How to Get Bulbasaur in Pokémon FireRed LeafGreen: Nintendo Switch

If you’re starting a new save in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen on Nintendo Switch and wondering how to get Bulbasaur, the answer comes down to one critical early-game decision. Bulbasaur is a starter Pokémon, which means you must select it at the very beginning of the game — otherwise, you won’t be able to obtain it through normal gameplay.

Bulbasaur Starter Choice in FireRed & LeafGreen

At the start of Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen, Professor Oak presents you with three starter Pokémon in his lab in Pallet Town:

• Bulbasaur (Grass/Poison-type)

• Charmander (Fire-type)

• Squirtle (Water-type)

To get Bulbasaur, you must choose it during this initial selection. It begins at Level 5 and will stay with you throughout your journey, eventually evolving into Ivysaur and then Venusaur.

Read More: All Safari Zone Pokémon in FireRed LeafGreen: Nintendo Switch

Can You Get Bulbasaur Later?

If you did not pick Bulbasaur as your starter, you cannot catch one later in the game. There are no in-game trades, post-game rewards, or hidden areas where Bulbasaur becomes available. There is no wild Bulbasaur encounter anywhere in Kanto.

Read More: How to Get Dratini in Pokémon FireRed LeafGreen: Nintendo Switch

The only alternative is to trade from another copy of FireRed, LeafGreen, or a compatible Generation III Pokémon game.

In the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen, the original Kanto starter system remains unchanged. If Bulbasaur is the Pokémon you want, the choice must be made before you even leave Pallet Town.

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