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Image via Crema/Humble Games

Which is the Best Starter in Temtem? Answered

We all gotta start somewhere.

It’s a vital staple of all monster-collecting games that you get one specific beastie to start your adventure with. You need a buddy, a stalwart ally in your corner ready to take a few blows to the head until you can put a team together. When choosing your starter Temtem, you need to consider which one can fulfill that role for you. So, which is the best starter in Temtem?

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Which is the Best Starter in Temtem? Answered

Technically speaking, there is no objectively “best” starter in Temtem. They can all serve your needs perfectly well. Rather, the starter you pick is more about where your personal priorities lay in building a team, as well as making optimal counter-picks for the game’s first few major challenges.

The three starter Temtems you can choose from are as follows:

  • Houchic, Mental-type
  • Smazee, Melee-type
  • Crystle, Crystal-type

Houchic

As a Mental-type Temtem, Houchic is a bit lacking in the sturdiness department. Its Defense, HP, and Attack stats are the lowest of the starter trio. However, it makes up for that with boosted Special Attack and Defense, plus a handy Trait, Soft Touch.

Related: How to Get a Mount and Ride in Temtem

Houchic can be a tough Temtem to start the game out due to its relative frailty, but it does eventually come into its own, especially once it evolves. As such, Houchic is a good pick for those who don’t mind playing the long game and enduring a little more difficulty at the start of the game.

Smazee

This melee-fighting monkey is all about strength and speed right from the get-go. Smazee boasts the highest Attack stat of the starter trio, plus the second-highest HP and Defense. It doesn’t have much going on in the Special Attack department, though, so its usefulness may be limited in specific situations.

Image via Crema/Humble Games

Smazee is good for players who want something hard-hitting from the get-go. Just don’t get too attached, because it doesn’t grow into anything particularly impressive. Smazee is there to help you through the start of the game, but not much further beyond that.

Crystle

This crystalline tortoise goes at things low and slow and is stronger for it. While its Speed is the lowest amongst the starters, its natural defensive capabilities make it a great early-game tank. Its strength isn’t anything to sneeze at either, making it a reliable, long-lasting combatant.

Crystle is for middle-of-the-road players who want a Temtem that can put up a decent fight without getting immediately bodied. The only real downside is that there are better Crystal-types in the wild, so you’ll probably end up replacing it quickly.

As I said, there is no objectively best starter. That said, if you don’t mind enduring a rough patch at the beginning of the game, the optimal pick, stat-wise, is probably Houchic. As far as starters that can grow into potential endgame allies go, Houchic has the best shot at that coveted longevity.

Author
Image of Daniel Trock
Daniel Trock
Since the first time he picked up a controller as a child, Daniel has been a dyed-in-the-wool gaming fanatic, with a Steam library numbering over 600 games. His favorite pastime, aside from playing games, is doing deep dives on game wikis to learn more about their lore and characters.