Bonsly
Bonsly is a Rock-type Pokémon, the Bonsai Pokémon, number 438 (#0438) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 4 and comes from the Sinnoh region. It is 0.5 m tall and weighs 15 kg.
Bonsly is the Bonsai Pokémon, a baby Rock type that looks like a potted tree and seems to cry all the time. The Pokédex says the tears just get rid of extra water, though they may make enemies lower their guard.
How to pronounce Bonsly
Bonsly is pronounced BONZ-ly. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Bonsly said out loud:
In Japanese it is ウソハチ (Usohachi).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Round and brown, Bonsly stands 0.5 m tall and weighs 15 kg, with a club-shaped top to its head, three yellow spots on its face and a hole at the back like a flowerpot's drain. People often mistake it for a Grass type, but Bulbapedia says its body is closer to stone.
Behaviour
Bonsly prefers dry places because it cannot cope with too much moisture. The Pokédex says its sweat is a little salty and its tears slightly bitter. It is a good mimic, often taken for a real bonsai, though it stands out where there is little greenery.
Habitat
The Pokédex lists dry, rocky places, and Bulbapedia says it is not uncommon in gardens. In Scarlet and Violet it is found in Paldea and Kitakami; it is not available in Legends: Z-A.
Diet
Bulbapedia, going by Brock's Bonsly, says a very young Bonsly needs bottle-feeding but eats solid food as it matures.
Powers
Bonsly has Sturdy and Rock Head, with Rattled hidden. It starts with Fake Tears, then learns Flail, Rock Throw, Mimic, Rock Tomb, Sucker Punch and Rock Slide. Its 95 base Defense is good for a baby, but its 10 Speed is painfully slow.
Name origin
Bonsly may combine 'bonsai' with 'sly' or 'lie'. The Japanese name is Usohachi (ウソハチ), perhaps from uso ('lie') or usoppachi ('downright lie') and hachi ('flowerpot').
Design inspiration
Bonsly appears modelled on a bonsai tree and on petrified wood, which would explain its pure Rock typing. Bulbapedia also sees a toddler in it, since the flowerpot looks like a nappy and it cries so often. These are fan readings.
Evolution notes
Bonsly is Sudowoodo's baby form, added in Generation IV. It evolves when levelled up while knowing Mimic, which it learns at level 16 in Scarlet and Violet.
In the games
A lost Bonsly turns up on the S.S. Libra in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, and returning it earns the Bonsly Bingo Sheet, letting players battle with a Rock Slide Bonsly long before Diamond and Pearl. In Scarlet and Violet it also appears in 1-star Tera Raid Battles.
In the anime
Brock caught a baby Bonsly in 'From Cradle to Save' and raised it. In the film 'Lucario and the Mystery of Mew', a Bonsly befriends May and ends up living in the Tree of Beginning with Mew.
Fun facts
- Its English name was revealed on 16 June 2005, before Diamond and Pearl were released in Japan.
- Its cry was revealed alongside Munchlax's in Pokémon XD, the first Generation IV Pokémon to get that treatment.
- In 'Showdown at the Gates of Warp!', a Trainer's Sudowoodo turned back into a Bonsly under Dialga's influence.
Base stats
- HP: 50
- Attack: 80
- Defense: 95
- Sp. Atk: 10
- Sp. Def: 45
- Speed: 10
Bonsly’s base stat total is 290. Its highest stat is Defense.
Type matchups
What is Bonsly weak to?
Bonsly takes extra damage from Water (2×), Grass (2×), Fighting (2×), Ground (2×), Steel (2×) moves.
It resists Normal (½×), Fire (½×), Poison (½×), Flying (½×).
Evolution
How does Bonsly evolve?
Bonsly evolves into Sudowoodo (Level up, knowing Mimic).
The whole family: Bonsly, Sudowoodo.
Abilities
- Sturdy: Prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
- Rock Head: Protects against recoil damage.
- Rattled (hidden ability): Raises Speed one stage upon being hit by a Dark, Ghost, or Bug move.
Moves
Moves Bonsly learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fake Tears | Dark | Status | — |
| 1 | Copycat | Normal | Status | — |
| 4 | Flail | Normal | Physical | — |
| 8 | Rock Throw | Rock | Physical | 50 |
| 12 | Block | Normal | Status | — |
| 16 | Mimic | Normal | Status | — |
| 20 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 |
| 24 | Tearful Look | Normal | Status | — |
| 28 | Sucker Punch | Dark | Physical | 70 |
| 32 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 |
| 36 | Low Kick | Fighting | Physical | — |
| 40 | Counter | Fighting | Physical | — |
| 44 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 |
TM moves (39)
Bonsly can learn 39 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Fake Tears, Mud-Slap, Protect, Low Kick, Thief, Trailblaze, Facade, Bulldoze, Mud Shot, Rock Tomb, Endure, Sunny Day, Sandstorm, Dig, Brick Break, Foul Play, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Rock Blast, Grass Knot, Stomping Tantrum, Rest, Rock Slide, Spikes, Power Gem, Substitute, Stealth Rock, Calm Mind, Helping Hand, Earth Power, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Tera Blast, Sand Tomb, Smack Down, Psych Up, Double-Edge, Curse.
Egg moves (6):Curse, Defense Curl, Harden, Headbutt, Rock Polish, Rollout.
Breeding & training
- Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
- Egg groups: Undiscovered.
- Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
- Catch rate: 255 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
- Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 1 Defense effort value.
- Base experience yield: 58.
Pokédex entries
Its tears elicit sympathy from those who see them, but do not be deceived! This expulsion of body water is merely a physiological mechanism for keeping itself in good health. (Legends: Arceus)
This Pokémon lives in dry, rocky areas. As its green spheres dry out, their dull luster increases. (Shield)
It expels both sweat and tears from its eyes. The sweat is a little salty, while the tears have a slight bitterness. (Sword)
If its body gets too damp, it will die. So, in a process reminiscent of sweating, its eyes expel moisture. (Ultra Moon)
It discharges moisture from its eyes, making it look like it's crying—apparently an effective way of getting enemies to let down their guard. (Ultra Sun)
From its eyes, it can expel excess moisture from its body. This liquid is similar in composition to human sweat. (Moon)
Names around the world
| Japanese | ウソハチ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Usohachi |
| French | Manzaï |
| German | Mobai |
| Spanish | Bonsly |
| Italian | Bonsly |
| Korean | 꼬지지 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 盆才怪 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 盆才怪 |
Trivia
- Lightest Rock type in Gen 4: 15 kg.
- Shortest Rock type in Gen 4: 0.5 m, shared with 1 other.
- Slowest Rock type in Gen 4: 10 Speed.
- Lowest base stat total among Rock types in Gen 4: 290.
- Taller than 19% of all Pokémon (0.5 m).
- Heavier than 36% of all Pokémon (15 kg).
- Base stat total 290, ranked #892 of 1,025.
- One of 74 Rock-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
- One of 147 brown Pokémon.
- Number 52 of 107 Pokémon introduced in Generation 4 (Sinnoh).
- Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
- Can learn 52 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
- Catch rate 255: about 33.3% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 11 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: Bonsly (Pokémon), Serebii: Bonsly (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
- Pronunciation (BONZ-ly): 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
Rock-type Pokémon · Sinnoh region guide · Sturdy ability · Rock Head ability · Rattled ability · Compare Bonsly · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
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Gen 4 Rock-type Pokémon · Gen 4 Pokémon list · Brown Pokémon list · No Eggs Discovered egg group · Pokémon that start with B