Bulbasaur
フシギダネ Fushigidane
|
|
| 
Artwork from FR/LG
|
|
|
| EV yield
|
HP
0
| Atk
0
| Def
0
| Sp.Atk
1
| Sp.Def
0
| Speed
0
| Exp.
64
|
|
|
|
Bulbasaur (Japanese: フシギダネ Fushigidane) is a dual-typed Grass/Poison Pokémon.
In National Pokédex order, it is the first Pokémon, and is as well the first Pokémon in the Kanto Pokédex and Fiore Browser. It is one of the three starter Pokémon of the Kanto region, alongside Charmander and Squirtle, and can be chosen by the player in Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue as well as Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, their remakes.
Bulbasaur can evolve into Ivysaur beginning at level 16, and then can go on to evolve into Venusaur starting at level 32.
Biology
Physiology
Bulbasaur is a reptilian creature that somewhat resembles a toad or a young dinosaur with a spotted blue-green hide. Its eyes are a bright red, but the most notable feature of this Pokémon is the onion-like bulb on its back. This bulb has a symbiotic relationship with the Pokémon, growing from a seed planted on its back by its mother at birth. Unlike the parasitic tochukaso mushrooms growing on the back of Paras, which eventually take over its body as it evolves into Parasect, Bulbasaur's bulb shares a symbiotic relationship beneficial for both. This allows Bulbasaur to get an enhanced boost of energy from the Sun during the day and the bulb to remain growing and strong at night.
Though they usually walk on four legs, a Bulbasaur can rise up on its hind legs if it is young. Through evolution, it loses this ability, as the bulb grows far too heavy for it to support the weight. This, in turn, causes Bulbasaur's later evolutions to lose speed.
Gender differences
There are no differences in appearance between males and females of this species.
In the anime however, May's Bulbasaur had heart shaped spots on its forehead, which may be an anime-only indication of gender. However, all Bulbasaur may have unique spots on their bodies, regardless of gender.
Special abilities
Bulbasaur have a variety of Grass-type abilities granted to it by the bulb growing on its back. Powders, scents, petals, and seeds can come from the very tip of the bulb, and vines and leaves can come from the base. By manipulating these into moves like Leech Seed, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Dance, and Sweet Scent, Bulbasaur have quite an arsenal at their disposal.
The bulb can absorb sunlight, allowing Bulbasaur to restore health with Synthesis or fire off a powerful SolarBeam.
Behavior
Most Bulbasaur are domesticated Pokémon, raised by breeders to be distributed as starter Pokémon in the Kanto region. Due to this, they are regarded as mostly well-behaved Pokémon. Some consider them to be the easiest Pokémon to start with due to this, as well as the fact that they have a type advantage over the first two Gym Leaders in Kanto.
Bulbasaur tend to have a strong loyalty to their friends and Trainers. In The Mystery Menace, for example, a Bulbasaur was abandoned by its Trainer in the sewers of Trovitopolis and remained there for years, yet was still happy to see him when finally brought out from the sewer by Ash and his friends.
It is shown, in Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden, that once annually in Kanto, large groups of Bulbasaur gather in a hidden garden to become Ivysaur. It is unknown whether or not this is the case in other regions, as Bulbasaur are more rare there.
Bulbasaur can sometimes be found lying in the sun during the day to photosynthesize energy when food is scarce.
Habitat
Bulbasaur are scarce in the wild. Sometimes they can be found in secret places such as gardens, plains near large sources of fresh water, or hiding in the forest in hollow logs, but overall they are found far more often in the ownership of Trainers.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
Much like most Pokémon, Bulbasaur appears to be an omnivore. However, in times of scarcity, it does not need to eat much food, since the bulb on its back can store energy from the sun.
In the anime
Major appearances
Ash's Bulbasaur first debuted in Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village as one of the Pokémon in the Hidden Village. Though initially wary of Ash, the two eventually warmed up to one another, and Bulbasaur challenged him to a battle. Using Pikachu, Ash won the battle, and Bulbasaur was captured. Unlike Charmander and Squirtle, which were captured in the two episodes following that of Bulbasaur, Bulbasaur remained in Ash's party until Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!, when Ash sent him to Professor Oak's lab to work as an ambassador between otherwise argumentative groups of Pokémon.
Much later on, when Ash was traveling in the Hoenn region, his companion May captured her own Bulbasaur after being separated from the group in Grass Hysteria. It remained with her throughout the rest of her journey in Hoenn, helping her to compete in the regional Grand Festival. When she traveled to Kanto to continue her journey with Ash in The Right Place and the Right Mime, May too left her Bulbasaur at Professor Oak's lab to learn from Ash's while she and Ash's group traveled throughout the Battle Frontier in Kanto. May retrieved it during her travels in Johto, where it evolved all the way into a Venusaur.
Other
A Bulbasaur that used to belong to the Mayor of Trovitopolis appeared in The Mystery Menace. In his childhood, the mayor abandoned his Bulbasaur and sent it into the sewers when it wouldn't evolve into Ivysaur. Aided by Misty and Tracey, Ash found the abandoned Bulbasaur while searching for his own, which had gone missing. After defeating the arrogant mayor and his personal SWAT team, Ash and company left the Bulbasaur, which had grown rather large in its time in the sewers, with Nurse Joy.
In Journey to the Starting Line, Gilbert, the son of the mayor of Pallet Town, was supposed to start his journey as a Pokémon Trainer with one of the three Kanto Starter Pokémon, but they were scared off by Ash's Tauros. Professor Oak, Tracey, Delia and Gilbert set out to find them. The Bulbasaur was the last one to be found and it was stuck in a tree that was surrounded by a group of Primeape. In the end, Bulbasaur was the one that Gilbert decided to start with.
Minor appearances
Bulbasaur was mentioned in the first episode of the anime, Pokémon - I Choose You!, as one of the three starter Pokémon new trainers in Pallet Town can choose from. Ash dreamed of owning one, and it was his second choice of a starter, after Squirtle. However, when he arrived at Oak's lab, it was too late, as an unnamed Trainer who started the same day had already taken it.
A Bulbasaur was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School!.
Pokédex entries
| Episode
| Pokémon
| Pokédex
| Entry
|
| EP010
| Bulbasaur
| Ash's Pokédex
| Bulbasaur, it bears the seed of a plant on it's back from birth. The seed slowly develops. Researchers are unsure whether to classify Bulbasaur as a plant or animal. Bulbasaur are extremely calm and are difficult to capture in the wild.
|
| This concludes the entries from the original series.
|
|
In the manga
In Magical Pokémon Journey, Pistachio has a Bulbasaur named Danerina. She has a crush on him and is extremely jealous whenever she sees him talking to other females.
Ash's Bulbasaur is shown in several chapters of the Electric Tale of Pikachu.
Pokémon Adventures
In the Red, Green & Blue chapter, Red receives a Bulbasaur from Professor Oak in Bulbasaur, Come Home! after helping capture all the Pokémon he accidentally set free. Bulbasaur has since evolved into Ivysaur, and then to Venusaur. It has also been shown in the manga that Bulbasaur also has the ability to suck in air through its bulb (as seen in chapter 14 where it sucked up the mist in the Ghost Tower as well as the Gastly that made it).
In the TCG
- Main article: Bulbasaur (TCG)
Other appearances
Bulbasaur only appears as a random trophy.
Trophy information
Bulbasaur is a cute Pokémon born with a large seed firmly affixed to its back; the seed grows in size as the Pokémon does. Along with Squirtle and Charmander, Bulbasaur is one of the three Pokémon available at the beginning of Pokémon Red and Blue. It evolves into Ivysaur.
Game data
Pokédex entries
| Gen
| Game
| Pokédex entry
|
| I
| Red
| A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon.
|
| Blue
| A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon.
|
| Yellow
| It can go for days without eating a single morsel. In the bulb on its back, it stores energy.
|
| Stadium
| The bulb-like pouch on its back grows larger as it ages. The pouch is filled with numerous seeds.
|
| II
| Gold
| The seed on its back is filled with nutrients. The seed grows steadily larger as its body grows.
|
| Silver
| It carries a seed on its back right from birth. As it grows older, the seed also grows larger.
|
| Crystal
| While it is young, it uses the nutrients that are stored in the seeds on its back in order to grow.
|
| Stadium 2
| The seed on its back is filled with nutrients. The seed grows steadily larger as its body grows.
|
| III
| Ruby
| Bulbasaur can be seen napping in bright sunlight. There is a seed on its back. By soaking up the sun's rays, the seed grows progressively larger.
|
| Sapphire
| Bulbasaur can be seen napping in bright sunlight. There is a seed on its back. By soaking up the sun's rays, the seed grows progressively larger.
|
| Emerald
| Bulbasaur can be seen napping in bright sunlight. There is a seed on its back. By soaking up the sun's rays, the seed grows progressively larger.
|
| FireRed
| There is a plant seed on its back right from the day this Pokémon is born. The seed slowly grows larger.
|
| LeafGreen
| A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon.
|
| IV
| Diamond
| For some time after its birth, it grows by gaining nourishment from the seed on its back.
|
| Pearl
| For some time after its birth, it grows by gaining nourishment from the seed on its back.
|
| Platinum
| For some time after its birth, it grows by gaining nourishment from the seed on its back.
|
| HeartGold
| The seed on its back is filled with nutrients. The seed grows steadily larger as its body grows.
|
| SoulSilver
| For some time after its birth, it grows by gaining nourishment from the seed on its back.
|
Game locations
In side games
Held items
Stats
Base stats
| Stat
| Range
|
| At Lv. 50
| At Lv. 100
|
|
| 105 - 152
| 200 - 294
|
|
| 48 - 111
| 92 - 216
|
|
| 48 - 111
| 92 - 216
|
|
| 63 - 128
| 121 - 251
|
|
| 63 - 128
| 121 - 251
|
|
| 45 - 106
| 85 - 207
|
|
|
- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and a helpful nature.
- This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 65.
|
Pokéthlon stats
Type effectiveness
| Weak to
| Resistant to
| Immune to
| Normal effectiveness
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Notes:
|
Learnset
Bulbasaur is capable of learning the following moves in Generation IV.
- Moves in bold are damaging moves to which STAB applies.
Generation IV
Other generation learnsets: II - III
|
| Father
| Move
| Type
| Cat.
| Pwr.
| Acc.
| PP
| Contest
| Appeal
|
Slowpoke, Slowbro
Snorlax
| Amnesia
| Psychic
| Status
| —
| —%
| 20
| Cute
| 0
|
| Shroomish, Breloom
| Charm*
| Normal
| Status
| —
| 100%
| 20
| Cute
| 2 ♥♥
|
Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking
Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra
| Curse
| ???
| Status
| —
| —%
| 10
| Tough
| 0
|
Sunkern, Sunflora
Roselia
Snover, Abomasnow
| GrassWhistle
| Grass
| Status
| —
| 55%
| 15
| Smart
| 2 ♥♥
|
Tangela, Tangrowth
Sunkern, Sunflora
Roselia
Cacnea, Cacturne
Carnivine
Snover, Abomasnow
| Ingrain
| Grass
| Status
| —
| —%
| 20
| Smart
| 0
|
Victreebel
Exeggutor
Bellossom
Sunflora
Grovyle, Sceptile
Shiftry
Tropius
Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra
| Leaf Storm
| Grass
| Special
| 140
| 90%
| 5
| Cute
| 2 ♥♥
|
| Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium
| Light Screen
| Psychic
| Status
| —
| —%
| 30
| Beauty
| 2 ♥♥
|
Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium
Roselia, Roserade
Tropius
Cherubi, Cherrim
| Magical Leaf
| Grass
| Special
| 60
| —%
| 20
| Beauty
| 2 ♥♥
|
Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo
Seedot, Nuzleaf
| Nature Power
| Normal
| Status
| —
| —%
| 20
| Beauty
| 2 ♥♥
|
Venusaur
Oddish, Gloom, Vileplume
Meganium
Sunflora
Roselia
Cherrim
| Petal Dance
| Grass
| Special
| 90
| 100%
| 20
| Beauty
| 0
|
Lickitung, Lickilicky
Tangela, Tangrowth
Carnivine
| Power WhipHGSS
| Grass
| Physical
| 120
| 85%
| 10
| Beauty
| 3 ♥♥♥
|
Lapras
Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium
| Safeguard
| Normal
| Status
| —
| —%
| 25
| Beauty
| 2 ♥♥
|
| Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise
| Skull Bash
| Normal
| Physical
| 100
| 100%
| 15
| Tough
| 1 ♥
|
| Mudkip, Marshtomp, Swampert
| Sludge*HGSS
| Poison
| Special
| 65
| 100%
| 20
| Tough
| 2 ♥♥
|
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB from an evolution of this Pokémon
*Indicates a move only available by chain breeding
|
|
TCG-only moves
Anime only
Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
Trivia
- Bulbasaur's evolution family is the only starter Pokémon evolution family to have each member appear at least once in the Super Smash Bros. series.
- Bulbasaur's body is light green rather than blue-green in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series.
- In contrast, the original artwork featured a bright blue body, but the FR/LG artwork has a more greenish hue.
- Bulbasaur is the first Pokémon in the National Pokédex order. By default, this also makes it the first Grass-type, Poison-type, dual-type Pokémon, unevolved Pokémon, and starter Pokémon in National Pokédex order.
- Since in Generation I, the Bug-type was super-effective against Poison-type Pokémon, Bulbasaur was also the first Pokémon with a double weakness (to Bug). Due to Generation II's changes to type effectiveness, this "honor" has since been taken by Charizard, which is doubly weak to Rock-type moves.
- Bulbasaur and its evolutions share the same species name as Sunkern. They both are known as the Seed Pokémon.
- Bulbasaur's number in the National Pokédex and the Fiore Browser is the same: 001. This makes it and its evolution family one of only five families of Pokémon (comprising thirteen Pokémon altogether) to have the same numbers in more than one Pokédex-like listing.
- Bulbasaur is the only dual-typed starter Pokémon, with Grass and Poison, in its basic form, even in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon.
- Though Bulbasaur have no gender differences in the games, May's Bulbasaur has little hearts on its head while Ash's does not, and has been confirmed female after its evolution.
- It's also one of the three Pokémon that appeared in the anime with a heart-shaped spot, the others being Spinda and Wooper.
- Bulbasaur is the only Pokémon that can learn Petal Dance by breeding, while its final evolution learns it by leveling up.
- In Kanto, Bulbasaur has more advantages against Gym Leaders than the other starters. Its Grass-type attacks make it effective against Pokémon in the Pewter, Cerulean, and Viridian Gyms. Its Grass and Poison types also make it resistant to the Vermilion and Celadon Gyms' types. It only has weaknesses to the Cinnabar and Saffron Gyms.
- Bulbasaur and Pikachu were on Ash's team in the anime for the longest continuous period of time. Their in-game cries are also variations of each other.
- In Generation IV, there exists a glitch Pokémon that shares Bulbasaur's cry.
- Bulbasaur is the mascot of Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden.
Origin
Bulbasaur appears to be based on some form of Dicynodont, mammal-like reptiles from the Permian period. Its bulb resembles that of a lily.
Name origin
Bulbasaur's name is a combination of the words bulb and saur, which is Greek for lizard. Its Japanese name literally means it's strange, isn't it?, and is a pun on, 不思議種 fushigidane, strange seed.
In other languages
- German: Bisasam - Derived from Bisamratte (muskrat) and Samen (seed).
- French: Bulbizarre - A combination of bulb and bizarre, reflected by the Japanese name, a pun on "Isn't it strange?".
- Korean: 이상해씨 Isanghaessi - Translates to Strange Seed.
- Chinese (Taiwan): 妙蛙種子 Mìao Wa Chóng Zí - "Weird frog seed".
- Chinese (Hong Kong): 奇異種子 Qí Yì Chóng Zí - "Unusual seed".
- Brazilian Portuguese (animé only): Bulbassauro - Adaptation of Bulbasaur.
Related articles
External links
Notes
( Grass )
(Cross ×1)
Body size: 1
For other sprites and images, please see Bulbasaur images on Bulbagarden Archives.
