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In the post-game,Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandPokemon Shining Pearlallows trainers to catch the starter Pokemon from the Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn regions. Trainers looking for a Grass-type may want to consider catching Bulbasaur.
Since Bulbasaur is not in the original Sinnoh Dex given at the start ofBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, players need to complete an in-game requirement before they can find one. Once this is done, they will begin to see Bulbasaur in certain hideaways.
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Getting Bulbasaur
The only way to get Bulbasaur in the originalDiamond/Pearl/Platinumwas to transfer it fromFireRed/LeafGreenand then catch it at Pal Park. Since the Nintendo Switch lacks a GBA Slot and no more games are being made for the handhelds, players can no longer send over their starter Bulbasaur fromFireRedorLeafGreen.
Thankfully, with the Grand Underground, players can catch their own Bulbasaur on theirBrilliant Diamond/Shining Pearlsave file. Since Bulbasaur will be caught directly by the player, it will have the same Trainer ID, meaning it can be anicknamed Pokemon.
Bulbasaur can be found in the following hideaways of the Grand Underground:
These biodomes may already be unlocked or “available” before the player has to take on the Elite Four. However, Bulbasaur won’t start appearing untilafter the player has received the National Dex. Players will be able to get the National Dex after they’ve seen every Pokemon in Sinnoh, and then speaking to Professor Rowan in Sandgem Town.
If Bulbasaur isn’t there when entering one of its habitats,exit and then re-enter. To get more Bulbasaurs, players can keep searching the hideaways, or they can breed their Bulbasaur at the Pokemon Daycare.
Bulbasaur’s Stats and Evolution
Bulbasaur will evolve into Ivysaur at level 16, which will thenevolve into Venusaur at level 32. Venusaur has a base stat total of 525, with average stats but a solid Special Attack and Special Defense. As a Grass/Poison-type, the entire Bulbasaur line has resistance to Grass, Electric, Fairy, Fighting, and Water-types. It has a weakness to Fire, Flying, Ice, and Psychic types.
By learning the Bulbasaur-line’s stats, strengths, and weaknesses, players can give it a movepool that hits hard and gives good coverage. However, Bulbasaur won’t learn too many damaging Poison-type moves. Therefore, it’s best for it tolearn moves like Sludge Bomb from TMs. Giving Bulbasaur an offensive Poison-type move will allow it to deal Super-Effective damage on Grass and Fairy-type Pokemon.
Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandPokemon Shining Pearlare available now on Nintendo Switch.
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