Bulbasaur
#1 in the Kanto Pokédex • Seed Pokémon
Bulbasaur in the National PokédexIn Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Bulbasaur is the most forgiving of the three starters Professor Oak offers, with a Grass and Poison typing that lines up against the first two Gyms.
Normal
Shiny
Pokédex entries
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.
Pokémon details
Types
Category
Ability
Height
Weight
National Pokédex
Kanto Pokédex
Bulbasaur in Other Games
National Dex pageMin
Max
HP
45
200
294
Attack
49
92
216
Defense
49
92
216
Sp. Atk
65
121
251
Sp. Def
65
121
251
Speed
45
85
207
Total
318
Ranges are for Level 100. Max assumes a beneficial nature, 252 EVs, and 31 IVs; min assumes a hindering nature, 0 EVs, and 0 IVs.
Game availability
Available within the FireRed/LeafGreen pair. Depending on the species, acquisition can require the other version, the postgame, evolution, breeding, or an event ticket. Original GBA event tickets required historical distributions; Switch ticket access differs.
| EV yield | 1 SpA |
|---|---|
| Catch rate | 45 |
| Base Exp. | 64 |
| Pokémon | Requires | Evolution |
|---|---|---|
Bulbasaur #1 | Level 16 |  Ivysaur #2 |
Ivysaur #2 | Level 32 |  Venusaur #3 |
Gift
One of the three first partner Pokémon, chosen from Professor Oak in Pallet Town at the start of the adventure.
Pallet Town
| Class | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Tackle |  |  | 35 | 95 | 35 |
| 4 | Growl | |  | - | 100 | 40 |
| 7 | Leech Seed | | | - | 90 | 10 |
| 10 | Vine Whip | |  | 35 | 100 | 10 |
| 15 | Poison Powder | | | - | 75 | 35 |
| 15 | Sleep Powder | | | - | 75 | 15 |
| 20 | Razor Leaf | | | 55 | 95 | 25 |
| 25 | Sweet Scent | | | - | 100 | 20 |
| 32 | Growth | | | - | - | 40 |
| 39 | Synthesis | | | - | - | 5 |
| 46 | Solar Beam | | | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| Class | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | | | - | 85 | 10 |
| TM09 | Bullet Seed | | | 10 | 100 | 30 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | | | - | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day |  | | - | - | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | | | - | - | 10 |
| TM19 | Giga Drain | | | 60 | 100 | 5 |
| TM21 | Frustration | | | - | 100 | 20 |
| TM22 | Solar Beam | | | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| TM27 | Return | | | - | 100 | 20 |
| TM32 | Double Team | | | - | - | 15 |
| TM36 | Sludge Bomb | | | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| TM42 | Facade | | | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Secret Power | | | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest |  | | - | - | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | | | - | 100 | 15 |
| HM01 | Cut | | | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM04 | Strength | | | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| HM05 | Flash | | | - | 70 | 20 |
| HM06 | Rock Smash |  | | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| Class | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Slam | | | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| Double-Edge | | | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| Mimic | | | - | - | 10 |
| Substitute | | | - | - | 10 |
| Swords Dance | | | - | - | 30 |
| Class | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charm | | | - | 100 | 20 |
| Curse |  | | - | - | 10 |
| Grass Whistle | | | - | 55 | 15 |
| Light Screen | | | - | - | 30 |
| Magical Leaf | | | 60 | - | 20 |
| Petal Dance | | | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| Safeguard | | | - | - | 25 |
| Skull Bash | | | 100 | 100 | 15 |
Overgrow
Ups GRASS moves in a pinch.
Strengthens Grass moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
Bulbasaur in FireRed and LeafGreen
In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Bulbasaur is one of the three starters Professor Oak offers in Pallet Town. As a Grass- and Poison-type, it gives new trainers the smoothest opening of the three, with a type advantage that lines up neatly against the first two Gyms.
Why choose Bulbasaur
Bulbasaur is the forgiving pick. Its Grass typing deals super-effective damage to Brock’s Rock-types in Pewter City and Misty’s Water-types in Cerulean City, so the early Gyms that punish 
Charmander are far kinder to Bulbasaur. 
Squirtle sits in the middle, but Bulbasaur asks the least of a first-time team.
Movepool and evolution
Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur at Level 16 and into Venusaur at Level 32, with no items required. Along the way it learns reliable Grass moves like Vine Whip and Razor Leaf, the status move Sleep Powder for setting up catches and tough battles, and Solar Beam as a late-game finisher.
Where to get it
Bulbasaur is only available as a starter at the beginning of the game, so a single save file can hold just one. To complete the Kanto trio with Charmander and Squirtle, trade with another FireRed or LeafGreen cartridge.
- Type: Grass and Poison
- Evolves at Level 16 and Level 32
- Strong against the first two Gyms
- Starter only; trade for the others
