Species guide · Ages 10+ · July 2026
Bulbasaur
Say it: BUL-buh-sore
Kids summary (simpler)Tap to expand
Bulbasaur is the Seed Pokémon — Grass and Poison before Ivysaur and Venusaur. In Pokémon GO it is usually candy on the way to Venusaur — not a finished raid attacker. Grass/Poison hits Water, Ground, Rock, and Fairy well in spots; Fire, Ice, Flying, and Psychic punish it. Catch Bulbasaur from the wild, eggs, or events, then evolve. Frenzy Plant from Bulbasaur Community Day belongs on Venusaur.
Say it: BUL-buh-sore
Bulbasaur (#001) is a Grass / Poison Pokémon in Pokémon GO — the baby stage of Venusaur. Trainers almost never power Bulbasaur for raids; the value is candy and IVs for Ivysaur/Venusaur (and Frenzy Plant / Mega Venusaur). Against Bulbasaur, lead with Fire, Ice, Flying, or Psychic. Stats, type chart, moves, and counter picks below use our Game Master snapshot.
Type-colored placeholder — not official Pokémon artwork (see IP notice below).
Pokédex notes
Bulbasaur opens the Kanto starter line — Grass/Poison typing helps early gyms and Grass raids after evolution. Community Day reruns often add exclusive moves; keep a high-IV copy before evolving to Venusaur.
Where in GO: Starter eggs, research, and seasonal events
Fun fact: All three Kanto starters get frequent Community Day returns — save candy across the family.
Invest tip: Do not sink Stardust into Bulbasaur. Keep high-IV copies for Venusaur and save Elite Charged TMs for Frenzy Plant. Shadow Bulbasaur is the same — evolve toward Shadow Venusaur.
Type matchups
- Grass moves hit Water, Ground, and Rock hard.
- Poison moves hit Grass and Fairy hard.
When Bulbasaur is your opponent, Fire, Ice, Flying, Psychic hits hard.
Full type matchup guide →GO base stats
From Game Master snapshot — IVs, buddy, and power-ups change real battle stats.
- Attack
- 118
- Defense
- 111
- Stamina
- 128
Weak to
Resists
Best Pokémon to use against it
When this species is your opponent (Rocket battle, gym, raid, or PvP), these picks exploit its typings. Each list is a pool of options — not a required 12-Pokémon lobby.
Recommended
Strongest practical attackers for this matchup.
- 1. Mega Charizard Y · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 2. Reshiram · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Fusion Flare
- 3. Shadow Moltres · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 4. Shadow Charizard · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 5. Mega Blaziken · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 6. Shadow Entei · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 7. Blaziken · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 8. Darmanitan · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Overheat
- 9. Chandelure · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 10. Heatran · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Flamethrower
- 11. Emboar · beats Fire
Ember + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 12. Infernape · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
Budget
Solid alternatives when you cannot build the Recommended picks.
- 1. Darmanitan · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Overheat
- 2. Arcanine · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Flamethrower
- 3. Flareon · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 4. Typhlosion · beats Fire
Incinerate + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 5. Magmortar · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Fire Punch
- 6. Camerupt · beats Fire
Incinerate + Overheat
- 7. Torkoal · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Overheat
- 8. Rapidash · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Fire Blast
- 9. Pyroar · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Overheat
- 10. Simisear · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Flamethrower
- 11. Charizard · beats Fire
Fire Spin + Blast Burn · Elite TM
- 12. Houndoom · beats Fire
Fire Fang + Flamethrower
Recommended moves
Bulbasaur’s Game Master pool is temporary. Real investment is Venusaur with Frenzy Plant (Community Day / Elite TM) — evolve before serious TMs and power-ups.
Fast
- Vine Whip · Standard
Grass energy
- Tackle · Standard
Normal filler
Charged
- Power Whip · Standard
Grass nuke
- Seed Bomb · Standard
Grass alternate
- Sludge Bomb · Standard
Poison coverage
Moves in GO
Always-available Game Master learnset (regular TMs). Community Day / Elite TM moves appear above when we have curated notes for this species.
Fast
- vine whip
- tackle
Charged
- sludge bomb
- seed bomb
- power whip
PvP league ranks (family snapshot)
- Great League · rank #526 of 954 · CP 1260
Vine Whip + Power Whip
- Master League · rank #675 of 1023 · CP 1260
Vine Whip + Power Whip
In your Collect
Name match only (text). Cards you have saved in Card Nexus Collect — not official art.
Sign in to see holdings, or open Collect.
Open Collect →Raid and PvP advice uses our Game Master snapshot (updated July 2026).
In the Competitive Guide
- Ch. 20: Lucky Pokémon & Family Trades
When lucky status matters for trades and Stardust savings.
- Ch. 21: Best Friends & Lucky Friends
Friendship steps for raid bonuses and lucky trades.