Stronger special fire, slower movement
Torchic
Should you invest? Ember uses special 1.08. Against Charmander it trades speed for HP and special scaling, not a measured increase in clears.
How to get Torchic: it is one of the 29 official starter choices. Decline the personality-test suggestion to choose another. Do not spend tickets chasing a species available from this selection. It also has 1-star rarity in the Hoenn banner; no unconditional species pull percentage is implied.
Opening move: Ember is special: 18 raw damage, 18 base runtime damage and 0.52 s cooldown. Evolution requires level 5 plus a Power stat card taken during this run, followed by the evolution offer. Permanent purchases are not that run card.
Build direction: base stats favor special investment. Consider Nasty Plot and verified natural attacks such as Flamethrower, Fire Spin, Heat Wave as later choices, not a guaranteed card order. The natural pool is Normal plus its own types; taught TMs add species-specific exceptions. A Bond can combine attacks after you decide which should fire together.
Compare before spending coins: Charmander has HP 88, speed 105, physical ×0.99 and special ×1.03, versus Torchic: 90, 97, ×1.03 and ×1.08. This comparison excludes nature, abilities, permanent upgrades and items; no farming time or clear percentage was measured.
What the Hoenn banner changes: Torchic is available from the starter selection, so a ticket spent on the Hoenn 1-star banner is a ticket not spent on a rift or a legendary pull. The higher special multiplier (1.08 against Charmander's 1.03) only shows up after a special card, so an early physical card wastes the difference. Pick the upgrade path first, then decide whether the banner is worth anything at all.
Survival limits: fire determines weaknesses and natural attacks. Consult this game's softened type chart, not main-series multipliers. The 20% own-type bonus requires an attack matching its single type. Leftovers heals while Quick Claw reduces cooldown. Only one held item fits, and neither replaces dodging.
| Dex / region | 255 / Hoenn |
|---|---|
| Types / rarity | fire / 1 stars |
| HP / speed | 90 / 97 |
| Physical / special | ×1.03 / ×1.08 |
| Defense / special defense | 40 / 50 |
| Start / evolution | Ember; level 5 + Power → Ember + |
| Source version | 680c3e1; reviewed 2026-10-27 |
Questions
Is Torchic a starter?
Yes. It appears in the official 29-entry selection; decline the personality suggestion to choose another.
What powers Ember?
Special attack. The physical and special multipliers are separate, and the base fields do not already include a nature or own-type bonus.
Is this a tested best build?
No. It is a source-based starter decision with natural-pool directions. No clears, farming times or win rates were measured.
Sources
- Official starter selection (680c3e1; checked 2026-10-27)
- Official species stats (680c3e1; checked 2026-10-27)
- Official move and evolution data (680c3e1; checked 2026-10-27)
- Official English names (680c3e1; checked 2026-10-27)
- Official held items (680c3e1; checked 2026-10-27)
Last checked 2026-11-03. Numbers above are omitted when a source did not state them.