The Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee debate has started to gain traction online with the latest iteration of Pokemon’s Nintendo Switch release date just a week away. While fans are debating on which of the two figureheads they prefer, there are actually plenty of tangible reasons as to why one game may suit you more than the other. With that being said, here’s a look at Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee, which will hopefully help you to make the impossible decision on which one you should get.
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee: Which Is Better?
While neither game in the Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee debate is objectively better, there are reasons as to why one of the two might suit you better on an individual level. For example, I’m not an idiot, so I’m going for Let’s Go Eevee.
In all seriousness, there are plenty of things that separate the two games from each other. Eevee suits me better, but Pikachu will inevitably be the best choice for a plethora of other players. So, while neither of the two is better, per se, one of the two will be better for you. This guide is designed to help you identify which one that is based on exclusive Pokemon, exclusive moves, and more.
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee Exclusive Pokemon
As has been the case with opposing Pokemon titles ever since the original Red and Blue rivalry that pitted siblings against each other in the mid 90s, Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee is largely defined by the exclusive Pokemon each game offers.
As it stands, Oddish, Sandshrew, and Growlithe have been confirmed to only appear in Let’s Go Pikachu, while Bellsprout, Vulpix, and Meowth will only be available in Let’s Go Eevee. This was the original Gen 1 split, so the game is staying true to its Kanto origins. Here’s the full split by Pokemon family:
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu:
- Oddish/Gloom/Vileplume
- Sandshrew/Sandslash
- Growlithe/Arcanine
Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee:
- Bellsprout/Weepinbell/Victreebel
- Vulpix/Ninetales
- Meowth/Persian
So, if you’re an Arcanine kind of person, maybe Let’s Go Pikachu is for you. If you like Persian and Victreebel, you should consider looking into Eevee. However, it’s important to remember that you can import Pokemon from Pokemon Go, so exclusivity won’t be as much of an issue as it used to be. I’m getting Eevee knowing full well that I can import five Arcanines from Pokemon Go. While you used to have to trade your best Pokemon to your mates in order to convince them to give you an exclusive Pokemon from their game, you can now manage it yourself by importing from Pokemon Go.
Importing Pokemon is essential to evolving Meltan into Melmetal anyway, so it’s definitely a solid use of your time. Therefore, the exclusive Pokemon might seem like a huge deal given its impact on the series historically speaking, but it’s actually a relatively minor difference this time around.
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee Rival Pokemon
A recent tweet from the Pokemon Twitter page added some interesting fuel to the Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee fire, in that it drew attention to an infamous feature of the Pokemon series: your rival.
It all comes down to this, Trainers—to be the best, you’ve gotta beat the best!
Get ready to go up against some familiar faces in #PokemonLetsGo! https://t.co/gEOuGE2OvU pic.twitter.com/o1pIsGkMlR
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) November 7, 2018
An interesting thing about your rival is that his team was always defined by the starter you chose. If you took Squirtle, he’d take Bulbasaur, who had a super-effective typing against you. It would also have an impact on the other members he added to his team late game, such as Arcanine, Exeggutor, Rhydon, and Gyarados.
Given that each of the new Switch games has a fixed starter Pokemon, it’s likely that your rival could use his team from Pokemon Yellow, which had the player choose Pikachu as a starter. Interestingly, in Pokemon Yellow, your rival starts with an Eevee. Their team is based on which Pokemon Eevee evolves into, which in turn is based on the outcome of your first two battles with them. Here are the three possible teams your rival can have in Pokemon Yellow:
If your rival evolves Eevee into Jolteon:
- Jolteon
- Sandslash
- Alakazam
- Exeggutor
- Cloyster
- Ninetales
If your rival evolves Eevee into Flareon:
- Flareon
- Sandslash
- Alakazam
- Exeggutor
- Magneton
- Cloyster
If your rival evolves Eevee into Vaporeon:
- Vaporeon
- Sandslash
- Alakazam
- Exeggutor
- Ninetales
- Magneton
Regardless of which Eeveelution your rival chooses, they will have an incredibly powerful team. Given that your rival in Pokemon Yellow chose Eevee as their starter, it could be the case that both of the new versions will follow suit. Perhaps your rival in Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee will choose Pikachu, and your rival in Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu will choose Eevee. This would make perfect sense, given that your rival could either base their team around their Eeveelution, or around yours.
If this is the case, choosing Let’s Go Eevee could give you a way of deciding your rival’s team, whereas choosing Let’s Go Pikachu will cause your rival to base their team on whatever final form of Eevee they get. This is just speculative, but Pokemon Yellow is the closest thing we’ve ever seen to the Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee games.
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee More Differences
Unlike previous Pokemon games, the Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee debate is a little more forgiving in relation to allowing players to get the starter they dismissed as the opportunity cost later on. If you get Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee, you can still get Pikachu in the game, and vice versa. Also, each game will have exclusive moves as well as exclusive Pokemon, but not much is known about that just yet. Each starter Pokemon will also have its own “partner power,” which is yet to be disclosed.
Most importantly of all, there is a key difference in travel options that will likely cause you to make your final decision on the matter of Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee.
If you like surfing, you can travel about on Pikachu’s gnarly surfboard. However, if you’re one for sky travel, Eevee can take you high above the ground in its balloon. You can ride Pokemon across water and through the air, as is seen in the various trailers for the game, but your ability to travel by board or balloon is exclusive to each game. So, while your Dragonite technically can fly you from Pallet Town to Celadon City, only Eevee can get you there in a hot air balloon.
If you’re still undecided on the Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu vs Eevee front, then don’t worry; you have until November 16, when the game releases on Nintendo Switch, to make your final decision. Until then, make sure to get as much Pokemon Go time in as possible so that you can get ahead with powerful Pokemon ready to import. Not only will this help you in-game, but it will prepare you for the road to getting Melmetal, the brand new Mythical Pokemon exclusive to the Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee games. You’ve only got a week left to prepare, so make the most of it while you can!
