The Butterfly Pokemon. Weak stats hold Butterfree back long-term, but early Confusion and Sleep Powder can handle Brock and Misty before stronger picks arrive.
385HP60Attack45Defense50Speed70Sp.Def80Sp.Atk80
Caterpie
Metapod
Butterfree
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
70Speed · Below Avg

Is Butterfree Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Your answer to Brock in Yellow. Pikachu can't touch Rock-types, so Butterfree with MoveConfusion is the real solution for the first gym. Beyond Pewter City, MoveSleep Powder keeps Butterfree relevant long after its stats should have fallen off. No other version makes Butterfree this essential this early.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadETTEGETGEGGTEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Even

Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.

You Win
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Even
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Butterfree's defenses.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Avoid
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's team hits Butterfree's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Even
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
You Win
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
You Win
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Risky
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Tough

Blaine's team hits Butterfree's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Risky
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Risky
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

Easy KO
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Risky
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Risky
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
Easy KO
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

You Win
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
You Win
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Tough

Lance's team hits Butterfree's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Avoid
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

You Win
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Risky
Magneton
Lv 61
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 63
WaterIce
Shell Armor
Ice BeamClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Risky
Flareon
Lv 65
Fire
Flash Fire
Fire SpinReflectQuick AttackFlamethrower

Catch Metapod

Available before Badge 1
Type
Bug
Tier
F

Catch Metapod in Viridian Forest (walking, Lv 4-6, uncommon).

View Metapod locations

How to Get Butterfree in Yellow

Grab a Viridian Forest Caterpie, push it past Metapod, and you'll have Butterfree at level 10. Viridian Forest is the start of the whole chain.

Catch Caterpie or Metapod at any of these 1 spot to eventually evolve into Butterfree.

Encountered via tall grass encounters

  1. 1
    Catch Caterpie
  2. 2
    Evolve Metapodat Lv.7
  3. 3
    Evolve Butterfreeat Lv.10

How to Obtain Butterfree in Y

  1. Metapod
    Step 2Catch or Evolve Metapod
    or evolve from Caterpie (Step 1)
  2. Butterfree
    Step 3Butterfree ✓

Butterfree Weakness

Butterfree is weak to Rock, Fire, Electric, Ice, Poison, 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 Special) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Butterfree Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Rock
2x (Weak)Fire, Electric, Ice, Poison, Flying
0.5x (Resist)Bug
0.25x (Resist)Grass, Fighting
0x (Immune)Ground
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Butterfree Weak Against

Fragile
6Weak
3Resist
1Immune
Score-6
4xCritical
½xResist
¼xResist
0xImmune

What is Butterfree Strong Against

5Strong
0Resisted
0Immune
Score+5
½xResisted
None
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Butterfree

Geodude
Geodude
RockGround
C
C
Pidgeotto
Pidgeotto
NormalFlying
C
Nidoking
Nidoking
PoisonGround
C
Pikachu
Pikachu
Electric
C

Butterfree Evolutions

Butterfree is the evolved form of Caterpie, reached at level 10. A Bug/Flying type at 385 stats that still can't breed. Evolving from Caterpie gave Butterfree the biggest boost in Special (+60), bringing the total to 385 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Butterfree
BugFlying
HP
45
50+5
60+10
ATK
30
20-10
45+25
DEF
35
55+20
50-5
SP.ATK
20
25+5
90+65
SP.DEF
20
25+5
80+55
SPE
45
30-15
70+40
BST
195F-Tier
205F-Tier+10
395E-Tier+190
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Special
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Butterfree Best Moveset

Lands MoveSleep Powder before going down to whatever wakes up. 80 Special can't threaten from Bug or Flying TermStab, so the contribution starts and ends with one sleep turn. Faster Pokemon do the same sleep job and survive to do something after.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Butterfree
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Sleep Powder
  • PsychicCoverage
  • Mega Drain
  • Stun Spore

Moves List

TMs define Butterfree's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Gust, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Psychic and Normal coverage. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Confusion
—5010025Psychic
Lv 10
Confusion
—5010025Psychic
Lv 13
Poison Powder
——7535Poison
Lv 14
Stun Spore
B—7530Grass
Lv 15
Sleep Powder
B—7515Grass
Lv 18
Supersonic
——5520Normal
Lv 23
Whirlwind-6
———20Normal
Lv 28
Gust
D4010035Normal
Lv 34
Psybeam
A6510020Psychic

TM Moves

All 20 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
D12010015Normal
HM05D—7020Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C150905Normal
TM21B4010010Grass
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM29
PsychicSaffron Citybadge 5
B9010010Psychic
TM46——10015Psychic
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
A——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM22
Solar BeamPokémon Mansionbadge 6
C12010010Grass
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
A——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM30
Teleport-6Route 9badge 2
———20Psychic
TM06C—9010Poison
TM04
Whirlwind-6Route 4badge 1
———20Normal

Tutor Moves

Butterfree can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP60
C
Attack45
D
Defense50
D
Sp. Atk80
C
Sp. Def80
C
Speed70
C
Total385
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.1 m
Weight32.0 kg
Base XP178
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpD+1Spe
Strong Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

Its wings, covered with poisonous powders, repel water. This allows it to fly in the rain.

Pokemon Yellow

Butterfree Yellow Guide

  • Honestly, in Yellow Butterfree is a tough sell. It rates just E-Tier, and stronger Bug/Flying options exist. Fun pick, not a practical one.

  • In Yellow, Butterfree plays as a balanced. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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