That 4x Bug weakness is something every Victreebel user needs to plan around. A longtime staple going back to Gen 1. Needs some investment to avoid getting outsped.
Everything pushes toward mixed damage here. Victreebel's Attack does the work, Defense pays the price. But you're still getting 3 Attack EVs per KO. Tough to catch, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
Said to live in huge colonies deep in jungles, although no one has ever returned from there.
Victreebel Weakness
FragileVictreebel's Grass/Poison typing leaves it vulnerable to Bug, Fire, Ice, Flying, and Psychic moves. Bug hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. The Grass/Poison typing picks up 4 resistances to work with.
- Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
- Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
- Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
Evolve Bellsprout using a Leaf Stone to get Victreebel. At 490 stats, this Grass/Poison type caps the chain without any egg option. The evolution from Bellsprout pushed Victreebel to 490 total stats. Sp.Def saw the largest single gain at +40.
How to Evolve
an ability isn't flashy, but it matters. Combined with an item for extra utility and flexible EVs EVs, Victreebel fills the attacker slot reliably. A nature nature finishes the spread.
Best Build
Best Victreebel Moveset
- Razor Leaf
- Wrap
- Sleep Powder
- Stun Spore
Recommended Teammates
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Victreebel's Normal coverage all comes from technical machines, built on top of Solar Beam and Razor Leaf for same-type damage. Double-Edge and Hyper Beam are the payoff moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
You're catching Bellsprout first, not Victreebel. Bellsprout appears at solid rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 3-stage chain with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Victreebel in Red & Blue
To get Victreebel, start by catching Bellsprout through walking encounters at Lv. 12-30. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch BellsproutEFFORTLESSRoute 24GrassLv.12-14CommonEarlyRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 25GrassLv.12-14CommonEarlyRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 5GrassLv.13-16CommonEarlyRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 6GrassLv.13-16CommonEarlyRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 7GrassLv.19-22CommonMidRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 12GrassLv.22-26CommonMidRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 13GrassLv.22-26CommonMidRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 14GrassLv.22-26CommonMidRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 15GrassLv.22-26CommonMidRoute
Step 2Catch or Evolve WeepinbellCHALLENGINGRoute 12GrassLv.28-30RareMidRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 13GrassLv.28-30RareMidRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 14GrassLv.30RareMidRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 15GrassLv.30RareMidRouteor evolve from Bellsprout (Step 1)
Step 3Victreebel ✓
Victreebel looks average on paper at 490 BST. But Chlorophyll is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier attacker on our tier list.
Watch for Pinsir (Bug), Arcanine (Fire), and Lapras (Ice) when using Victreebel. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Pinsir is the most dangerous since Bug moves deal 4x damage. Flying and Psychic-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Weepinbell evolves into Victreebel using a Leaf Stone. Victreebel is the final evolution in a 3-stage line starting from Bellsprout. At 490 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
Victreebel is a physical attacker with base 105 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 70 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. Fits the attacker role.
Victreebel appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Present since Red & Blue, Victreebel appears in 20 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Victreebel have the longest track record of availability in the series.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A