Getting to the point where you can start finding Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC’s starter Pokemon works a bit differently than you might expect. While the expansion’s trailer showed the likes of Squirtle and Treecko wandering freely, you actually have to put some effort into making that happen. There’s also some guesswork involved in determining which Pokemon shows up in a given biome, as there aren’t any type rules or patterns at play.
Our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC starter locations guide points out where to look for each starter, with images to help pinpoint exact habitat areas.
How to get starter Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet DLC
Once you join the League Club, you get the option to choose four quests in the academy store, the “Boost the biodiversity” quests.
There’s one for each biome, and they cost 3,000 BP apiece. That’s a lot, so make sure you’re keeping up with academy quests and progressing the main story. Once you buy the biodiversity quest for a specific biome, you’ll start seeing a handful of starter Pokemon appear.
There’s no rhyme or reason determining what Pokemon appear where. You’ll find Water types in icy zones and Fire types on the beach, so just use the Pokedex habitat images as your guide.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Squirtle location
Look for Squirtle in the southwest corner of the Canyon biome near the river.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Treecko location
Treecko wander around the Canyon as well, near the biome’s center on a tall, rocky peak.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Turtwig location
Turtwig calls a pretty large part of the Canyon Biome home. Look for them on the grassy plains.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Litten location
Litten wander around the same general region as Turtwig, but you’ll mostly find them in rocky areas, rather than on the plains. Keep an eye out when you’re in the Canyon’s northwest areas.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Tepig location
Tepig roam most of the rocky regions in the Canyon. You should have good luck along the eastern edge and in the southern area.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Bulbasaur location
Bulbasaur is over in the Coastal Biome, frolicking about the grassy fields in the region’s south.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Chikorita location
Chikorita also lives in the Coastal Biome’s fields, but you’ll find them on some of the islands as well.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Mudkip location
Mudkip, meanwhile, only swims around the pond in the biome’s southwest.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Froakie location
You’ll find Froakie along the northern beaches.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Popplio location
Popplio’s habitats also include the beach, but you should have pretty good luck spotting them in the open ocean as well.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Grookey location
Cyndaquil only show up in a small cave on the northern island in the Polar Biome.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Torchic location
Torchic also lives in a cave, a small one overlooking the Polar Plaza.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Piplup location and Chimchar location
Piplup is much easier to find. Just look for water in the Polar Biome’s northern areas. Oddly enough, you’ll find Chimchar here too.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Oshawott location
And the same for Oshawott.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Chespin location
Chespin live in Chargestone Caverns, a network of caves with an entrance in the southern Polar Biome and one in the northern Canyon Biome.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Scorbunny location
Scorbunny runs around all over the mountain across the biome’s southern edge.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Charmander location
Charmander wanders around the grassy areas in the Savanna Biome. They’re pretty small, so you might have to look closely to find them.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Totodile location
Totodile only shows up in the biome’s mud ponds, which you’ll find near the northern edge.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Snivy location
Snivy’s habitat is east of Totodile’s mud pools.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Rowlet location
Rowlet is pretty much everywhere in this biome, though we didn’t find them in the same area as Snivy. It seems like only one or the other will spawn in the spots where their habitats overlap.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Fennekin location
Fennekin is meant to appear along the Savanna’s northern edge, but we haven’t actually found one yet.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Sobble location
Finally is Sobble, who also calls the mud ponds home – but mostly in the biome’s southern area.
If you’re looking for more Pokemon Scarlet and Violet help, check out our guides on where to find Meloetta and how to deal with the Super Spicy Sandwich Trial.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
