Choosing the starter Pokémon is a monumental decision in each title, and there’s always the feeling of missing out once you do; luckily, it’s possible to unlock every starter in Pokémon Legends: Arceus for free!
The need to know
- It’s possible to obtain all three starter Pokémon.
- Each starter has a unique third-form evolution specific to the Huisui region in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
- Players must progress to a certain point in the story before the remaining starters are available to obtain for free.
I choose you!
Water, fire, or grass is always the choice welcoming each new player into any Pokémon game, and Legends: Arceus is no different. However, this time, players get to choose from three starters from different generations. Typically, all starters are from the same generation of Pokémon, and, in most cases, the newest generation. Legends: Arceus is different in that there are no ‘new’ Pokémon, perse, instead there are new forms and a handful of new evolutions. As such, GameFreak decided to mix things up and provide three starters from different generations.
The bad news? Players can only choose one Pokémon from the get-go.
The Good news? It’s possible to obtain all three starter Pokémon!

Gotta catch ’em all
To quickly gain access to the two starter Pokémon, all players have to do is go and speak with Professor Laveton in his office after the game’s credits roll. That’s right, to gain access to the other two starter Pokémon, players must first finish the main storyline. Luckily, the main story is pretty straightforward, and this is an excellent reward that every player has wished for since the days of Pokémon Red and Blue.
A nice added touch is that the gifting of the other two starters feels organic, and I stumbled on it entirely on accident. As I completed the story, I was wandering around Jubilife Village; I walked into the Professor’s office and thought to myself, ‘You know, it would be neat if he let me have these other Pokémon that have been chilling in here since I started the game.’ That’s precisely what happened.
So, to gain access to the two starter Pokémon players did not choose, they need only complete the main story and then speak with Professor Laveton. He will gift you the two additional Pokémon for free. Note that if your party is full at the time, they will be sent to the next available spot in your Pokémon storage.
It’s worth noting that Oshawott can be caught but only within Time Rifts that spawn in the Alabaster Icelands region. As such, it makes Oshawott a much more difficult Pokémon to find and catch. So, being able to receive one for free is excellent. Unfortunately, the same goes for Rowlett, and this Pokémon can be found only within Time Rifts in the Coronet Highlands area of the game.

Wrapping up
Personally, I think it’s great that Pokémon Legends: Arceus allows all three starters to be easily obtained. Having all three is like completing the set. Very few Pokémon titles allow it without jumping through a lot of hoops, but I think that’s what separates Pokémon Legends: Arceus apart from other entries in the series – Legends: Arceus seems much more focused on how wholesome and fun the creatures at the core of the world can be, and how much fun it is to spend time with them. I hope to see many more Pokémon titles like this in the future. This is a breath of fresh air for the series that makes me feel like a kid all over again.
Are you happy to hear how easy it is to obtain all the starter Pokémon this time around? Let us know in the comments below or over @dayonesgames.
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