Looking at Pokemon: Bidoof

December 26, 2008

Bidoof is a Normal type Pokemon who evolves into the Normal/Water type Bibarel at Level 15. Bidoof is Pokemon number 399 in the national dex and is one of the most common Pokemon found in the early parts of Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. It is most often used as an HM slave by players and then tossed back into the box once the player reaches the Elite Four.

Bidoof comes with one of two possible abilities: Simple (The effectiveness of all stat modifications is doubled) and Unaware (Foe’s stat modifications are ignored).

Bidoof can be acquired in the 4th generation Pokemon games rather quickly. Soon after earning your starter Pokemon you will find yourself unable to take ten steps without one of these buck-toothed critters popping out of the tall grass to harass you.

Bidoof does not have any amazing base stats. Its best score is HP that clocks in at a whopping 59 points. Even though you will be hard pressed to field this little guy in a competitive environment it is not without some redeeming features. For one thing this Pokemon has only one real weakness; Fighting type moves. Bidoof suffers x2 damage from Fight moves but only x1 damage from the rest of the typings with the obvious exception for Ghost moves that can do no harm to a Normal type Pokemon.

Some might compare Bidoof to Rattata but it is important to note that while Rattata has high Speed and Attack scores (while everything else suffers) Bidoof has a very even spread of base scores with nothing really high and nothing really low

When used as an HM slave Bidoof will need to be evolved at the earliest possible moment. While Bidoof can only learn HM01 Cut and HM06 Rock Smash the evolved form can learn six out of the eight HM moves.

Bidoof in Adventure Mode

Let’s be honest for a minute here. Most players only use Bidoof because they can catch one early on and it serves admirably as a throw away HM slave. That does not mean this Pokemon has no other purpose.

When you find (or hatch) your Bidoof it will most likely come with the move Tackle and possibly Growl (level 5). Defense Curl comes along at level 9 and Rollout comes along at level 13. (Rollout is very important because Shinx does not learn an offensive Electric move until level 17.)

HM06 Rock Smash will soon be added to your Pokemon and because it is an HM move you will not be able to replace it with anything else until you find the Move Deleter.

At level 17 Headbutt becomes available and even though bidoof’s speed is not likely to allow it to attack first Headbutt does cause more damage than Tackle and is worth taking. This move will be replaced with Hyper Fang at level 21. Super Fang becomes available at level 37 but that move is best used as a first strike and then not used again due to its diminishing returns. It is also very likely that your Bidoof will have evolved long before Super Fang becomes available. It is also very likely that after evolving your pokemon will be sporting four HM moves.

Adventure Mode Move Breakdown:

Move 1: Tackle -> Headbutt -> Hyper Fang -> Super Fang
Move 2: Growl -> Rollout
Move 3: Defense Curl -> Cut
Move 4: Rock Smash

Most likely you will evolve your Bidoof at level 15 and Rollout will be the last move your Pokemon learns on leveling up.

Competitive Battling Bidoof

It is highly unlikely that you will ever find yourself in a situation where you choose to field a Bidoof in a competitive situation. The only time you will have one of these guys on your team is when a tournament restricts you in some manner. With that in mind I offer the following move set.

Annoying Bidoof

Bidoof’s top score is its HP of 59 followed by an Attack score of 45. Nothing to write home about but within its class it’s not so bad.

EV: HP:252 / Atk: 252 / Spd: 8
Nature: Adamant (Atk+/SpA-)
Ability: Unaware

Move Pool:

Move 1: Super Fang (Normal ??/90)
Move 2: Toxic (Poison –/85 TM06)
Move 3: Substitute (Normal –/– TM90)
Move 4: Rest (Normal –/– TM44)

This particular Bidoof is designed to annoy your opponent. A quick Super Fang will knock half of the HP off of the defending Pokemon. Follow this up with Toxic and the Substitute/Rest combo and this little beaver can go for a long time! A Steel or Poison Pokemon will put the breaks on this strategy.

Other Bidoof

Have some ideas for how to use a Bidoof in battle? Post them in the comments and if they look promising I’ll add them to the article.

Posted by HMTKSteve | Filed Under Tips  4,733 views

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5 Comments »

Comment by trombone13
2008-12-28 02:15:40

So… This isn’t exactly a competitive Bidoof, but it’s gimmicky. This is my next event.

~Super Bidoof~
-Adamant-
Superpower
Super Fang
Protect
Aqua Tail

By the way, you put IV instead of EV in that last set. ;)

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Comment by cowmoo83
2008-12-28 14:46:12

well, your moveset makes sense, Kurt, because your bidoof is SUPER Bidoof! It’s gonna be awesome! Nice article… makes you semi appreciate bidoofs…

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Comment by Riaz
2009-01-27 16:56:41

I’m using this set right now

super fang
hyper fang
stealth rock
waterfall

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Comment by Terence
2009-07-23 15:09:20

super annoy bidoof: use in any battle, even against ubers!!
nature: doesn’t matter, its a bidoof!
item: focus sash

Moves:
toxic
protect
endure
quick attack

Strategy: this is pretty straight-forward, bidoof is not seen as a “cool” or even good pokemon and relatively it stinks, but it does have the one factor no other pokemon has, the power of super annoyance! the first attack used on bidoof will usually kill it unless you have the handy little item known as focus sash, this allows you to launch one attack: toxic! after that use protect, then endure, and repeat! pray that endure succeeds on every other turn because if it doesn’t this plump mouse pokemon will soon be six feet under. however, if you do succeed you will have the prestigious honor of beating a salamance with a bidoof, sure to infuriate even the most stoic of pokemon trainers!

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Comment by abhinav
2009-10-13 03:21:28

dudes bidoof evolves at level 15 and baberal is really every strong against elite four flint

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