So, you wanna snag those awesome Kanto starters – Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle – in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (ORAS), huh? Well, you've come to the right place! Getting your hands on these classic Pokémon in the Hoenn region isn't as straightforward as starting a new game in Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow, but it's definitely achievable. Let's dive into how you can add these iconic creatures to your ORAS team.

Understanding the Kanto Starter Availability

First things first, it's important to understand when and how these Pokémon become available. Unlike the Hoenn starters (Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip), the Kanto starters aren't given to you at the beginning of the game. You'll need to progress a fair bit into the storyline before you can even think about acquiring them. Specifically, you'll need to defeat the Elite Four and become the Champion of the Hoenn region. This is a significant milestone, so if you're not there yet, focus on training your team and progressing through the main story. Once you've conquered the Pokémon League, a whole new world of possibilities opens up, including the chance to obtain the Kanto starters.

Now, before you get too excited and start searching every route and cave, it's crucial to know that the Kanto starters are not found in the wild in ORAS. You won't stumble upon a Bulbasaur in the Petalburg Woods or find a Charmander basking in the sun on Route 112. Instead, they are given to you by Professor Birch after certain conditions are met. This means you'll need to trigger a specific event in the game to make them available. It's also worth noting that you can only choose one of the Kanto starters from Professor Birch, so choose wisely! You'll need to trade with other players or use the Pokémon Bank to obtain the other two if you want to complete the set.

How to Get Your Kanto Starter

Okay, so you've beaten the Elite Four, you're the Champion, and you're ready to add a Kanto starter to your team. Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Defeat the Elite Four and become the Champion: This is the prerequisite for triggering the event that makes the Kanto starters available. If you haven't done this yet, focus on training your team and progressing through the main story.
2. Complete the Delta Episode: After becoming the Champion, you'll encounter a post-game storyline called the Delta Episode. This involves dealing with a meteor hurtling towards the planet and a powerful Rayquaza. You'll need to complete this episode before Professor Birch will offer you a Kanto starter.
3. Return to Littleroot Town: Once you've completed the Delta Episode, head back to Littleroot Town, where your Pokémon journey began. This is where Professor Birch's lab is located.
4. Find Professor Birch: Enter Professor Birch's lab. You'll find him being chased by a Pokémon, just like at the very beginning of the game. This time, however, the Pokémon chasing him will be different depending on how many times you've rescued him before.
5. Choose Your Starter: After saving Professor Birch, he'll thank you and offer you a choice between one of the Johto starters (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile). Choose one of them. After you have chosen a Johto starter and spent some time in the game (winning battles, hatching eggs, or just wandering around) go back to save Professor Birch once again.
6. Save Professor Birch Again: After spending some time in game and saving, Professor Birch will be chased by another Pokemon. After you save him he will allow you to choose one of the Kanto Starters. Now, the moment you've been waiting for! Professor Birch will offer you the choice between Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. Choose wisely, as you can only pick one!

Choosing the Right Kanto Starter for Your Team

So, you're standing there, Professor Birch is offering you Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle, and you're feeling the pressure. Which one do you choose? Well, it depends on your team composition, your play style, and your personal preferences. Let's take a closer look at each of these Kanto starters to help you make the right decision.

Bulbasaur

Bulbasaur, the Grass/Poison-type Pokémon, is a solid choice for its versatility and early-game advantage. Its dual typing gives it a unique set of strengths and weaknesses, making it effective against Water, Ground, Rock, and Fairy-type Pokémon, while being vulnerable to Fire, Flying, Psychic, and Ice-type attacks. Bulbasaur's evolution line, which includes Ivysaur and Venusaur, boasts decent stats across the board, making it a well-rounded addition to any team. Venusaur's Mega Evolution further enhances its capabilities, giving it a significant boost in stats and the Thick Fat ability, which reduces damage from Fire and Ice-type attacks. This can be particularly useful in competitive battles or against tough opponents.

In terms of movepool, Bulbasaur learns a variety of useful moves, including Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Sludge Bomb, and Giga Drain. It can also learn status moves like Sleep Powder and Leech Seed, which can be used to control the flow of battle. Bulbasaur's early-game advantage comes from its ability to easily defeat the first two Gym Leaders in ORAS, Roxanne (Rock-type) and Brawly (Fighting-type). This can give you a significant head start in your Pokémon journey. However, Bulbasaur struggles against the third Gym Leader, Wattson (Electric-type), so you'll need to rely on your other Pokémon to overcome this challenge.

Charmander

Charmander, the Fire-type Pokémon, is a popular choice for its offensive prowess and iconic status. Its fiery nature makes it a powerful attacker, capable of dealing massive damage to Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel-type Pokémon. Charmander's evolution line, which includes Charmeleon and Charizard, is known for its high Attack and Special Attack stats, making it a formidable offensive threat. Charizard has two Mega Evolutions in ORAS, Mega Charizard X (Fire/Dragon-type) and Mega Charizard Y (Fire/Flying-type), each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Mega Charizard X boasts high Attack and Defense stats, while Mega Charizard Y excels in Special Attack and Speed. This gives you the flexibility to choose the Mega Evolution that best suits your team and strategy.

In terms of movepool, Charmander learns a variety of powerful Fire-type moves, including Ember, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, and Flare Blitz. It can also learn Dragon-type moves like Dragon Claw and Dragon Pulse, which can be useful for dealing with Dragon-type opponents. Charmander struggles against the early-game Gym Leaders in ORAS, particularly Roxanne (Rock-type) and Wattson (Electric-type). However, it shines in the later stages of the game, especially against the fourth Gym Leader, Flannery (Fire-type), and the Elite Four member, Drake (Dragon-type). Charmander requires more strategic planning and support from your other Pokémon to overcome its early-game challenges, but its offensive potential makes it a rewarding choice for experienced players.

Squirtle

Squirtle, the Water-type Pokémon, is a reliable choice for its defensive capabilities and balanced stats. Its watery nature makes it resistant to Fire, Water, Ice, and Steel-type attacks, while being vulnerable to Grass and Electric-type attacks. Squirtle's evolution line, which includes Wartortle and Blastoise, boasts high Defense and Special Defense stats, making it a sturdy wall that can withstand a lot of punishment. Blastoise's Mega Evolution further enhances its defensive capabilities, giving it a significant boost in stats and the Mega Launcher ability, which increases the power of pulse-based moves like Water Pulse and Aura Sphere.

In terms of movepool, Squirtle learns a variety of useful Water-type moves, including Water Gun, Water Pulse, Hydro Pump, and Scald. It can also learn Ice-type moves like Ice Beam and Blizzard, which can be useful for dealing with Grass-type opponents. Squirtle has a relatively easy time against the early-game Gym Leaders in ORAS, particularly Roxanne (Rock-type) and Flannery (Fire-type). It struggles against Wattson (Electric-type) and the Elite Four member, Shelly (Water-type), but its defensive capabilities allow it to withstand their attacks and support your team. Squirtle is a consistent and reliable choice for players who prefer a more defensive play style.

Trading for the Other Starters

Remember, you can only choose one Kanto starter from Professor Birch in ORAS. If you want to obtain the other two, you'll need to trade with other players or use the Pokémon Bank. Trading is a great way to connect with other Pokémon fans and expand your collection. You can trade with friends, family members, or even strangers online. The Global Trade System (GTS) in ORAS allows you to search for specific Pokémon and offer your own Pokémon in exchange. This can be a convenient way to find someone who is willing to trade the Kanto starter you're looking for.

However, be aware that some players may ask for rare or powerful Pokémon in exchange for a Kanto starter. You may need to do some research and find out what Pokémon are in demand before you can successfully trade for the Kanto starters. Alternatively, you can use the Pokémon Bank, a paid online service that allows you to store and transfer Pokémon between different games. If you have access to Pokémon games from previous generations, such as Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, or X and Y, you can transfer the Kanto starters from those games to your Pokémon Bank and then transfer them to your ORAS game.

Conclusion

Getting the Kanto starters in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire requires some effort, but it's definitely worth it for the nostalgia and the added team diversity. Remember to defeat the Elite Four, complete the Delta Episode, and then head back to Littleroot Town to claim your prize. Choose wisely, as you can only pick one! And if you want to complete the set, don't be afraid to trade with other players or use the Pokémon Bank. With a little bit of patience and determination, you'll be able to add these iconic Pokémon to your ORAS team and relive the glory days of the Kanto region. Happy gaming, trainers!