7 Ice Starter PokéMon To Kickstart Your Adventure

Introduction

Starting your Pokémon journey is an exciting time, filled with anticipation of battles, exploration, and companionship with those lovable creatures known as Pokémon. One of the first and most crucial decisions you'll make is which Pokémon to choose as your starter. These initial Pokémon are more than just the first in your Pokédex; they are your primary companions, setting the tone for your adventure. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore 7 Ice starter Pokémon that could very well kickstart your adventure in the Pokémon world.

Why Choose an Ice-type Starter?

Ice-types are known for their unique blend of strengths and weaknesses, providing a rich gameplay experience:

• Defensive Strengths: They are generally resistant to Bug, Fire, and Ice attacks, making them excellent in battles against those types.
• Offensive Power: Ice-type moves are super effective against Dragon, Flying, Grass, and Ground Pokémon, which are common threats early in the game.
• Strategic Versatility: Their ability to use snow and hail can offer both offensive and defensive advantages.

Let's delve into the world of ice and uncover the top Ice starter Pokémon for your journey.

The Ice Starters: A Comprehensive Overview

1. Glaceon - Evolution of Eevee

How to Get: Evolve an Eevee that has reached high happiness and level up in an area with an Ice Rock (such as Mt. Coronet or Giant's Cap) or use an Ice Stone.

• Strengths: Glaceon possesses a high Special Attack stat and good HP, making it a formidable special attacker. Moves like Ice Beam and Blizzard deal heavy damage, while Frost Breath ensures a critical hit.
• Weaknesses: Limited movepool outside of Ice moves, which can make it less versatile.

<p class="pro-note">❄️ Pro Tip: Evolving an Eevee to Glaceon with an Ice Stone bypasses the need for happiness, but teaching it Shadow Ball or Dazzling Gleam can help cover its type disadvantages.</p>

2. Alolan Sandslash - Ice/Steel Type

How to Get: Evolve Alolan Sandshrew with an Ice Stone.

• Strengths: Its dual typing provides a unique set of resistances, and moves like Icicle Crash and Ice Shard are both powerful and priority moves.
• Weaknesses: While versatile, it lacks the sheer power of pure Ice-types and can struggle against Fire moves.

<p class="pro-note">❄️ Pro Tip: Use Iron Defense to boost Sandslash's defense before using Ice moves for a more tanky approach.</p>

3. Snorunt - Evolution to Glalie or Froslass

How to Get: Found in cold regions or hatch from eggs.

• Strengths: Its evolution, Glalie, has a high Attack stat, making physical moves like Ice Fang effective. Froslass offers a high Speed stat and Ghost typing for surprise value.
• Weaknesses: Lack of physical moves for Glalie and Froslass's vulnerability to Fire and Dark.

<p class="pro-note">❄️ Pro Tip: Evolve Snorunt into Froslass if you need a faster option or into Glalie for a hard hitter.</p>

4. Beartic - The Polar Bear Pokémon

How to Get: Evolve Cubchoo at level 37.

• Strengths: High physical Attack and good bulk, making moves like Superpower alongside Icicle Crash devastating.
• Weaknesses: Struggles against Fighting, Rock, and Steel types due to its weakness to their moves.

<p class="pro-note">❄️ Pro Tip: Teach Superpower for coverage against Rock and Steel types, but be aware of its harsh recoil.</p>

5. Vanillite - Evolution to Vanillish and Vanilluxe

How to Get: Found in icy areas or as a gift Pokémon.

• Strengths: Evolves into Vanilluxe, which has great Special Attack and a good movepool including Freeze-Dry, a move that's super effective against Water-types.
• Weaknesses: Vanilla in terms of secondary typing, leading to several common weaknesses.

<p class="pro-note">❄️ Pro Tip: Use Freeze-Dry against common Water-type threats like Milotic or Swampert.</p>

6. Amaura - Fossil Pokémon to Aurorus

How to Get: Revive the Sail Fossil in a museum.

• Strengths: Its evolution, Aurorus, has an ability called Snow Warning, which sets up hail and boosts Ice moves. It also learns Thunder Wave for support.
• Weaknesses: Lower speed and physical defense, plus a common type combination vulnerability.

<p class="pro-note">❄️ Pro Tip: Lead with Aurorus to set up hail for your Ice-type teammates.</p>

7. Piloswine - Evolution to Mamoswine

How to Get: Evolve Swinub at level 33, then teach TM Ancient Power.

• Strengths: High Attack and HP stats, and evolves into Mamoswine, one of the strongest physical attackers in the game with moves like Avalanche and Icicle Crash.
• Weaknesses: Limited movepool and dual typing means more weaknesses.

<p class="pro-note">❄️ Pro Tip: Prioritize teaching Avalanche to capitalize on the recoil from your opponent's attacks.</p>

7 Ice Starters in Battle Scenarios

Scenario 1: You're facing a Fire-type starter like Charmander. Glaceon or Vanilluxe would be excellent choices due to their high Special Attack and effective moves against Fire-types.

Scenario 2: Early-game battles against Flying or Bug types. Here, Alolan Sandslash or Mamoswine would provide both type advantage and robust physical presence.

Scenario 3: Battling a Dragon-type like Dragonair or Gible. Aurorus or Glalie can provide crucial STAB and coverage moves, especially if set in hail weather.

Tips and Techniques

• Hail Strategy: Use Ice-types that can set up hail (like Aurorus) to boost Ice moves, providing a strategic edge in battles.
• Coverage Moves: Teach your Ice-starters moves like Shadow Ball or Thunder Wave to mitigate their weaknesses and expand their offensive capabilities.
• Evolving: Pay attention to the evolution paths and their levels, as certain evolutions are time-sensitive.

<p class="pro-note">❄️ Pro Tip: Experiment with various movesets to balance power with versatility, helping you to adapt to a wide range of opponents.</p>

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Ice starter can significantly influence your Pokémon journey. Each of these 7 Ice-types brings something unique to the table, whether it's raw power, strategic utility, or surprising versatility. With thoughtful team-building and strategic use, your chosen Ice starter can help you navigate the treacherous paths and battles of the Pokémon world. Remember, these companions are more than just your entry point into the adventure—they're your allies, friends, and the cornerstone of your success.

<p class="pro-note">❄️ Pro Tip: Explore our related tutorials for in-depth strategies on weather manipulation, type-matching, and mastering Ice-type battles for a competitive edge in your Pokémon journey.</p>

<div class="faq-section"> <div class="faq-container"> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Which Ice starter is best for competitive play?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Mamoswine is often considered the best due to its high stats and move versatility. Its ability to both tank and dish out physical damage makes it a formidable choice.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>How do I counter Fire-type Pokémon with Ice starters?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Focus on teaching Ice moves with high power like Ice Beam or Blizzard. Also, try to capitalize on their defensive strengths, such as having good Special Defense stats.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>What are some common mistakes to avoid when using Ice starters?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Don't ignore their type disadvantages; over-relying on Ice moves can lead to predictable and easily countered strategies. Avoid using them against Fighting, Steel, and Rock-type Pokémon without proper coverage moves.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Can I use Ice starters effectively in non-ice themed teams?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Yes, but consider their type weaknesses and ensure your team has coverage for their vulnerabilities. Weather setters like Aurorus can provide unique strategic advantages in mixed teams.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Are there any tricks to quickly level up my Ice starter?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Leverage areas with high-level wild Pokémon or use items like EXP. Share to boost EXP gain from battles. Also, use moves like Ice Fang for critical hits to gain more experience from defeating opponents.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>