Longtime Pokémon fans might have been a little startled to discover that the Temtem starters weren't the typical water, fire, or grass-types. Instead, players need to choose between Crystal, a crystal-type; Smazee, a melee-type; and Houchic, a mental-type. Considering that the type system is a little different and that these types have never been starters in Pokémon, you might be unsure about which one you should choose. We'll list the pros and cons of all three to help you decide which Temtem fits your play style best.
Remember that Temtem is currently in early access, so some of these details might change. We'll be sure to update if that happens.
- Things to know about Temtem starters
- Crystle - (Crystal-type)
- Smazee - (Melee-type)
- Houchic - (Mental-type)
Things to know about Temtem starters
- Unlike Pokémon, these starter Temtem do appear later on in the wild. So, while the starter you pick will affect the beginning of the game, you can still get all three of them by the end.
- The stats for Temtem starters are fixed. However, if you come across that same Temtem in the wild, you will likely see stat variation.
- Temtem starters have Traits (basically the same as Abilities from Pokémon). This means that a passive effect gets activated during battle when certain conditions are met.
- Your Temtem starters evolve once they've leveled up 29 times after joining you. Since all starters are at level 5 when you get them, they will be at level 34 when they finally evolve. However, if you catch a wild Crystle, Smazee, or Houchic, it will need to level up 29 times from the level it's currently at in order to evolve.
Crystle - (Crystal-type)
Crystle ⟶ Sherald (Level 34) ⟶ TBA
| Temtem stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Trait | Amphibian - Speed increases when attacked with water |
| High stats | Defense/HP/Attack |
| Low stats | Speed/Stamina |
| Resistant to | Mental/Toxic |
| Strong against | Electric/Mental |
| Weak against | Fire/Earth/Melee |
Should I choose Cystle? Crystle is the safest bet of the three starters. Thanks to her "Rested" trait, she receives a 25% attack and special attack increase during her first two turns of any battle. This gives her a considerable edge against most opponents. Additionally, her high defense and health make it harder to knock her out. If that wasn't enough, Crystal-type Temtem are very rare at the start of the game, so it can be helpful to have one of these from the beginning.
Crystle evolves into Sherald at level 34. The developers have indicated that she will be getting a third evolution, but we don't know what it is yet. We'll probably see it when the game officially comes out of early access.
The best way to fight with Crystle Since Crystle is kind of a defensive and offensive tank, she's the Temtem that can carry your team to victory. Just have her attack your opponents alongside her teammates. When possible, you'll want to pair her with a Wind-type Temtem as her Synergy technique "Crystal Dust" powers up when she's fighting alongside a Wind-type Temtem.
Smazee - (Melee-type)
Smazee ⟶ Baboong (Level 34) ⟶ TBA
| Temtem stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Trait | Fever Rush - Attack increases when inflicted by a status condition |
| High stats | Speed/Attack |
| Low stats | Special Defense/Special Attack |
| Resistant to | Melee |
| Strong against | Earth/Crystal |
| Weak against | Mental/Digital |
Should I choose Smazee? While Smazee is a cute little guy, he's got some weaknesses that make him difficult to play with. He's likely to go first and hit hard in battle, but his low special defense makes it easy to knock him out. Plus, there are plenty of Melee Temtem to capture near the start of the game, so you can easily pick a different Melee Temtem early on. However, if you're the kind of person that likes to hit hard and prefers a challenge, this could be the Temtem for you.
Smazee evolves into Baboong at level 34. The developers have indicated that he will be getting a third evolution, but we don't know what it is yet. We'll probably see it when the game officially comes out of early access.
The best way to fight with Smazee Whenever he enters battle, you're going to want to have him attack the stronger opponents while having your other teammates focus on increasing Smazee's stats or health. Smazee will likely get knocked out pretty quickly, so try to have several Revives and Balms ready to keep him fighting.
Houchic - (Mental-type)
Houchic ⟶ Tental (Level 34) ⟶ TBA
| Temtem stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Trait | Soft Touch - Doesn't awake sleeping Temtem when attacking |
| High stats | Speed/Special Attack |
| Low stats | Health/Attack/Defense |
| Resistant to | Melee |
| Strong against | Neutral/Melee |
| Weak against | Electric/Digital/Crystal |
Should I choose Houchic? This clever creature is more of a strategic battler. She can't be hit by Melee or Neutral attacks, and she's fast with powerful special attack stats like putting enemies to sleep, which gives her an edge at the beginning of the game. However, her health, regular attack, and defense stats are low, which makes it relatively easy to knock her out. Mental Temtem are rare at the beginning of the game, so if you like to play strategically and prefer a rare Temtem, Houchic might be the starter for you.
Houchic evolves into Tental at level 34. Crema has indicated that she should be getting another evolution, but we don't know what it is yet. We'll probably see it when the game officially comes out of early access.
The best way to fight with Houchic Since Houchic's Trait allows her to attack sleeping Temtem without waking them, you should probably pair her with a Temtem that can put others to sleep. That way, you can strategically lower your opponent's health without allowing them to hit this mental monster.
Temtem up!
Now that you know a little more about each of the Temtem starters, you can decide which one works best for your fighting style. If you're unfamiliar with RPGs or creature collection games, we highly recommend choosing Crystle. She's powerful and has a strong defense, which means that she won't get knocked out as easily as the other two. Happy Temtem hunting!
