An overwhelmed first-timer in cobblemon
I've known of pokemon since I was a kid, and I know this might sound a bit controversial, but I wasn't an avid fan, though I do appreciate the game series a lot! I know some of the classic starters like bulbasaur, litten, charmander squirtle, oshawott, and snivy, pikachu, and other non-starters like ghastly (and its evos), psyduck, igglybuff, though I do not know of any others from other gens (stupid ik pff)
I went into cobblemon mostly to hang out with my friends and personally just explore the game while catching mons I have no knowledge of (and their elements) and I felt a tad bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of mons I can catch, mechanics (besides fighting), breeding, hunting legendaries etc. And I don't want to keep being that one friend who's clueless of pokemon in general lol and I never gathered the willpower to ask them again for help cause of the embarrassment. Got any suggestions I could do/learn first? Does meta matter? Would very much appreciate some help!!