Bulbasaur
フシギダネ Fushigidane
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Height
2'04"
Imperial
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0.7 m
Metric
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2'04"/0.7 m
Red-Striped
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0'0"/0.0 m
Blue-Striped
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0'0"/0.0 m
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Weight
15.2 lbs.
Imperial
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6.9 kg
Metric
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15.2 lbs./6.9 kg
Red-Striped
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0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Blue-Striped
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0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
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EV yield
HP
0
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Atk
0
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Def
0
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Sp.Atk
1
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Sp.Def
0
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Speed
0
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| Base Exp.: 64
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Battle Exp.: 641*
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Bulbasaur (Japanese: フシギダネ Fushigidane) is a dual-type Grass/Poison Pokémon.
It evolves into Ivysaur starting at level 16, which evolves into Venusaur starting at level 32.
Along with Charmander and Squirtle, Bulbasaur is one of three starter Pokémon of Kanto available at the beginning of Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, FireRed, and LeafGreen.
Biology
Etymology
Bulbasaur's name can be split into 2 parts. "Bulba" refers to the bulb on its back and being a grass type while the ending "saur" indicates that it's is most likely a reptilian creature similar to a dinosaur.
Physiology
Bulbasaur is a quadruped, reptilian creature that somewhat resembles a toad or a young dinosaur with a spotted blue-green hide. It has three white toes or claws growing out from each of its four legs, its irises are bright red, while the rest of its eyes are white. It has small teeth visible when the mouth is open.
The most notable feature of this Pokémon is the onion-like bulb on its back, which grows from a seed planted on its back by its mother at birth. 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 (synthesis) 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, making it nearly impossible for one to rise on its 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 (or the bulb in Pokemon Adventures). By manipulating these into moves like Leech Seed, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Petal Dance, Leaf Storm, Power Whip, Bullet Seed, Seed Bomb, Sweet Scent, PoisonPowder, and Sleep Powder, Bulbasaur have quite an arsenal at their disposal.
The bulb can absorb sunlight, allowing Bulbasaur to restore health with Synthesis or fire 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. They are the easiest Pokémon to start with, due to 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 decades 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 in Kanto, large groups of Bulbasaur gather once every year 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.
When a baby Pokémon, such as Togepi or a newly hatched Bulbasaur, is crying and all other methods of calming down the baby fail, Bulbasaur may use its vines in the bulb on it back to perform its Bulba-by, where it rocks the baby back and forth in the air and sings to it. This has only been recorded once by humans, making it seem that some people do not even believe that this behavior is real.
Habitat
Like all starters, 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 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.
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.
Multiple Bulbasaur appeared in Battle Aboard the St. Anne.
A Bulbasaur also appeared in Pokémon Fashion Flash and The Breeding Center Secret.
A Bulbasaur under the ownership of an unknown Trainer, appeared in Friends to the End, during the closing ceremonies of the Indigo League.
A picture of a Bulbasaur appeared in Hocus Pokémon.
A Bulbasaur was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School!.
A Bulbasaur appeared in the opening of Jirachi: Wish Maker.
A Bulbasaur was one of the starter Pokémon at Professor Oak's Laboratory in The Right Place and the Right Mime.
A Bulbasaur made a brief appearance under the ownership of a Trainer in the Lily of the Valley Conference in An Old Family Blend!.
A Bulbasaur appeared in The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion!.
A Bulbasaur appeared in Alexa's magazine in BW134.
Pokédex entries
| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| EP010
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Bulbasaur
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Ash's Pokédex
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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 very difficult to capture in the wild.
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| EP051
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SolarBeam
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Ash's Pokédex
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SolarBeam, Bulbasaur's strongest attack. Light is collected and formed into a powerful beam with intensive force.
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In the manga
In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
- Main article: Ash's Bulbasaur
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: Bulbasaur (MPJ)
In Magical Pokémon Journey, Pistachio's Bulbasaur has a crush on him and is extremely jealous whenever she sees him talking to other females.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
- Main article: Saur
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 Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Bulbasaur appears in the very first chapter as one of the starter Pokémon Professor Oak was giving away.
In the TCG
- Main article: Bulbasaur (TCG)
In the TFG
One Bulbasaur figure has been released.
Other appearances
Bulbasaur appears as a random trophy.
Melee 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.
Brawl trophy information
"A Seed Pokémon. From birth, Bulbasaur carries a large plant seed on its back. It uses the nutrients from the seed to grow bigger and bigger. Extended exposure to the sun will cause its body and seed to grow in size. Some say that once, when the seed was much lighter, Bulbasaur was able to get around on two legs. Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur."
Game data
Pokédex entries
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
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| Generation I
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| Red
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A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon.
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| Blue
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| Yellow
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It can go for days without eating a single morsel. In the bulb on its back, it stores energy.
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| Stadium
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The bulb-like pouch on its back grows larger as it ages. The pouch is filled with numerous seeds.
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| Generation II
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| Gold
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The seed on its back is filled with nutrients. The seed grows steadily larger as its body grows.
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| Silver
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It carries a seed on its back right from birth. As it grows older, the seed also grows larger.
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| Crystal
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While it is young, it uses the nutrients that are stored in the seeds on its back in order to grow.
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| Stadium 2
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The seed on its back is filled with nutrients. The seed grows steadily larger as its body grows.
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| Generation III
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| Ruby
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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.
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| Sapphire
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{{{sapphiredex}}}
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| Emerald
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{{{emeralddex}}}
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| FireRed
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There is a plant seed on its back right from the day this Pokémon is born. The seed slowly grows larger.
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| LeafGreen
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A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon.
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| Generation IV
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| Diamond
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For some time after its birth, it grows by gaining nourishment from the seed on its back.
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| Pearl
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{{{pearldex}}}
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| Platinum
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{{{platinumdex}}}
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| HeartGold
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The seed on its back is filled with nutrients. The seed grows steadily larger as its body grows.
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| SoulSilver
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It carries a seed on its back right from birth. As it grows older, the seed also grows larger.
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| Generation V
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| Black
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For some time after its birth, it grows by gaining nourishment from the seed on its back.
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| White
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{{{whitedex}}}
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| Black 2
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For some time after its birth, it grows by gaining nourishment from the seed on its back.
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| White 2
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{{{white2dex}}}
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Game locations
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
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In side games
In events
| Games
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Event
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Language
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Location
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Level
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Distribution period
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Gotta Catch 'Em All Station! AncientPower Bulbasaur
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English
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United States
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5
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December 28, 2001 to January 31, 2002;
January 17 to 23, 2003
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Pokémon Center Mystery Egg #3 AncientPower Bulbasaur
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Japanese
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Japan
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5
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April 27 to May 12, 2002
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| RSEFRLG
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Gather More Pokémon! Fourth Campaign Bulbasaur
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Japanese
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Japan
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10
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February 11 to 28, 2006
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| RSEFRLG
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Pokémon Journey Across America Bulbasaur
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English
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United States
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70
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February 25 to July 23, 2006
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| RSEFRLG
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Party of the Decade Bulbasaur
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English
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United States
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70
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August 8, 2006
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Sticker Promotional Kanto Starter Egg Bulbasaur
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Japanese
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Japan
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1
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September 1 to 30, 2012
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Kanto Starter Egg Bulbasaur
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Korean
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South Korea
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1
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November 8 to 11, 2012
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Kanto Starter Egg Bulbasaur
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Korean
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Wi-Fi
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1
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February 14 to March 31, 2013
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In-game events
Pokémon Global Link promotions
Held items
Stats
Base stats
| Stat
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Range
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| At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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45
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105 - 152
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200 - 294
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49
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48 - 111
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92 - 216
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49
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48 - 111
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92 - 216
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65
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63 - 128
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121 - 251
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65
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63 - 128
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121 - 251
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45
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45 - 106
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85 - 207
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Total: 318
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- 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.
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Pokéathlon stats
Type effectiveness
| Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
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- 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 level-up moves from other generations
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TCG-only moves
Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
Other sprites
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| FireRed/LeafGreen back sprites
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HeartGold/SoulSilver back sprites
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Trivia
- Niue released a one-dollar coin featuring Bulbasaur as part of a commemorative promotion for the Pokémon franchise, with Bulbasaur on one side and the nation's coat of arms on the other.
- 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 only unevolved dual type starter Pokémon.
- 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 are the same: 001.
- 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.
- In the anime, May's Bulbasaur has little hearts on its head. It is 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. However, its final form learns it by leveling up.
- In Generation IV, there exists a glitch Pokémon named ----- that has the same cry as Bulbasaur.
- Due to the censor that prevents Pokémon with offensive nicknames being traded on the GTS, an English language Bulbasaur cannot be traded on the GTS without a nickname in Pokémon Black and White.
Origin
Bulbasaur appears to be based primarily on some form of reptile, specifically mammal-like reptiles known as Dicynodonts from the Permian period. Along with visible ears and no genuine metamorphosis stage (evolution aside), Bulbasaur appears to have more in common with mammals than amphibians like frogs and toads, which metamorphose from one definite creature into another as they mature as opposed to just growing into a larger adult version of itself the way that Bulbasaur does. Alternatively, Bulbasaur's large rounded snout, wide mouth, wide-set eyes, blotch-patterned skin, and quadraped-like movements are vaguely similar to those of certain amphibians, such as the common toad. Since Bulbasaur's "ears" do not in fact have hollows they may actually be similar to the glands present behind the eyes of many species of frogs and toads.
The bulb on its back may resemble that of a lily or onion.
Name origin
Bulbasaur is a portmanteau of the words bulb (a rounded underground storage organ present in some plants, notably those of the lily family) and the Greek saur (lizard).
Fushigidane literally means "isn't it strange?" and is also a pun on 不思議種 fushigidane (mysterious bulb).
In other languages
| Language
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Title
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Meaning
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 Japanese
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フシギダネ Fushigidane
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Mysterious bulb/Isn't it strange?
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 French
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Bulbizarre
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From bulbe and bizarre
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 Spanish
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Bulbasaur
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Same as English name
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 German
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Bisasam
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From Bisamratte and Samen
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 Italian
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Bulbasaur
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Same as English name
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 Korean
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이상해씨 Isanghae'ssi
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From 이상하다 isanghada and 씨 ssi
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 Mandarin Chinese
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妙蛙種子 / 妙蛙种子 Miàowāzhǒngzǐ
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Literally "Wonderful frog seed"
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 Cantonese Chinese
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奇異種子 Gēiyihjungjí
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Literally "Bizarre seed". May also be from 奇異果 gēiyihgwó
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| More languages
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 Brazilian Portuguese
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Bulbasauro
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From "Bulb" and "Dinosaur"
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 Thai
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ฟุชิงิดาเนะ Fushigidane
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Same as Japanese name
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Related articles
External links
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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.
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For other sprites and images, please see Bulbasaur images on Bulbagarden Archives.
