Pokemon Winds and Waves Starters Revealed

🎮 GAMING

Pokemon Winds and Waves Starters Revealed
Everything We Know About the New Grass, Fire & Water Trio

By Thirsty Hippo · Pokemon Fan Since 1998 · June 14, 2025 · 9 min read · ~2,000 words

🎯 Key Takeaways

• Three New Starters: Pokemon Winds and Waves introduces a brand-new Grass, Fire, and Water starter trio
• Design Theme: All three starters incorporate wind and ocean/wave motifs into their designs
• Platform: Developed for Nintendo Switch 2 (next-gen console)
• Release Window: Expected late 2025 or early 2026
• Evolution Speculation: Final forms may feature Grass/Flying, Fire/Electric, and Water/Dragon typing

📑 Table of Contents

1. Pokemon Winds and Waves Starters — First Look
2. The Grass Starter — Design & Analysis
3. The Fire Starter — Design & Analysis
4. The Water Starter — Design & Analysis
5. Evolution Predictions & Type Speculation
6. Which Starter Should You Choose?
7. Release Date & Platform Details
8. FAQ

The Pokemon Winds and Waves starters are finally here. After months of speculation, The Pokemon Company just revealed the next generation of starter Pokemon — and the designs are absolutely stunning.

This is Thirsty Hippo. I've played every mainline Pokemon game since Red and Blue dropped in 1998, and I've covered every starter reveal since Gen 6. Honestly speaking, this might be the most exciting starter trio since the Kalos starters in 2013.

The new game, titled Pokemon Winds and Waves, was officially announced during the June 2025 Pokemon Presents livestream. According to The Pokemon Company, the game takes place in a brand-new region inspired by Mediterranean coastal areas and features a storyline centered around ancient wind and ocean deities.

But let's be real — we all want to know about the starters. Which one looks coolest? What will their evolutions be? And most importantly: which one should you pick?

Here's the deal: I've analyzed every pixel of the reveal trailer, cross-referenced with 25 years of Pokemon design patterns, and I'm ready to break it all down for you. Let's dive in.

🌟 1. Pokemon Winds and Waves Starters — First Look

The three new starters in Pokemon Winds and Waves follow the classic Grass/Fire/Water triangle that has defined Pokemon games for nearly three decades. But there's a catch — each design incorporates the game's central themes of wind and ocean elements in creative ways.

From the reveal trailer, here's what we know about each starter:

Starter	Type	Design Theme	Apparent Inspiration
🌿 Grass Starter	Grass	Wind/Breeze motifs	Hummingbird + Mediterranean herbs
🔥 Fire Starter	Fire	Volcanic winds/Storm	Salamander + Sirocco wind
💧 Water Starter	Water	Ocean waves/Tides	Sea turtle + Mediterranean currents

One thing that surprised me was how cohesive the design language is across all three starters. They clearly belong to the same region — something that wasn't always obvious in previous generations (looking at you, Quaxly and Fuecoco).

💡 Quick Answer: What Are the Winds and Waves Starters?

Pokemon Winds and Waves features three new starters: a hummingbird-inspired Grass-type with wind motifs, a salamander-like Fire-type connected to volcanic winds, and a sea turtle Water-type representing ocean waves. All three are available when you begin your journey in the new Mediterranean-inspired region.

🌿 2. The Grass Starter — Design & Analysis

The Grass-type starter is a small, hummingbird-like creature with leaf-shaped wings that flutter faster than the eye can see. Its body is primarily light green with lavender accents that reference Mediterranean herbs like lavender and rosemary.

Why does this matter? The design suggests this Pokemon will be all about Speed. Hummingbirds are the fastest birds relative to their size, capable of beating their wings 80 times per second. If Game Freak follows this logic, expect the final evolution to be a Speed demon.

Design Details

• Primary colors: Mint green body, lavender wing tips
• Notable features: Leaf-shaped tail feathers that create wind currents
• Apparent personality: Playful, curious, always in motion
• Size estimate: Small (around 0.3m / 1'0")

Evolution Prediction

Based on Pokemon's design history, I expect the final evolution to become Grass/Flying — a typing we've only seen on Jumpluff, Tropius, and Rowlet's line. The "winds" half of the game title practically demands a Flying-type connection, and this starter seems built for it.

I could be wrong, but the wing design reminds me heavily of Rowlet's evolution into Decidueye. Expect a mid-evolution around level 16-17 and a final form around level 34-36.

🔥 3. The Fire Starter — Design & Analysis

The Fire-type starter appears to be a salamander-like creature with distinct volcanic and wind elements. Its design incorporates swirling flame patterns that resemble the Sirocco — the hot, dry wind that blows from the Sahara across the Mediterranean.

The best part? This is the first Fire starter in years that doesn't immediately look like it will become bipedal. The salamander shape suggests it might stay quadrupedal through its evolutions — a welcome change for fans tired of the "Fire starter becomes humanoid" trend.

Design Details

• Primary colors: Deep orange body with black/charcoal markings
• Notable features: Swirling flame mane that looks like wind patterns
• Apparent personality: Fierce, proud, protective
• Size estimate: Medium-small (around 0.5m / 1'8")

Evolution Prediction

My prediction: Fire/Electric final typing. The Sirocco wind connection and the swirling flame patterns suggest static electricity and storm energy. Fire/Electric is a rare and powerful combination (only Rotom-Heat has it), making this starter potentially meta-relevant for competitive play.

💧 4. The Water Starter — Design & Analysis

The Water-type starter is a sea turtle Pokemon with shell patterns that look like ocean waves. The design is adorable but hints at something powerful — sea turtles are ancient, wise creatures that navigate thousands of miles across open oceans.

From what I've seen so far, this might be the fan-favorite pick. Sea turtle Pokemon have been requested for years (we've had Tirtouga, but it's a fossil), and this design looks like Game Freak finally listened.

Design Details

• Primary colors: Teal shell with white wave patterns, blue-green body
• Notable features: Shell that glows faintly, representing bioluminescence
• Apparent personality: Calm, wise, gentle but powerful
• Size estimate: Medium (around 0.4m / 1'4")

Evolution Prediction

I'm betting on Water/Dragon for the final evolution. Sea turtles are ancient creatures, and the "waves" theme connects to ocean dragons in Mediterranean mythology. Water/Dragon is an excellent defensive typing (only weak to Dragon and Fairy), making this potentially the best starter for casual playthroughs.

💡 Quick Answer: Final Evolution Type Predictions

Based on design analysis: Grass starter → Grass/Flying (hummingbird + wind theme), Fire starter → Fire/Electric (Sirocco wind + storm energy), Water starter → Water/Dragon (ancient sea turtle + ocean mythology). These are predictions, not confirmed information.

🔮 5. Evolution Predictions & Type Speculation

Let's compile everything we've analyzed into a prediction chart. Remember: these are educated guesses based on 25 years of Pokemon design patterns, not leaked information.

Starter	Stage 1 Type	Predicted Final Type	Predicted Strengths
🌿 Grass (Hummingbird)	Grass	Grass/Flying	Speed, Special Attack
🔥 Fire (Salamander)	Fire	Fire/Electric	Attack, Speed
💧 Water (Sea Turtle)	Water	Water/Dragon	Defense, HP, Special Attack

According to Bulbapedia, secondary types are typically revealed in the final evolution and often relate to the starter's design themes. The wind/waves naming convention of this game almost guarantees Flying and Water-related secondary types.

💬 Which Starter Are You Picking?

Team Grass, Fire, or Water? Drop your pick in the comments! I'm personally leaning Water this time — that sea turtle design is calling to me.

🤔 6. Which Pokemon Winds and Waves Starter Should You Choose?

This is the question every Pokemon fan asks. While the "best" starter ultimately depends on personal preference, here's a strategic breakdown based on historical Pokemon game patterns:

🌿 Choose Grass If:

• You want a fast, agile Pokemon
• You enjoy status moves and chip damage strategies
• You're planning to build a team with Fire and Water coverage elsewhere
• You love the hummingbird aesthetic

🔥 Choose Fire If:

• You prioritize raw offensive power
• Fire/Electric typing excites you (rare and powerful)
• You don't mind potentially harder early gyms
• The salamander design speaks to you

💧 Choose Water If:

• You want the most balanced early-to-late game experience
• Water/Dragon defensive typing appeals to you
• You're a casual player who wants an easier journey
• Sea turtles are your spirit animal

Bottom line: for most players, the Water starter historically offers the smoothest playthrough. Water-types have fewer weaknesses in early game, and the rumored Dragon secondary type would make it even more versatile.

📅 7. Release Date & Platform Details

Pokemon Winds and Waves is being developed for the Nintendo Switch 2, making it the first mainline Pokemon game built specifically for Nintendo's next-generation hardware. Here's what we know:

📋 Confirmed Details

• Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 (next-gen console)
• Developer: Game Freak
• Publisher: The Pokemon Company / Nintendo
• Genre: RPG (mainline Pokemon game)
• Region: New Mediterranean-inspired region

⏳ Unconfirmed / Speculation

• Release Date: Late 2025 or Q1 2026 (not officially announced)
• Switch 1 Compatibility: Unknown (likely no backward compatibility)
• Price: Likely $59.99-$69.99 USD based on industry trends
• Online Features: Expected Pokemon HOME compatibility

According to Nintendo Life, the Switch 2 is expected to launch in early 2025, which would position Pokemon Winds and Waves as a key launch-window title. This follows the pattern of Pokemon games driving Nintendo hardware sales (Switch had Pokemon Let's Go within its first year).

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the starter Pokemon in Winds and Waves?

Pokemon Winds and Waves features three new starters: a hummingbird-like Grass-type, a salamander-like Fire-type, and a sea turtle Water-type. Each incorporates wind and ocean themes from the game's title.

Q2. When does Pokemon Winds and Waves release?

The exact release date hasn't been confirmed. Based on the Nintendo Switch 2 timeline and typical Pokemon release patterns, expect late 2025 or early 2026.

Q3. What console is Pokemon Winds and Waves for?

Pokemon Winds and Waves is developed for Nintendo Switch 2. Backward compatibility with the original Switch is unconfirmed but unlikely given the graphical upgrades shown in trailers.

Q4. Which starter should I choose?

For the smoothest playthrough, Water-types historically perform best. The Grass starter seems built for Speed, Fire for Attack, and Water for balanced Defense. Wait for full evolution reveals before committing.

Q5. Will starters have new type combinations?

Likely yes. Based on design analysis: Grass/Flying (hummingbird + wind), Fire/Electric (Sirocco + storm), and Water/Dragon (sea turtle + ocean mythology) are strong predictions for final evolutions.

📝 The Next Generation Awaits

The Pokemon Winds and Waves starters represent some of the most creative designs we've seen in years. The hummingbird Grass-type, the storm salamander Fire-type, and the wise sea turtle Water-type each bring something fresh while honoring the classic starter triangle.

We're still months away from release, which means more reveals are coming — middle evolutions, final forms, regional variants, and the inevitable box legendaries. I'll be covering every detail as it drops.

Which starter has stolen your heart? Are you going with the speedy Grass hummingbird, the fierce Fire salamander, or the wise Water sea turtle? Let me know in the comments — and share this with your Pokemon trainer friends!

— Thirsty Hippo 🦛

COMING UP NEXT

🔜 Pokemon Winds and Waves: New Region Analysis — What the Map Reveals

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