Endless debate exists over which starter is the best in the Pokémon games. Often, these conversations focus on the base stages and which is the cutest, or the final stages and which is the strongest. But, in these debates (and in fan art, the anime, etc), the middle stages are forgotten or overlooked.

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Many middle-stage starters look like gangly awkward teenagers, caught halfway between the Charmanders and Charizards of the world. But, they have a unique charm to them that can't be captured by the rest of their evolutionary families. Here are the middle-stage Fire-type starters, ranked.

8 Quilava

Out of all the Fire-type starters, the Cyndaquil line arguably changes the least from beginning to end. Each of these Johto Fire-types are more or less potato-shaped badgers with fire coming out of their backs. In later generations, the fire is removed from their base sprites, which makes them even more sad-looking.

As a result, Quilava is a strange hybrid between the cute little Cyndaquil and the long, developed Typhlosion. Quilava looks like an awkward Pokéfusion between the two. Because of this, it has to rank last on this list. Sometimes simplicity is nice, but in this case, it's just not enough.

7 Rabboot

The newest starter on this list, Rabboot is not a bad design. It probably just suffers from the same problem its final evolution, Cinderace, does. These two seem too anthropomorphic. They look more like characters from Zootopia than Pokémon, traditionally speaking.

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Rabboot is certainly cute, but its human-like appearance is strange. Why is it wearing a hoodie? This could honestly reopen the debate over whether Pokémon with clothes are wearing them or if they're part of their body, like with Sawk and Throw or Machoke and Machamp. Maybe the hoodie is to add to Rabboot's vibe as an angsty teen with anger issues. Either way, it's just not a good-enough design to place higher.

6 Pignite

At first glance, the Tepig line seems like its cuteness and likeability end at Tepig itself. But, when you look closer, Pignite and Emboar have their own charms too. These starters were criticized for being yet another entry in a long line of Fire starters paired with the Fighting-type. The Emboar line is actually the last to do this.

Pignite looks like a wrestler in training, preparing for its final stage as the heavyweight Emboar. Pignite's face seems determined in most of its animations, but it still retains some of its younger charm.

5 Torracat

While Generation VIII's starters were criticized for being too anthropomorphic, Generation VII's seemed to be somewhat free of that critique. Incineroar and Decidueye may be bipedal, but their middle evolutions are a bit better. This is especially true for Torracat, who seems like an animal more than a human.

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Torracat's striped pattern gives it a fun design, and its powerful leg muscles make it seem threatening, much as it will be when it evolves into the boastful and powerful Incineroar. Torracat gets bonus marks for its fantastic white and red shiny form, too.

4 Combusken

Blaziken could arguably be considered one of the most beloved Fire starters, perhaps only second to Charizard. But, its pre-evolution Combusken is not quite as beloved, especially given how much the base stage, Torchic, is also praised.

Combusken is perhaps the best at capturing that awkward teenage middle-evolution phase, looking stuck halfway between a powerful bird monster like Blaziken and a half-hatched chicken. However, its fun coloring and fiercely-determined chicken eyes are adorable, it was the first to have the now-dreaded Fire/Fighting-typing, so it gets credit for that.

3 Charmeleon

Charmeleon in the Pokemon anime

Ah, the original Fire-starters, and still hailed as the ultimate ones in the franchise. If Charizard isn't the most beloved (and eye-roll inducing) Pokémon in history, it's unclear who is. But, escaping the scrutiny of both Charizard and Charmander being forced into every possible game, Charmeleon is there too.

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This guy gets bonus points for having a different color-scheme from its evolutionary relatives, opting for a nice deep red instead of the other two's harsh orange. Plus, Charmeleon made a fantastic appearance in Pokémon Snap, which is often forgotten. For all of this, Charmeleon comes close to the top spot.

While many would no doubt like to see Charmelon in the number-one place, its design is a bit too simple to take on the likes of its Fire-type brethren, so third-place will be it for now.

2 Monferno

What would you get if you combined the adorable face of Chimchar with the fierce brutalism of Infernape? Well, Monferno of course! this little monkey is super well-designed, with its nice coloring, eye mask, fiery tail, and cute little tuft of hair. Monferno is a very good design, and a very loveable Pokémon.

Plus, it doesn't have the awkward proportions of Chimchar with the big head and tiny body, or the weird yellow shoulder pads of Infernape. It really takes the best of both its evolutions and neither of the flaws. For these reasons and more, Monferno takes second place.

1 Braixen

This means, of course, that Braixen will be taking the top spot on this list. This magical witchy fox is a great Pokémon. It's well-designed, it's proportional without being awkward, it's cute but tough, fiery but soft, and just an all around great idea for a Pokémon.

Many people like to pretend Braixen is the final evolution of Fennekin, as Delphox is widely panned as a terribly-designed starter. With everyone hating Delphox so much, Braixen steps in as the loveable evolution of Fennekin instead.

Plus, it was the Pokémon that finally broke the Fire/Fighting trend, so it absolutely earns this spot for that reason alone. But, all in all, Braixen is a great Pokémon that should no question be considered the best Fire-type middle evolution.

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