Pokemon X & Y was a huge leap in the Pokemon series. While the jump to the 3DS had many great additions like Triple Battles and Mega Evolutions, the biggest change was the shift to full 3D models instead of pixelated sprites. It was a monumentally different visual experience that set the stage for Pokemon Sword & Shield.
With this jump to 3D came three new starters: Chespin, Froakie, and Fennekin. Being the first three-dimensional trio, their arrival felt fresher. Fans were eager to figure out which one serves as a trainer's finest friend, and newcomers to X & Y remain curious to this day. There's an answer to that query, and we're here to provide it.
Updated on January 23rd, 2022 by Quinton O'Connor: Pokemon X & Y have some of the finest starters in the series. All three of them are plenty viable not just in the main game but even online, with extended play in the competitive scene even to this day. We've retooled our list so that you can have an easier time deciding which of royal Kalos' crown jewels is right for you.
Offensive Capabilities
Chespin
Chespin very quickly learns Rollout, a Rock-type attack that can deal intense damage against the Bug-type and Flying-type Pokemon you encounter early on. This prevents any of its weaknesses from holding it back and gives an extra dimension to battle early in the game, something that the other starters lack. Chespin's final evolution, Chesnaught, boasts sterling Attack at the expense of a mediocre Special Attack. Load it up with physical-based Grass and Fighting moves and your opponents will be in for a pummeling.
Fennekin
Fennekin takes a while longer to truly get going, but by the time it reaches its final stage there's no questioning its magic power. Delphox's sky-high Special Attack stat, in conjunction with an especially offensive typing combination of Fire and Psychic, makes it one of the most innately talented sweepers in X & Y's catalog. Fire and Psychic both host a plethora of special-based moves, leaving Delphox with no shortage of options.
Froakie
Froakie's evolutionary line has ample reason to celebrate: Greninja's Speed stat is the highest in starter Pokemon history. Indeed, Sceptile and Inteleon are hot on its tail — and amusingly, so is Pokemon Yellow's unique Pikachu — but 122 topples their shared 120s for the crown. Neither of its offensive stats are quite as high as Chesnaught's Attack and Delphox's Special Attack, respectively, but nor are they by any means terrible.
Winner
Deciding this round's winner isn't an easy feat, as all three shine in their own way. Fennekin comes out on top, if barely; the blending of Fire/Psychic with enough Special Attack to frighten so many foes cannot be ignored.
Defensive Capabilities
Chespin
The Spiky Nut Pokemon, Chespin, starts the game off at a slight disadvantage due to the first Gym Leader being a super effective Bug-type expert. This is an unfortunate downside, but is immediately balanced out by its unique move diversity that’s not shared by either of the other starters.
Setting aside some early-game woes, Chespin and its successors are cozy catches courtesy of their outstanding physical Defense stat. It's high enough to help Chesnaught (and even Quilladin, to a point) withstand super effective Fire-type moves like Blaze Kick and Flame Wheel. On the other hand, Chesnaught's Special Defense is middling, so don't expect it to last long against staples such as Ice Beam — or just about anything that Delphox throws at it, for that matter.
Fennekin
Foxy Fennekin doesn't put up much of a fight in this particular arena. Ground, Rock, Ghost, Water, and Dark moves of the physical variety can all do well to demolish Delphox, with its iffy HP stat and even iffier Defense. Delphox's Special Defense is pretty good, a fact that Fennekin itself shares early on, but there are simply too many issues here to give Kalos Fire starters two wins in a row.
Froakie
Froakie fares almost as poorly. Not one of its defensive stats will impress, but at least its Water/Dark typing isn't quite so cruel as Delphox's. They share the same number of weaknesses, but Greninja's flat-out immune to Psychic attacks and there are fewer major obstacles in Pokemon X & Y who sport the sort of attacks that drop this frog in a jiffy.
Winner
This is an easy win for Chespin.
Overall Utility
Chespin
Rather than tricky moves like Leech Seed to remain healthy or relying on an immense speed, Chespin instead is given tools to build up its stats and protect its health before slamming its opponent with physical moves. Make no mistake, Leech Seed is available, but it doesn't really gel well with Chesnaught's modus operandi. In this sense, its overall utility isn't the best, but it does what it's designed to do to an admirable degree.
Fennekin
Fennekin's evolution chain incentivizes one status effect above the rest: Burn. Will-o-Wisp inflicts it automatically. Several other fiery techniques have a calculated chance of burning the opponent as well, and Fire Spin traps foes in a hot enough vortex that it might as well be a sort of "ultra Burn." A smaller handful of learnable moves can inflict Confuse, which can mess things up for rough contenders like the Elite Four at a pivotal point in any fight.
Pokemon X & Y were also preceded by a long trend of Fire-type Starters having a secondary Fighting-type trait, so Delphox ends up sticking out among nearly every other Fire-type Starter. It isn’t the most exciting design, but it’s deeply refreshing to see a bipedal evolution be a little more majestic.
Froakie
Froakie relies less on debuffs and more on wider functionality. Substitute and Double Team keep it going against harder-hitting foes, Rain Dance sets it up for an extra watery kick, U-turn allows it to dish a bit of pain on its way out when trouble arises, and Greninja can even learn some surprising twists like Grass Knot to wipe out heavier threats like Snorlax. It can even learn Rest and Sleep Talk for a nifty little unexpected one-two combo.
Winner
While Fennekin's bevy of incremental dangers comes close, Froakie is the standout utilitarian.
Checks and Counters
Chespin
Kalos' "starter cycle" is abnormal: Grass/Fighting Chesnaught is canceled out by Fire/Psychic Delphox, who is in turn canceled completely by Greninja's Water/Dark. The usual rock-paper-scissors approach to regional starters is exchanged for, well, paper-paper-paper.
On its own, this suggests a total wash when the trio gets together for some scrapes and bruises. But physical Grass moves from Chespin's line will obliterate the Fennekin family in short order.
Fennekin
There's a clearer hierarchy elsewhere; Froakie outpaces Delphox (and many Water-type peers) with its base speed of 71, letting it outrun both Fennekin and Chespin with no problem. This is, of course, amplified considerably when it's a bout between Greninja and Delphox.
Froakie
Greninja's resistances further its supremacy. Ghost, Steel, Fire, Water, Ice, and Dark all strike at half strength, while Psychic doesn't strike at all. But Chespin's grown-up self isn't far behind, with resistances to Ground, Rock, Water, Grass, Electric, and Dark.
Winner
Which of these outclasses the other? It's very nearly a tie. Steel, Fire, Water, Ice, Ground, and Electric attacks are all prevalent in Pokemon X & Y. On sheer volume, Froakie pulls ahead slightly, with four to Chespin's three.
The Winner
It's awfully tempting to give Kalos' starter pack a three-way tie. Pokemon prides itself on good starter choices, but X & Y ranks among the best of the bunch. Folks have written essays on why Gold & Silver's Chikorita, for example, is distinctly unfavorable relative to Cyndaquil and Totodile. The same has been said for Black & White's Snivy and Tepig when Oshawott's right there for the taking.
Not so with Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie. Whether you're a casual sort who knows full well that just about any Pokemon is viable, or a diehard competitive Pokemon Master who settles for nothing but the best, there's good reason to side with them all.
Yet when tallying up offensive and defensive measures, as well as functional diversity and clear-cut counters, Froakie is the victor if by a matter of mere inches.
Don't let this dissuade you from sampling the others. And remember, one of X & Y's neatest quirks is that players soon acquire one of Kanto's starters as well. If you've settled on the ninja frog, complement it with either Charizard or Venusaur per your preferences. There's no wrong way to play.