My child has always been a bit of a roughhouser. I’ve been thinking of getting him a fighting type for his first pokemon so he’d have a training partner to let off his stress with. Do you have any advice as to what to get? If climate is an issue, we live in the suburbs of Nimbasa.
There are plenty of fighting-type pokémon that would make excellent companions for first-time trainers! For your purposes, I think you'll want to focus on pokémon that handle temperate climates well, aren’t too high maintenance, have a good temperament, and are high-energy enough to keep up with an active kid. A child's first fighting-type should also have a simple, easy-to-grasp fighting style, unless the kid in question has a background in sports or martial arts. Of course, your son should be allowed to make the final decision regarding what kind of pokémon he wants as a partner, but here are a couple options that might suit him well!
Scraggy is an admittedly unconventional starter choice-- especially considering what I just said about temperament-- but hear me out! Trainers able to work with scraggy's headstrong and at times standoffish attitude will find themselves with a loyal, energetic partner that’s full of personality and offbeat charm. They have an uncomplicated fighting style that I suspect would mesh well with your son’s roughhousing, are very easy to take care of, and, importantly, they’re native to the southern suburbs of Nimbasa, making them plentiful in your area-- you and your son could have pick of the litter from local breeders, or you could even catch one yourself, if you’re so inclined!
I will always advocate for heracross as excellent pokémon for first time trainers, and make for a great “baby’s first fighting-type”. They’re notoriously docile and good-natured, and are easy to provide for given their diet of nectars and honey. I actually did a short write-up of some heracross triva here if you’re looking for some more info on them! People generally advocate for trainers to have a pokémon with multiple stages as their starter so the pokémon will “grow with them,” but this is a matter of preference more than anything; there's nothing wrong with having a one-stage starter, so definitely keep them in mind.
Makuhitas are classic fighting-type starters for a reason! They’re easygoing, tenacious, and make for great first time fighting-types, but they still pack a real punch in battle, and love to spend lots of time training. They're also apparently quite physically affectionate, which is always a plus in my book. However, they eat quite a bit and have very particular dietary needs, requiring a high caloric intake, so if you intend on getting one for your son, be prepared for a substantial uptick in your grocery budget!
Tepig and chimchar aren’t technically fighting types, but their evolved forms are, and many display fighting-type traits early on! Both are high-energy and a bit scrappy, and as common starter choices they’re very easy to care for. Tepig in particular, as a staple starter in Unova, would be easily obtainable, and once more, you'd be spoiled for choice in terms of which one to take home.
Again, I definitely recommend that you have a sit-down with your son and discuss ahead of time what he's looking for in a partner pokémon, but I think any of these would make a fine companion for a rowdy, physically active young trainer! Please let me know if you have any follow-up questions or comments, and, if you'd like, an update on what kind of pokémon your child ends up being interested in!
