Is Butterfree Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
AbilityCompound Eyes makes Sleep Powder nearly guaranteed, which is useful against Fantina and any tough fight. Falls off hard after mid-game though. More of a utility pick than a team cornerstone.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Roark's team.
Butterfree resists most of Gardenia's coverage and hits back hard.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Maylene's team.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Crasher Wake's team.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Byron's team hits Butterfree's weaknesses hard.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Candice's team.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Volkner's team.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Aaron's team.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Bertha's team.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Flint's team.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Lucian's team.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Butterfree cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 10.
How to Get Butterfree in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Can't catch Butterfree directly. Start with Caterpie at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 10. The 3-stage chain from Caterpie to Butterfree is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Butterfree in BDSP
To get Butterfree, start by catching Caterpie through walking encounters at Lv. 58-63. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch CaterpieBogsunk CavernLv.58-63GrassBrilliant DiamondPost-gameGrassland CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameRiverbank CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameSpacious CaveLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameStill-Water CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameSunlit CavernLv.58-63CaveBrilliant DiamondPost-gameSwampy CaveLv.58-63GrassBrilliant DiamondPost-game
Step 2Evolve into Metapod
Step 3Butterfree ✓
Butterfree Weakness
Butterfree is weak to Rock, Fire, Electric, Ice, and Flying. Watch out for Rock attacks, those deal 4x damage. On the flip side, it's immune to Ground-type moves entirely. Butterfree's special bulk (base 80 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Rock |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Electric, Ice, Flying |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Bug |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
What is Butterfree Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Butterfree
 Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x138-162%KO Thunderbolt 2x49-59% | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Graveler builds →Stone Edge 4x281-332%KO Fire Blast 2x44-52% | ||
 Manectric Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Manectric builds →Thunderbolt 2x99-116%KO Overheat 2x93-111%KO | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
 Golbat Poison | C | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x138-162%KO Thunderbolt 2x49-59% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Graveler builds →Stone Edge 4x281-332%KO Fire Blast 2x44-52% | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Manectric Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Manectric builds →Thunderbolt 2x99-116%KO Overheat 2x93-111%KO | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x132-156%KO Thunderbolt 2x49-58% | ||
 Staraptor Normal | B | |
 Dodrio Normal | C | |
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Graveler builds →Stone Edge 4x270-318%KO Fire Blast 2x42-50% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x128-151%KO Thunderbolt 2x47-56% | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
 Mamoswine IceGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Mamoswine builds →Stone Edge 4x230-271%KO Ice Fang 2x113-133%KO | ||
 Rapidash Fire | B | |
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x128-151%KO Thunderbolt 2x47-56% | ||
Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Mamoswine IceGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Mamoswine builds →Stone Edge 4x230-271%KO Ice Fang 2x113-133%KO | ||
Rapidash Fire | B | |
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 4x425-501%KO | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Rhydon builds →Stone Edge 4x358-422%KO Avalanche 2x71-85% Fire Blast 2x39-47% Thunderbolt 2x33-39% | ||
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x128-151%KO Thunderbolt 2x47-56% | ||
Staraptor Normal | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Staraptor builds →Brave Bird 2x199-235%KO | ||
Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Tyranitar can KO Butterfree with Stone Edge (369-435%). Blaziken threatens a KO with Flare Blitz (137-162%). Jolteon's Thunderbolt also KOs at 146-172%.
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Tyranitar builds →Crunch74-87% Stone Edge 4x369-435%KO | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySpeed Boost ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Blaziken builds →Close Combat17-20% Flare Blitz 2x137-162%KO | ||
 Jolteon Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Jolteon builds →Thunderbolt 2x146-172%KO Shadow Ball43-51% Volt Switch 2x114-134%KO | ||
 Salamence Dragon | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves View Salamence builds →
| ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Lapras builds →Avalanche 2x55-65% Thunderbolt 2x38-45% Waterfall36-43% | ||
Butterfree Evolutions
Butterfree is the final form in a three-stage chain from Caterpie through Metapod. Breeding this form produces Caterpie eggs (quick to hatch). Evolving from Caterpie gave Butterfree the biggest boost in Sp.Atk (+70), bringing the total to 395 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Butterfree to get Caterpie eggs easily using 48 partners from the Bug egg group.
BDSP Butterfree Best Moveset
Fell from C-tier despite gaining 10 Sp. Atk (now 90 after the Gen 6 buff) and hidden AbilityTinted Lens halving resistance penalties. AbilityCompound Eyes pushes MoveSleep Powder accuracy to 97.5%, and the moveset leans on that near-guaranteed sleep to function. E-tier because 70 Speed and fragile defenses fold under the format's faster threats.
Best Build
Butterfree best EVs are Defense and HP
Wall Moveset
- Sleep Powder
- Hurricane
- Quiver Dance
- Bug Buzz
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Butterfree develops a solid moveset just through leveling. Bug Buzz and Dream Eater show up naturally, and the progression handles both STAB and utility without leaning on TMs for the core attacks.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It loves the nectar of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen.
Butterfree Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Butterfree's biggest threats include Golem (Rock), Charizard (Fire), and Raikou (Electric), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Golem is the most dangerous since Rock moves deal 4x damage. Ice and Flying-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Honestly, in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Butterfree is a tough sell at 395 BST. Plenty of stronger Bug/Flying options exist. Fun pick, not a practical one.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Don't let Butterfree's 395 base stat total fool you. Tinted Lens is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier. Sleep Powder with Wide Lens is the standard set.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Run Tinted Lens on Butterfree. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Butterfree also gets Compound Eyes, but they don't compare.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Tinted Lens is the hidden ability. It doubles damage inflicted with not-very-effective moves. Worth hunting for if you want Butterfree to compete at a higher level.
Game Availability
Butterfree first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 19 games across 10 generations. It later gained a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGigantamax
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves