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
Catch45ChallengingMedium Slow1.06M XP1.2m / 3'11"15.8kg / 34.8 lbs142Base 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
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
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
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Bayleef
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 12 more.

Egg Groups
PlantMonster
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
15moves

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.

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

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 Rock 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
6020Grass
Lv 26
Natural Gift
10015Normal
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
20010010Grass

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM100
Confide
20Normal
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM49
Echoed Voice
4010015Normal
TM53
Energy Ball
9010010Grass
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
10020Grass
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM16
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM96
Nature Power
20Normal
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM33
Reflect
20Psychic
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM88
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
20010010Grass
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
8515Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
20Normal
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM01
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
Grass Whistle
5515Grass
Egg
Grassy Terrain
10Grass
Egg
Heal Pulse
10Psychic
Egg
Ingrain
20Grass
Egg
Leaf Storm
130905Grass
Egg
Leech Seed
9010Grass
Egg
Nature Power
20Normal
Egg
Refresh
20Normal
Egg
Vine Whip
4510025Grass
Egg
Wring Out
1005Normal

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Grass Pledge
8010010Grass

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 4
Bullet Seed
2510030Grass
Gen 4
Captivate
10020Normal
Gen 2
Curse
10Ghost
Gen 6
Cut
509530Normal
Gen 2
Detect+4
5Fighting
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
10Normal
Gen 6
Flash
10020Normal
Gen 4
Fury Cutter
409520Bug
Gen 4
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Gen 6
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
Gen 6
Secret Power
7010020Normal
Gen 6
Strength
8010015Normal

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

How to Obtain Bayleef in Sun & Moon

  1. Chikorita
    Step 1Catch Chikorita
    Route 2
    SunGrassLv.10EarlyRouteIsland Scan (Friday)
    Route 2
    MoonGrassLv.10EarlyRouteIsland Scan (Friday)
  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.