Finding Bulbasaur in Pokémon Ruby: A Comprehensive Guide

The direct answer? You cannot directly find Bulbasaur in the wild or through normal gameplay in Pokémon Ruby. However, don’t despair! There are still ways to obtain this classic Grass/Poison-type Pokémon for your Ruby team, even though it requires a bit of extra effort. This article will explain your options and answer your frequently asked questions.

Transferring Bulbasaur: The Primary Method

Since Bulbasaur doesn’t natively appear in the Hoenn region (where Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are set), the primary method for getting one involves trading. Here’s how:

1. Obtain a copy of Pokémon FireRed or LeafGreen: These Generation III games (also on the Game Boy Advance) are your source for catching Bulbasaur. In these games, you can choose Bulbasaur as your starting Pokémon at the beginning of the adventure, or obtain it later in Cerulean City from a woman in a house if you’ve caught at least 30 Pokémon.

2. Progress in FireRed or LeafGreen: Train your Bulbasaur or its evolved forms (Ivysaur or Venusaur) to a level suitable for trading.

3. Unlock the National Pokédex in Ruby: You must defeat the Elite Four and the Champion in Pokémon Ruby and obtain the National Pokédex from Professor Birch. This allows you to trade Pokémon from outside the Hoenn region.

4. Trade using a link cable: Use a Game Boy Advance link cable to connect your Game Boy Advance (or Game Boy Advance SP) running Pokémon Ruby to another running FireRed or LeafGreen. Visit a Pokémon Center in both games and use the Trade Center on the second floor to initiate the trade.

5. Enjoy your Bulbasaur in Ruby: Once the trade is complete, Bulbasaur will be part of your Pokémon Ruby team!

Event Distributions: A Rare Historical Note

Back in 2006, Nintendo occasionally held special distribution events where players could receive Pokémon that were normally unavailable in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. While extremely rare and impossible to replicate now, some of these events included Bulbasaur. If you somehow managed to acquire Bulbasaur this way, consider yourself extremely lucky!

Frequently Asked Questions About Bulbasaur in Pokémon Ruby

Here are some commonly asked questions about Bulbasaur and its availability in Pokémon Ruby:

Is it possible to catch Charmander in Pokémon Ruby?

No, Charmander is also unavailable in the wild in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. Like Bulbasaur, you’ll need to trade it in from FireRed or LeafGreen or hope for a highly improbable legacy from a past event.

What level does Bulbasaur evolve in Pokémon Ruby?

Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur at level 16. Ivysaur then evolves into Venusaur at level 32. The evolution levels remain the same regardless of which game you are playing.

Which Pokémon games can you get all three original starters (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle)?

In the original Generation 1 games (Red, Blue, and Yellow) you can only choose one of the three starters at the beginning of the game. To acquire all three, you’d need to trade with other players. However, in later games like Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, you can obtain Bulbasaur at Cerulean City. Some modern games like Pokémon Sword and Shield allow you to get all three starters through gameplay, but it requires some online interactions or DLC purchases.

Can you get the Kanto starters in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire?

Similar to the original Ruby and Sapphire, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire do not have Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle natively in the wild. Trading from other games or utilizing the Pokémon Bank service (if you had access to older games and a compatible 3DS) was the solution.

Is Bulbasaur a rare Pokémon?

While Bulbasaur is one of the starter Pokémon, its rarity depends on the context. In its debut games, Red and Blue, it’s relatively common if chosen as your starter. However, in games where it’s not natively available, like Ruby, acquiring it requires extra effort. Certain Bulbasaur Pokémon cards can be quite valuable, especially if they are graded and in pristine condition.

Is Ash’s Bulbasaur a female?

No, in the English dub of the Pokémon anime episode “Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village,” it is implied by Ash Ketchum that his Bulbasaur is male.

What animal is Bulbasaur based on?

While appearing amphibian-like, Ken Sugimori, the Pokémon designer, stated that Bulbasaur’s design is inspired by both onions and bullfrogs, along with elements reminiscent of a smaller Dicynodont, an extinct reptile.

Is Bulbasaur half poison?

Yes, Bulbasaur is a Grass/Poison-type Pokémon. This dual-typing affects its strengths and weaknesses in battle.

What are the evolutions of Bulbasaur?

Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur at level 16, and then into Venusaur at level 32. Venusaur has a Mega Evolution (Mega Venusaur) in later games like X and Y, but this feature is not available in Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald.

Can Charizard Mega Evolve in Pokémon Ruby?

No. Mega Evolution was introduced in Pokémon X and Y, so it is not a feature in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald. Therefore, even if you trade a Charizard into Ruby, it cannot Mega Evolve in that game.

Which starter Pokémon is the best?

The “best” starter Pokémon is subjective and depends on your play style and team composition. However, Blaziken (from Ruby and Sapphire) and Charizard are often cited as powerful and popular choices, as are some of the later generation options.

Is Pokémon Home free?

Pokémon Home offers both a free Basic Plan and a paid Premium Plan. The free plan has limitations on the number of Pokémon you can store and the features you can access. This service provides ways to transfer Pokémon between different compatible games.

Can you get starter Pokémon in Ruby?

The starter Pokémon in Ruby are Treecko (Grass), Torchic (Fire), and Mudkip (Water). You choose one of these at the beginning of your adventure on Route 101.

Can you get Squirtle in Ruby?

Just like Bulbasaur and Charmander, Squirtle is not natively available in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald. You would need to trade it from FireRed or LeafGreen.

What is a good resource for understanding the educational aspects of gaming?

The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) explores the intersection of gaming and education, providing valuable insights into how games can be used for learning and development. You can find more information about their research and activities on their website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.