Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games are a completely different experience from the main series: instead of catching Pokémon, you become one. Your starter choice determines your stats, your move set, and how smoothly your run through the story dungeons goes. This guide ranks the best starters in each Mystery Dungeon game and shows you how to build a team that can clear the toughest post-game dungeons.
How Starter Choice Works
In most Mystery Dungeon titles, the game assigns you a starter through a personality quiz rather than letting you pick directly. The quiz measures traits like bravery, calmness, and loyalty, then matches you with one of a handful of Pokémon. Your partner is then chosen by you, and the duo sets out on the rescue adventure together.
Because the quiz has an element of randomness, knowing which starters are strongest in each game matters. If you land on a weak option, you can restart and re-roll the quiz until you get the Pokémon you want.
Best Starters by Game
| Game | Best Starters | Why They Win |
|---|---|---|
| Rescue Team DX | Charmander, Pikachu, Cubone | Charmander hits hard with Heat Wave; Pikachu has Discharge; Cubone’s Bonemerang is reliable |
| Explorers of Sky | Chimchar, Piplup, Riolu | Great move pools, fast leveling, strong type coverage |
| Gates to Infinity | Snivy, Oshawott, Axew | Balanced stats and excellent late-game moves |
| Super Mystery Dungeon | Riolu, Froakie, Fennekin | Riolu’s Fighting coverage dominates early dungeons |
Best Partner Combinations
The best partner is one that covers your starter’s weaknesses. A Charmander starter pairs beautifully with a Water-type partner like Totodile or Mudkip, giving you Fire and Water coverage from the first dungeon. Pikachu starters should look for a Ground or Grass partner to handle Rock-types that would otherwise wall Electric attacks.
Avoid pairing two Pokémon that share a weakness. Two Fire-types, two Grass-types, or two Flying-types will struggle in specific dungeons where a single boss type can sweep your whole team.
Team Building Tips for Late-Game Dungeons
Post-game dungeons in Mystery Dungeon throw dozens of floors and brutal boss fights at you. Build your team around three roles: a tanky lead, a ranged attacker, and a support Pokémon with healing moves. Pokémon with multi-hit moves like Bullet Seed or Fury Swipes are especially strong, because Mystery Dungeon calculates damage per hit rather than as a single attack.
Bring an Escape Orb on every run, and stock up on Reviver Seeds before attempting floors above 20. Learn more general team-building fundamentals in our main-series team guide for the concepts that carry over. If your partner is an Eeveelution, check our Eevee evolution guide for tips on maximizing their move sets in dungeons.
Moves and Items Essentials
Room-clearing moves like Heat Wave, Discharge, and Earthquake are the most valuable moves in the entire series. They hit every enemy in a room at once, which turns dangerous multi-enemy ambushes into one-turn wins. Prioritize these moves whenever your starter can learn them through leveling or TMs.
On the item side, Apples keep your belly full, while Oran Berries and Reviver Seeds keep your team alive. Throw items like Gravelerocks and Iron Thorns can also be used to break walls and reveal hidden items, so never sell them all.
Final Tips
Re-roll the personality quiz until you get a top-tier starter, pair it with a partner that covers its weaknesses, and keep at least one multi-hit or room-clearing move on your lead. Mystery Dungeon is as much about resource management as combat, so treat every Reviver Seed and Escape Orb like a precious resource. With the right starter and a balanced team, you can clear even the hardest post-game dungeons in any Mystery Dungeon game.
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