Bulbasaur (Pokémon)

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Bulbasaur フシギダネ Fushigidane
Artwork from FR/LG
Types	Grass/Poison
Species	Seed Pokémon
Kanto Dex National Dex	#001
Johto Dex	#226
Hoenn Dex	#203*
Sinnoh Dex	#—
Fiore Browser	R-001
Almia Browser	R—
Height	2′04″ (0.7m)
Weight	15.2 lbs. (6.9kg)
Ability	Overgrow
Egg groups	Monster/Plant
Time to hatch	5,120 steps
Effort yield	1 SpA
Exp. yield	64 base exp.
Lv. 100 at	1,059,860 exp.
Gender	12.5% ♀/87.5% ♂
Pokédex color	Green
Catch rate	45
Footprint
Body style
On Legendary Pokémon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Pokémon Palace Network Pokédex (Gen. I-III) On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV On Eevee's Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) On Psypoke Pokédex On Pokecharms Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Marriland Pokédex (Gen. IV) On Serebii's Pokédex: Generation I/II Generation III Generation IV On Azure Heights Pokédex (Gen. I) On Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex (Gen. I-II) On Ultimate Pokémon Center Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Bulbasaur (Japanese: フシギダネ Fushigidane) is a dual-type Grass/Poison Pokémon.

It evolves into Ivysaur starting at level 16, whom evolves into Venusaur starting at level 32.

Along with Charmander and Squirtle, it is one of three starter Pokémon the player can choose to start with at the beginning of Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, FireRed, and LeafGreen and is the first Pokémon numerically in the Kanto Pokédex, the National Pokédex, and the Fiore Browser.

Contents 1 Biology 1.1 Physiology 1.1.1 Gender differences 1.1.2 Special abilities 1.2 Behavior 1.3 Habitat 1.4 Diet 2 In the anime 3 In the manga 3.1 In the Pokémon Special manga 4 In the TCG 5 Other appearances 5.1 Super Smash Bros. Melee 5.1.1 Trophy information 6 Game data 6.1 Pokédex entries 6.2 Game locations 6.2.1 In side games 6.3 Base stats 6.4 Type effectiveness 6.5 Learnset 6.5.1 By leveling up 6.5.2 By TM/HM 6.5.3 By breeding 6.5.4 By tutoring 6.5.5 TCG-only moves 6.5.6 Anime only 6.6 Side game data 6.7 Evolution 6.8 Sprites 7 Trivia 7.1 Origin 7.1.1 Name origin 8 In other languages 9 Related articles 10 External links 11 Notes

Biology

Physiology

Bulbasaur is a reptilian creature resembling a toad or dinosaur. Its most notable feature, though, is the bulb on its back, which grows from a seed planted on its back when it is born. The bulb is similar to Paras and Parasect's tochukaso mushrooms which are also planted at birth. However, Bulbasaur and its bulb share a symbiotic relationship rather than a parasitic one.

Bulbasaur usually walk around on four legs, but in this stage they also have the ability to rise up on their hind legs.

Gender differences

None.

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 with the bulb.

The bulb also absorbs sunlight. The sunlight can be turned into health through Synthesis or launched at the opponent as a powerful SolarBeam.

Behavior

Most Bulbasaur are domestic Pokémon, raised to be distributed as starters by Professor Oak. As such, they are regarded as well-behaved Pokémon. They are often considered the easiest Pokémon to start with in Kanto since they are strong, not likely to misbehave, and have a type advantage over the first two Kanto Gym Leaders.

They can often have a strong loyalty streak. In The Mystery Menace, a Bulbasaur was abandoned by its Trainer in the sewers, where it lived for many years. When it finally returned to the surface, it was not upset about being abandoned by its trainer. In fact, it was simply glad to see him again.

Bulbasaur can also be found lying in the sun during the day for photosynthesis. They mainly do this during times of scarcity of food.

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

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 real Bulbasaur first appeared 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. Somehow, May retrieved it during her travels in Johto, where it evolved all the way into a Venusaur.

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.

In the manga

In Pokémon PiPiPi Adventure, 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.

In the Pokémon Special manga

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

Super Smash Bros. Melee

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

Game locations

Gen	Game		Rarity	Location
I	Red	Blue	One	Starter Pokémon from Professor Oak in Pallet Town
	Yellow		One	Received from a girl in Cerulean City if Pikachu's happiness is high enough
II	Gold	Silver	None	Trade
	Crystal		None	Trade
III	Ruby	Sapphire	None	Trade
	Emerald		None	Trade
	FireRed	LeafGreen	One	Starter Pokémon from Professor Oak in Pallet Town
	Colosseum		None	Trade
	XD		None	Trade
IV	Diamond	Pearl	None	Pal Park
	Platinum		None	Pal Park
	Pal Park			Field

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Stadium	Gym Leader Castle
Pokémon Snap	River
Pokémon Channel	Bus Stop
Pokémon Trozei!	Phobos Train Endless level 16 Trozei Battle Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Red and Blue)	Starter Pokémon Joyous Tower (1F-5F)
Pokémon Ranger	Lyra Forest
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Time and Darkness)	Starter Pokémon Mystifying Forest (B1-B13) Mystery Jungle (B1-B29)

Base stats

HP:	45
Attack:	49
Defense:	49
Special:	65
SpAtk:	65
SpDef:	65
Speed:	45

The Special stat was used only in Generation I; it was later split into Special Attack and Special Defense.

Type effectiveness

Weak to	Resistant to	Immune to	Normal effectiveness
Flying : 2×  Fire : 2×  Psychic : 2×  Ice : 2×	Fighting : ½×  Grass : ¼×  Water : ½×  Electric : ½×		Normal : 1×  Poison : 1×  Ground : 1×  Rock : 1×  Bug : 1×  Ghost : 1×  Steel : 1×  Dragon : 1×  Dark : 1×
Notes: In Generation I, the effectiveness of  Grass-type  moves is ½×, and the effectiveness of  Bug-type  moves is 4×.

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation IV Other generation learnsets: I - II - III
Level	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP	Contest	Appeal
Start	Tackle	Normal	Physical	35	95%	35	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
3	Growl	Normal	Status	—	100%	40	Cute	2 ♥♥
7	Leech Seed	Grass	Status	—	90%	10	Smart	0
9	Vine Whip	Grass	Physical	35	100%	15	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
13	PoisonPowder	Poison	Status	—	75%	35	Smart	2 ♥♥
13	Sleep Powder	Grass	Status	—	75%	15	Smart	2 ♥♥
15	Take Down	Normal	Physical	90	85%	20	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
19	Razor Leaf	Grass	Physical	55	95%	25	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
21	Sweet Scent	Normal	Status	—	100%	20	Cute	2 ♥♥
25	Growth	Normal	Status	—	—%	40	Beauty	0
27	Double-Edge	Normal	Physical	120	100%	15	Tough	0
31	Worry Seed	Grass	Status	—	100%	10	Beauty	2 ♥♥
33	Synthesis	Grass	Status	—	—%	5	Smart	0
37	Seed Bomb	Grass	Physical	80	100%	15	Smart	0
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon

By TM/HM

Generation IV Other generation learnsets: I - II - III
TM	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP	Contest	Appeal
TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	—	85%	10	Smart	2 ♥♥
TM09	Bullet Seed	Grass	Physical	10	100%	30	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	—	100%	15	Smart	1 ♥
TM11	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	—	—%	5	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	0
TM19	Giga Drain	Grass	Special	60	100%	10	Smart	1 ♥
TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM22	SolarBeam	Grass	Special	120	100%	10	Cool	1 ♥
TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	—	—%	15	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM36	Sludge Bomb	Poison	Special	90	100%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	70	100%	20	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM43	Secret Power	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20	Smart	2 ♥♥
TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	0
TM45	Attract	Normal	Status	—	100%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM53	Energy Ball	Grass	Special	80	100%	10	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM58	Endure	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
TM70	Flash	Normal	Status	—	100%	20	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM75	Swords Dance	Normal	Status	—	—%	30	Beauty	0
TM78	Captivate	Normal	Status	—	100%	20	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM82	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	3 ♥♥♥
TM83	Natural Gift	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM86	Grass Knot	Grass	Special	—	100%	20	Smart	2 ♥♥
TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	—	90%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Smart	1 ♥
HM01	Cut	Normal	Physical	50	95%	30	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
HM04	Strength	Normal	Physical	80	100%	15	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
HM06	Rock Smash	Fighting	Physical	40	100%	15	Tough	2 ♥♥
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon

By breeding

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
Lapras Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium	Safeguard	Normal	Status	—	—%	25	Beauty	2 ♥♥
Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise	Skull Bash	Normal	Physical	100	100%	15	Tough	1 ♥
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

By tutoring

Generation III and IV Other generation learnsets: II - III
Game							Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP	Contest	Appeal
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Body Slam	Normal	Physical	85	100%	15	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Defense Curl	Normal	Status	—	—%	40	Cute	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Double-Edge	Normal	Physical	120	100%	15	Tough	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Endure	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Fury Cutter	Bug	Physical	10	95%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Knock Off	Dark	Physical	20	100%	20	Smart	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Mimic	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Mud-Slap	Ground	Special	20	100%	10	Cute	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Seed Bomb	Grass	Physical	80	100%	15	Smart	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Snore	Normal	Physical	40	100%	15	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Substitute	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Smart	1 ♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Swagger	Normal	Status	—	90%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Swords Dance	Normal	Status	—	—%	30	Beauty	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Synthesis	Grass	Status	—	—%	5	Smart	0
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game, while a colored background indicates that the move is available.

TCG-only moves

Move	Card	Set
Bite	Bulbasaur	POP Series 2

Anime only

Move	Pokémon	Episode
Whirlwind	Ash's Bulbasaur	EP032
Tickle (debatable)		EP050
Dig (reflex to save life)		EP225

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
	Acquisition: Catch
Pokémon Trozei!
	Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon<