Bulbasaur (Pokémon)

← #649: Genesect	Pokémon	#002: Ivysaur →
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Bulbasaur (disambiguation).

Bulbasaur フシギダネ Fushigidane #001
Art by Ken Sugimori from FireRed and LeafGreen
Type Grass Poison Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Seed Pokémon
Abilities Overgrow Blue-Striped ----- Chlorophyll Hidden Ability
Exp. at Lv. 100 1,059,860
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #001 Johto #231 Hoenn #203 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R-001 Almia R— Oblivia R-014 N-004
Height 2'04" Imperial 0.7 m Metric 2'04"/0.7 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 15.2 lbs. Imperial 6.9 kg Metric 15.2 lbs./6.9 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Green	Catch rate 45 (5.9%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 87.5% male, 12.5% female
Breeding Monster and Plant groups 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 1 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 64 Battle Exp.: 641*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

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

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

Bulbasaur is the first Pokémon in the National Pokédex order and is also the first Pokémon in the Kanto Pokédex and Fiore Browser. It is one of the three starter Pokémon of the Kanto region, along with Charmander and Squirtle. It can be chosen by the player in Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue as well as Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, their remakes.

It is also available in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, after obtaining all sixteen badges and defeating Red.

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 that is 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. The bulb also contains many seeds from which it draws nutrients.

Though they usually walk on four legs, a Bulbasaur can rise up on its hind legs. When it evolves into Ivysaur, the bulb becomes a larger flower bud.

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.

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. It is native to Kanto.

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

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.

May's Bulbasaur

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

In the manga

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Ash's Bulbasaur appears in the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu. It first appears in the eighth chapter, You Gotta Have Friends. Bulbasaur's capture is not shown; it is simply stated when it first appears from its Poké Ball that "Ash has been busy since the last comic".

In I'm Your Venusaur, Ash and Misty travel to a town inhabited by many Bulbasaur, Ivysaur and Venusaur. There is a local legend that a giant Venusaur saved the townsfolk in battle.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga

Main article: Danerina

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.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In the Red, Green & Blue arc, Red receives a Bulbasaur from Professor Oak in Bulbasaur, Come Home! after helping capture all the Pokémon he accidentally set free. Bulbasaur, now named Saur, has since evolved into Ivysaur, and then to Venusaur. It has also been shown in the manga that Bulbasaur has the ability to suck in large amounts of air through its bulb, as seen in That Awful Arbok! where it sucked up the mist in Pokémon Tower as well as the Gastly that made it.

In the TCG

Main article: Bulbasaur (TCG)

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl

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

Game locations

In side games

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM/HM

Generation V Other generations: I - II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
TM		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	0000—	090}}90%	10
	TM09	Venom Shock	Poison	Special	06565	100}}100%	10
	TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM11	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	0000—	—}}—%	5
	TM16	Light Screen	Psychic	Status	0000—	—}}—%	30
	TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM20	Safeguard	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	25
	TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM22	SolarBeam	Grass	Special	120120	100}}100%	10
	TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	15
	TM36	Sludge Bomb	Poison	Special	09090	100}}100%	10
	TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	07070	100}}100%	20
	TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM45	Attract	Normal	Status	0000—	100}}100%	15
	TM48	Canon	Normal	Special	06060	100}}100%	15
	TM49	Echo Voice	Normal	Special	04040	100}}100%	15
	TM53	Energy Ball	Grass	Special	08080	100}}100%	10
	TM70	Flash	Normal	Status	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM75	Swords Dance	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	30
	TM86	Grass Knot	Grass	Special	0000—	100}}100%	20
	TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	0000—	090}}90%	15
	TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	0000—	—}}—%	10
	TM94	Rock Smash	Fighting	Physical	04040	100}}100%	15
	HM01	Cut	Normal	Physical	05050	095}}95%	30
	HM04	Strength	Normal	Physical	08080	100}}100%	15
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Bulbasaur Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Bulbasaur Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV - VI - VII - VIII - IX
Father	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	Amnesia	Psychic	Status	—	—%	20
	Charm	Normal	Status	—	100%	20
	Curse	Ghost	Status	—	—%	10
	Endure	Normal	Status	—	—%	15
	Giga Drain	Grass	Special	75	100%	10
	GrassWhistle	Grass	Status	—	55%	15
	Ingrain	Grass	Status	—	—%	20
	Leaf Storm	Grass	Special	140	90%	5
	Magical Leaf	Grass	Special	60	—%	20
	Nature Power	Normal	Status	—	—%	20
	Petal Dance	Grass	Special	120	100%	10
	Power Whip	Grass	Physical	120	85%	10
	Skull Bash	Normal	Physical	100	100%	15
	Sludge*	Poison	Special	65	100%	20
Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Bulbasaur in Generation V Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Bulbasaur in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Bulbasaur Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Bulbasaur Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

TCG-only moves

Anime only

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball     Acquisition: Catch		Pokémon Pinball RS  N/A  Not available		Pokémon Trozei!    Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 12.5% Friend Area: Beau Plains Phrases 51%-100% HP I'm going to make a big flower bloom! 26%-50% HP I'm down to about half my HP now. 1%-25% HP I'm about to keel over... Level up I did it! My level went up! Partner phrases 51%-100% HP Let's try to do our best, <name>! 26%-50% HP This is getting a bit hard... 1%-25% HP Urgh... Can't keep this up... <name>, help... Level up Yes! I leveled up!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 8.2% IQ group: F
Pokémon Ranger Group:  Grass  Poké Assist: ( Grass ) Field move: (Cross ×1) Loops: 3 Min. exp.: 12 Max. exp.: 22 Browser entry   Bulbasaur extends its vines to attack and prevent capture.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Poké Assist: Field move:  Grass  ( Grass ) Past ( Normal ) (Cut ×1) Past (Electrify ×1) Browser entry   It attacks by shooting seeds.
Pokémon Rumble N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed			Pokémon Rumble Blast N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: Bulbasaur is the Attraction Chief of Bulbasaur's Daring Dash in the Meadow Zone. So, even though it is forbidden, he may allow you to play on it.
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Strong: {{{Park2strong}}} Weak: {{{Park2weak}}} PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
Pokémon Conquest HP: Move: {{{ConquestMove}}} Attack: Ability 1: {{{ConquestAbility1}}} Defense: Ability 2: {{{ConquestAbility2}}} Speed: Ability 3: {{{ConquestAbility3}}} Does not evolve. Range: 0 Perfect Links: {{{ConquestLink}}}

Evolution

Unevolved Bulbasaur  Grass  Poison

Level 16 →

First evolution Ivysaur  Grass  Poison

Level 32 →

Second evolution Venusaur  Grass  Poison

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Bulbasaur images on Bulbagarden Archives.

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 is the first Pokémon in the National Pokédex order. By default, this also makes it the first Template:Type2, Template:Type2, dual-type Pokémon, unevolved Pokémon, and starter Pokémon in National Pokédex order.
  • Since in Generation I, the Template:Type2 was super-effective against Template:Type2 Pokémon, Bulbasaur was also the first Pokémon in National Pokédex order 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 Template:Type2 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.
• Along with Charmander and Squirtle, Bulbasaur is the only starter Pokémon which is found in more than one regional Pokédex, being found in both Kanto's and Johto's.
• Bulbasaur is the only dual-typed unevolved starter Pokémon, with Grass and Poison, in its basic form.
• 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.
• Aside from Pikachu, Bulbasaur was on Ash's team for the longest continuous period of time.
• In Generation IV, there exists a glitch Pokémon (Invisible shiny Bulbasaur) that has the same cry as Bulbasaur.
• 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, though it also has features from toads and frogs as well as other reptiles. Its also has visible ears, which are not seen in reptiles but are in mammals. Its bulb resembles that of a lily or onion.

Name origin

Bulbasaur's name is a portmanteau of the words bulb and saur, which is Greek for lizard. Its French name, Bulbizarre, literally means isn't it strange?, and is a pun on 不思議種 fushigidane, mysterious bulb.

In other languages

• Chinese (Taiwan and mainland China): 妙蛙種子/妙蛙种子 Miào Wā Zhǒng Zǐ - "Weird frog seed".
• Chinese (Hong Kong): 奇異種子 Qí Yì Zhǒng Zǐ - "Unusual seed".
• French: Bulbizarre - A combination of bulb and bizarre, reflected by the Japanese name, a pun on "Isn't it strange?".
• German: Bisasam - Derived from Bisamratte (muskrat) and Samen (seed).
• Korean: 이상해씨 Isanghaessi - Translates to Strange Seed.
• Portuguese (Brazilian, anime only): Bulbassauro - Adaptation of Bulbasaur.
• Russian: Бульбазавр - Adaptation of Bulbasaur.
• Serbian (anime only): Булбасаурус - Adaptation of Bulbasaur. Caypyc means "dinosaur" in Serbian.

Related articles

• Ash's Bulbasaur
• May's Bulbasaur
• Danerina
• Saur

External links

• Vine Whip, the fanlisting for Bulbasaur

Notes

First partner trios

Kanto

Bulbasaur

Charmander

Squirtle

Johto

Chikorita

Cyndaquil

Totodile

Hoenn

Treecko

Torchic

Mudkip

Sinnoh

Turtwig

Chimchar

Piplup

Unova

Snivy

Tepig

Oshawott

Kalos

Chespin

Fennekin

Froakie

Alola

Rowlet

Litten

Popplio

Galar

Grookey

Scorbunny

Sobble

Paldea

Sprigatito

Fuecoco

Quaxly

See also: player's first Pokémon

← #649: Genesect

Pokémon

#002: Ivysaur →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.