Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, And Mega Venusaur: 5 Reasons Why The Original Grass Starter Is Dominating 2025

The Bulbasaur evolutionary line—Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and the mighty Venusaur—is one of the most iconic in all of Pokémon, yet its relevance has surged dramatically in late 2024 and 2025. Far from being a relic of the Kanto region, this Grass/Poison-type trio is currently at the forefront of the Pokémon world, thanks to major announcements and a surprising resurgence in competitive play. With the latest news confirming its inclusion in the highly anticipated *Pokémon Legends: Z-A*, players are once again turning to the original starter to understand its power, its unique Mega Evolution, and its surprising versatility on the battlefield.

This article dives deep into the current state of the Bulbasaur line in December 2025, exploring its role in the new game, its dominant competitive niche, and the specific strategies that make Mega Venusaur a formidable tank.

The Bulbasaur Evolutionary Line: A Brief Profile

The Bulbasaur line holds a unique place in Pokémon history, famously being the first entry in the National Pokédex. Despite its number, the final stage, Venusaur, was actually the first of the three to be designed by the original creators.

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• Bulbasaur (Seed Pokémon): The base form, a Grass/Poison-type. It carries a seed on its back, which grows as it evolves. Its base ability is Overgrow.
• Ivysaur (Seed Pokémon): The intermediate stage, evolving from Bulbasaur at Level 16. The bulb on its back is larger, and its scent is said to be sweet.
• Venusaur (Seed Pokémon): The final stage, evolving from Ivysaur at Level 32. The flower on its back is fully bloomed, capable of absorbing solar energy. Its base abilities are Overgrow and the Hidden Ability Chlorophyll.
• Mega Venusaur: Achieved by holding the Venusaurite Mega Stone. This form gains a massive boost in defensive stats and acquires the crucial Thick Fat ability, transforming it into one of the bulkiest Pokémon in the game.

1. The Pokémon Legends: Z-A Factor: Mega Evolution's Return

The single biggest piece of news for the Bulbasaur line in 2025 is its confirmed inclusion in *Pokémon Legends: Z-A*, the next major title set in the Kalos region's Lumiose City. This announcement is significant for two primary reasons:

The Revival of Mega Evolution

Mega Evolution, a mechanic central to the Kalos region, is confirmed to return in *Legends: Z-A*. This directly impacts Venusaur, as its powerful Mega Evolution will once again be accessible. For trainers, this means the quest to obtain the Venusaurite is paramount, potentially involving a side mission or a challenging hunt, similar to the "A Call From Mable" quest that allows players to obtain the Kanto starters early in the game.

A New Regional Niche?

While no new regional forms have been confirmed for the Bulbasaur line in Kalos, the nature of a *Legends* game often introduces unique variants or new evolution methods. Speculation is rife within the community that a unique Kalosian variant of Bulbasaur, perhaps related to the region's focus on beauty and urban design in Lumiose City, could be revealed. The Bulbasaur line's status as a fan-favorite Kanto starter ensures it will play a prominent, nostalgic role in the game's narrative.

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2. Mega Venusaur's Competitive Dominance in VGC 2025

In the high-stakes world of competitive Pokémon, specifically the Video Game Championships (VGC) 2025 Regulation J, Mega Venusaur has cemented its status as a top-tier defensive pivot. While its base form might see limited use, the Mega Evolution is a strategic powerhouse.

The Power of Thick Fat

Mega Venusaur's primary competitive advantage is its ability, Thick Fat. This ability halves the damage taken from Fire-type and Ice-type moves. Since the Grass/Poison typing is normally weak to both Fire and Ice, Thick Fat effectively negates these common weaknesses. This leaves Mega Venusaur with only two weaknesses: Flying and Psychic, turning it into one of the most reliable "tanks" in the metagame.

With impressive defensive stats (Base 123 Defense and 120 Special Defense), Mega Venusaur can absorb hits that would instantly KO most other Grass-types, allowing it to set up and stall opponents effectively.

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3. Key Competitive Movesets and Strategies

Mega Venusaur’s competitive builds are centered around longevity and strategic chip damage, often utilizing a Bold or Calm Nature with investment in HP and defensive stats (Defense/Special Defense).

The Defensive Tank Set

The most common and effective set focuses on stalling and recovery. Key moves include:

• Leech Seed: A crucial move that drains the opponent's HP every turn, providing passive healing for Venusaur.
• Synthesis: Reliable recovery, especially potent in sun teams.
• Giga Drain: A powerful Grass-type STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) move that also heals Venusaur, further boosting its staying power.
• Sludge Bomb: The Poison-type STAB move, offering a chance to poison the opponent.

This strategy allows Mega Venusaur to outlast many attackers, slowly whittling down their health while maintaining its own.

The Chlorophyll Sun Sweeper

While Mega Venusaur relies on Thick Fat, the base form Venusaur's Hidden Ability, Chlorophyll, remains a powerful offensive strategy, especially in VGC 2025. Chlorophyll doubles Venusaur's Speed under harsh sunlight, turning its decent Special Attack into a terrifying threat. This strategy is often paired with sun-setting Pokémon like Torkoal or the legendary Primal Groudon (in formats where it is allowed).

Moves for a Chlorophyll sweeper often include Solar Beam (which fires instantly in the sun), Sludge Bomb, and sometimes coverage moves like Hidden Power Fire or Earth Power to hit Steel-types and other threats.

4. Ivysaur’s Surprising VGC 2025 Niche

In a bizarre yet effective twist of the 2025 competitive meta, the middle evolution, Ivysaur, has found a niche in some creative VGC teams. While it may seem counterintuitive to use a middle-stage Pokémon, its lower-level stats allow it to be used in specific formats or rulesets where it can leverage powerful utility moves.

One notable strategy involves using Ivysaur as a sleeper with the move Hypnosis, which has a higher accuracy in older games and can still be a momentum-changer in certain competitive environments. The YouTube community has seen players experimenting with Ivysaur builds featuring moves like Scald, Ice Beam, and Icy Wind for speed control and utility, proving that even the often-overlooked middle evolution has a role to play in the current meta.

5. The TCG Pocket and Collectibles Boom

Beyond the video games, the Bulbasaur line is experiencing a collecting boom, fueled by new releases in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and its digital expansion, *Pokémon TCG Pocket*.

The Japanese TCG set *Mega Brave* introduced stunning new art cards (AR/SAR) for Bulbasaur and Ivysaur, which, when placed together, form a larger, continuous landscape alongside Mega Venusaur EX. This "landscape art" concept has driven up demand for these specific cards, making the Bulbasaur line a highly sought-after collectible in 2025. The nostalgia for the original starter, combined with the power of its Mega Evolution, ensures that Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Mega Venusaur will remain central figures in the Pokémon universe for years to come.