>>34893305This is the objectively correct answer.
Take Bulbasaur, a Grass/Poison Pokemon with a really good defensive typing, and access to moves such as Leech Seed, Vine Whip, Poison Powder, Razor Leaf, and Sleep Powder.
Then replace that with a pure Grass-type that has Tackle, Growl, Razor Leaf, dual screens, Safeguard, and Body Slam.
Bulbasaur's base stats are 45/49/49/65/65/45. Chikorita's base stats are 45/49/65/49/65/45.
Bulbasaur hits about the same as Chikorita on the physical side but has an extra Poison STAB to go along with it. But Bulbasaur is much stronger on the special attacking side. Chikorita is bulkier on the physical side, but it has 5 weaknesses as opposed to Bulbasaur's 4, so it's not much of an advantage.
Chikorita gets Reflect and Razor Leaf at an earlier level, sure, but with its paltry speed it can't properly set up, especially since the majority of the bosses in the story have an advantage over it.
Bulbasaur has a really good edge in the first 4 gyms in Gen I.
At least Chimchar is faster than Torchic even if its offenses are smaller.
But what does Chikorita offer over Bulbasaur? More defense at the expense of less special attack, where Chikorita's Grass-type actually calculates damage from? Early game Reflect? It doesn't get most of Bulbasaur's powder moves, so that's useless. And Razor Leaf isn't as good as it was in Gen I, so that's also a moot point. Pathetic.
