Ivysaur Best Moveset
80 Sp. Atk at 60 Speed on Grass/Poison. Held ItemEviolite adds bulk but the offensive output still trails Venusaur by a full tier. The moveset builds toward evolution where AbilityChlorophyll doubles Speed under sun and the Sp. Atk catches up.
Ivysaur saw minimal competitive use in Gen I (Red, Blue & Yellow). This was Ivysaur's competitive peak. A key development: had a combined Special stat of 80.
Best Moves
Best Build
Support Moveset
- Razor Leaf
- Sleep Powder
- Mega Drain
- Leech Seed
Recommended Teammates
Grass/Poison pre-evolution in Gen II (Gold & Silver). 80 Sp. Atk with Sleep Powder. Venusaur existed above.
Support Moveset
- Sleep Powder
- Leech Seed
- Synthesis
- Razor Leaf
Recommended Teammates
Two gens at the bottom in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Chlorophyll in sun later. Before Eviolite, middle-stage starters had no competitive reason to exist.
Wall Moveset
- Giga Drain
- Sleep Powder
- Leech Seed
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Ivysaur saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). Ivysaur maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Overgrow with Black Sludge, favoring a Modest nature.
Special Attacker Moveset
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis
- Energy Ball
- Leech Seed
Recommended Teammates
Ivysaur saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). Ivysaur maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Chlorophyll with Lum Berry, favoring a Modest nature.
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power Fire
- Sunny Day
- Growth
Recommended Teammates
Ivysaur saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Ivysaur maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Overgrow with Leftovers, favoring a Hardy nature.
Utility Moveset
- Vine Whip
- Bullet Seed
- Sludge Bomb
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Ivysaur saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Ivysaur maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Chlorophyll with Eviolite, favoring a Calm nature.
Wall Moveset
- Leech Seed
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis
Recommended Teammates
Ivysaur saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Ivysaur maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Chlorophyll with Eviolite, favoring a Modest nature.
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Sludge Bomb
- Weather Ball
- Growth
- Giga Drain
Recommended Teammates
Ivysaur saw minimal competitive use in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A). Ivysaur maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Overgrow with Eviolite, favoring a Modest nature.
Special Tank Moveset
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
Recommended Teammates
Ivysaur Weakness
Type-wise, Ivysaur takes extra damage from Fire, Ice, Flying, and Psychic. The Grass/Poison typing picks up 5 resistances to work with.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Water, Electric, Fighting, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass |
What is Ivysaur Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Ivysaur
Kyurem's Draco Meteor hits Ivysaur for 65-77%. Blaziken's Flare Blitz also KOs at 143-169%.
 Kyurem DragonIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLoaded Dice NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Ivysaur View Kyurem builds →Icicle Spear 2x17-21% Draco Meteor65-77% | ||
 Hatterene PsychicFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Bounce ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Ivysaur View Hatterene builds →Nuzzle2-2% | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySpeed Boost ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Ivysaur View Blaziken builds →Close Combat36-42% Flare Blitz 2x143-169%KO | ||
 Talonflame Fire | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves View Talonflame builds →
| ||
Evolution
Ivysaur sits between Bulbasaur and Venusaur in this three-stage line. Not the final form yet. For breeding, average hatch time with plenty of partners via two egg groups. HP has grown the most so far (+15), but there's still another 120 stats to gain in the final evolution. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
How to Get Ivysaur
You're catching Bulbasaur first, not Ivysaur. Bulbasaur appears at moderate rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 3-stage chain with evolution methods between each stage.
No wild encounters for Ivysaur. The 3-stage chain runs through Bulbasaur, which you can catch at moderate rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 32 once you've got the levels.
Can't catch Ivysaur directly. Start with Bulbasaur at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 32. The 3-stage chain from Bulbasaur to Ivysaur is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Ivysaur in BDSP
To get Ivysaur, start by catching Bulbasaur through walking encounters at Lv. 58-63. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Ivysaur isn't available in the wild in Sword & Shield. Start by transferring Bulbasaur from Red & Blue, Yellow, or Legends: Z-A. The evolution path from Bulbasaur to Ivysaur is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Ivysaur in SwSh
Step 1Obtain BulbasaurBREEDINGAvailableLeave Ivysaur with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Bulbasaur egg.CARTRIDGE TRADEAvailableCatch in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl via Walking · Swampy Cave · After National Dex obtained, then trade to the current game via link cable.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Red & BlueNot TradeableAppears in Red & Blue via Gift · Pallet Town · Starter Pokémon. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom YellowNot TradeableAppears in Yellow via Gift · Cerulean City · Requires high Pikachu friendship. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenNot TradeableAppears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Gift · Pallet Town · Starter Pokémon. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in HeartGold & SoulSilver via Gift · Pallet Town · Gift from Professor Oak (post-Red). Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom X & YNot TradeableAppears in X & Y via Gift · Lumiose City · Gift from Professor Sycamore. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon via Walking · Route 2 · Island Scan; Friday. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Ivysaur ✓
Step 3Evolve into Venusaur
Base Stats
You won't find a real weakness in Ivysaur's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Seed Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 2 Sp. Atk and Sp. Def EVs, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
When the bulb on its back grows large, it appears to lose the ability to stand on its hind legs.
Ivysaur Guide
At 405 BST, Ivysaur is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Venusaur before bringing it to any serious fight.
Ivysaur gets Chlorophyll and Overgrow. But Chlorophyll is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Chlorophyll is the hidden ability. It doubles Speed during strong sunlight. Worth hunting for if you want Ivysaur to compete at a higher level.
Ivysaur is a special attacker with base 80 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often.
Game Availability
Present since Red & Blue, Ivysaur appears in 21 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Ivysaur have the longest track record of availability in the series.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves