Digimon Story: Time Stranger Guide | How to Get All Starters Early

A concise, step-by-step guide to unlock and register every starter and early rookie before the first major boss.

Game Guide by Faviyan Mustafiz on Oct 06, 2025

This guide explains how to obtain and register the game's starter Digimon and several early rookies so you can have every starter available in your Field Guide before the Kuwagamon boss encounter.

The methods shown focus on in-game digivolution, devolving (digivolving), and personality matching so you can convert common early Digimon into rarer starters like DemiDevimon without relying on late-game content.

How starter access works (quick overview)

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Not all starter Digimon appear as wild encounters; some are accessed only by evolving other early Digimon.

For example, DemiDevimon can be obtained by evolving specific lower forms (the Kuramon → Pagumon route is a reliable early option), while other rookies like Gomamon and Patamon may require bringing a Digimon down to its baby or in-training form and then evolving it along the adjacent rookie branch.

Getting DemiDevimon early

To recruit DemiDevimon early, target common early Digimon and digivolve them along the Pagumon branch. A straightforward method is to capture or convert a Kuramon, evolve it into Pagumon, and then evolve Pagumon into DemiDevimon once stat and personality requirements are met.

If a Digimon's stats seem off, level it by swapping in low-risk fights or using the game's recommended "feed/train" mechanics to raise the required Attack or Intelligence thresholds; this is usually faster than grinding for hours.

Where common early wild Digimon spawn

Early map hallways and courtyard areas contain the majority of Digimon used for starter conversions. Kuramon shows up frequently in corridors and similar indoor areas, Gazimon becomes common around the first courtyard sections, and Impmon can be found in zones nearer to the demo's later area.

These spawns make the early stages ideal for scanning, converting, and preparing digivolution chains without straying into late-game zones.

Registering both Patamon and Gomamon in the Field Guide

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You can register Patamon and Gomamon early, but you cannot keep both in your active party simultaneously until later, because one may need to be devolved and used as the stepping stone to get the other.

The process works like this: bring the Digimon you want to convert down to its baby or in-training form (for Gomamon, this is Bukamon; for Patamon, this is Tokomon), then evolve upward along the adjacent rookie line to the target rookie.

Personality requirements must match the target Digimon's personality type before a successful ddigivolution/up-evolution will work; plan personality-adjusting actions ahead of time to avoid repeat devolves.

Personality and devolving — practical tips

Personality is a hidden but important factor when developing into a different rookie line. If the current personality does not match the target rookie, the devolve-then-evolve method will fail.

Use low-risk battles, feeding, or in-game actions that shift personality toward the target archetype; the game marks personality changes in the status menus, so watch that meter as you prepare to ddigivolve. This reduces time wasted on unnecessary dedigivolutions.

Why converting and leveling early is worth it

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Converting common early Digimon into starters such as DemiDevimon is not only a field-guide completion shortcut but also an effective early leveling strategy.

Choosing to rapidly evolve and devolve certain forms allows you to funnel experience into target Digimon and get powerful early rookies on the team before the Kuwagamon fight, which smooths the first boss encounter and speeds subsequent progression.

Plan which starter lines to register first based on which mechanics and personalities are easiest to satisfy on your current playthrough.

Quick practical walkthrough (what to do first)

Capture or convert the easy spawns in the initial building hallways and the first courtyard: prioritize Kuramon, Gazimon, and Impmon when possible. Focus on evolving Kuramon → Pagumon → DemiDevimon as a primary early target, and hold off on permanently committing a slot if the plan requires devolving that Digimon to get a complementary rookie later.

While training, monitor personality and stat thresholds so that when a desired evolution becomes available, it succeeds on the first attempt.

Polish tips for faster registration and less grind

When scanning and collecting, try to keep several low-level Digimon in reserve to ddigivolve as needed; this prevents losing a preferred party member while still registering every rookie in the Field Guide.

Use the field guide registration goal to guide which forms to preserve or devolve. If stat requirements look steep for a desired evolution, look for simple repeatable fights that yield the needed Attack or Intelligence increases rather than long, inefficient grinding loops.

Summary of the recommended starter targets to unlock early

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Prioritize unlocking DemiDevimon (Pagumon route via Kuramon), then register Gomamon and Patamon by devolving to Bukamon or Tokomon as required and evolving up the adjacent rookie line.

Capture common spawns like Kuramon, Gazimon, and Impmon early and prepare their personalities so ddigivolution succeeds. These steps let you have all the early rookies registered in the Field Guide before the Kuwagamon encounter and give a stable early roster for the first major fights.

Also, check our Digimon Story: Time Stranger Review and other guides below: