Utility
Balanced
DTier
45Speed · Slow

Stats & Training

An unusually even spread gives Bulbasaur flexibility. Sp. Atk barely edges ahead. But HP isn't far off. Tough to catch and follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve. Yields 1 Sp. Atk EV.

Base Stats
Avg
HP45
D
Attack49
D
Defense49
D
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def65
C
Speed45
D
Total318
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.7 m
2'04"Small
Weight6.9 kg
15.2 lbsFeather
Base XP64
Low Yield
Abilities
OvergrowTop Pick
Strengthens grass moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
ChlorophyllHANot in game
Doubles Speed during strong sunlight.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+1SpDSpe
Special Attack training source
Pokedex Entries

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

Platinum

Bulbasaur Weakness

Fire, Ice, Flying, and Psychic moves hit Bulbasaur for super-effective damage. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Standard number of weaknesses for the Grass/Poison typing.

Bulbasaur Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)Water, Electric, Fighting
0.25x (Resist)Grass
Type ChartVulnerable
4Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score-3
Gen IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
FireIceFlyingPsychic
½xResist
WaterElectricFighting
¼xResist
Grass
0xImmune
None
STAB (4)
WaterGroundRockGrass
How to Beat Bulbasaur in Platinum (Best Counters)

In Platinum, Gliscor's Earthquake hits Bulbasaur for 62-73%. Weavile deals 75-89% with Ice Shard.

Gliscor
Gliscor
GroundFlying
B
Recommended Build
AbilityHypercutter
ItemLeftovers
NatureJolly
Moves
  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • RoostRecovery
  • TauntUtility
  • Ice Fang
Damage vs Bulbasaur
Earthquake
62-73%
Ice Fang 2x
54-64%
View Gliscor builds →

Platinum Evolution

Three stages ahead. Bulbasaur grows into Ivysaur, then pushes on to Venusaur. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, average hatch time with a decent partner pool via two egg groups. The evolved forms gain up to 207 total stats over Bulbasaur. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Bulbasaur
#001Bulbasaur
16
Level 16
Ivysaur
#002Ivysaur
32
Level 32
Venusaur
#003Venusaur
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Bulbasaur
GrassPoison
Ivysaur
GrassPoison
Venusaur
GrassPoison
HP
45
60+15
80+20
ATK
49
62+13
82+20
DEF
49
63+14
83+20
SP.ATK
65
80+15
100+20
SP.DEF
65
80+15
100+20
SPE
45
60+15
80+20
BST
318C-Tier
405D-Tier+87
525B-Tier+120
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Utility
Special
Mixed

Breeding

Easy

Breed Bulbasaur easily with 45 breeding partners from the Plant and Monster egg groups. Pass egg moves like Amnesia, Charm, Curse and 9 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
PlantMonster
Gender
♂87.5%♀12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
12moves
Breed With (best first)
venusaurmeganiumtorterraroseradecharizardblastoisenidokingferaligatrampharossceptileswampertludicolo
12 of 45·

Platinum Bulbasaur Best Moveset

Bulbasaur leads with Focus Sash insurance. Even if it can't take a hit naturally, it'll survive long enough to deal early damage. Max HP and Sp. Atk EVs go all-in on offense since bulk doesn't matter here.

Best Build

Experimental
Special Tank
Ability
Overgrow
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Best Nature for Bulbasaur
Modest+SPA

Bulbasaur best EVs are HP and Sp. Atk

EVs

Special Tank Moveset

  • Giga DrainSTAB
  • Sludge BombSTAB
  • Energy BallSTAB
  • Solar BeamSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Pikachu
PikachuGood
Charizard
CharizardGood
Squirtle
SquirtleGood

Moves

Don't skip the egg moves. Bulbasaur picks up Amnesia and Charm only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Leaf Storm and Solar Beam while Normal and Fighting coverage and more adds range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tackle
—3510035Normal
Lv 3
Growl
——10040Normal
Lv 7
Leech Seed
C—9010Grass
Lv 9
Vine Whip
—4510015Grass
Lv 13
Poison Powder
——7535Poison
Lv 13
Sleep Powder
A—7515Grass
Lv 15
Take Down
—908520Normal
Lv 19
Razor Leaf
—559525Grass
Lv 21
Sweet Scent
——10020Normal
Lv 25
Growth
———20Normal
Lv 27
Double-Edge
D12010015Normal
Lv 31
Worry Seed
——10010Grass
Lv 33
Synthesis
D——5Grass
Lv 37
Seed Bomb
D8010015Grass

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
——10015Normal
TM09
Bullet Seed
—1010030Grass
TM78
Captivate
——10020Normal
HM01
Cut
—509530Normal
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM58
Endure+4
———10Normal
TM53
Energy Ball
A8010010Grass
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
D—10020Normal
TM21
Frustration
D—10020Normal
TM19
Giga Drain
S6010010Grass
TM86
Grass Knot
D—10020Grass
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM83
Natural Gift
D—10015Normal
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
HM06
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM43
Secret Power
—7010020Normal
TM82
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
S9010010Poison
TM22
Solar Beam
A12010010Grass
HM04
Strength
D8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
——9015Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
C——30Normal
TM06
Toxic
B—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Amnesia
———20Psychic
Egg
Charm
——10020Normal
Egg
Curse
C——10Ghost
Egg
Grass Whistle
——5515Grass
Egg
Ingrain
———20Grass
Egg
Leaf Storm
C140905Grass
Egg
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
Egg
Magical Leaf
—60—20Grass
Egg
Nature Power
———20Normal
Egg
Petal Dance
—12010020Grass
Egg
Safeguard
D——25Normal
Egg
Skull Bash
—10010010Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Fury Cutter
—109520Bug
Tutor
Knock Off
B6510020Dark
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Seed Bomb
D8010015Grass
Tutor
Snore
D4010015Normal
Tutor
Synthesis
D——5Grass

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 3
Body Slam
D8510015Normal
Gen 3
Defense Curl
———40Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
———10Normal

How to Get Bulbasaur in Platinum

Bulbasaur doesn't appear in Platinum. Transfer it from Red, Yellow, or Brilliant Diamond to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

Bulbasaur is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Receive as a gift in:

HeartGoldGift · Pallet Town · Gift from Professor Oak (post-Red)

Then trade to Platinum.

Also found in:

RedYellowFireRedXUltra SunLet's Go Pikachu

Bulbasaur Guide

  • Ivysaur at level 16 is the mid-stage. Push through to Venusaur at level 32 for the final form. 318 BST right now won't cut it long-term.

  • Level 16 gets you Ivysaur. Quick enough that Bulbasaur barely slows you down.

  • For Platinum, you can run Bulbasaur through the first few routes without issues. 318 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Ivysaur as fast as you can.

  • You can find Bulbasaur in Platinum. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 20 other games across the series.

Game Availability

One of the original 151, Bulbasaur has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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