I particularly appreciate when early routes have a really unique rare spawn, like the Riolu in BW2 or Bagon in SM. Something to reward players dedicated enough to find them and change up the usual party members. In Sinnoh, it’s usually some combination of Starter, Starly, Shinx, Machop, and Budew

Being able to catch a level 10 Salamence is freaking insane.

I really love how the Alola games have grass in some of the cities because it’s the closest we’ve had to Pokémon truly being everywhere like the anime. And logically, feral Pokémon would be in the cities and parks so it makes sense. I know some indoor locations across the various games have encounters but those are usually ruins or abandoned spaces.

Alola having such a hugely diverse range of Pokémon available so early on makes sense when you think about it. Tropical regions tend to have more biodiversity, so therefore more species of Pokémon. Not sure if this was intentional by developers, but if so, nice touch.

Shroomish can also be found in Petalburg woods in hoenn, thus also giving you a solid team member. You’re even given an incentive they are there

The Pokémon you encounter in the first few routes can really impact my impression on a new region. Probably a significant factor why ended up really liking Kalos. Great combination of cute and strong new and old Pokémon

You forgot something at number 6: You can fish next to the profs house to get magikarp and arrokuda.

The Pokémon you can get early in USUM are amazing. I love how diverse overall the Alola dex is. I played Ultra Sun three times and used different 6 Pokémon each time. The team building potential is so fun in these game, unlike some others where your options can be limited.

Johto will always have a special place in my heart. You feel the culture and identity of the region very early on and it just grows from there. Unova is a good one too

11:44 Don't forget about Shroomish there, which is arguably the best one in that selection.

I absolutely agree that USUM has the best early route options. I think I read you can potentially have a Pokemon of every type before leaving the first island.

Glad I’m not the only one who spent 3 hours in that first area of Legends Arceus, I was just filling out the dex challenges the whole time, and it took me a while to find an Eevee, I didn’t know they were there at the time.

I was honestly surprised at how low paldea is. When I started the game I was just hucking balls at everything and anything and I was in awe at the fact that I had like 20 dex slots filled before I even finished the TUTORIAL! Even if you follow my rule of new Pokemon only, I was still already making team decisions by the time I got to school because there's just so many Pokemon in the little slice of land.

That schoolyard Zorua/Zoroark from my Ultra Sun help turned the Ultra Necrozma battle into a joke iykyk.

It really says something about Galar’s early options when by the end of my first playthrough, I had 3 of them on my final team with another one in reserve.

Surskit only has a 1% encounter rate in the Hoenn Route 102 grass. That’s lower than Ralts. Even though Surskit/Masquerain isn’t that good in Hoenn, it always felt so special because I knew how rare it was at that point in the game.

Despite B/W having the fewest early options, Herdier does end up being in my opinion the best early route Normal pokemon.

This is why Alola is still my favorite region. It's just so expansive.

This reminds me of the great difficulty balance Alola had, they gave you many tools for the adventure yet they weren't easy games.

To me it has to be Alola. You can have your team done by the first island. Galar is also great with this as well.

Yellow version is part of the reason I loved the mankey line. Being a kid i was always into using attacking moves and never bothered with stat moves. So in pokemon Red, I struggled because I refused to choose anything other than Charmander. Mankey was a game changer for Brock. That original Primeape episode also greatly helped lmao

If you were to include the Wild Area, it would expand upon Galar's options immensely. You go there before Motostoke, and there's tons of Pokemon to find that aren't too strong to catch.

I do think the "route 1" options of hisui are insane and diverse too. imagine if they make a Route 1 where every single type even dragon is available?

I dont wanna be THAT guy but You CAN get headbutt before badge 2, its incredibly unlikely someone would put up with the grind needed, but you can

3:48 I honestly didn’t know this between giving the player an early grass Pokémon and allowing Venonat to spawn earlier let’s go really fixed a lot of problems the Kanto region has when it comes to encounters and where they spawn

6:22 It's not padding the numbers, it's called giving player different options. Want a normal type but doesn't like ratatta ? Okay, here's zigzagoon, bidoof, pidgey and whatever. Also, it makes random encounters less grading. Encountering pidgey and rattata 100 times gets annoying much faster than encountering multiple other pokemon at an equivalent frequency

emporer cubone: "hmm, i'm not sure we should count route 22 for kalos with great encounters like riolu, litleo and psyduck, so kalos should be no. 9" also emporer cubone: "ok so i know they come after reaching jubilife but let's just count route 204, the ravaged path and the old rod, sinnoh should be no. 7" feels like you're doing kalos a little dirty

You can also fish on Route 2, adding a Magikarp and Arrokuda in Galar. Which would give you a Gyarados before gym 1.

Alola was the best region for early route Pokémon in my opinion. You can literally get Pikachu, Bagon, Zorua, Munchlax, Smoochum, and the Kanto and Johto starters before you even start the first trial. Most of these Pokémon are usually found/gifted in the mid to late game or even post game in other titles.

Don't forget Houndour, Diglett and Yungoos in the cavern on Poco Path!

Your videos have inspired me to play Pokémon again. The nostalgia has gotten to me so I’m happy to say I bought a DS lite and 2 emulator cartridges that include all of the DS lite and GBA Pokémon games + random other games.

Shroomish in petalburg forest too - breloom is a beast

Not that it changes ratings, but Paldea also requires you to go through a cave with Diglett and Yungoos.

Man, the feels are hitting me today. I wasn’t a big fan of gen 7, but my boy grimer carried that entire first run.

Sapphire was the game that got me into gaming at all, so it made me so happy to see Hoenn so high up

USUM's Melemele is the goat it literally has mons for ALL 18 TYPES available before Hala. Need a Ghost Type? Ghastly, Drifloon. Need a Steel Type? Magnemite, Mawile. Need a Fighting Type? Hawlucha. Dragon? Noibat, SALAMENCE. Ice? Smoochum, Delibird. You literally have options for any type. USUM Melemele Island is the GOAT.

I think you undersold Paldea. I'd consider any area you can legally reach before you get your mount pokemon to count as the early route. It's like 50 different pokemon.

In SM/USUM, you can catch Makuhita before the first trial, and during the trial you have access to Brick Break TM that help alot against the Totem. Especially in Moon/UM that 4x super effective Brick Break would make short work of Totem Alolan Raticate.

I feel like early game should encompass every route you can access before fighting the first gym leader. not just up to the first major city. although maybe for galar and paldea, the first major city should be their limit. for galar, the first gym is turfield so i think everything before motostoke is up for grabs. Actually maybe the wild area should be excluded too. in paldea’s case, you can choose the first gym you take on and its so open ended where you can go so that’s just unfair for the other regions, yeah everything before you can access before entering mesagoza excluding glitches.

For the hoenn region, you can catch shroomish in the forest,marill and also abra outside the cave

Pokemon Red and Blue you can also find Pikachu in Viridian Forest. It's a 5% encounter rate, but already starts off knowing thunderstruck. Useless against Brock's Ground type Pokemon sure, but pays off when you go up against Misty in the very next town.

for sake of fairness i would have included encounters possible before the first gym, rather than the first major town as that can be fairly subjective

LEVEL FREAKING 10 SALAMENCE! the only fully evolved pseudo legendary in Pokémon’s history

Another Tuesday, another great video by EmperorCubone

Happy that My 3 favorite regions made the top 5 being Hoenn for nostalgia, Alola cause it was the first region I got my shiny charm and Paldea cause I love the route Pokémon is taking the franchise! I also do love Legends so honorable mention to it! 😊

"affectionately refered as rodents" is cute. as a "Early Normal Types" (or Early Normals) terminology enjoyer, I do back your wording, my Emperor.

I would count the early routes as anything before the first gym in the first six generations, the first trial in Alola, before the Wild Area in Galar, and before the bridge in Hisui. Haven’t played Scarlet and Violet, so no comment on Paldea.

So excited to see the gen 7 love :) my favourite games for sure

Galar is my favorite off the top of my head cause I found most of my final team in the first 2 routes

I love the Hoenn early mons, many of them always make it through my full playthroughs! Theyre all so charming! :)

For paldea you can also find a lv5 gimmighoul on the ledge by the light house too!

Alola will forever be my favorite Region. The Region that got me back into Pokémon after a 2 generation hiatus. If I got Isekaied to the Pokémon world, Alola is where I would want to go.

I think you put paldea too low, everything from start to the nemona battle in front of mesagoza feels lush with not only options, but interesting options

I love Ledyba and Spinarak and I have a phobia of spiders..but Lechonk won my heart and I kept Oinkologne for a fair bit. ( Redone )

just imagine being the first kahuna in ultra sun and moon and a 10 year old just busts out a level 10 salamance and halwcha

I will definitely argue that Paldea should be higher on the list. On my first playthrough in Violet, the day after release, I was able to collect over 50 unique species (although this may include a few early evolutions, I don’t remember) BEFORE I even visited the academy. I had absolutely NO issue finding a fun, diverse team very early, even with my rule of only using new Pokémon/forms for my first playthrough of a new region. I even found a team member that I wasn’t expecting to be as amazing as it was, a Paldean Wooper, later Clodsire, that stayed on my team for nearly the entirety of my playthrough.

In Paldea, if you have a deathwish, you can also get murdered by a lv50 Tera Leafeon just outside Los Platos too, right at the start

I would’ve gone up to the first gym/trial. That would make paldea and galea the best options due to the wild area and the huge open world

The fact that Shroomish didn't get a mention in the Hoenn section is a crime

10:44 you can also catch Pokemon while walking in the Cave with Lizard. So that Diglett and Yongoose

Sinnoh definitely. The first few areas before the first gym, even just the first route, this place has some great Pokemon that will take you through to the end of the game. Hoenn and Alola too come close. And the fact that Kalos has so much variety is a good thing.

I'd put Kalos above Sinnoh personally, primarily for the variety of Pokemon you can get. While yes, there are a lot of Normal types in the early routes of Kalos, you're likely to have a different team each playthrough. I can't say the same for Sinnoh.

"I don't think we've ever seen Ghost types before the first gym" *laughs in Shedinja*

In sm/usum, you exclude the pokemon you need tauros to get, but you include the SOS pokemon, which are unlocked after the first trial.

You forget that houndour, yungoos and diglet can spawn extremely rarely at poco path mostly because they glitch out of inlet grotto on the path which i found out because i got a shiny diglet before arvens first battle xD

USUM also has the option of the island scan that can include starters from other regions which further bolsters it’s lineup

What I dislike about GenV is how water is just a major roadblock until after you beat the 7th gym. You don't even get a fishing rod until the postgame! The only Basculin you can get is through a trade in Driftveil City. There's other water-types you can find like Panpour, Tympole and I guess Tirtouga.. But it's frustrating that they gatekeep surfing (and encounters like Frillish, Alomomola and other Basculin) until that late in the game.

Wait, the school’s area has Drifloons? The Pokémon that takes children? Hope that school has security…

You can also catch Gastly before the first gym in GSC if you play at night in the early routes!

To add to black and white’s terribleness, Munna wouldn’t even count because you can’t get an encounter in the dream yard until after the gym

There’s a reason for the bugs and birds not being available before the first gym in Unova. If you could catch them, then you would have a Pokémon super effective against Cilan’s Pansage if you were to pick Oshawott. This was done to make sure that none of the starters are considered “easier” at the start of the game.

Zorua or/and Inky being found early is the game going 'you'll need this later'. Considering you are going to get trucked by the Nuzlock Killer.

Casually mentioning the level 10 Salamence and then just not saying anything about it is absolutely hysterical

I think the way you discussed the redundancy in the beginning of gen 6 is off the mark. (But I like the video!) I think the reason there are so many of the same kinds of Pokemon is intentional. They are suggesting in a way, for you to catch a Bug and a Normal type to fill out your team early, however they are giving you a choice of several of that type, all of whom have different evolutionary paths and final design styles. Although Vivillon/Butterfree are pretty much identical, you might say its a choice for older players to be able to not use the regional bug, or you could say it's a chance for new players to see an old regional bug. Either way I actually think redundancy in an early route leads to better design than an abundance of types. It gives more control over the players experience at each milestone/roadblock which can lead to great things.

Ghost types next to a school... Something doesn't feel right there

I will say this in defense of Unova's horrid early game options: it's intentional. See, the early route spawns are built around the player having an equal amount of challenge at the Striaton gym. None of the Pokemon you gain access to before the first gym have an advantage against any of the triplet Gym Leaders, meaning you'll learn about type matchups one way or another. Plus, of we got those usual early game bugs or birds, then Cilan's Pansage would never stand a chance and the whole purpose of the Striaton gym would go up in smoke. Gen V's design seemed to be built around making the gyms more challenging, for the most part, and building each area around the gym that they preface. Sure it doesn't give with the rest of the franchise, but it's unique and I appreciate it.

#1 really should be Galar, the first major story beat is Motostoke, so that opens up the first Wild Area, which is ridiculous in variety. I’d probably say #2 should be Paldea, since if we are including the options you have to “seek out” for lower entries, Pladea’s first area has a massively wide variety of options of nearly every type.

I personally like having a lot of different pokemon in the early routes. Having a lot of different team options to choose from is always something I enjoy

You forgot to say how early Unova is actually worse then you think because cut and by extension Munna is blocked off by the first gym battle, it’s crazy how fun those games are for how limited they can be

Casey (Synchro), Eevee, Otachi (Pickup), Zigzaguma (Pickup), and Ralts (Synchro) are the best early Pokémon that can be featured in any Pokémon game.

Its good to be a usum fan. Its actually my favorite mainline games

I'm gonna put Gen 4 first here. I don't care about how many options I have, I care about the quality. The fact you can get Starly, Shinx and arguably the best Gen 4 HM user in Bidoof/Bibarel) so early on puts it at number 1 for me. The mons you can get after are just bonuses. (Granted I am not a Shinx user, as I will always take Electivire over it) I do gotta put respect on Paldea though. Having early acess to Buizel, Magikarp, Ralts and Gastly was just nice. Though I'd argue since you counted the ENTIRETY of Melemele you should include more areas for other regions, since it would not be fair otherwise.

This is an awesome video concept! Looking forward to see if a future video will cover the early game options (before the third gym)

You should've counted everything up to the first gym in each game. Because Kanto has Viridian forest and you specifically said you weren't counting it, which makes no sense. It's fair to count everything up to Pewter City, so adding Pidgeotto to Yellow version and Pikachu to the other games makes it slightly better. It's unfair because you counted everything before Violet City in Johto, despite having a city before it. Much like Kanto having Viridian ahead of Pewter.

I think the way that this is being done is odd as it should be looking at any obtainable Pokémon pre-badge 1 imo as that would be the best way to assess how many options one has

Azumarill was already a powerhouse back in Gen 5 and (artuably) THE strongest pokémon you could find in Flocessy Ranch. Fairy type just took it from great to amazing.

It’s Hoenn and it’s not even close, without Manips. •Swellow is the best pure attacker you have in the game because a Guts, Silk Scarf, and STAB boosted Facade that blows a hole thru a hilarious amount of the game. It’s effectively a 230 base power attack… for just a touch of recoil •Linoone is capable of soloing members of the elite four with the right move set and knowledge of the AI •Mighteyna, while lacking in power, can see some justifiable use as an intimidate setter, oh and Tate and Liza can’t do much to it either. Seriously, bringing Mighteyna makes the fight so much easier •Ralts, should you encounter it, is a solid special attacker once it reaches its final evolution •Slakoth, while it’s ability is a hinderance, is capable of dishing out nuclear amounts of damage at the right time •Lotad/Seedot, while extremely overrated aren’t terrible back up plans for Roxanne •Marril… is okay. Just gotta deal with non-stab huge power attacks •And Wingull is incredibly underrated. Sure, it doesn’t get drizzle, but it has the most powerful STAB special attack pre-Roxanne, can put in some decent work against Brawly and can still be used effectively mid game by being useful in the Flannery, Norman and Winona fights •Beautifuly and Dostox aren’t half bad and can spread status, while the latter is better at managing through some crucial boss fights, they’re both still solid •oh and shroomish. It’s a better Lotad/Seedot, gets way more tech and can take advantage of its STABs right away and doesn’t need a stone to evolve

LOA, SW & SV greatly improved the routes. Im the type of person to ditch my starter and I never regret it😂

A. Grimer my beloved in gen7 amazing typing, moveset, solid ability and can come with black sludge

Black and white was terrible before the first gym. Black and white 2 were much better. However, due to your reasons i dont think Audino, Dunsparce, and Venipede shouldnt count as they are locked in that route until after the first gym

i love alola, it will always have a special place in my heart since it was the first mainline pokemon game i played

I had a cool thought for a video that's right up your alley. Top 10 Pokemon that should be in every region. And the 10 that should not (discluding legendary, regional forms, and mythical and convergent pokemon)

4:34 very small correction: if you level up a pokemon that learns it naturally you can actually get it and use it on the field before then. Dont think any pokemon before the first gym learn it though so in the end it does not matter

In Hoenn remakss Poochyena can even learn Fire fang at an early level

I feel like an old man. I was 8 years old when Red/Blue hit the US. Nothing so satisfying as teaching my sons to play the game.

Surprised Johto didn’t get more of a nod by including Dark Cave for Dunsparce and even Teddiursa in Crystal

Hoenn holds a special place for me, Zigzagoon, Ralts, Tailow, Wingull, Shroomish all can be longterm plays

I feel like Violet city should've been counted as the first major town, since you don't even have pokeballs the first time you pass through cherrygrove.

Honestly Black and White 1’s early route makeup is noticeably abysmal. A starter, a worse starter, 2 normal types and a dark type that only learns normal moves. Truly an amazing amount of diversity for going into the 1st gym. I’m glad BW2 has a MUCH better early game variety of Pokemon

Would like to see what the best in game team of 6 you can make before the first gym in every game. So all the routes you enter before getting your first badge. This team would not include your starter. Early gens you wouldn’t have much choice but would have more in newer gens. My say would be crystal where you can get Crobat, Arcanine, Poliwrath, Gengar, Victreebel & Golem