The 7 strongest types of grass in Kanto

Many Pokemon professors in the world are often considered to be the calmest type Pokemon recommend brand new Trainers Grass starters. Considering the roster debuted with a collected Bulbasaur, it's easy to see why. Besides Bulbasaur, several other Grass-type Pokémon were part of the original 151, such as Oddish and Tangela.

While these Pokemon are usually lax in nature, that certainly doesn't mean their abilities should be underestimated. In fact, Grass-type Pokemon have been known to use a wide variety of status ailment moves in battle, causing their opponent to be crippled or even poisoned. As the years passed, some of these Pokémon became even stronger thanks to the power of Mega Evolution.

Parasect is technically a zombie

The mushroom on the back controls the Pokemon

Although everyone who played Pokemon Legends: Arceus you can tell how lively and territorial the wild Paras of Hisui are, currently these Bug/Grass type Pokemon are rather shy. Paras, a Pokémon with a tragic fate, is always hungry because parasitic fungi on its back steal most of its nutrients. After evolving into Parasect, the mushrooms have now become one giant mushroom and the Bug/Grass type's eyes are now an eerie shade of white. According to Parasect's Pokédex entry v Pokémon Ultra Sunthe Mushroom Pokémon itself is almost completely dead, only slightly kept alive by the mushroom that controls the body.

In the anime, it is revealed that the Parasect mushroom can actually create an amazing medicine. As such, Ash's new friend Cassandra wished to evolve her timid Paras into a Parasekt, though she often faints from even the slightest attack in battle. However, when Team Rocket arrived and tried to trick the Paras into working with them, the rigged battles they staged to gain the Paras' trust backfired in their favor. The newly confident Paras, once Team Rocket was sent away, was able to smartly win against Ash's Charmeleon by using its claws, evolving in the process. Unhappy with this outcome, Charmeleon tries to attack Parasect, only to be put to sleep by its useful Spore move.

Vileplume's spore stun attack is no joke

The original evolved form of weirdness and gloom

After evolving from Oddish, the Weed Pokémon Gloom can evolve into either Vileplume or Bellossom depending on which Evolution Stone its trainer uses. Before Bellossom's debut in Generation II, Gloom could only evolve into Vileplume and only with the Leaf Stone. Said to have the largest petals of any flower-like Pokemon, the Vileplume flower is actually very toxic. The flower Pokémon's petals disperse the dust that surrounds it, causing allergic flare-ups and even status ailments to those who dare approach Vileplume.

Although she appeared in Erika's Gym and under the tutelage of James' ex-fiancée Jessebelle, Vileplume's main role lies in “The Stun Spore Detour”, set during Ash's time in the Orange Islands. After Ash and his new friend Tracey (along with Team Rocket's Jessie) are attacked by Vileplume's Stun Spore, leaving them paralyzed. Misty learns that a rare plant known as Salveyo weed can be made into medicine, but finds herself fighting James and Meowth for the same plant. Fortunately, at the end of the episode, everyone is able to get the medicine they need, but not without becoming even more afraid of the dangerous Flower Pokémon.

The Cantonese exeggutor has dangerous hypnotic powers

In Alola, Exeggutor are dragon type instead

Found in the tall grass around Kanto and beyond, Exeggcute is an uncommon Grass/Psychic type Pokémon. Consisting of six egg-like creatures that are always drawn together by a unique power, these Pokémon will team up to take down the enemy. According to the Pokédex, Exeggcute is said to be close to evolving when cracks start to appear in the eggshells. Strangely, Exeggcute can only evolve when exposed to a Leaf Stone.

Although Exeggcute evolves into a Grass/Dragon type in Alola, the Kantonian Exeggutor remains a Grass/Psychic type. Known as “The Walking Jungle”, the exeggutor's coconut heads each have their own mind, but join forces through telepathy to harness their powers as seen in the anime. In “The March of the Exeggutor Squad”, Ash and his friends learn how dangerous the Exeggutor's Hypnosis move can be after the horde ends up hypnotizing each other and nearly destroys the city. Although the threat is soon stopped, Ash later has to contend with his newly evolved Charmeleon, who refuses to listen to him.

Shauna has an Ivysaur as her Pokemon partner

Ivysaur participated in both battles and competitions

Like her in-game counterpart, Shauna is an energetic adventurer who loves all things cute. Although she is known to participate in battles, Shauna is primarily a Pokémon Performer. Like her childhood friends, dancer Tierno and photographer Trevor, Shauna hails from the town of Vaniville. Since then, she has traveled around the Kalos region and participated in several Pokémon Contests, hoping to one day become the Kalos Queen.

Although most of Shauna's Pokémon have not yet evolved, her starting Pokémon, Bulbasaur, has since evolved into Ivysaur. Alongside Shauna's Flabébé, Ivysaur acts as one of the main Pokémon Performer Pokémon for Pokémon Contests. Although it was rather aloof as a Bulbsaur, Ivysaur has since become a friendlier Pokemon that really loves to perform, just like Shauna. In addition to being a useful ally for Shauna's childhood friends and fellow Pokémon Performer Serena when battles occur, Ivysaur is also capable of using moves like Solar Beam and Petal Dance to wow audiences during competitions.

Victreebel became a key part of James' team

The Flycatcher Pokémon recently received a mega evolution.

The final form of Bellsprout and the evolved form of Weepinbell, Victreebel is a dangerous Pokémon to be reckoned with. Wild Victreebel are said to live in the lush jungles in hordes, though according to the Pokédex, those who encounter these groups never return. Using a vine near its mouth and the honey aroma that emanates from it, the Flycatcher Pokémon is able to expertly lure prey and dissolve it in a toxic liquid in its mouth. If Victreebel dissolves a lot of prey with its acid, it has an even sweeter scent that helps it catch even more Pokemon.

Although not used often in the Kanto region at first, James began to use his Victreebel more once Team Rocket arrived in the Orange Islands. By the time the Flycatcher Pokémon arrived in Johto, it had become one of James' main battle partners, able to use powerful moves like Razor Leaf and Vine Whip with ease due to its agility and strength. Although it later abandons James after he falls in love with the wild Victreebel, the Flycatcher Pokémon is one of James' most famous early Pokémon due to its strength and loving personality. Victreebel recently received a Mega Evolution, the horrendously destructive Mega Victreebel, although it has yet to debut in the anime.

Find all 10 pairs

Ash's Bulbasaur is very powerful despite not evolving

A weed/poison type with a strong sense of justice

Although Ash was able to obtain all three Kanto starters (including Pikachu) at the beginning of his journey, only Charizard was fully evolved. Like Pikachu, neither Squirtle nor Bulbasaur wished to change the way they were. In fact, some fans believe that Charizard's sudden aggressiveness was the cause of Bulbasaur and Squirtle's hesitation to evolve. In fact, it turns out that Bulbasaur is actually afraid of evolving after encountering Venusaur's illusion. Still, Seed Pokémon is a brave and mature Pokémon that will never ignore anyone in need.

Growing up in the Hidden Village, a safe haven for Pokémon abandoned by their trainers, Bulbasaur initially disliked the trainers after seeing the residents of his home fear because of how they were mistreated. However, after meeting Ash, Grass/Poison's view of the world changed and he agreed to join his side. Since then, Bulbasaur has remained a loyal friend with strength that is likely to match his evolved forms. In addition to being able to use moves like Solar Beam and Vine Whip, Ash's Bulbasaur can also use Dig, a move that Seed Pokemon usually can't learn in the games.

Venusaur is known for its sunbeam

Many trainers have been using Venusaur since its debut

Venusaur, the very first known fully evolved Grass-type starter, is also a mascot Pokemon green version as well as Pokemon LeafGreen versionthe latter of which is now available on Nintendo Switch. A gentle Pokémon, Venusaur isn't often known for starting fights, but it can certainly hold its own when attacked. In battle, he can use the Vine Whip with ease and with added strength due to his powerful vines. Sunbeam is also one of Venusaur's most common moves, as he is an expert at using the flower on his back to generate energy for such an attack. When not fighting, the Venusaur uses photosynthesis just like a plant, as it is able to gather nutrients for sustenance. In the wild, Venusaur is known to care for groups of Bulbasaurs and Ivysaurs, helping them evolve through ceremonies where a fully evolved Seed Pokémon can even change the weather.

Since Ash and Shauna never evolved their Pokemon, the most notable Venusaur in the anime is the one belonging to Maya, the Pokemon Trainer and Pokemon Coordinator. When May returned to the series as a Wallace Cup contestant, it was revealed that her Bulbasaur had since fully evolved, becoming even stronger and a fantastic asset to her team. With her sheer strength and type advantage, Maya's Venusaur was able to easily defeat her opponent's Marill. Although Maya's Venusaur does not seem to have this power, Venusaur in general can Gigantamax and Mega Evolve; an example of the latter proved to be a tough match for Alain's Mega Charizard X in the Mega Evolution specials.

Pokemon

Release date: 1997–2023
Network: TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
directors: Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Ooga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Na Egami, Makoto Keni, Heoki Ken Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
Writers: Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ôhashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku

Rica Matsumoto

satoshi (voice)
Ikue Otani

Pikachu (voice)