It sounds as though you're buying a pedal because you need it to qualify for something! What I'm trying to say is that you don't buy a pedal just to have a pedal, you buy a pedal to help your tone. The best first pedal for you is one that does what you want it to. If you want a distortion pedal, go get one. Booster? Can also. Noise Gate? Yep. Chorus? Wah? Reverb? Flanger? They all do different things - you need to decide which one you want before you buy your first one.