Board Game Arena

Is Shady merchant *2 best for 1st round? Or r there better ones?
https://snipboard.io/UTxwdl.jpg

Money is almost always the best to start with.
I would also like the Octopus Cook*2 (not sure the name), as they give money and also (almost always) get 2 more vps.

Book Keeper is a strong Starter for Production.
Most of the Sunrise Islands are great for early game combat. Not a big fan of the Fox of the Flame though.
Anything cheap that gives Production like Dryad, Alchemist, and Clown are also pretty good starters.
2 of the Order of the Dragon Knights are pretty okay for starter, though I am liking the Money +2 more than the VP +4 one. Can be good if you want to try win aggressively.

Otherwise, getting any sort of Row Bonus is also an acceptable starting goal to go from.