Choosing your first partner in Digimon Story: Time Stranger sets the foundation for your entire digital adventure. While you're presented with three compelling options - Patamon, DemiDevimon, and Gomamon - your decision impacts everything from early combat effectiveness to late-game evolution possibilities. Here's what you need to know to make the perfect choice and even unlock all three starters before the first boss fight.
Which Starter Digimon Should You Choose?
The beauty of Time Stranger lies in its flexibility - there's no truly "wrong" choice among the three starters. However, each offers distinct advantages that cater to different playstyles and long-term strategies.
Patamon: The Strategic Investment
Patamon represents the thinking player's choice. This Data-type Digimon starts modestly but opens doors to some of the game's most devastating evolution lines. You'll gain access to the legendary Lucemon Satan Mode evolution path, multiple DNA Digivolution options, and a robust selection of healing-focused builds.
The trade-off? Early battles feel more challenging since Data types struggle against the Virus enemies you'll encounter frequently in Chapter 1. However, patient tamers who invest in Patamon's development will find themselves with an incredibly versatile partner capable of adapting to any situation.
tip
Focus on raising Patamon's Intelligence stat early through training to unlock premium evolution paths faster.
DemiDevimon: The Self-Sufficient Choice
DemiDevimon offers the most balanced starter experience. Its signature Demi Darts attack provides built-in healing, making solo exploration significantly safer. As a Virus-type, it naturally counters the Data enemies scattered throughout early areas.
What makes DemiDevimon particularly appealing is its straightforward path to Plutomon - one of the coveted Olympos XII Digimon. The evolution line flows naturally without requiring complex stat manipulation or rare materials.
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Gomamon: The Early Game Powerhouse
Gomamon dominates the opening hours of Time Stranger. As a Vaccine-type, it destroys the Virus bosses you'll face in Chapter 1, making story progression smooth and satisfying. The Ikkakumon evolution line provides solid physical damage output right when you need it most.
The downside becomes apparent around mid-game when you start encountering more diverse enemy types. Gomamon's evolution paths, while reliable, lack the explosive potential of the other starters' ultimate forms.
How to Unlock All Three Starters Early
Here's the secret most players miss: you can actually recruit all three starter Digimon before facing Kuwagamon in Chapter 1. The process requires understanding the Convert system and some strategic grinding.
Getting DemiDevimon Through Evolution
The easiest additional starter to obtain is DemiDevimon. You'll find Kuramon scattered throughout the building hallways - these baby Digimon are your ticket to a second starter.
- Battle Kuramon repeatedly until you reach 200% scan rate
- Convert a Kuramon and evolve it to Pagumon
- Train Pagumon until it meets DemiDevimon's evolution requirements
- Digivolve to claim your DemiDevimon
Alternatively, you can find Impmon or Gazimon in later areas and de-digivolve them down to Pagumon for the same result.
important
Always wait for 200% scan completion before converting. This maximizes your new Digimon's ABI stat, dramatically improving their long-term potential.
Obtaining the Other Starters
For Patamon and Gomamon, the process requires using your chosen starter as a foundation. You'll need to de-digivolve your starter all the way down to its baby form, then guide it up a different evolution path.
If you started with Patamon, de-digivolve it to Poyomon, then evolve it through Bukamon to eventually reach Gomamon. The reverse process works for accessing Patamon from a Gomamon start.
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Essential Early Game Strategy Tips
Master the Attribute Triangle
Understanding type effectiveness transforms challenging battles into easy victories. The core relationship works like this:
- Virus crushes Data
- Data destroys Vaccine
- Vaccine demolishes Virus
Always check enemy types using the Analyze command before committing to major attacks. Landing super-effective hits can literally double your damage output.
Optimize Your Battle Settings
Navigate to Settings > Battle and crank the speed to 5x for random encounters. Enable Auto Mode when fighting enemies below your level - this transforms tedious grinding into background noise while you focus on exploration and scanning.
The 200% Scanning Rule
This cannot be overstated: never convert a Digimon at 100% scan rate. The difference between a 100% and 200% converted Digimon is massive. That extra scanning unlocks significantly higher ABI values, which directly translate to better stat gains and more evolution options.
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Building Your First Balanced Team
Your active party should cover all three points of the attribute triangle. A solid template includes:
- One Virus-type damage dealer
- One Data-type support or secondary attacker
- One Vaccine-type tank or healer
Don't neglect your reserve slots either. Keep backup Digimon with different elemental specializations ready to swap in during tough encounters. The Change command doesn't consume your turn, making mid-battle substitutions a powerful tactical option.
Personality Optimization
Each Digimon's personality affects their stat growth patterns. For your starter, consider these optimal choices:
- Magic attackers: Devoted or Enlightened personalities boost Intelligence
- Physical attackers: Brave or Opportunistic personalities enhance Strength
- Support roles: Focus on personalities that improve Spirit and Defense
warning
Personality changes become expensive later in the game. Plan your starter's role early and choose accordingly.
Common Starter Mistakes to Avoid
Converting Too Early
The biggest trap new tamers fall into is immediately converting Digimon at 100% scan rate. Resist the temptation! Those extra scans to 200% create substantially stronger partners that will serve you through endgame content.
Ignoring De-Digivolution
Many players treat evolution as a one-way path, but de-digivolution is actually crucial for stat optimization. Digimon that cycle through multiple evolution forms gain bonus stats each time, gradually becoming much stronger than those that evolve once and stay there.
Neglecting Support Skills
Pure damage dealers feel satisfying early on, but support abilities become essential as difficulty ramps up. Skills like Heal, Mental Break, and various field effects can completely trivialize challenging encounters.
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Long-Term Evolution Planning
Patamon's Premium Paths
Patamon shines brightest when evolved toward these ultimate forms:
- Seraphimon: Classic Light-based magic attacker with excellent healing support
- Ceresmon: Olympos XII support specialist with powerful buff abilities
- Lucemon Satan Mode: Endgame Dark damage dealer requiring heavy investment
DemiDevimon's Reliable Routes
DemiDevimon offers straightforward progression to:
- BelialVamdemon: Consistent Dark magic damage with self-sustaining abilities
- Plutomon: Physical Dark attacker with natural Guard Break skills
- Mastemon: Requires DNA fusion but provides incredible Vaccine damage
Gomamon's Focused Options
Gomamon works best when pushed toward:
- Vikemon: Traditional physical tank with Ice/Steel attacks
- Neptunemon: Olympos XII Water specialist with area-of-effect abilities
- Dianamon: Ice magic attacker with excellent skill variety
The key to success lies not just in choosing the right starter, but in understanding how to develop them properly throughout your journey. Whether you prefer Patamon's late-game potential, DemiDevimon's balanced progression, or Gomamon's early dominance, each starter can become a powerhouse with proper planning and patience.
Remember: you don't have to limit yourself to just one. With the techniques outlined above, you can build a team featuring all three starters, giving you maximum flexibility for any challenge Time Stranger throws your way.
For more Digimon Story: Time Stranger, check out our Best Team Composition guide.