Gen V: which starter did you choose and why is it superior to the other two?

[Nidokingdom]

I had originally started with Oshawott, until I got Pansear and realized the error of my ways. I restarted with Tepig so that I could get Pansage. So basically, I chose my elemental monkey instead of choosing my starter...

 

[Tsareena]

I played the game over so many times I can't really remember. But I THINK I chose Snivy the first time around, and most subsequent times as well.
The main reason I liked its design the best out of the three, all around for all its stages. Serperior is significantly better looking to me than Emboar and Samurott. I like quick, speedy Pokemon as well. I rarely choose the grass starter, so it was a new experience.
I like snakes more than pigs and otters so that definitely influenced my decision.

 

[Peaceful Giraffe]

To be honest, I chose Oshawott just because I had yet to start with a Water Pokémon. While I was not a fan of the looks of any of the gen V first stage starters, I liked how Samurott turned out, and mine was with me through the whole game.

Tepig's whole line kinda disgusts me, because they are fat... Flaming... Pigs. I actually don't really like snake Pokémon, so I don't like Snivy's line. I didn't like the whole 'better then you' vibe that thing gave off as well.

 

[Karpi]

Black: Tepig because it's cute
White: Tepig because I wanted to relive my Black adventure
Black 2: Dumped Snivy for a Sunflora early on because fuck the predetermined starters.

 

[Life]

My first run I chose Oshawott, solely because I liked it the best out of the other three. I didn't know what its final evolution looked like, but I figured that since it was my favorite in its first stage, it would be my favorite in its last, right? Wrong, but that's kind-of off topic so I'll move on. Samurott is strong and has a great move-pool, so I can't say anything bad about it to be honest. He kicks butt at everything, and with Ice Beam and X-Scissor he can easily counter Ice-types while with Dig he can attack Electric-types. He was also great for surfing and Strength usage, which was incredibly handy.

While Serperior does have my favorite design of the final-stage Gen V starters, his move-pool is quite pitiful. I mean, his stats are good and his speed is really nice, but he really only learns Grass and Normal-type moves which is really annoying when trying to counter his weaknesses. My runs with it have always turned out good, but I think Samurott is better purely because of its many uses.

Emboar... Oh gosh... Where do I even start? My first run with it was horrible. I struggled with gyms, and couldn't even pass the E4... My team was well balanced too, which is why I was surprised. I figured that I just had some bad luck with the run and restarted my game, using him again. This time was even worse. I He was at level 50 yet failed in every battle.... I mean, his attack power is great, but the physical moves he gets aren't. If they don't result in recoil, it's either stat-lowering or horrible accuracy. His move-pool is decent though, so that's nice.

But I mean, I can't really give my thoughts on him without being incredibly bias. Because if I am, I'll tell anyone not to use him and that he's a bad luck charm.

tl;dr Samurott is the best.

 

[Supreme Leader Palpitoad]

In my first White playthrough I started with Tepig because I find it cute. Snivy looks to bossy I think and Tepig was cuter than Oshawott.
In my second White I picked Oshawott because I had tried Tepig and I did not like Snivy.
In W2 I picked Tepig again.

 

[Resk]

i went with oshawott since i always pick water starter

 

[michemagius]

Oshawott!

1. It's cute as can be.
2. Dewott.
3. Samurott.
4. Awesome Movepool.

 

[Sakuraa]

It's Oshawott for me. For one thing, it's adorable, Dewott is adorable and badass, and Samurott is a samurai badass. Also, I like it's wide movepool and stats a lot and find it to be the most helpful throughout Black. In W2 I choose Snivy, but didn't much care for it. I just don't care much for support Pokémon and in general I think its movepool is pretty lackluster. I feel like I ended up using my other team members much more than her unless she actually had an advantage. Tepig I just can't stand due to its hideous evolutions and their typings.

 

[Lysson]

I chose Snivy which broke my chain of choosing Fire types (I did chose Piplup for Platinum though) I just liked snivy's evolutions, looked so elegant. Then realized they were quite weak (still waiting for their HA to be released) but still went with them for Black. In White 2 I then chose Oshawott because I thought it was probably the best, later chose Tepig because I didn't want to give it all the hate and actually started to like Emboar after using her for a while.

 

[Silverwynde]

I had originally started with Oshawott, until I got Pansear and realized the error of my ways. I restarted with Tepig so that I could get Pansage. So basically, I chose my elemental monkey instead of choosing my starter...

You could find the other two Elemental Monkeys in Pinwheel Forest; all you had to do was search for the shaking grass. It took some time but I was able to get all three of them with this in Black. Or failing that, reset for a female Pansear, breed it and ask for the others via GTS. There are those who would trade you. (Of course, now it's all moot anyway; the Monkeys are so common that they're often tossed off as Wonder Trade fodder.)

In my case I chose Oshawott in both Black and Black 2, as I liked the final evolution a lot more than Tepig's or Snivy's. Samurott seemed a bit more balanced than those two and seemed to have better Type coverage, so I stuck with it and it never let me down.

 

[Tyrfing]

Samurott. I never knew why, I just did it. It has now become my favorite.

 

[Xita]

I chose Oshawott. No regrets. Dewott was the best form of it him though.

 

[AlphaSapphire]

Oshawott!
It's generally easier to use than the other 2, since it requires less training and has many type advantages along the game,
But, then, I'm a water-type fan, so yeah

 

[TTP199]

I chose oshawott, but I found out samorott stands on 4 legs.

Something that bothers me is that the advertisements always show the fire type pokemon in the middle and front... isn't that a little discriminating against the others?
just a thought

 

[Polkadot Jolteon]

Snivy.

Why is it superior to the other two?

Spoiler

Smugleaf. That's why.

 

[Jimlaad43]

I went for Oshawott.

When I first play a game, I always choose the Water starter. Simply because of the move Surf. Gen V is annoyingly hard to catch water types without a rod (which is gained way after you need to use surf). Surf + STAB + Water enhancing item (Mystic Water etc) is something to behold in battle. High power, lots of PP and 100% accuracy. Can't go wrong with that. I know I could get something like the Lillipup line to teach it surf, but the lack of STAB makes it a mediocre weapon in battles.

Still playing it for the first time, so I haven't tried the others yet.

 

[Alolan Slowpoke]

I originally started with Snivy, but halfway through the game I was no longer able to tolarate it, so I restarted the game and chose Oshawott instead, which was a much better choice.

 

[Dr. Buni]

I chose Emboar, because I really dig its color scheme. Plus, it looks like a very huggable Pokémon <3

Still, sorry to disappoint, but I don't think Emboar is superior to Serperior and Samurott. There is no such thing as a "superior starter", that is just childish.

 

[Supreme Leader Palpitoad]

In my first White playrrough I chose Tepig since he was cuter than the others. In m second playthrough I took Oshawott instead. Not a big fan of Snivy.
In W2 I took Tepig again.