There are three starters available to new trainers in the Kanto region: Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. Those looking to have a bit of an easier time with the first gym might select Squirtle, given the fact that its Water-type moves will be super-effective against Brock’s Rock-types.
Others choose Squirtle for its defensive capabilities, while others think it’s just the cutes of the three options. Water is definitely a great type to have on your team, and that powerful Blastoise will be a force to be reckoned with. Here are a few great things about the Water-type turtle, and a few things you might not know about it.
10 Soft-shelled
With high defense and a few moves associated with hardening their defenses, the Squirtle line is known for having rock-hard shells that are impenetrable to attacks. However, did you know that these shells aren’t always hard?
According to the Pokédex and other in-game references, Squirtle’s shell is initially rather soft after its birth. It will harden up over its lifetime, eventually providing the solid defensive power for which Squirtle is known.
9 Manga Appearance
Much like in the anime, the manga version of Ash has a faithful Squirtle. What’s weird, though, is that the Squirtle kind of just…appears in Ash’s inventory. It’s simply sent out of a Poké Ball and the panels gloss over it.
In You Gotta Have Friends, Squirtle makes its debut, being sent out of its Poké Ball. Its capture is never shown, and the books simply state “Ash has been busy since the last comic.” Apparently!
8 Long Life
Like sea turtles in real life, it seems the Squirtle evolutionary family can live for a very long time. While real-life turtles can live up to about 80 years, Squirtle and its evolutionary relatives are much more enduring.
According to the Pokédex, Wartortle can live up to 10,000 years. It’s so closely associated with longevity that its tail is associated with a long-life. Those Wartortle that are very old have algae growing on their shell, which signifies their advanced age.
7 Squirtle Squad
Very popular among fans is the Squirtle Squad, a group of seemingly-wild Squirtle that sport some cool shades. This mischievous group of Squirtle has wrought havoc a few times in the anime and appeared in a recurring manner.
They’ve made appearances in the anime several times, but interestingly, in the games as well. Most recently, a Squirtle wearing sunglasses could be caught in Pokémon GO as part of Squirtle’s Community Day in July of 2018. This Squirtle could both be shiny and evolve into a shades-sporting Wartortle and Blastoise.
6 Money
Squirtle seems to be associated with the desires of many. First, its association with long-life after evolving into Wartortle. Second, Squirtle itself seems to be related to money in some manner.
Its name in Japanese, Zenigame, comes from zeni, meaning money. Also, in Black & White, it’s stated that Squirtle gets its name because its shell looks like an old coin. Interestingly, Squirtle was also featured on a real-life coin many years ago as part of a commemorative Pokémon set.
5 Ash’s First Choice
Anyone who has watched the anime or just lived a day on earth probably knows that Ash’s starter Pokémon is his faithful Pikachu. Those who know the origin of this friendship know that Pikachu wasn’t chosen by Ash, but rather given to him as the last remaining option when he showed up late to Professor Oak’s lab.
But, did you know that Ash’s first choice was actually Squirtle? Gary Oak, Ash’s rival, took the available Squirtle before Ash could arrive.
4 Signature Move
Over the years, many Pokémon have boasted a signature move — a move that only they and their evolutionary relatives can learn. Signature moves come and go, but very few Generation I have them, for a number of reasons.
However, the Squirtle family could boast that they once had a signature move. Skull Bash, which was introduced in Generation I, was the signature move of Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise in Generation II. Nowadays, plenty of Pokémon can learn it. Interestingly, Charizard, Pichu, and Pikachu all use it in Smash. Bros., but Squirtle does not.
3 Common Starter
Between the three Kanto starter Pokémon — Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle — Squirtle has been trained the most frequently in the anime by the major characters. All three have made significant appearances, but Squirtle is the most common for main characters to have.
May, Gary, Tierno, and of course Ash have all trained their own Squirtle. It seems the anime characters like Water-type starters because Piplup is also the most common choice of the Sinnoh starters.
2 Smash Bros.
As mentioned, Squirtle makes an appearance in a couple of entries in the Smash Bros. series, acting as one of the Pokémon Trainer’s Pokémon alongside Ivysaur and Charizard.
Interestingly, Squirtle can drown in water, despite the fact that it’s a Water-type Pokémon and can clearly swim. Squirtle can use Waterfall to launch itself diagonally upward but apparently isn’t able to swim indefinitely. This is for balancing reasons of course, but it’s still strange.
1 Minogame
Squirtle and its evolutions are very clearly based on turtles. But, with the ability to live for 10,000 years and being in possession of their bushy tails, the Squirtle family may also be based on the minogame.
This is a Japanese legend of a turtle that has a tail made of seaweed and lives for thousands of years. The minogame is a symbol of long-life and happiness, so perhaps choosing Squirtle as your starter is the best choice.
NEXT: Pokémon: 10 Games That Need Remakes Before Diamond & Pearl
