Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are still immensely popular with Switch players, skew record-breaking sales despite a number of technical issues. The starters for Scarlet and Violet are also beloved all over the world, but one particular pocket monster is by far the most hated.
Arguments for the best starter in a Pokémon game are nothing new; they’ve been happening since the Red and Blue days. Even if a starter is deemed “hated” by the majority, there will always be a certain section of the fandom that will back the underrated critter.
So, a month after release, who is the most hated starter in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet? Do they deserve all the hate they receive? Probably not, but read on to find out.
On the Pokémon subreddit, an image of the Tokyo Pokémon Center store was shown, revealing a massive sellout for just two of the three Pokémon Scarlet and Violet starter plushies. While plushies of Fuecoco and Sprigatito are sold out, numerous ones of Quaxly remain, showing that the water-type duck is by far the most hated of the trio.
Considering how adorable Quaxly is, it’s a shame that the public has deemed it the worst one of the three. Admittedly, it has rough competition, as a cute duck doesn’t really compare to a grass cat or an adorable, braindead dinosaur (that evolves into a crocodile?).
Quaxly isn’t the first “hated” starter in the series, as there’s usually a runt in the litter for each game generation. Popplio from Sun and Moon was deemed the worst when it was revealed, while Gold and Silver players tend to dunk on Chikorita. There are even some players who think Bulbasaur is a “bad” Pokémon, which is inherently wrong and people like that are dumb.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are now available on the Nintendo Switch. If you want to be a rebel, choose Quaxly as your starter.