LogFAQs > #979807144

Gen III (Marshtomp is pointless...definite middle evolution syndrome. Swampert...I GET the appeal, but to me, Swampert has always felt like one of the more boring final starter evolutions. Like, you look at Gen V with Seismitoad, and yes, Swampert is far superior...but it also feels like...yeah, I could see Mudkip being an early-route Water-type that evolves into Swampert just like Tympole becomes Seismitoad. Nothing about the design really stands out as special, for a starter. Nincada sucks, but at least it has a fun gimmick...it barely counts as a Ground-type though. Numel/Camerupt are both solid Pokemon overall, representing the Fire/Ground-type well. Trapinch is kinda weak and slow, but evolving into Vibrava is really cool (even if it should really be Bug/Ground or Bug/Dragon), and Flygon is a top tier Pokemon and both the best Ground-type. Barboach and Whiscash both kinda suck, especially since Swampert is RIGHT THERE. Baltoy and Claydol are pretty dumb and weak, and managed to do very little with a unique type combo. And Groundon is cool, but it's the inferior of the two box legendaries.)

Gen V (Drilbur is adorable and Excadrill is the second-best Ground-type overall. Paliptoad and Seismitoad are both godawful equivalents to Barboach and Whiscash. The entire Sandile/Krokorok/Krookodile line is amazing, and I love them all, including a middle evo. Stunfisk is extremely stupid as a gimmick, and gets upstaged by its Galarian form. Golett and Golurk are fine, but they don't do anything for me. And Landorus is the best of the genie trio (largely because of its Therian form), but it's still one of the lameass genies.)

This is a tough call, and it comes down to the fact that Flygon may be the best, but Drilbur/Excadrill and Sandile/Krokorok/Krookodile all beat out the next-best from Gen III in Numel/Camerupt/Groudon, so I have to give the win to Gen V here.