Without Tinted Lens, Butterfree wouldn't see any competitive play. With it? It makes resisted hits deal full damage, turning modest base stats into a real offensive threat. Bug/Flying is solid coverage on top of that. It needs some investment to avoid getting outsped.
Butterfree's spread isn't flashy. Sp. Atk leads, Attack trails, 2 stats clear the bar. Tough to catch and worth 3 Sp. Atk and Sp. Def EVs, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
The wings are protected by rain-repellent dust. As a result, this POKéMON can fly about even in rain.
In battle, it flaps its wings at great speed to release highly toxic dust into the air.
Butterfree Weakness
VulnerableButterfree is weak to Rock, Fire, Electric, Ice, and Flying-type moves. 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.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
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.
How to Evolve
Breed with Butterfree to get Caterpie eggs easily using 37 partners from the Bug egg group.
For a special attacker, Butterfree wants max HP and Speed EVs and Nothing. The Timid nature tilts toward fast special duty, and Compoundeyes contributes without taking a move slot.
Best Build
Best Butterfree Moveset
- Sleep Powder
- Stun Spore
- Thief
- Whirlwind
Recommended Teammates
TMs define Butterfree's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Silver Wind and Aerial Ace, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Psychic and Normal coverage and more. That's where the options open up.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
No wild encounters for Butterfree. The 3-stage chain runs through Caterpie, which you can catch at solid rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 10 once you've got the levels.
How to Obtain Butterfree in FireRed & LeafGreen
Caterpie is your first catch on the way to Butterfree. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 3-9 across 18 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch CaterpieEFFORTLESSViridian ForestLeafGreenGrassLv.3-5CommonEarlyForestEFFORTLESSViridian ForestFireRedGrassLv.3-5CommonEarlyForestEASYPattern BushFireRedGrassLv.6UncommonEarlyEASYPattern BushLeafGreenGrassLv.6UncommonEarlyEASYRoute 24LeafGreenGrassLv.7UncommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 24FireRedGrassLv.7UncommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 25LeafGreenGrassLv.8UncommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 25FireRedGrassLv.8UncommonEarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 2FireRedGrassLv.4-5RareEarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 2LeafGreenGrassLv.4-5RareEarlyRoute
Step 2Catch or Evolve MetapodEASYViridian ForestLeafGreenGrassLv.4-6UncommonEarlyForestEASYPattern BushLeafGreenGrassLv.9UncommonEarlyCHALLENGINGViridian ForestFireRedGrassLv.5RareEarlyForestCHALLENGINGRoute 24FireRedGrassLv.8RareEarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 24LeafGreenGrassLv.8RareEarlyRouteCHALLENGINGPattern BushFireRedGrassLv.9RareEarlyCHALLENGINGRoute 25LeafGreenGrassLv.9RareEarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 25FireRedGrassLv.9RareEarlyRouteor evolve from Caterpie (Step 1)
Step 3Butterfree ✓
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.
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.
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.
Butterfree fills the balanced role. It's a mixed attacker — base 45 Attack and 90 Sp. Atk. Base 70 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many.
Butterfree appears in 19 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Butterfree first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 19 games across 9 generations. It later gained a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwShGigantamax
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A