Bulbasaur (Pokémon)

← #493: Arceus

Pokémon

#002: Ivysaur →

Missingno. けつばん Ketsuban #???
Art by Ken Sugimori from Red and Green
Type Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Glitch Pokémon
Ability ----- ----- Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 Unknown
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #— Johto — Hoenn — Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 0'0" Imperial 0.0 m Metric 0'0"/0.0 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 0.0 lbs. Imperial 0.0 kg Metric 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Unknown	Catch rate Unknown
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown Gender unknown
Breeding Undiscovered group 1 cycles* (255 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 0 Battle Exp.: 1*
External links {{Links/{{{generation}}}|pokefordex={{{pokefordex}}}|ndex={{{ndex}}}|name={{{tmname}}} }}

[[Category:{{{type1}}}-type Pokémon|{{{ndex}}}]] 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

File:Grassland.gif

Grassland Pokémon

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 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

File:Maybulbasaurvinewhip.jpg

May's Bulbasaur using Vine Whip

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 Source Entry EP010 Bulbasaur Ash's Pokédex Bulbasaur, it bears the seed of a plant on its 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.

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.

File:Redbulbasaur.jpg

Bulbasaur as it appears in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

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 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 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

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation 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.
Generation 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.
Generation 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.
Generation 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.
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue One Starter Pokémon from Professor Oak in Pallet Town Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow One Received from a girl in Cerulean City if Pikachu's happiness is high enough
Generation II Gold Silver None Time Capsule Crystal None Time Capsule
Generation 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
Generation IV Diamond Pearl None Pal Park Platinum None Pal Park HeartGold SoulSilver One Reward from Professor Oak after defeating Red Pal Park Field Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Snap	River Cave (Ditto in disguise)
Pokémon Channel	Bus Stop
Pokémon Trozei!	Phobos Train Endless level 16 Trozei Battle Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Starter Pokémon Joyous Tower (1F-5F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Starter Pokémon Mystifying Forest (B1-B13) Mystery Jungle (B1-B29)
Pokémon Rumble	Quiet Forest

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Red*	Blue*	Bitter Berry (100%)
Yellow*

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 45		105 - 152	200 - 294
Attack: 49		48 - 111	92 - 216
Defense: 49		48 - 111	92 - 216
Sp. Atk: 65		63 - 128	121 - 251
Sp. Def: 65		63 - 128	121 - 251
Speed: 45		45 - 106	85 - 207
Total: 318	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature. This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 65.

Pokéthlon stats

Speed 2/3 ★★☆	Power 2/3 ★★☆
Skill 3/4 ★★★☆	Stamina 3/4 ★★★☆
Jump 3/3 ★★★	Total 13/17 ★★☆

Learnset

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | grass | style="background:#9141CB" |  poison 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 1 | style=" background:#FFF" | Bulbasaur | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By tutoring

|- style="background:#82C274" | colspan="13" | 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

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 body has been seen to be composed of different colors; with an all green body in the Generation II games and a head with a more blueish hue in later generations.
  • Also, 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 Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen artwork has a more greenish hue.
• 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 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.
• Bulbasaur is the only dual-typed starter Pokémon, with Grass and Poison, in its basic form, even in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon.
  • By extrapolation, this also means that Bulbasaur is the only dual-typed Pokémon to begin a regional Pokédex - Chikorita, Treecko, and Turtwig are all only Grass.
  • Bulbasaur is the only Template:Type2 starter Pokémon.
• 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 Template:Type2 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 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. 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 and mainland China): 妙蛙种子/妙蛙種子 Miào Wā Zhǒng Zǐ - "Weird frog seed".
• Chinese (Hong Kong): 奇異種子 Qí Yì Zhǒng Zǐ - "Unusual seed".
• Brazilian Portuguese (animé only): Bulbassauro - Adaptation of Bulbasaur.
• Βυλβασαυρ (Bulbasaur)

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: List of the player's first Pokémon • Pikachu (Yellow) • Partner Pokémon (LGPE) • Hisui first partner Pokémon

← #493: Arceus

Pokémon

#002: Ivysaur →

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