Pokémon Unbound Starters
Unbound does not give you the usual Grass/Fire/Water trio. At the start of the game you pick one of three pseudo-legendaries: Beldum, Gible or Larvitar. All three grow into monsters — but they play very differently, and the early game feels different with each one. Here is an honest breakdown so you pick the right one.
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The three starters
You choose your starter at the very start of the game. There is no wrong answer — all three end up strong — but each one has a very different first few hours.
Beldum
Beldum is the tank. It takes hits that would knock out anything else, and Metagross is one of the best Pokémon in the whole game. The trade-off: Beldum starts with almost no moves. The first stretch of the game is slow with it — you will lean on your other team members until it evolves.
Good
- Amazing defense — survives almost anything
- Metagross hits very hard once trained
- Steel/Psychic resists a lot of types
Bad
- Almost no moves at the start
- Slow early game, needs patience
- Weak to Fire, Ground, Ghost and Dark
Shines when: you like a safe, steady playthrough and want one of the strongest Pokémon in the game waiting at the end.
Gible
Gible is the attacker. It is fast, hits hard, and Garchomp is a classic sweeper — it outspeeds and knocks out most things in one or two hits. Dragon/Ground coverage handles a huge part of the game. It is a little fragile, so you need to hit first.
Good
- Fast and strong from early on
- Garchomp is a top-tier sweeper
- Great type coverage for gyms
Bad
- Not very bulky — can’t take many hits
- 4x weak to Ice
- Needs to outspeed to be safe
Shines when: you like fast, aggressive battles and want to end fights quickly.
Larvitar
Larvitar is the middle ground. Tyranitar is bulky and strong, and its Sand Stream ability summons a sandstorm that chips away at enemies every turn. It takes a while to fully evolve, but once it does you have a Pokémon that can both take hits and deal them out.
Good
- Bulky and strong at the same time
- Sand Stream wears enemies down
- Good against Flying and Psychic types
Bad
- Slow to evolve — Pupitar stage drags
- Many weaknesses (Fighting, Ground, Water, Grass…)
- Sandstorm can hurt your own team too
Shines when: you want a balanced starter that stays useful from start to finish.
Which starter should you pick?
Honest answer: pick the one you like most. All three can beat the game. But here is how to match one to your playstyle:
| If you… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want the easiest early game | Gible | Hits hard right away, fast enough to strike first |
| Want the strongest late game | Beldum | Metagross is a wall that also hits like a truck |
| Want balance | Larvitar | Tough and strong, useful the whole way |
| Are playing on a hard difficulty | Gible | Speed and power matter most when enemies hit harder |
| Are playing on an easier difficulty | Any | All three are more than enough |
💡 One tip
Beldum’s slow start is the only real trap. If you pick Beldum, catch a couple of strong early-route Pokémon to carry the first gyms — don’t try to solo everything with a Beldum that knows one move.
Your rival’s pick
Your rival always picks the starter that counters yours. It works like this:
| You pick | Your rival picks |
|---|---|
| Beldum | Gible |
| Gible | Larvitar |
| Larvitar | Beldum |
This means your rival’s team always has an answer to your starter, so don’t rely on your starter alone in rival fights. Build a balanced team and the counter-pick won’t matter much.
Other starters in Borrius
Missed the classic starters? Unbound has you covered. Several NPCs around Borrius give you the starter trios from other regions for free:
| NPC | Where | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Alola Starters Lady | Seaport City — building east of the Pokémon Center, the NPC with the pink umbrella | Rowlet, Litten, Popplio |
| Sinnoh Starters Lady | Dehara City — northeast house of the four houses north of the Pokémon Center | Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup |
| Unova Starters Lady | Route 5, west of Crater Town — the only NPC in the house | Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott |
| Togepi Egg Lady | Fallshore City — house east of the Pokémon Center | A free Togepi egg |
| Magnolia Egg Lady | Magnolia Town café (post-game, after Tornadus and Landorus) | Random Pokémon eggs |
How many starters each lady gives you depends on how many badges you have — come back with more badges to collect the rest of the trio.