Utility
Balanced
DTier
45Speed · Slow

Stats & Training

An unusually even spread gives Bulbasaur flexibility. Sp. Atk barely edges ahead. But HP isn't far off. Tough to catch and follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve. Yields 1 Sp. Atk EV.

Base Stats
Avg
HP45
D
Attack49
D
Defense49
D
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def65
C
Speed45
D
Total318
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.7 m
2'04"Small
Weight6.9 kg
15.2 lbsFeather
Base XP64
Low Yield
Abilities
OvergrowPopular
Strengthens grass moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
ChlorophyllHAPopular
Doubles Speed during strong sunlight.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+1SpDSpe
Special Attack training source
Pokedex Entries

For some time after its birth, it grows by taking nourishment from the seed on its back.

Bulbasaur Weakness

Fire, Ice, Flying, and Psychic moves hit Bulbasaur for super-effective damage. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Standard number of weaknesses for the Grass/Poison typing.

Bulbasaur Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)Water, Electric, Fighting, Fairy
0.25x (Resist)Grass
Type ChartVulnerable
4Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Score-2
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
FireIceFlyingPsychic
½xResist
WaterElectricFightingFairy
¼xResist
Grass
0xImmune
None
STAB (5)
WaterGroundRockGrassFairy
How to Beat Bulbasaur in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Best Counters)

In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Mamoswine threatens a KO with Earthquake (85-101%). Arcanine's Flare Blitz also KOs at 139-164%.

Skarmory
Skarmory
SteelFlying
B
Recommended Build
AbilitySturdy
ItemRocky Helmet
NatureImpish
Moves
  • RoostRecovery
  • Body Press
  • SpikesHazard
  • Iron Defense
View Skarmory builds →

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Evolution

Three stages ahead. Bulbasaur grows into Ivysaur, then pushes on to Venusaur. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, average hatch time with a decent partner pool via two egg groups. The evolved forms gain up to 207 total stats over Bulbasaur. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Bulbasaur
#001Bulbasaur
16
Level 16
Ivysaur
#002Ivysaur
32
Level 32
Venusaur
#003Venusaur
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Bulbasaur
GrassPoison
Ivysaur
GrassPoison
Venusaur
GrassPoison
HP
45
60+15
80+20
ATK
49
62+13
82+20
DEF
49
63+14
83+20
SP.ATK
65
80+15
100+20
SP.DEF
65
80+15
100+20
SPE
45
60+15
80+20
BST
318C-Tier
405D-Tier+87
525B-Tier+120
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Utility
Special
Mixed

Breeding

Easy

Breed Bulbasaur easily with 45 breeding partners from the Plant and Monster egg groups. Pass egg moves like Amnesia, Charm, Curse and 9 more to offspring.

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)
venusaurmeganiumtorterraroseradecharizardblastoisenidokingferaligatrampharossceptileswampertludicolo
12 of 45·

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Bulbasaur Best Moveset

Eviolite turns Bulbasaur into a wall that rivals fully evolved options. Chlorophyll and Jolly nature stack with max HP and Speed EVs to create a surprisingly tough defensive core.

Best Build

Experimental
Support
Ability
Chlorophyll
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Bulbasaur
Jolly+SPE

Bulbasaur best EVs are HP and Speed

EVs

Support Moveset

  • Leech SeedSTAB
  • ProtectFAST +4
  • ToxicUtility
  • Knock Off

Recommended Teammates

Pikachu
PikachuGood
Squirtle
SquirtleGood

Moves

Don't skip the egg moves. Bulbasaur picks up Amnesia and Charm only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Leaf Storm and Solar Beam while Normal and Fighting coverage adds range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
——10040Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D4010035Normal
Lv 3
Vine Whip
—4510025Grass
Lv 6
Growth
C——20Normal
Lv 9
Leech Seed
C—9010Grass
Lv 12
Razor Leaf
—559525Grass
Lv 15
Poison Powder
D—7535Poison
Lv 15
Sleep Powder
B—7515Grass
Lv 18
Seed Bomb
D8010015Grass
Lv 21
Take Down
D908520Normal
Lv 24
Sweet Scent
——10020Normal
Lv 27
Synthesis
C——5Grass
Lv 30
Worry Seed
D—10010Grass
Lv 33
Double-Edge
D12010015Normal
Lv 36
Solar Beam
C12010010Grass

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
C—10015Normal
TM09
Bullet Seed
D2510030Grass
TM93
Cut
—509530Normal
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM58
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM53
Energy Ball
C9010010Grass
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM54
False Swipe
D4010040Normal
TM70
Flash
——10020Normal
TM19
Giga Drain
S7510010Grass
TM86
Grass Knot
D—10020Grass
TM16
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM98
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM20
Safeguard
C——25Normal
TM82
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
S9010010Poison
TM22
Solar Beam
C12010010Grass
TM96
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
S——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
B——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
D—8515Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
C——20Normal
TM06
Toxic
C—9010Poison
TM10
Work Up
D——30Normal

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Amnesia
C——20Psychic
Egg
Charm
C—10020Fairy
Egg
Curse
C——10Ghost
Egg
Grassy Terrain
———10Grass
Egg
Ingrain
———20Grass
Egg
Leaf Storm
C130905Grass
Egg
Magical Leaf
D60—20Grass
Egg
Nature Power
D——20Normal
Egg
Petal Dance
C12010010Grass
Egg
Power Whip
C1208510Grass
Egg
Skull Bash
—13010010Normal
Egg
Sludge
—6510020Poison

Tutor Moves

Bulbasaur can't learn any Tutor moves

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Bulbasaur Locations

12 encounter spots for Bulbasaur at moderate rates starting from endgame routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.

Best Locations to Catch Bulbasaur in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

12 spots to find Bulbasaur at Lv. 58-63 via walking. Not all of them exist in both Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl versions, so filter by your copy below.

Bogsunk Cavern
Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
Post
Post-game
Bogsunk Cavern
Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
Post
Post-game
Grassland Cave
Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
Post
Post-game
Grassland Cave
Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
Post
Post-game
Riverbank Cave
Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
Post
Post-game
Riverbank Cave
Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
Post
Post-game
Still-Water Cavern
Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
Post
Post-game
Still-Water Cavern
Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
Post
Post-game
Sunlit Cavern
Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
Post
Post-game
Sunlit Cavern
Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
Post
Post-game
Swampy Cave
Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
Post
Post-game
Swampy Cave
Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
Post
Post-game

Bulbasaur Guide

  • Ivysaur at level 16 is the mid-stage. Push through to Venusaur at level 32 for the final form. 318 BST right now won't cut it long-term.

  • Level 16 gets you Ivysaur. Quick enough that Bulbasaur barely slows you down.

  • For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, you can run Bulbasaur through the first few routes without issues. 318 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Ivysaur as fast as you can.

  • You can find Bulbasaur in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 20 other games across the series.

Game Availability

One of the original 151, Bulbasaur has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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