch Growlithe in various land biomes of the Eastern Province. Then, use a Fire Stone to evolve it to Arcanine.
Characteristics	Arcanine’s key feature is its Intimidate ability to lower the opponent’s attack power by one stage when Arcanine enters battle. The Pokemon also boasts good damage output with Fire moves since you did not go with Fuecoco as your starter.
Lycanroc (Midday Form)	Rock	Catch Rockruff in Mountain biomes at South Province (various areas), West Province – Area One, East Province – Area One, North Province – Area One, and Glaseado Mountain. Then, level it up to 25 during the day to evolve it to Lycanroc (Midday Form).
Characteristics	Lycanroc (Midday Form) is an excellent complement to Sprigagtito as both can cover for Pokemon types that the other is weak against. Lycanroc also has impressive speed and damage output and is a solid choice during the early to middle stages of the game.

Recommended Pokemon to Get for Fuecoco Starter

Pokemon	Type	How to Get
Luxray	Electric	Catch Shinx at South Province – Area Three. Then, level it up to 15 to evolve it to Luxio and up to 30 to evolve it to Luxray.
Characteristics	Luxray is mainly included to deal with Water Pokemon that Fuecoc is weak against. It also has access to the ever-useful Intimidate ability to reduce the opponent’s attack power by one stage when Luxray is sent out.
Corviknight	Flying/Steel	Catch Rookidee at various biomes of the Eastern Province. Then, level it up to 18 to evolve it to Corvisquire and up to 38 to evolve it to Corviknight.
Characteristics	Corviknight’s resistance to various move types make it a good tank, especially when you need to stall the enemy. Switch out Corviknight and let it soak up damage if you need heal your other Pokemon.
Cyclizar	Dragon/Normal	Catch Cyclizar at West Province – Area Two or East Province – Area Two.
Characteristics	Cyclizar has good overall stats and is mainly used for its Breaking Swipe (Dragon) move. This allows it to deal damage and lower the opponent’s attack power to gain the advantage in battle.

Recommended Pokemon to Get for Quaxly Starter

Pokemon	Type	How to Get
Kilowattrel	Electric/Flying	Catch Wattrel at various ocean and beach biomes. Then, level it up to 30 to evolve it to Kilowattrel
Characteristics	Kilowattrel’s typing allows it to cover for Pokemon that Quaxly (and its evolutions) will do poorly against. Upon evolving to Kilowattrel, it will stil fair well against other Flying Pokemon (being Flying itself, despite its half-Electric typing).
Arcanine	Fire	Catch Growlithe in various land biomes of the Eastern Province. Then, use a Fire Stone to evolve it to Arcanine.
Characteristics	Arcanine’s key feature is its Intimidate ability to lower the opponent’s attack power by one stage when Arcanine enters battle. The Pokemon also boasts good damage output with Fire moves since you did not go with Fuecoco as your starter.
Espathra	Psychic	Catch Flittle in various mountain biomes of the Paldea Region. Then, level it up to 36 to evolve it to Espathra.
Characteristics	Espathra has excellent speed and special attack power, making it the go-to for dishing out Special moves. Espathra has added utility in the form of its Opportunist ability which allows it to gain same stat buffs as the opponent.

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