PokéBonk Upgrades: Moves, Vitamins and Leveling

What can you verify before choosing an upgrade?

Know what you already have. In our early Bulbasaur run, the pause panel displayed Vine Whip, Lv. 1, the Synthesis ability and EXP 6/15. The panel grouped learned moves, items and vitamins separately. Its vitamin section explicitly says vitamins are chosen when you level up.

Our own level-2 offer contained Razor Leaf as a new move, Iron as a new vitamin listing +6 armor, and Zinc as a new vitamin listing +12 regenerating shield. We chose Razor Leaf. These are the cards from one attempt, not a guaranteed offer.

An independent early-run reference additionally documents an existing-move improvement. That third choice type is a secondary-source cross-check, not a card we received in this run.

How should you read the three choice types?

Choice type	Question to ask	Check after choosing
New move	What attack is being added, and what does it do?	Look for it in learned moves.
Existing move upgrade	Which owned move changes, and which values are listed?	Check that move’s level and description.
Vitamin	Which current stat or mechanic does it affect?	Inspect vitamins and the relevant stats.

Do not infer an upgrade’s effect only from its Pokémon move name. A familiar name does not establish its damage, targeting or evolution behavior in this fan game. Read the actual card and compare it with the kit you are using.

How do moves, vitamins and items differ in the interface?

The pause panel is the simplest place to see the distinction together. Our run showed one learned move, no items and a vitamins section with a slot counter. It described items as found in Poké Balls on the map or bought from Meowth.

This checks the interface explanation. It does not mean we tested every item pickup, shop transaction, vitamin cap or later unlock. Use the current panel when an update changes those details.

What is a useful beginner decision rule?

Choose a change you can explain in one sentence. For example: “this adds another attack” or “this improves the attack I already use.” Then observe it in the next section of the run. That is a learning method, not a mathematically optimized build.

If you cannot tell what changed, pause and review. Use the controls guide for the menu bindings, and read your starting partner to understand the passive behind the numbers.

Does this page give evolution recipes or a best build?

No. We have not tested full evolution chains or equal-condition builds. Those topics remain unpublished until they have direct evidence. Keep mode and difficulty fixed when comparing choices; Classic and Survival provide different run structures.

Sources and verification

Checked October 17, 2026 against the original English game, Beta v0.5.5, on desktop. Direct checks covered the Settings/Controls screen, Bulbasaur’s League profile, Viridian Forest preparation and an early Classic run with pause inspection. No complete clear, evolution chain, multiplayer or mobile gameplay test is claimed. Secondary references are identified inline.