
Stats & Training
An unusually even spread gives Bulbasaur flexibility. Special barely edges ahead. But HP isn't far off. Tough to catch and follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve. Yields 1 Special stat exp.
It can go for days without eating a single morsel. In the bulb on its back, it stores energy.
Bulbasaur Weakness
Bug, Fire, Ice, Flying, and Psychic moves hit Bulbasaur for super-effective damage. Bug hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Bug |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Water, Electric, Fighting |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass |
- 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
Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 24 Gift | ||
Venonat BugPoison | D | |
Spearow Normal | D | |
Zubat Poison | D | |
Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 24 Gift | ||
Venonat BugPoison | D | |
Spearow Normal | D | |
Zubat Poison | D | |
Fearow Normal | C | |
Venonat BugPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Venonat builds →Leech Life 4x165-195%KO Confusion 2x24-30% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 24 Gift | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Venonat BugPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Venonat builds →Psychic 2x44-51% Leech Life 4x169-200%KO Confusion 2x26-31% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Pidgeotto builds →Wing Attack 2x68-81% Gust 2x45-54% | ||
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 24 Gift | ||
Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Dodrio Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Dodrio builds →Fly 2x157-185%KO Drill Peck 2x139-165%KO Peck 2x63-74% | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Fearow builds →Fly 2x134-158%KO Drill Peck 2x120-142%KO Peck 2x54-64% | ||
Ponyta Fire | C | |
Venonat BugPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Venonat builds →Psychic 2x42-49% Leech Life 4x165-196%KO Psybeam 2x30-36% Confusion 2x25-29% | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Articuno builds →Blizzard 2x137-162%KO Ice Beam 2x112-133%KO Fly 2x126-149%KO Peck 2x51-61% | ||
Venomoth BugPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Venomoth builds →Psychic 2x72-85% Leech Life 4x185-218%KO Psybeam 2x52-62% Confusion 2x42-50% | ||
Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodCinnabar Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Aerodactyl builds →Fire Blast 2x65-76% Fly 2x150-178%KO Wing Attack 2x101-119%KO | ||
Dodrio Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Dodrio builds →Fly 2x155-183%KO Drill Peck 2x140-165%KO Peck 2x63-74% | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Articuno builds →Sky Attack 2x202-238%KO Blizzard 2x142-168%KO Ice Beam 2x117-138%KO Fly 2x132-155%KO | ||
Venomoth BugPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Venomoth builds →Psychic 2x75-88% Leech Life 4x191-225%KO Psybeam 2x55-65% Confusion 2x43-50% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Move Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x108-128%KO | ||
Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodCinnabar Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Aerodactyl builds →Sky Attack 2x240-283%KO Fire Blast 2x66-78% Fly 2x155-183%KO Wing Attack 2x103-123%KO | ||
In Yellow, Articuno threatens a KO with Blizzard (140-165%). Dragonite's Hyper Beam also KOs at 105-124%.
Slowbro WaterPsychic | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Slowbro builds →Surf30-35% | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Articuno builds →Blizzard 2x140-165%KO Hyper Beam71-84% Ice Beam 2x115-135%KO | ||
Dragonite Dragon | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Dragonite builds →Wrap11-13% Hyper Beam105-124%KO Blizzard 2x98-115%KO | ||
Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Charizard builds →Earthquake47-56% Fire Blast 2x158-186%KO Hyper Beam71-84% | ||
Pinsir Bug | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Bulbasaur View Pinsir builds →Hyper Beam99-117%KO Submission26-31% Bind10-12% | ||
Yellow Evolution
You'll evolve Bulbasaur into Venusaur the traditional way. This Grass/Poison type doesn't breed despite having a chain ahead. The evolved forms gain up to 207 total stats over Bulbasaur. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Yellow Bulbasaur Best Moveset
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Razor Leaf
- Sleep Powder
- Body Slam
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Bulbasaur. TMs unlock Normal coverage and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Solar Beam and Razor Leaf into something with actual range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Bulbasaur in Yellow
No searching required for Bulbasaur. You receive it at Cerulean City from an NPC. No wild encounters exist in this game, so just head to the right spot when you're ready and it's yours.
Best Locations to Catch Bulbasaur in Yellow
Bulbasaur Guide
Level 16 gets you Ivysaur. Quick enough that Bulbasaur barely slows you down.
For Yellow, 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 Yellow. 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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut

Red & Blue - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM

Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves