As his trust burns as deep as a fire in ignition, Underneath all the light, a friendship grows. Image credit: Thyfany Ron
A
There once was a monster of grass, With a bulb growing out of its ass, He was little and green, Rarely was he seen, As a starter, I gave him a pass.
He evolved to a punky teenager, He grew taller, more leafy and stranger, His flower was nice, But you’d not dare look twice, Cause those poisonous petals spell danger.
Now, the third one he is quite the brute, Next to him, you could look quite minute, From the tree on his back, Comes a viscous attack, He’s the king and his reign’s resolute
B
Leech Seed, Growl, Vine Whip, Green quadrupedal poison, Drains down my HP.
Red eyes staring fierce, Enveloped by a flower, Take Down on my heart.
On a petal tree, Sits a golden crown shining, A monster is he.
C
Bumbles along, he’s a friend to the forest, Understanding each rock like the marks on his skin, Lullaby just as sweet as his skills as a florist, Bent on winning each match, any fight that he’s in. Always depend on a brave disposition, Smiling broadly down on his friends and his foes, As his trust burns as deep as a fire in ignition, Underneath all the light, a friendship grows. Ridiculed and admired, he’s the hero we chose.
Incipient power, Venusaur’s predecessor, Youthful energy reigning the woods, Surging ahead with a brazen desire, Among these may rule our childhoods. Understanding there can be only one, Rambunctious and proud with a beam like the sun.
Venusaur rumbles the ground underneath us, Ethereal shakes to waken our bones, Nowadays we may lose touch with the forest, Underestimate his breatheren’s home. Shattering walls as the ground crumbles inwards, A monster rises, as wide as the sun, Usurp his throne no more, Revenge, his tactic of woe.
Venusaur takes great pride in having a place to call his own that he can decorate as he sees fit. Image credit: Marta Maszkiewicz
A young Venusaur stands at around 6ft tall and 8ft wide, and grows more as it gets older, so not the most house-friendly! He certainly wouldn’t fit through your average door – or indeed in most rooms. However, not all house-raised Venusaur want to be outside all of the time. This creates a conundrum for a lot of trainers who want to meet their Venusaur’s needs but can’t afford to send them to a Pokémon retreat, sunlight gym or specialised daycare every day. This article explores some of the things you could do to create space in your home for your Venusaur.
Widen doorways
Accommodating a Venusaur comes with many impracticalities – the first being his inability to get through a doorway. A typical door is roughly 4ft wide, meaning you would need to more than double your door width to have a chance at Venusaur fitting through comfortably.
One way to do this is to install French doors. If you’re not planning on altering your whole house, install these on the room nearest the garden as a priority, so Venusaur can move in and outdoors when he pleases. Venusaur can typically open and close doors using his vines and won’t need a special handle.
If you do intend on changing the internal doors, a barn-style door might be the easiest to get in widths you need, or consider just having open walkways. Always keep fire safety in mind!
Install smart technology
If you are leaving your Venusaur home alone for long periods of time, it might be useful to install some smart technology systems – the sort that powers certain objects in the home via remote control. Venusaur’s vines are dexterous enough to use a remote and it can help him have better access to items you might store in nooks and crannies he just can’t reach.
I’ve heard great things about an upcoming tech company called PokéTalk that is developing a communication device for Pokémon that will let them give verbal commands to certain electrical items around the house. When this is finished, the device will bring great flexibility to Venusaur’s life, allowing him full access to kitchen appliances, television, the radio, lighting, heating and many other utilities that was just not possible before without some serious planning. Of course, this is a big project: Pokémon speak in different ways and to different complexities. But, I wish them all the best.
Heavy duty lifts
One common issue for Venusaur is stairs. Ramps would be the best solution, but this is often just not practical to accommodate such a large Pokémon. An alternative is to install a heavy-duty lift to allow Venusaur to reach the top floor. These sort of lifts are often seen in hospitals or warehouses where large trolleys need to be carried up or down floors. It should have an easy-to-use interface and be built into a wall that will never be obstructed.
The Elderly Pokémon Company has some good offerings for these sort of lifts, and they often install them for good prices – especially for older or disabled Venusaur. Mine used to ride his right to the roof. He wasn’t allowed on the roof, of course, but he sure did like the view. Most Venusaur are scared of heights, so just first-floor lifts should be fine for most houses.
Outside shelter
Not everyone can practically alter their house, but you may just have enough room on your garden or yard to install a Venusaur outhouse. These are often very nice, as the Venusaur takes great pride in having a place to call his own that he can decorate as he sees fit. I once knew a Venusaur who loved this job so much, he trained to become an official painter/decorator for the local community.
Do you also have enough room in your garden for a pool and vegetable garden? If so, task looking after these to your Venusaur and I’m sure he’ll appreciate it!
What if I just can’t adapt my house?
Everyone should be given the opportunity to have a Pokémon, regardless of wealth or house size! If you just don’t have the room, or can’t afford to modify your house, don’t worry! There are other options:
The Professor Oak Institute and other Pokémon scientists often offer a free day and night-care service to trainers willing to let them monitor and keep collected data. This is a great option, as it lets scientists develop better Pokémon healthcare products!
If your Venusaur is elderly or disabled, there are a few charities that may be able to contribute towards the cost of modifications. Try Venusupport For Life or The Vineline to see what they can do for you
Gym trainers sometimes offer care services for trainers willing to let their Venusaur help train the gym leader’s Pokémon. This is great if your Venusaur still likes to battle
There are some government jobs your Venusaur can apply for that come with free housing. Anything from nursery nursing to caretaking for town parks
This is part 3 of this story. If you haven’t read parts, one or two, check them out first!
The anger in its eyes was replaced by weariness. It was tired of the fight. Image credit: Laurie MacQueen
“SAUUUUUUUUUUR!”
The sound burst from the foliage, sending a flock of Pidgeys shooting above the canopy. It was coming from beyond the vast muddy tract to the side of the shanty village.
“Get somewhere safe, if you know what’s good for you,” I shouted to the men and women, in their black hoods. I noticed that a small red ‘R’ had been sewn into a few of them. Rebranding was right.
“Good luck,” the grunt I was talking to spat.
“Just stay down. You lot have done enough.” I gestured over my shoulder. “Growlithe, with me.” She jumped down from the boat and stood by my side. In that moment I thanked the stars I wouldn’t have to make my way over the crest of that dark hillock by myself. I walked forward, the Venusaur roared once more, urging me into a run. Growlithe stayed by my heels, keeping speed with my swift, heavy footsteps.
*
We were up the hill in seconds and, upon reaching the top, I realised the scale of the operation. In a semi-circle that reached about a mile in diameter, every tree had been decimated so not even a stump remained. In the middle of this, a huge ribbon of land had been cut out and filled with metal and concrete. Judging from what the guy at the dock had said, this was just the entrance too. No doubt there was an entire network of tunnels and pipes below me. For a moment, I thought I could feel the thrum of the machinery coursing through the ancient ground. Or perhaps it was the scarred, violated ground itself, screaming out. Before I could ponder this, that booming cry let out once more.
“SAUUUUUUUUUUR!”
About a quarter of the way around the vast semicircle, the trees shook. It reminded me of the supportive groups of Dugtrio we’d seen on our descent into this wretched place. Though I knew that the thing coming out of the trees was something permeated with uncompromising anger, not the kind, cooperative spirits of the burrowing Pokémon we’d seen the day before.
“SAUUUUUUUUUUR!”
And could I blame it for being angry? This was its home, had no doubt been its home for decades, and it was being devastated. Not only that, but it had been forced to stand by and watch as other Pokémon were subjected to the cruellest kinds of servitude. Of course it would intervene, how could ‘Team Rocket’ have expected anything less?
“SAUUUUUUUUUUR!”
I’d spent so long battling and training Pokémon, focusing on my next big win and the next big pay out, that it had long slipped my mind that Pokémon were living creatures with their own spirits and ways of life.
“SAUUUUUUUUUUR!” This final cry was the closest yet. And as that fact occurred to me, and my hat was blown from my head, the Venusaur burst through the treeline. The Venusaur I’d trekked into hell to capture, the Pokémon I was being paid to subdue. Only now I realised that either the forgettable man in his minimalist office had been mistaken or, more likely, he had lied. This was no ordinary Venusaur. I’d done my research, and I’d seen more than my share of Venusaur in my time – battled a few too. They usually stood at around six foot, this one was over eight. It was also the oldest Pokémon I’d ever seen. It almost looked like it was part of the forest, moss and leaves clung to its hide, small flowers bloomed to accompany the gigantic tree on its back. It stood now, just out of the canopy, observing the latest damage. I gestured for Growlithe to remain where she was. She obliged, but looked at me as if to say I hope you know what you’re doing. I took a gulp, crouched down a little lower, steeled myself, and approached it.
*
It let out another blistering roar as I approached, but this one seemed more for show. It didn’t seem to see me as a threat. Though, I realised when I was in spitting distance, things might be a heck of a lot different if I was in a Team Rocket get-up. Moving my hand upwards, the Venusaur bent down to receive it. I stroked its muzzle. It rumbled contently.
“I’m not like the others. I was sent here to capture you,” I began. In its eyes I saw brief panic, or anger, but I continued as quickly as I could. “But I won’t be doing that. I’ve seen what they’ve done to your home, and I can’t bring it back. I’m sorry, but we’re fighting forces beyond our comprehension.” It looked dismayed at this, and turned to go back into the forest. I called after it, “But I know where you can exist peacefully. A place where you can live your last few years in quiet serenity.”
“Sauuuuur?” Its voice was gentler now. It turned back around. The anger in its eyes was replaced by weariness. It was tired of the fight. I knew that a warrior like that could never back down from a battle. But this particular battle was close to killing it.
“And,” I smiled at it, “There’s no reason we can’t tear this place down on our way out.”
*
Venusaur made short work of the construction site. Once I’d identified the weak spots and pointed them out, its vines made the laboratory into a pit of nothing more than rubble. It wouldn’t stop the construction, but it would slow it down. Though, if we were lucky, the cost implications would be too great for Team Rocket and the whole operation might be written off.
“Let’s go,” I said, to Growlithe and Venusaur, “There’s a boat waiting and an army between us and it.”
I soon found that my warning was premature. Once down the hill, Venusaur obliterated any resistance. In a flurry of vines it dispatched all the grunts, sending them flying into the water downriver. One lucky grunt managed to throw a Pokémon before being thrown screaming into the murky eddy. It was a Houndoom, and it may have even been a Mega Houndoom. I never got chance to find out. Growlithe and I looked on, stunned, as Venusaur sent out a scorching Solar Beam which sent the dark Pokémon fleeing into the underbrush.
*
The battle was nothing compared to getting that great, lumbering creature onto the S.S. Cactus. The Captain mimed a dramatic fainting motion when I began leading the mossy giant on board. But we managed it, with the help of the First Mate and about a dozen, freed Machamp, Machoke, and Machop. Once accomplished, Growlithe rubbed against my leg.
“You didn’t do so bad yourself girl,” I said, before retiring to our cabin.
*
The sun had come up. The sound of the Vermilion City port drifted closer.
“What happened then?” Jaime asked. I was surprised she’d stayed awake.
“Well I never heard from Team Rocket again. Though soon after returning home, I found that I was no longer welcome to participate in the Pokémon League, which was surely their doing. But I discovered on that journey back up the river, as the sounds of Pokémon conversing and playing drifted into my cabin, that battling was no longer the life for me. I’d find my purpose doing something to benefit all Pokémon, something worthwhile. Even now, decades later, I don’t know if I’ve found it yet. But Growlithe (now Arcanine) and I have had one heck of a time searching.”
The group sat around me smiled. I looked at Arcanine as she dozed. She’d heard all this before.
“As for that Venusaur, she lived out her final years in complete peacful harmony, surrounded by younger Pokémon who would often sit around in a circle and listen to her stories. I never told anyone where I’d taken her, but I still visit now and then to pay my respects to the Pokémon that changed my life.”
We began our journey into that enigmatic place of mystery and malice. Image Credit: @fdjrt
The PA system buzzed and a tired voice crackled out. “Sorry folks, looks like we’re here all night. The water’s too choppy to cross, but we’ll have you in Vermilion City by daybreak tomorrow.”
The others groaned. Arcanine let out a low whine and covered his head with his paw. I leant back into her fur and lowered the brim of my hat over my eyes. The giant living pillow beneath my head rumbled.
*
I’m not sure how long I slept before their discussion woke me. I opened my eyes and surveyed the cabin. Flames bounced from the low ceiling, down the walls, and lit up the sleeping Pokémon around the space. In the centre, the other trainers were huddled around a small fire – talking about their glory days. It took a few moments for me to gather my senses, but I realised they were talking about the biggest Pokémon they’d ever encountered, or perhaps the most dangerous. In my experience, the two went hand-in-hand. Jamie’s laughter had awoken me. It was a sudden, distressing sound, like a Haunter with a sore throat. I closed my eyes, hoping to catch up with the last few tendrils of the dream I was having before they vanished forever.
“Hey Robert!” It was Jamie. I briefly wondered about keeping my eyes closed, pretending I was still sound asleep and hadn’t heard her. But there wasn’t much chance of me falling back asleep anyway. I sat up and stretched my arms with a dull pop.
“Yes, Jamie?” Irritation had seeped into my voice. I tried to hide it. “Are you guys alright?”
“We were wondering,” she broke eye contact, shifting her gaze to the straw-ridden floor, “What’s the most dangerous Pokémon you’ve ever seen? Face-to-face I mean.”
The others looked around at me. Their voracious eyes flickered orange in the fire-light.
“Guys, you don’t want to hear an old man’s stories.”
“Of course we do!” Jamie burst in.
“It’s not very nice. I don’t like to talk about it.” Arcanine shifted under me, nudging me with her head. “But, if you guys want to hear it.”
Jamie looked back at the others, as if to say I told you he would. Whatever anyone says, deep down everyone enjoys telling stories.
“Ok, shift a bit closer. And put that fire out. The sun’s coming up soon and we’ll be on the move again.”
I began.
*
When I was a young man, I made a bit of a name for myself as a trainer. Nothing fancy, but enough to attract the attention of a few particular organisations. They liked my efficiency, and the fact that I’d never lost a battle didn’t hurt things either. I’d also managed to catch a troublesome Onix, one people said could never be caught – let alone trained. (But that, as they say, is another story for another day). There was one up-and-coming organisation in particular that took an interest after that moment. You’ve probably heard of them as Team Rocket, but back then they were called something different. I can’t recall.
I took the meeting with the head honcho. You have to remember, I was popular back then, and that meant I made a lot of Pokédollars. But being that popular, I spent most of it as I made it. Usually on things I’d regret. So I took the meeting. What harm was there? He was offering me some sort of opportunity, said it would raise my profile even more and it’d be easy money. And, as I said, my pockets were tapped. I was more than willing to ride that potential gravy train.
The meeting was odd. I was lead, or escorted, to the penthouse office of the biggest building I’d seen in my life. In that office was one table, and a chair on either side. The man across from me during that meeting made next to no impression in my mind. It’s as if he could have been any number of people.
“We want you to catch a Pokémon, a Venusaur,” he said. His voice was perhaps the least memorable thing about this already forgettable man. Looking back, I think he wanted me to forget every detail about him.
“Of course.” I was happy to do it, this was firmly in my wheelhouse. But I knew the old idiom, if something’s too good to be true, blah, blah. “What’s the catch?” I asked.
“No catch. Having this Venusaur out of the equation is in this business’ best interest. It’s been causing quite a lot of environmental havoc. Not to mention quite a bit of pandemonium with the local populace.”
It was an altruistic view, but it mattered little to me. I only needed to know one thing, “What’s the pay?”
He went into more detail after that. Apparently, a Venusaur was running rampant in a rural area just outside the Kanto region. It was a desolate, depressing place. Only reachable by boat. It was this more than the money that hooked me. As a boy I’d always been fascinated by the dark places on the map, the undiscovered areas of the world. Of course, by the time I’d grown up, the majority had been discovered and someone had built a Pokémart and a gym. After we’d agreed on pay, the only question I wanted answering was when I could get started.
*
The boat they gave me should have been my first clue that things weren’t exactly on the level. It was named the S.S. Cactus, and it looked like a wreck that had been left as a bizarre floating mausoleum. The captain didn’t instil much confidence in me either. An ancient Mr Mime, he looked older than even the ship. The moth-eaten peaked cap atop his head appeared older than the two combined. He showed me to my quarters. It was a small cabin at the rear of the ship, barely large enough for myself and Growlithe. But we’d spent a few tough nights in Viridian Forest, and compared to that with its incessant buzzing of Beedrils and the constant hooting of Noctowls, the cramped accommodation was practically the S.S. Anne.
I soon found out that, apart from the Captain and the Machamp acting as First Mate, we were the only ones on that vast ship. But, through a tricky exchange, the Captain assured us that it wasn’t a long journey. I asked the First Mate and the Captain just before we set off if either of them had heard talk of the Venusaur at the end of the river. The Captain pretended not to have heard, and First Mate Machamp all of a sudden made himself very busy moving my luggage aboard.
Soon after that, we began our journey into that enigmatic place of mystery and malice.
Its not uncommon for a Venusaur to fall asleep mid battle after using up its major moveset once or twice. Image credit: Shizukahanari
There are a multitude of benefits and limitations you get from different Pokémon. This SWOT analysis helps you decide whether to include Venusaur to your battle team, and includes specialist advice for both breeder and catcher, as well as combatants facing this Pokémon in battle.
Strengths
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Venusaur’s immense size, strength, and pure might. Venusaur is the fifth most powerful grass-type Pokémon in the world (known to date) and they can be pure powerhouses on the field. They dominate most team battles in mid-to-high battle arenas, and are incredibly intimidating foes to face.
One thing that contributes to this power is that Venusaur is incredibly in tune with its environment and has a very deep understanding of the natural world. This can be very useful for certain battle arenas. For example, your Venusaur can use its vines to chop up a lake and make it harder for water Pokémon to navigate, they can manipulate air waves and create a deafening sound to disorientate a foe, or they can speak to plants and spur rapid movement of root systems, branches, thorns and spores. If you ever see a Venusaur fighting in a forest-based arena, it is a pure spectacle and nigh impossible to beat. Unfortunately, most trainers know this and (if they have the choice) they will constantly challenge you with more urban arenas that are void of all plant life. Either way, there are very few environments where your Venusaur can’t have a little fun with.
When Venusaur’s types were last assessed (they re-test each Pokémon’s abilities every couple of centuries or so to see if they have developed any new type abilities), my grandfather told me that he advised the assessment board to add psychic to its type listings due to their ability to uncannily “know” an opponent’s next move. Subsequent testing has found that it is not a psychic ability, but simply a highly developed empathy and understanding of psychology. Venusaur are, indeed, very attune to Pokémon’s body language and even audible clues that give away their next movements. This counterbalances Venusaur’s slower speed and is tricky to battle against.
Weaknesses
A disadvantage of Venusaur’s size is that it is inevitably immobile. Venusaur can move around, but it expends a lot of energy doing so, and this only gets worse with age. Venusaur are slow growers, but they never actually stop growing. At one point, they’re reclassified as ‘Mega’ or ‘Gigantamax’, but (unlike other Pokémon that can undertake this transformation) Venusaur can achieve these sizes naturally with time. This phenomenon is actually thought to be part of their natural lifecycle: they get so huge that they stop being able to take care of themselves and their bodies become part of the forest—which is quite darkly poetic, if you think about it. However, with the invention of the Pokéball and modern Pokémedicine, trainers can set up a successful care routine so that Venusaur can survive much longer than they do in the wild. But, the larger they grow, the slower and less agile they will be in battle.
Venusaur is so closely tied with its environment that it really suffers if its living conditions are less than ideal, and this can drastically affect its performance in the field. There are very strict rules in the larger leagues as to what condition your Venusaur must be in before it can even sign up for a competition, including the quality of Venusaur’s leaves and tree bark, the colour of its flower, and even tooth, claw and skin condition. Many trainers opt to keep their Venusaur in a nature preserve, rather than keeping them at home, but the rising pollution of forests is making things tougher. For those that want to regularly use moves such as Solar Beam also need PLENTY of sun time (usually with additional vitamins and heat lamps, which come with their own risks).
Another downside to being environmentally sensitive is that Venusaur often have an acute fear of fire. It is thought that this comes from something called ‘tree memory’, where Venusaur taps into the memories of the forest and feels the hurt and pain caused by wildfires. This can be very distracting to Venusaur who are in the middle of a particularly fiery battle and cause it to let down its defenses.
Opportunities
Due to their rarity, Venusaur has a lot of fans. There are whole groups dedicated to attending every single arena Venusaur battle—I attended their meets once or twice over the years, they’re a good bunch! This fandom can easily help raise the profile of any trainer that places Venusaur in a high-ranking position in their battle team. A higher profile means more sponsors, and more sponsors mean a higher chance in getting a ticket to the more prestigious leagues. Any Venusaur trainer must learn to work with fans, but I say see it as a positive experience: interact with them, be kind to them, enjoy them.
Venusaur’s natural moveset does not include any poison-based moves, but it has capacity to learn some (Sludge Bomb and Venoshock to name a few). Manually teaching these moves could be a great differentiating factor for your Venusaur and give you the edge against fairy and grass types.
Threats
Deforestation and pollution are massive threats for Venusaur health. They don’t tend to do to well in more urban areas, as a connection to nature is quintessential to Venusaur happiness. Similarly, in battle, some arenas will dramatically affect your Venusaur’s performance (especially for strategies that use a lot of environmental effects). Concrete floors, metal walls, brick buildings, and glass pyramids (like the infamous Abbey Stadium) are a challenge.
Older Venusaur will need to find ways to keep up defense and attack flexibly from one spot—especially if your strategy does not include environmental manipulation. Venusaur can be at risk from medium-to-high speed Pokémon without specific training to counter such attack styles.
Breeders
Maintain Venusaur’s connection with nature as part of its daily routine. It is preferable if you live near a wooded area (that isn’t already a Bulbasaur territory). In addition, try to get Venusaur involved in charity work: working in a human or Pokémon community would do.
It is essential that you offer extensive one-to-one training with trainers wanting to own a Venusaur who have not had any previous experience with the Bulbasaur-Ivysaur-Venusaur line before. Ideally, you would make it mandatory that they have had previous experience, but I understand that this can’t always be the case. Cover nutrition, health and environment as core requirements—especially when it comes to ageing.
Venusaur can get a little bad tempered as they grow older, so teach emotion coaching to allow new trainers to maintain an open communication about thoughts and feelings with their Pokémon
Combatants
High speed will usually be a good tactic against a Venusaur, and more effective the older (and larger) they are. Consider all attack angles available on the battlefield (attacks from above, below, behind, to the side, and straight on), and vary up attack patterns. Attacks such as Decoy and Substitute can be effectively used alongside.
If you can dodge its vines, you may be able to get into a big Venusaur blindspot to its rear, giving you a major advantage.
Venusaur often have little stamina, so aim to keep dodging attacks to wear them out. Its not uncommon for a Venusaur to fall asleep mid battle after using up its major moveset once or twice—especially if its trainer didn’t ensure it got enough sun time.
Trainers
Don’t forget that Venusaur is part poison type. If fed the right foods, Venusaur’s skin can secrete a toxic substance. This can cause slight poison damage when your opponents attack with certain moves (for example, Bite, Peck, and Lick). Ask your local breeder for the best diets (remember to keep them safely away from non-poison type Pokémon, children, and pets if you go down this route, however).
Sunbathe, sunbathe, sunbathe. This is especially important if you intend on using high-energy moves such as Hyperbeam. Consider Hyperbeam use very carefully in battle, because it is a big energy sapper. Many battles are over too soon because the trainer used the big move too early.
Make environment use a key part of your training and your battle plans. You’ll need to be flexible, to account for all possible arena types, but a strong environment manipulation can be a huge counter to your limited movement and can be very effective.
Love Venusaur? Check out the Guide posts on how to catch and look after Bulbsaur, Ivysaur and Venusaur
There is a sense of mystery around them to which their slow, reflective nature only adds. Image Credit: Takamizawa Usui
Venusaur are mighty and sacred individuals, often nicknamed King of the Forest. Often the star of myths and legends, wild Venusaur often remain motionless for years at a time and only stir at times of crisis.
It was once thought that Venusaur was part psychic type because of its innate awareness of its environment, but scientists are now discovering that Venusaur may be able to connect to the mycorrhizal network of the forest, a connection that can span miles around.
Where to find one
Venusaur are rare in the wild and extremely powerful. On top of this, there is always the moral question as to whether you should catch a wild one. Ivysaur only evolve into Venusaur one at a time and they do so to become protectors of the forest. Scientists are only just discovering just how deeply these Pokémon are connected to their forest homes. Each Ivysaur accepts this special mission and will not be readily prepared to stop its cause.
I have known a few instances where Venusaur capture was necessary. In one awful case, a fire ravaged a whole woodland beyond repair. The council decided to build on the land and turn it into a Pokémon retreat, but the Venusaur in charge of that area was so distraught that he’d let down the Pokémon he was destined to protect, he quickly fell into depression. I, and a team of breeders, was asked to help him. We decided he needed specialist care. We found a trusted trainer to capture him and take him to a therapist. It took him a few years of dedicated care, but the Venusaur is doing well! Last I knew he started his own nursery.
A Venusaur’s power is very hard to tame. It takes a long time for this Pokémon to fully respect you if you catch it from the wild. For all of these reasons and more, I would instead recommend raising an Ivysaur to evolve to Venusaur. Though, I would only advise this for battle purposes. Venusaur is a hard-to-manage breed that have a lot of specific requirements. Think very carefully about the reasons you have for evolving him before doing so. Ivysaur live long, happy lives without needing to evolve and it comes quite natural to them.
Scientists are now discovering that Venusaur may be able to connect to the mycorrhizal network of the forest. Image credit: Marta Maszkiewicz
Raising for battle
Ivysaur evolve to become Venusaur at level 32. After they evolve, they can learn the moves Worry Seed, Synthesis, Petal Blizzard and Solar Beam. Of these, Ivysaur only learns one of these, so there is a benefit to evolving for battle. If you’re planning on delaying, I’d recommend evolving no later than 45 for learning Synthesis. Worry Seed can probably be missed, especially if you’ve kept Bulbasaur’s Sleep Powder and are happy with the accuracy.
Venusaur have immense power and can be a great battle partner. However, long gone are the days of sporty Ivysaur, and your Venusaur will tire very quickly in battle. Don’t use him against anything that uses speed, as you’ll be at a disadvantage. That’s not to say that his moves are slow, just his movement. Razor leaf, Petal Blizzard and Solar Beam are all intense, fast-paced attacks that Venusaur can perform with exceptional accuracy.
Keeping Venusaur happy and healthy
Venusaur need a lot of care, especially when they get older. They often find it difficult to move and will need consistent leg-strengthening exercises to maintain full mobility. It is advisable that you hire a personal trainer for your Venusaur, who will be able to plan a personalised activity plan to meet his specific needs.
If you have raised your Venusaur from an Ivysaur and wish to continue his development, I’d recommend stopping agility course training and begin wellness training. This is a new concept that was helping develop a few years ago. Essentially, a study into Venusaur battle statistics found that young Venusaur who had regular battle training were just as effective in battle as middle-aged Venusaur who had many more years of time to hone their skills. It is thought that by age 53 or so, Venusaur reaches its peak in terms of power. This makes some biological sense, as it is the time when he learns Solarbeam, his most powerful attack.
Wellness training comprises a mixture of grooming (leaf / claw trimming and exfoliating the skin), plant care (using fertiliser, nutrient food additives and carefully planned water / sunlight schedules) and mental development (puzzles, socialisation and work). This might not sound like training, but these all keep Venusaur happy and focused, which have shown some promising results in battle.
It is advisable to take some courses in plant care, as Venusaur’s plant will need similar care to exotic species
Overall
As a breeder, you come to gain a lot of respect for Venusaur and it truly is a miracle to see one. There is a sense of mystery around them to which their slow, reflective nature only adds. Venusaur are immensely powerful Pokémon that need a lot of care. They show great courage in battle, but often get tired and show their age.
It took him a few years of dedicated care, but the Venusaur is doing well! Last I knew he started his own nursery. Image credit: Laurie MacQueen
Yes, these were indeed Bulbasaur. Not just one but hundreds. Image Credit: BlueBerryBlanket (Al Rigby)
One of the best parts of being a Pokémon Breeder is the field research: getting out there and seeing where Pokémon come from. Our natural world provides many great spectacles, from the grand migrations of Tauros to the Butterfree mating seasons. But one of the more precious to me was the time I saw a Bulbsaur family gathering.
I’d not seen another person in four days and my supplies were all but run out. It was ridiculous, really. People went in and out of Viridian forest all of the time and got out ok. Some people sometimes nipped in for a dare. That’s how easy it is meant to be. I’m not even sure what wrong turning I made, and I think it just made it worse when I tried to back-track. The longer I walked, the darker the forest got.
I sipped a little water from my flask, swilling it around in my mouth a little before swallowing to try make it last then instantly craving more and taking another sip. I peered at my map. None of the lines made sense anymore. They were purely fictional, as if my sister Kate had taken one of her marker pens and scribbled all over it with that mischievous grin on her face. Thinking of her hurt. It hadn’t even occurred to me when setting out that I may not see Kate or mum again.
But this is what a great trainer did! Just set off into the unknown with a Pokémon, finding distant treasures and uncovering mysteries. This was just another grand escapade. I felt that well-worn surge of excitement thinking about it. Journeying with a Pokémon was something I had wanted all my life. Some people were destined to be dancers, some accountants. Me? I was born to be a Pokémon trainer.
I thought of all the Pokémon I would catch and my hand relaxed on the Pokéball at my belt. The joy melted into shame. I wasn’t a trainer. I was a thief. I was only just ten and not old enough to get my own. The Manectric in the ball was my mum’s. Earlier in my travels, I had let her out while pretending to catch a Pokémon with the ball. Boy did she bark at me. You take me back this minute. You’ll be in such trouble when you get home! Where are we? You left without my chew toy? she said in as many barks. It took her a day or two to mellow out, by which point she was more concerned than angry.
I looked around at the deepening shadows and a feeling of paranoia began to creep up on me. I’m here, it would say in the creaking of a branch or the twitch of grass as some creature was startled by my clumsy footwork. I got jumpy and kept glancing left and right into the trees. Behind each stump, a wolf would be lurking ready to eat me up like in Little Red Riding Hood. My my, Elizabeth, these sharp teeth of mine are all the better to eat you with my dear. In the end, I couldn’t stand being alone any longer and I grabbed the Pokéball from my belt.
“Come out Manectric”, I said in almost a whisper. As she appeared, her presence instantly soothed me. She has always been small for her breed, but she towered over me when I was ten year’s old. I petted her long yellow snout. She yawned, made a little sigh and looked up at the trees.
“Maybe we’ll find our way out today”, I said already feeling lighter. I almost believed it.
We pressed on, heads pushed down by the rain that somehow battered its way through the canopy. The trees twisted and writhed in the sort of way that would make a fearless girl grin from ear to ear before dashing off in a race to the top. But that wasn’t me anymore. Not here in this place. The trees no longer just reached over us, but below and around us. They encased us in their bony rib cage as we moved ever closer to the heart of the forest.
The trees no longer just reached over us, but below and around us. Image credit: Marta Maszkiewicz.
My watch said it was mid-day, but it was getting darker. It was like we were in a different world entirely to the one I’d left back home. It didn’t seem right that Kate would be sitting in the school cafeteria, drinking milk and complaining to the dinner lady about not losing weight. That annoying kid Jaime would be pulling another prank, Eliza would be singing with Chloe in their band that they won’t let me join. My life was none of those things anymore. My life was only dark tunnels of never-ending mossy rocks and things that squirmed in the dark.
As I walked, my thoughts washed over me. In my head, people I used to know came walking out of the trees, tipped their hats muttering hello, hey, hi there, and good morning before continuing on into the murky darkness. My father was sitting on one branch, sipping a pint of milk. My mother on another, knitting a spider’s web. I imagined cats running passed my legs, street lamps, a school bus coming down the lane towards me. This last one seemed to stay with me. I could almost see the headlights ahead and my arm tensed, ready to flag it down.
I was snapped out of my daydream by Manectric licking my hand and yapping. She barked and ran ahead. My eyes followed her and I could see what she was headed towards. The bus headlights were real. Or, rather, the light was real. A circle of dazzling light shining like a beacon.
I’m not sure how I managed to stay on my feet as I ran, but my need to see sunlight urged me on. As it got close, my hopes got brighter. As I reached the edge of the treeline, I was almost ecstatic. Which, of course, made it all the more crushing when I crashed out into nothing more than a clearing. Just a clearing with a large flowered tree in the centre that was swaying in the breeze. I fell to my knees and wept, Manectric snuffling at my face and softly licking my tears.
I was too tired to go on. Not only did we not have any food, but we still had no way to tell where we were. Perhaps mum would have told Officer Jenny by now. Out there in the woods would be a search party seeking me with their torch beams. I found a patch of dry moss at the edge of the clearing and settled in to sleep.
When I woke, it was dark. I’d been having a dream of a Pokémon singing. I’d been running through the forest, pushing back leaves trying to find it. Bulllbbaaaa it sang Bulllbbaaaa. As I opened my eyes, I realised I could still hear that gentle hum. I felt Manectric stir beside me. She was crouched down low, peering through some tall tufts of grass looking out onto the clearing. Bulllbbaaaa. I crawled up next to her and looked out too.
Before us was a sea of bobbing turquoise heads. They circled the clearing, facing towards the flowered tree. Could these be… Bulbasaur? I tried to remember back to my time in Professor Oak’s lab. He had been working on breeding easy-to-train rare Pokémon for new trainers as part of his research. I’ve never been much of a scientist, but I did remember him showing me a Bulbasaur. And if my memory served me correctly, yes, these were indeed Bulbasaur. Not just one but hundreds.
I looked to the weird tree in the centre of the clearing. While before it was swaying, now it was shifting side-to-side. I looked from the flower to its trunk. From the trunk to its roots. Only, the roots were rising and falling. That thing was breathing! Amazed, I scooted forward some more to get a better look, but Manectric held my collar. The Bulbasaur stopped singing in one fell swoop. It was like I’d suddenly lost my hearing. Everything was just silent.
I worried it was me. I had a vision of them all turning round to look at me, raising their vines to attack. They did turn around, but not to look at me. From a grassy verge to our left, a taller, broader Bulbasaur pushed his way out of the thicket. He looked different from the others. Much bigger, for one. I noticed he had a little flower on his back, similar to the big breathing tree. No, not a Bulbasaur. An evolution of some sort.
The crowd of Bulbasaur made a path for this creature, some touching its feet with their vines as he passed. He walked up to the flowery tree and stopped. Ivysaur, it declared. Short and sweet.
With that, the clearing began to rumble. The Bulbasaur waved their vines in the air, branches snapped, rubble flew everywhere and I had to shield my eyes. When I was able to look again, I gawped. The tree had rose two metres into the air, revealing a huge monstrous body beneath. It had been lying so long that the trees had grown around it. It left a crater where it has arisen from. VENUSAUUUUUR, it bellowed.
At this, cries and shouts of Bulbasaauuur sounded from the crowd. The forest king freed several vines from its back and reached towards the Ivysaur. The Ivysaur, too, outstretched its vines and they met in the middle. Each called its name to the other and the Bulbasaur began throwing white powder into the air that sparkled in the moonlight. They all went back to their chanting: Bulllbbaaaa, Bulllbbaaaaaa. Some spores landed on me and I went to brush them off. A sudden weariness hit me and I could barely keep my eyes open. The last thing I saw before drifting to sleep was the giant Venusaur turning and disappearing into the forest depths and Ivysaur taking his place.
A Breeder's Guide to Pokémon 