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#3
Default
198
ATK
189
DEF
190
STA
Lvl 50Max CP
3075
Lvl 40
2720
Lvl 25Weather Boost
1943
Lvl 20Raids/Eggs
1554
Lvl 15Research
1166

PvE Analysis

Venusaur was once the top Grass Type attacker. This isn't thanks to its stats, but rather its moveset. As the first Pokemon to not only get Frenzy Plant but any of the starter moves, Venusaur is still viable, but it's fallen from grace greatly. Still, it's worth raising at least one for Mega Venusaur.

Defensively, Venusaur has seen better days. Grass is resisted by 7 types and Venusaur suffers weaknesses to a few key offensive types that are still running rampant in GO.

Best PvE Offensive Moveset

  • Vine Whip is on par with Razor Leaf on attack; though they’re very different moves, they end up close in cycle DPS.
  • Frenzy Plant has absurdly high damage for a 2-bar charge move and is optimal. 
  • Solar Beam is frequently superior to Petal Blizzard due to its massive base power.
  • Sludge Bomb has little use on an offensive Venusaur.
  • Return has no use on an offensive Venusaur.

Best PvE Defensive Moveset

Razor Leaf + Sludge BombBest
  • Razor Leaf is far superior to Vine Whip, netting higher damage and energy gain.
  • Sludge Bomb is an off-type multi-bar charge move, which can hurt Venusaur's counters.
  • Frenzy Plant is powerful but has poor typing and is easily dodged.
  • Petal Blizzard is the hardest to dodge, but doesn't get used often due to being a 1-bar move.
  • Solar Beam is too slow for defense. 
  • Return is a 3-bar move that's hard to dodge and has good neutral coverage, though it is a bit weak.

PvP Analysis

Vine Whip is the preferred fast move for Venusaur due to greater energy generation, which allows Venusaur to take advantage of its powerful charge moves. Razor Leaf is a more polarizing fast move that focuses on dealing damage without requiring energy or being denied by shields, though its slow energy generation causes Venusaur to lose some neutral matchups. 

Frenzy Plant is the main selling feature of Venusaur, with an insane 2.22 DPE (Damage Per Energy) and moderate energy cost. If you don't have access to Frenzy Plant, consider Ivysaur with Power Whip instead. Sludge Bomb is a nice STAB coverage move that also gives it an advantage against other Grass-type picks.

Great League 4 / 5

Venusaur is a solid pick for PvP whose claim to fame is mostly due to Frenzy Plant. While its stat distribution doesn't result in spectacular bulk, it's still considerably tankier than some other Grass picks such as Victreebel or Sceptile, in addition to having a Poison-typing that gives it the edge against fellow Grass like Meganium. Overall a very good candidate for PvP in general, with numerous wins against popular meta picks. 

Ultra League 3.5 / 5

While Venusaur loses against Giratina in a direct fight, it does manage to get wins off many classic counters to Giratina, which includes Umbreon, Snorlax, Lapras, and Fairy-type "Charmers". Its main issue compared to Meganium is the fact that it doesn't have any hit on Registeel. 

Master League2 / 5

Venusaur lacks the stats needed to compete well in Master League. Interestingly enough, as long as Venusaur has 1 shield it can still win against a few powerhouses in Master League, such as Kyogre, Zacian - Hero of Many Battles, and Xerneas. Since Master League also consists of many Dragon-types which resist Grass, Venusaur might not be the best pick though. 

Purification Cost
3 Candy + 3,000 Stardust
Second Charge Move Cost
10,000 Stardust + 25 Candy
Flee Rate
5 %
Buddy Distance
3 KM
Catch Rate
5 %
Female Ratio
12.5 %
Male Ratio
87.5 %