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.

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

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

Best Build

Special Tank
Ability
Overgrow
Item
EvioliteBULK
Nature
Modest+SPA
EVs

Best Bayleef Moveset

  • Giga DrainSTAB
  • Ancient Power
  • Energy BallSTAB
  • AromatherapyUtility

Recommended Teammates

Pikachu
PikachuDecent

Without TMs, Bayleef's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get coverage across 7 types on top of Leaf Storm and Solar Blade for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
—10030Normal
Lv 6
Leafage
4010040Grass
Lv 9
Disarming Voice
40—15Fairy
Lv 12
Razor Leaf
559525Grass
Lv 14
Leech Seed
—9010Grass
Lv 22
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Lv 27
Reflect
——20Psychic
Lv 36
Safeguard
——25Normal
Lv 40
Synthesis
——5Grass
Lv 45
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
Lv 50
Light Screen
——30Psychic
Lv 56
Leaf Storm
130905Grass

TM Moves

Src
TM120
Ancient Power
601005Rock
TM33
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM40
Bullet Seed
2510030Grass
TM91
Curse
——10Ghost
TM92
Dazzling Gleam
8010010Fairy
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM56
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM52
Earth Power
9010010Ground
TM35
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM26
Energy Ball
9010010Grass
TM109
Facade
7010020Normal
TM42
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
TM01
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM87
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM45
Knock Off
6510020Dark
TM16
Light Screen
——30Psychic
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM31
Reflect
——20Psychic
TM04
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM51
Safeguard
——25Normal
TM128
Seed Bomb
8010015Grass
TM64
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
TM152
Solar Blade
12510010Grass
TM85
Substitute
——10Normal
TM30
Swords Dance
——20Normal
TM115
Trailblaze
5010020Grass
TM103
Work Up
——30Normal

Egg Moves

Bayleef doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Bayleef can't learn any Tutor moves

No wild encounters for Bayleef in Legends: Z-A. Bring Chikorita over from Gold, Crystal, or Brilliant Diamond, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.

How to Obtain Bayleef in Legends: Z-A

  1. Chikorita
    Step 1Obtain Chikorita

    Also found in:

    GoldCrystalEmeraldHeartGoldOmega RubySun
  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.