Bayleef
Bayleef is a Grass-type Pokémon, the Leaf Pokémon, number 153 (#0153) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 2 and comes from the Johto region. It is 1.2 m tall and weighs 15.8 kg.
Bayleef is the Leaf Pokémon, with a ring of curled leaves round its neck that each hide a tiny tree shoot. The Pokédex says the spicy scent of those shoots makes people peppy.
How to pronounce Bayleef
Bayleef is pronounced BAY-leef. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Bayleef said out loud:
In Japanese it is ベイリーフ (Bayleaf).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Bayleef is a pale yellow quadruped with a long neck, a short rounded snout and a big leaf bent back on its forehead. The tubular leaves round its neck each hold a small tree shoot. It is 1.2 m tall and weighs 15.8 kg. The Pokédex says the aroma from the shoots acts as a stimulant that restores health.
Behaviour
Bulbapedia says the scent is energising enough that even Pokémon sleeping near Bayleef feel invigorated. Not every Pokédex entry calls it restful, though: the Gold and Scarlet entries claim that smelling it somehow makes you want to fight.
Habitat
The Pokédex habitat is grassland, though Bulbapedia calls it rare in the wild. In Scarlet and Violet you get one by evolving Chikorita in The Indigo Disk, and in Legends: Z-A by evolving Chikorita or in the 3★ and 4★ Grass-type wild zones of the Mega Dimension DLC's Hyperspace Lumiose.
Powers
Bayleef uses Razor Leaf, Magical Leaf, Synthesis and Leech Seed, and can raise Reflect and Light Screen. Its Abilities are Overgrow and the hidden Leaf Guard. With 80 base Defense and 80 base Special Defense it is a sturdy supporter, though its Speed is only 60.
Name origin
Bayleef comes from bay leaf, a cooking herb known for its pungent smell. The Japanese name is Bayleaf (ベイリーフ), which keeps the same idea.
Design inspiration
Bulbapedia says Bayleef appears to be based on a sauropod, specifically Apatosaurus, and that its neck leaves may come from the bay laurel, an oil from which is used in aromatherapy as a stimulant. These are fan readings.
Evolution notes
Evolves from Chikorita at level 16 and into Meganium at level 32.
In the games
Bayleef is the middle form of Johto's Grass starter line, introduced in Gold and Silver, where it comes only from evolving Chikorita. Pokémon Colosseum, Bulbapedia notes, gives you just one Bayleef per game unless you trade.
In the anime
Casey's Chikorita evolved into a Bayleef in 'The Bug Stops Here'. Ash's Chikorita evolved in 'Current Events' while protecting him from Team Rocket, keeping her old personality at first before she mellowed.
Fun facts
- Bulbapedia points out that the neck leaves are always described as spicy, while real bay leaves taste bitter and herbal.
- No other Pokémon besides Bayleef (base Attack 62, Special Attack 63) and Meganium (82 and 83) has those two stats exactly one point apart, Bulbapedia says.
- In the Spaceworld '97 demo, Bulbapedia says Bayleef seems to have been a design called Hanamogura, a mole whose name plays on the 'earth dragon' kanji for mole, and the antennae from that design survive on Meganium.
Base stats
- HP: 60
- Attack: 62
- Defense: 80
- Sp. Atk: 63
- Sp. Def: 80
- Speed: 60
Bayleef’s base stat total is 405. Its highest stat is Defense and Sp. Def.
Type matchups
What is Bayleef weak to?
Bayleef takes extra damage from Fire (2×), Ice (2×), Poison (2×), Flying (2×), Bug (2×) moves.
It resists Water (½×), Electric (½×), Grass (½×), Ground (½×).
Evolution
What does Bayleef evolve from?
Bayleef evolves from Chikorita at level 16.
How does Bayleef evolve?
Bayleef evolves into Meganium at level 32.
The whole family: Chikorita, Bayleef, Meganium.
Abilities
- Overgrow: Strengthens Grass moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
- Leaf Guard (hidden ability): Protects against major status ailments during strong sunlight.
Moves
Moves Bayleef learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 40 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — |
| 1 | Razor Leaf | Grass | Physical | 55 |
| 1 | Poison Powder | Poison | Status | — |
| 12 | Synthesis | Grass | Status | — |
| 18 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — |
| 22 | Magical Leaf | Grass | Special | 60 |
| 26 | Leech Seed | Grass | Status | — |
| 32 | Sweet Scent | Normal | Status | — |
| 36 | Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — |
| 40 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 |
| 46 | Safeguard | Normal | Status | — |
| 50 | Giga Drain | Grass | Special | 75 |
| 54 | Solar Beam | Grass | Special | 120 |
TM moves (35)
Bayleef can learn 35 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Charm, Fake Tears, Mud-Slap, Protect, Trailblaze, Facade, Magical Leaf, Endure, Sunny Day, Bullet Seed, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Seed Bomb, Reflect, Light Screen, Grass Knot, Stomping Tantrum, Rest, Swords Dance, Substitute, Giga Drain, Energy Ball, Encore, Helping Hand, Grassy Terrain, Grass Pledge, Leaf Storm, Solar Beam, Tera Blast, Knock Off, Solar Blade, Grassy Glide, Double-Edge, Curse.
Egg moves (6):Ancient Power, Counter, Flail, Heal Pulse, Ingrain, Vine Whip.
Breeding & training
- Gender: 87.5% male, 12.5% female.
- Egg groups: Monster, Grass.
- Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
- Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
- Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 1 Defense and 1 Sp. Def effort values.
- Base experience yield: 142.
Pokédex entries
Bayleef's neck is ringed by curled-up leaves. Inside each tubular leaf is a small shoot of a tree. The fragrance of this shoot makes people peppy. (Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)
The buds that ring its neck give off a spicy aroma that perks people up. (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Y)
A spicy aroma emanates from around its neck. The aroma acts as a stimulant to restore health. (Silver, FireRed, SoulSilver, X)
The scent of spices comes from around its neck. Somehow, sniffing it makes you want to fight. (Gold, LeafGreen, HeartGold)
A Bayleef's neck is ringed by curled-up leaves. Inside each leaf is a small tree shoot. The fragrance of this shoot makes people peppy. (Emerald)
The scent that wafts from the leaves on its neck causes anyone who smells it to become energetic. (Crystal)
Names around the world
| Japanese | ベイリーフ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Bayleaf |
| French | Macronium |
| German | Lorblatt |
| Spanish | Bayleef |
| Italian | Bayleef |
| Korean | 베이리프 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 月桂叶 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 月桂葉 |
Trivia
- Taller than 58% of all Pokémon (1.2 m).
- Heavier than 37% of all Pokémon (15.8 kg).
- Base stat total 405, ranked #605 of 1,025.
- One of 127 Grass-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
- One of 130 green Pokémon.
- Number 2 of 100 Pokémon introduced in Generation 2 (Johto).
- Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
- Can learn 49 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
- Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 6 distinct Pokédex entries.
Sources and fact-checking
- Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
- Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Bayleef (Pokémon), Serebii: Bayleef (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
- Pronunciation (BAY-leef): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Grass-type Pokémon · Johto region guide · Overgrow ability · Leaf Guard ability · Compare Bayleef · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
Browse similar Pokémon
Gen 2 Grass-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Pokémon list · Green Pokémon list · Monster egg group · Grass egg group · Pokémon that start with B · Dinosaur Pokémon