Ash's Bayleef: Difference between revisions

Chikorita made her gym battle debut in ''[[EP131|Fighting Flyer with Fire]]'', where she took on [[Falkner]]'s {{p|Hoothoot}}. Ash showed that he believes in Chikorita by defending his choice to a disapproving Falkner, but Chikorita was outclassed by the [[Flying (type)|flying]] type, who dodged its {{m|Vine Whip}} and {{m|Razor Leaf}} and then knocked it out with a {{m|Peck}} and a {{m|Tackle}}.

Chikorita's jealousy of Pikachu and resentment towards Ash arose in ''[[EP136|Chikorita's Big Upset]]''. Ash tried to withdraw Chikorita for Pikachu in battle with a Trainer's {{p|Raticate}}, but Chikorita would not allow this and the battle was suspended by the time Ash caught her. She later ran away during the night and stumbled into the territory of a group of urban Pokémon. Lashing out at the {{p|Primeape}} leader, she knocks it out and becomes the new leader. Team Rocket tries to take her and the other Pokémon with their robot made out of tires, but Ash risks himself to save her, and Chikorita returns the favor by catching him when he falls. The two then take down the robot and Chikorita forgives Ash and becomes friends with Pikachu.

In ''[[EP144|Gettin' The Bugs Out]]'', Chikorita was sent out to battle against [[Bugsy]]'s {{p|Spinarak}}, who had already immobilised his {{AP|Cyndaquil}}. Chikorita used {{m|Sweet Scent}} to daze Spinarak and knocked it out with {{m|Tackle}}. However, she was completely caught off guard by Bugsy's {{p|Metapod}}, which used Tackle and knocked Chikorita out.

In ''[[EP151|The Totodile Duel]]'', Chikorita defeated {{an|Misty}}'s powerful {{TP|Misty|Staryu}}. She was almost defeated by the powerful {{m|Water Gun}}, but she dug in her heels and then managed to dodge {{m|Tackle}} and hit Staryu from behind with {{m|Vine Whip}}. By this point, she had proven to increase her battling capability significantly, taking down [[Jessie]]'s {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}} in a single Tackle in ''[[EP198|The Heartbreak of Brock]]''.

In ''[[EP199|Current Events]]'', Chikorita evolved into Bayleef to protect Ash from Team Rocket. However, it took a while for the amorous Pokémon to realize that she had grown so much - she continued to act as though she was still small enough to leap into Ash's arms for quite some time. This problem was addressed in the next episode, ''[[EP200|Turning Over A New Bayleef]]'', where she ran away after Ash scolded her, "get away and stay away". Bayleef then came across [[Haruno]] and her Pokemon, and she and Ash made up in the process of taking down Team Rocket's giant Bayleef mecha. She learned {{m|Body Slam}} at the end of the episode.

She was briefly sent back to [[Professor Oak's lab]] in ''[[EP216|Duelling Heroes]]'', in exchange for {{AP|Kingler}}, who Ash needed to compete in the [[Whirl Cup]]. She did not warm up to Oak well, and Oak called Ash to inform him that Bayleef was restless. Finished with Kingler, Ash returned Bayleef to his team in ''[[EP217|The Perfect Match!]]''.

In ''[[EP228|Extreme Pokemon!]]'', Bayleef competed in the [[Extreme Pokemon Race]] with Ash, racing against [[Gary Oak]] and [[Gary's Arcanine|his Arcanine]]. She showed an immense feat of strength by hurling Ash at Team Rocket's balloon so that Ash could pierce it with his skateboard and rescue Arcanine. She then arrived just in time to attack {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}} and hold it off long enough for Gary to catch up and take out Arbok with his Arcanine. Bayleef and Ash work together to finish the race and they manage to best Gary just at the end, winning the race for Ash.

It was the only member of his then-current team (besides {{AP|Pikachu}}) to make up Ash's team of six against [[Gary Oak]]. In ''[[EP270|Can't Beat the Heat]]'', she was sent out to give Ash a type advantage over Gary's powerful {{TP|Gary|Blastoise}}, managing to use {{m|Vine Whip}} to jump above {{m|Hydro Pump}}. However, her aerial {{m|Razor Leaf}} was deflected by {{m|Rapid Spin}}, and she was knocked out when Blastoise [[Bite (move)|bit]] her leaf and tossed her aside.

She redeemed this loss in ''[[EP271|Playing with Fire!]]'' in battle with {{jo|Harrison}}'s {{p|Houndoom}}, again showing innovativeness by clamping Houndoom's jaw shut with Vine Whip and then using {{m|Body Slam}} to take it down. She put up her best efforts against {{TP|Harrison|Blaziken}}, but was unable to overcome another type disadvantage and was bested by a {{m|Fire Punch}}. She was left at Professor Oak's lab before Ash departed for Hoenn.

She was reunited with Ash in ''[[AG133|The Right Place and the Right Mime]]'', when she rescued him from the stampeding {{AP|Tauros}}.  

She appeared in ''[[DP182|An Old Family Blend!]]'' alongside Ash's other Pokémon. She was sent to Ash from [[Professor Oak's Laboratory|Prof. Oak's lab]] and tackled Barry. Then, she found Ash and tackled him, too. When he tried to return her to her [[Poké Ball]], she took it in her mouth, wanting to spend more time with Ash. She later helped destroy the hands of one of [[Team Rocket's mechas]], and afterwards, was sent back to Professor Oak's lab. Bayleef was not seen participating in the [[Lily of the Valley Conference]].

In special episodes, she was seen as a Chikorita and Bayleef. As a Chikorita, she was seen helping {{p|Delibird}} to collect its presents and to make the {{p|Snorlax}} Snowman. She also appeared several times in ''[[M03|Spell of the Unown]]'', where she was used in the battle against [[Lisa (movie)|Lisa]]. She put up a good fight against {{p|Girafarig}}, but was ultimately defeated by {{m|Psybeam}}. As a Bayleef, she was seen helping Tracey to feed the Pokémon at the ranch.

Early on, Bayleef developed what seemed to be a crush on Ash, constantly fighting for his attention and trying to get his approval. Her personality is stubborn, passionate and sometimes violent. She easily gets jealous of the attention Ash's other Pokémon receive - especially {{AP|Pikachu}}. However, some of her more extreme personality traits seemed to have mellowed with evolution. She has proven to be a powerful and tactical battler, often using her vines to restrict opponent's moves (clamping Houndoom's jaw and Machoke's arms) or even as a propeller to become airborne, a tactic later copied by Gary's {{p|Nidoqueen}}.