Utility
Balanced
405Average
60Moderate
DTier

Mid-stage Pokemon like Bayleef rarely see competitive play outside of special formats. It's a waypoint on the road to Meganium, which is where the real potential kicks in. 5 type weaknesses to keep in mind. Known as the Leaf Pokemon.

Bayleef's stats barely vary. 2 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 2 Defense and Sp. Def EVs, 1.06M XP medium-slow curve to max.

Base Stats
405Above
HP60
C
Attack62
C
Defense80
C
Sp. Atk63
C
Sp. Def80
C
Speed60
C
Total405
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Bayleef yields +1 Def, +1 SpD
HPAtkDef+1SpASpD+1Spe
Details
Catch45Challenging•Medium Slow1.06M XP•1.2m / 3'11"•15.8kg / 34.8 lbs•142Base XP
Pokedex Entries

The buds that ring its neck give off a spicy aroma that perks people up.

Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl

Bayleef Weakness

Fragile

Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, and Bug-type moves hit Bayleef for super-effective damage. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage.

4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
FireIcePoisonFlyingBug
½xResisti
WaterElectricGrassGround
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (3)i
WaterGroundRock
5Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Scorei-6
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
OvergrowStrengthens grass moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
Leaf GuardHAProtects against major status ailments during strong sunlight.

Bayleef is the middle stage between Chikorita and Meganium. It's a three-stage line with one more evolution to go. For breeding, average hatch time with no compatible partners via two egg groups. So far, HP got the biggest boost (+15 from Chikorita). The final form adds another 120 stats on top.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Chikorita
#152Chikorita
16
Level 16
Bayleef
#153Bayleef
32
Level 32
Meganium
#154Meganium
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Chikorita
Grass
Bayleef
Grass
Meganium
Grass
HP
45
60+15
80+20
ATK
49
62+13
82+20
DEF
65
80+15
100+20
SP.ATK
49
63+14
83+20
SP.DEF
65
80+15
100+20
SPE
45
60+15
80+20
BST
318D-Tier
405D-Tier+87
525C-Tier+120
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Mixed
Breeding
Easy

Breed with Bayleef to get Chikorita eggs easily from the Plant and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Ancient Power, Aromatherapy, Body Slam and 9 more.

Egg Groups
PlantMonster
Gender
♂87.5%♀12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
12moves

Still unevolved, still relevant. Bayleef's Eviolite bulk with max HP and Attack EVs creates a defensive profile that punches above its stage. Overgrow adds passive value. Body Slam gives it offensive presence.

Best Build

Physical Tank
Ability
Overgrow
Item
EvioliteBULK
Nature
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Best Bayleef Moveset

  • Body Slam
  • Iron Tail
  • AromatherapyUtility
  • Magical LeafSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Manectric
ManectricGood
Arbok
ArbokGood

Don't skip the egg moves. Bayleef picks up Ancient Power and Aromatherapy only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Leaf Storm and Solar Beam while Normal and Steel coverage and more adds range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
—10040Normal
Lv 1
Poison Powder
—7535Poison
Lv 1
Razor Leaf
559525Grass
Lv 1
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 6
Razor Leaf
559525Grass
Lv 9
Poison Powder
—7535Poison
Lv 12
Synthesis
——5Grass
Lv 18
Reflect
——20Psychic
Lv 22
Magical Leaf
60—20Grass
Lv 26
Nature Power
——20Normal
Lv 32
Sweet Scent
—10020Normal
Lv 36
Light Screen
——30Psychic
Lv 40
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Lv 46
Safeguard
——25Normal
Lv 50
Aromatherapy
——5Grass
Lv 54
Solar Beam
12010010Grass

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM09
Bullet Seed
2510030Grass
TM93
Cut
509530Normal
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM58
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM53
Energy Ball
9010010Grass
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
—10020Normal
TM19
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
TM86
Grass Knot
—10020Grass
TM23
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM16
Light Screen
——30Psychic
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM33
Reflect
——20Psychic
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM98
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM20
Safeguard
——25Normal
TM82
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
TM96
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
—8515Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
——20Normal
TM10
Work Up
——30Normal

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Ancient Power
601005Rock
Egg
Aromatherapy
——5Grass
Egg
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Egg
Counter-5
—10020Fighting
Egg
Flail
—10015Normal
Egg
Grassy Terrain
——10Grass
Egg
Heal Pulse
——10Psychic
Egg
Ingrain
——20Grass
Egg
Leaf Storm
130905Grass
Egg
Leech Seed
—9010Grass
Egg
Nature Power
——20Normal
Egg
Vine Whip
4510025Grass

Tutor Moves

Bayleef can't learn any Tutor moves

No wild encounters for Bayleef. The 2-stage line runs through Chikorita, which you can catch at moderate rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 16 once you've got the levels.

How to Obtain Bayleef in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

To get Bayleef, start by catching Chikorita through walking encounters at Lv. 58-63. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.

  1. Chikorita
    Step 1Catch Chikorita
    Grassland Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Grassland Cave
    Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
  2. Bayleef
    Step 2Bayleef ✓

  • Bayleef isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Meganium to unlock its full potential. At 405 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

  • Watch for Arcanine (Fire), Lapras (Ice), and Crobat (Poison) when using Bayleef. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Flying and Bug-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

  • Chikorita evolves into Bayleef at level 16. Bayleef evolves into Meganium at level 32. Bayleef is a middle-stage evolution in the Chikorita line.

  • Overgrow strengthens grass moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less — that's the one you want on Bayleef. Leaf Guard is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.

  • Bayleef fills the balanced role. It's leaning toward the special side (base 63 Sp. Atk). At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.

  • Bayleef appears in 17 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.

Bayleef first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 17 games across 8 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.