In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.

What is Bayleef weak to?

In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.

How do you evolve Bayleef?

In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Chikorita evolves into Bayleef at level 16. Bayleef evolves into Meganium at level 32. Bayleef is a middle-stage evolution in the Chikorita line.

What is the best ability for Bayleef?

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.

What role does Bayleef play in battle?

In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Utility

Balanced

DTier

60Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

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

Above

HP60

Attack62

Defense80

Sp. Atk63

Sp. Def80

Speed60

Total405

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Slow1.06M XP

Height1.2 m

Weight15.8 kg

Base XP142

Abilities

Overgrow

Strengthens grass moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.

Leaf GuardHANot in game

Protects against major status ailments during strong sunlight.

EV Yield

HPAtkDef+1SpASpD+1Spe

Defense training target

Pokedex Entries

The scent of spices comes from around its neck. Somehow, sniffing it makes you want to fight.

Bayleef Weakness

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

Bayleef Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug
0.5x (Resist)	Water, Electric, Grass, Ground

Type ChartFragile

5Weak

4Resist

0Immune

Score-6

Gen IV Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Fire Ice Poison Flying Bug

½xResist

Water Electric Grass Ground

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (3)

Water Ground Rock

How to Beat Bayleef in HeartGold & SoulSilver (Best Counters)

In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Gliscor's Ice Fang hits Bayleef for 42-50%. Forretress deals 76-90% with Explosion.

Roserade GrassPoison	B
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves Toxic Spikes Hidden Power Fire SpikesHazard Sleep Powder View Roserade builds →
Gliscor GroundFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityHypercutter ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB RoostRecovery TauntUtility Ice Fang Damage vs Bayleef Earthquake 24-28% Ice Fang 2x 42-50% View Gliscor builds →
Forretress BugSteel	B
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves Rapid Spin SpikesHazard Explosion Payback Damage vs Bayleef Rapid Spin 15-18% Explosion 76-90% Payback 15-18% View Forretress builds →
Weavile DarkIce	B
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves Ice Shard Night Slash Low Kick PursuitSTAB Damage vs Bayleef Ice Shard 2x 59-69% Pursuit 29-34% View Weavile builds →
Charizard FireFlying	C
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves Air Slash FlamethrowerSTAB Solar Beam Hidden Power Grass Damage vs Bayleef Air Slash 2x 131-154%KO Flamethrower 2x 157-185%KO View Charizard builds →

HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution

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 a decent partner pool via two egg groups. So far, HP got the biggest boost (+15 from Chikorita). The final form adds another 120 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms

#152Chikorita

Level 16

#153Bayleef

Level 32

#154Meganium

Stat Comparison 3 Stages

Chikorita

Grass

Bayleef

Grass

Meganium

Grass

60+15

80+20

ATK

62+13

82+20

DEF

80+15

100+20

SP.ATK

63+14

83+20

SP.DEF

80+15

100+20

SPE

60+15

80+20

BST

318D-Tier

405D-Tier+87

525C-Tier+120

ROLE

Balanced

TYPE

Utility

Mixed

Breeding

Easy

Breed with Bayleef to get Chikorita eggs easily using 45 partners 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

Breed With (best first)

HeartGold & SoulSilver Bayleef Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Moves

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

—3510035Normal

Lv 6

Razor Leaf

—559525Grass

Lv 9

Poison Powder

——7535Poison

Lv 12

Synthesis

D——5Grass

Lv 18

Reflect

D——20Psychic

Lv 22

Magical Leaf

—60—20Grass

Lv 26

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

Lv 32

Sweet Scent

——10020Normal

Lv 36

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

Lv 40

Body Slam

D8510015Normal

Lv 46

Safeguard

D——25Normal

Lv 50

Aromatherapy

D——5Grass

Lv 54

Solar Beam

C12010010Grass

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM09

Bullet Seed

—1010030Grass

TM78

Captivate

——10020Normal

HM01

Cut

—509530Normal

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM58

Endure+4

———10Normal

TM53

Energy Ball

C8010010Grass

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM70

Flash

D—10020Normal

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM19

Giga Drain

C6010010Grass

TM86

Grass Knot

D—10020Grass

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM23

Iron Tail

D1007515Steel

TM16

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM83

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM33

Reflect

D——20Psychic

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

HM06

Rock Smash

D4010015Fighting

TM20

Safeguard

D——25Normal

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM82

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM22

Solar Beam

C12010010Grass

HM04

Strength

D8010015Normal

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM75

Swords Dance

C——30Normal

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg

Ancient Power

D601005Rock

Egg

Aromatherapy

D——5Grass

Egg

Body Slam

D8510015Normal

Egg

Counter-5

D—10020Fighting

Egg

Flail

——10015Normal

Egg

Grass Whistle

——5515Grass

Egg

Ingrain

———20Grass

Egg

Leaf Storm

C140905Grass

Egg

Leech Seed

C—9010Grass

Egg

Nature Power

———20Normal

Egg

Vine Whip

—4510015Grass

Egg

Wring Out

——1005Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Ancient Power

D601005Rock

Tutor

Fury Cutter

—109520Bug

Tutor

Headbutt

D7010015Normal

Tutor

Magic Coat+4

———15Psychic

Tutor

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Tutor

Seed Bomb

C8010015Grass

Tutor

Snore

D4010015Normal

Tutor

Synthesis

D——5Grass

Tutor

Worry Seed

——10010Grass

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 3

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

How to Get Bayleef in HeartGold & SoulSilver

Bayleef doesn't appear wild. Catch Chikorita instead, it shows up but it's a rare spawn. Evolve it at level 16 to get Bayleef. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.

How to Obtain Bayleef in HeartGold & SoulSilver

Step 1Catch Chikorita
New Bark Town
SoulSilverGift from NPC Lv.5 City
LimitedEarly
Starter choice
New Bark Town
HeartGoldGift from NPC Lv.5 City
LimitedEarly
Starter choice
Train until Level 16
Step 2Bayleef ✓

Bayleef Guide

In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.

Game Availability

Bayleef first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 17 games across 9 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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