Pokemon Legends: Arceus doesn't come with its own set of starters, but rather it reprises Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet from three different generations of games and gives them a new Hisuian form. However, because Hisui is the ancient Sinnoh, Pokemon Legends: Arceus players can also get all the Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl starters in the wilds, albeit in different areas and with different spawn conditions. This guide is aimed at providing players with a reliable way to get Chimchar very early on, in the very first main area of the game.
How to Get an Early Chimchar
There are two ways to get Chimchar quite early on, with one being dependent on random spawns and the other being a guaranteed method, which comes at the cost of taking longer to catch the Gen 4 Fire-type starter because of the story requirements.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus players can explore the Obsidian Fieldlands as the first area in the game, and after the initial progression near the Fieldlands camp, they should be ready to acquire their first star with the Galaxy Team. This unlocks the area beyond the bridge in Aspiration Hill, allowing players to reach Deertrack Path and other parts of the map. Deertrack Heights is not distant from there, and it's where players can find a Chimchar or even a Monferno with a bit of luck.
There is a specific place shown on the map in Deertrack Heights where Chimchar and Monferno spawn, and it's worth noting that their base spawn rates are around 7% for Chimchar, 3.6% for Monferno, 0.69% for Alpha Chimchar, and 0.69% for Alpha Monferno. Still, this means that Pokemon Legends: Arceus players can get themselves a Chimchar very early on, even prior to the fight against the first noble Pokemon: Kleavor.
However, if resetting the Pokemon that spawn to get Chimchar or Monferno by sleeping at the camp seems a bit of a hassle, then players can also find a Chimchar through a guaranteed encounter.
In fact, after quelling Kleavor's frenzy, players can go back to Jubilife Village and talk to a character called Paira, who will bestow a mission upon them called The Mysterious Will-o-the-Wisp.
Players will need to go back to the Obsidian Fieldlands, this time in a place marked on their maps, located in Windswept Run - where Pokemon Legends: Arceus players can also catch Abra. The quest will only activate at night, and players will see a Chimchar on a tree at the mission location. Shaking the tree will let players face a Chimchar, which will have random stats and nature, meaning that saving in front of the tree can also grant players the ability to reset their game and find a better Pokemon.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now for the Nintendo Switch.