Overview
A practical comparison of Chikorita, Tepig and Totodile without pretending one is best for everybody.
How it works
Your first companion is one of Chikorita, Tepig and Totodile. They represent the Grass, Fire and Water types. All three start the same main story, and the choice is mainly about which early style and type coverage you enjoy.
How to play
Choose Chikorita if you like Grass-type support and want to build around its matchup profile. Tepig is a Fire-type choice suited to players drawn to offensive pressure. Totodile is Water-type and a flexible option when rounding out an early team.
Mistakes to avoid
Do not treat a single online tier ranking as proof that another starter makes your save unplayable. Team composition and encounter control matter more than one opening decision.
Go further: Which starter should you choose?
Type coverage matters
Grass, Fire and Water interact in a familiar triangle, but the game includes many other types and dual typings. Use the Volpedia weakness tool to understand coverage, not to assume that every battle is decided by the starter alone.
A simple tie-breaker
Pick the Pokémon whose design you enjoy, then recruit complementary types in the first few wild zones. This is usually more enjoyable than re-rolling for a theoretical perfect start.