Play PokeBonk
Game reference: Beta v0.8.26Checked: 2026-10-23

Choose your first PokeBonk partner

The documented first-partner screen offered Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. The current v0.8.26 client shows 79 League member slots, but only unlocked League members are selectable for a run. Choose a learning style, not a claimed universal winner.

Play game↗Official game opens in a new tab
BU

Bulbasaur

Grass / Poison

Healer

Starts with Vine Whip. Its starter card emphasizes regeneration and healing; recheck the current passive before choosing.

CH

Charmander

Fire

Flame striker

Starts with Ember. Sea of Flames raises Fire damage and adds damage below 40% HP in v0.8.26.

SQ

Squirtle

Water

Defender

Starts with Water Gun. Its starter card emphasizes armor, shielding and a low-HP damage bonus; recheck the current values.

Step 1

Starter choice and the wider League

The first-partner screen captured in v0.8.18 offered Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. The current v0.8.26 League screen contains 79 member slots and shows locked entries separately from members you can use. The Pokédex tracks all 151 Kanto Pokémon, but a Pokédex entry is not the same thing as an unlocked playable League member.

  • First partner: choose one of the three displayed starters.
  • Later runs: choose from the League members you have unlocked.
  • Do not treat 151 Pokédex entries as 151 immediately selectable partners.
Step 2

Choose a learning goal, not a tier

Bulbasaur is the healing-oriented option observed in the client, Charmander is the Fire-damage option, and Squirtle is the defensive option. That is enough to make a beginner choice without publishing unverified damage tables. Read the passive and starting move on your current selection screen before confirming.

  • Want to watch recovery and sustain? Start by reading Bulbasaur’s current card.
  • Want to learn pressure and Fire effects? Read Charmander’s current card.
  • Want a defensive starting point? Read Squirtle’s current card.
Step 3

What we do not claim

There is no site-produced tier list, fastest-clear ranking, or complete unlock tracker. Those would require stable, versioned records or repeatable playtests. This page helps with the first decision; it does not turn one guest session into a competitive ranking.