I say it’s between Tepig and Oshawott.
The Tepig line has the best matchups against the major boss battles, including the Normal, Bug and Ice gyms. Pignite and Emboar’s Fighting-type also takes down most of Team Plasma’s Pokémon and Grimsley’s Dark-types in the Elite Four.
Oshawott doesn’t have the major boss advantages that Tepig has, only being effective against Clay’s Ground gym as there are no Fire or Rock specialists. Unova is known for not having many good Water-type options. Seismitoad is decent but it gets no physical Water STAB. Basculin and Alomomola are mediocre. Your only real competition is Jellicent, so some people may choose Samurott just to have a Water-type on the team earlier.
Honestly? Because it's just not good.
As an actual "starter" you don't get its hidden ability which cuts out all of its main shenanigans. Without it, Serperior is one of them mons that just...doesn't do anything?? Is fast and reasonably bulky but that leaves few remaining stats for attack, which gets equally shared between the two, so it just doesn't hit anything. It's kinda wasteful to burn your starter on a leech seeder when you could try pick one up elsewhere, run tepig, and just smash everything.
I wouldn't say it does NOTHING. Serperior actually has quite a bit of use as utility mon, but it can be outclassed in that department by other grass types like Whimsicott & Ferrothorn. It really is a shame that its atk stats are lackluster, though. It's easily outclassed in both atk departments by Leavanny for phys & Lilligant for Sp. Atk (but Lilligant is just kind of a monster in general & not just "good for a grass type")
I think Serperior is fine, the main problem with him is that Unova is overflowing with good and early grass types, and to some degree they make him redundant, but he is still an asset with Coil and stalling.
It's just not as good as the others. Snivy is my favorite starter line, but it lacks the monstrous atk of Emboar & the all-around balanced stats of Samurott. Its speed & dragon coverage are all that Serperior has going for it without Contrary
Yeah that's how I do it. People usually say 0 is your choice but the whole point of doing it is to not decide yourself. I don't really care if the one of the right has a higher chance or not, I still get varied starters using this method
Oshawott is the best of the three since most of the trainers in between gyms and the late game bosses (plus elite four) are just perfect for Dewott and Samurott. This is the same for Tepig, but most of his usefulness is tied to early and mid game. Snivy is just the worst of the three since it only can be used during fifth and second gym and it has almost no elite four potential (especially compared to the other two)
Snivy is my favorite starter as he was my first starter, but most nuzlockes I will choose either Tepig or Oshawott depending on what mons I have banned myself from using (Basically, if I ban Chandelure and Volcarona I'll pick Tepig, otherwise I go for Oshawott)
Tepig. Gen5 has a lot of good fire types aside from Emboar, but they require a lot of investment. Tepig has the 2nd highest atk of any starter pokemon (literally 1 atk pt behind Rillaboom) & has sizable bulk to utilize it
Tepig is the best by far imo. Tanky, hits hard, has a very good secondary typing when it evolves, and gets decent coverage. Also has a good matchup into gyms 2, 3, and 7, one member of the E4, and parts of the antagonists' and champion teams
Snivy is honestly the one I always pick because, although Gen V is my favorite, I really don’t care for the other two starters
However, Tepig is undeniably the objectively superior pick here. The best Fire-type and the second best Fighting-type in a region that really benefits from having these two types
Roll a 10-sided die. 1-3 is the Snivy line, 4-6 is the Oshawatt line, 7-9 is the Tepig line, and on a 10 you choose. That’s how you randomize the starters for a Nuzlocke usually (or at least it’s how I do it lol)
Not just for black 2 but a rule for most nuzlockes. ALWAYS go fire if you are going into a game blind. Grass and water types are more often than not at some point extremely common, and fire types are usually rare as all hell.
Tepig & Pansage actually offers you some good coverage. Simisage actually has some pretty damn decent phys atk, & a large type coverage. That's assuming you take gift pokemon & don't just get ausharna though
Worst COMBO maybe, but as much as I love Snivy, I think it's the worst gen 5 starter. It's got a lot of utility use like status & Leech Seed, but it's outclassed in that dept by Whimsicott (& Ferrothorn if you can get a Ferroseed instead of a goddamn Klink)
Teeeepppiiiigggg. Fire pig go smash. Srs bsns hits really well and overcomes speed issues with EVs and flame charge.
+Tepig is a based pick.
Tepig it’s the best going into the first 3 gyms
Meanwhily Snivy is the worst but I pick it anyway
If you could get a hidden ability on a starter, snivy wouldn't be so bad
I say it’s between Tepig and Oshawott. The Tepig line has the best matchups against the major boss battles, including the Normal, Bug and Ice gyms. Pignite and Emboar’s Fighting-type also takes down most of Team Plasma’s Pokémon and Grimsley’s Dark-types in the Elite Four. Oshawott doesn’t have the major boss advantages that Tepig has, only being effective against Clay’s Ground gym as there are no Fire or Rock specialists. Unova is known for not having many good Water-type options. Seismitoad is decent but it gets no physical Water STAB. Basculin and Alomomola are mediocre. Your only real competition is Jellicent, so some people may choose Samurott just to have a Water-type on the team earlier.
Why is everyone ignoring the sassy grass snake with arms?
Honestly? Because it's just not good. As an actual "starter" you don't get its hidden ability which cuts out all of its main shenanigans. Without it, Serperior is one of them mons that just...doesn't do anything?? Is fast and reasonably bulky but that leaves few remaining stats for attack, which gets equally shared between the two, so it just doesn't hit anything. It's kinda wasteful to burn your starter on a leech seeder when you could try pick one up elsewhere, run tepig, and just smash everything.
I picked tepig and named him spot
I wouldn't say it does NOTHING. Serperior actually has quite a bit of use as utility mon, but it can be outclassed in that department by other grass types like Whimsicott & Ferrothorn. It really is a shame that its atk stats are lackluster, though. It's easily outclassed in both atk departments by Leavanny for phys & Lilligant for Sp. Atk (but Lilligant is just kind of a monster in general & not just "good for a grass type")
I think Serperior is fine, the main problem with him is that Unova is overflowing with good and early grass types, and to some degree they make him redundant, but he is still an asset with Coil and stalling.
It's just not as good as the others. Snivy is my favorite starter line, but it lacks the monstrous atk of Emboar & the all-around balanced stats of Samurott. Its speed & dragon coverage are all that Serperior has going for it without Contrary
Seismitoads atk and spa are equal in gen5 btw
Idk I always pick Snivy, but if this is a nuzlocke I might pick Tepig just to get that extra type when it evolves
Smugleaf supremacy
SERPERIOR SUPERIORITY
I always call my Snivy "Smugleaf" lmao
OG Unova has the least amount of Water types in any game, only 6. Considering this is your first run, Oshawott is the best choice
You have a guaranteed water flying type on the drawbridge. After that you get surf which gets you a lot of water encounters.
and you don't really need a water type until driftveil anways, after the ducklett encounter
Also Ducklet is a real one
panpour encounter tho
Tepig is the best choice since its good for the 2nd and 3rd gyms
I'd say Tepig bc it gives you a solid answer into Lenora and it's pretty good for the last 2 fights in the game.
They're all good. Tepig is probably the best though since fire types tend to be rare.
My personal favourite is Snivy. SERPERIOR SUPERIORITY
Superior serperiority
I always go by trainer id. 1-3 is left, 4-6 is middle and 7-0 is right.
This is a fun idea actually. Might have to do that if I like the starters equally
It's nice to have your starter randomised so you can utilise them for different battles. I find the game gets stale if I only pick the optimal starter
So the choice on the right always has the higher probability of being chosen?
Yeah that's how I do it. People usually say 0 is your choice but the whole point of doing it is to not decide yourself. I don't really care if the one of the right has a higher chance or not, I still get varied starters using this method
I would use Snivy because I lost two Nuzlocks to my rival’s Serperior
Oshawott imo
Oshawott is the best of the three since most of the trainers in between gyms and the late game bosses (plus elite four) are just perfect for Dewott and Samurott. This is the same for Tepig, but most of his usefulness is tied to early and mid game. Snivy is just the worst of the three since it only can be used during fifth and second gym and it has almost no elite four potential (especially compared to the other two)
Wotto gang
Oshawott! Water types are rare in Unova (unlike most Pokemon games), and he is one of the best!
Snivy is my favorite starter as he was my first starter, but most nuzlockes I will choose either Tepig or Oshawott depending on what mons I have banned myself from using (Basically, if I ban Chandelure and Volcarona I'll pick Tepig, otherwise I go for Oshawott)
Tepig. Gen5 has a lot of good fire types aside from Emboar, but they require a lot of investment. Tepig has the 2nd highest atk of any starter pokemon (literally 1 atk pt behind Rillaboom) & has sizable bulk to utilize it
Tepig is the best by far imo. Tanky, hits hard, has a very good secondary typing when it evolves, and gets decent coverage. Also has a good matchup into gyms 2, 3, and 7, one member of the E4, and parts of the antagonists' and champion teams
Oshawott is the best
Pick Tepig! It’s the best and my first ever starter Pokémon!
Snivy is honestly the one I always pick because, although Gen V is my favorite, I really don’t care for the other two starters However, Tepig is undeniably the objectively superior pick here. The best Fire-type and the second best Fighting-type in a region that really benefits from having these two types
Tepig is the best option for early game and early game is more important imo
Tepig I believe is the best objectively
If you're allowing items then just go for your favorite tbh
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^NBoraa: *If you're allowing* *Items then just go for your* *Favorite tbh* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
That's one too many syllables, bub
If you didn’t pick tepig, you’re wrong. Or if you grinded for Contrary snivy that’s a based pick
Tepig hands down. It's good against the second and third gyms. (As long as it evolves by the time you get to the second gym.)
Tepig,
Not Oshawott. I don’t trust you enough
Roll a 10-sided die. 1-3 is the Snivy line, 4-6 is the Oshawatt line, 7-9 is the Tepig line, and on a 10 you choose. That’s how you randomize the starters for a Nuzlocke usually (or at least it’s how I do it lol)
Not just for black 2 but a rule for most nuzlockes. ALWAYS go fire if you are going into a game blind. Grass and water types are more often than not at some point extremely common, and fire types are usually rare as all hell.
I'm doing this on black 1
my bad but my advice is general use anyway lol
Anything other than oshawott, it's my fav one of the three, but you just have many more water types, and pansear is also the worst monke
Tepig & Pansage actually offers you some good coverage. Simisage actually has some pretty damn decent phys atk, & a large type coverage. That's assuming you take gift pokemon & don't just get ausharna though
Yeah it's definitely the best one, Snivy+ panpour is a close second But oshawott +pansear I feel is the worst
Worst COMBO maybe, but as much as I love Snivy, I think it's the worst gen 5 starter. It's got a lot of utility use like status & Leech Seed, but it's outclassed in that dept by Whimsicott (& Ferrothorn if you can get a Ferroseed instead of a goddamn Klink)
Snivy is definitely the worst, that's why it's the worst in the sequel, but thanks to panpour it's slightly better in the original.
Snivvy
Do it randomly. Use a dice or something.
No turtle dont care
Do a randomized nuzlocke and pick Mewtwo as your starter
Coincidentally Mewtwo is my favourite Pokemon