Stats & Training
An unusually even spread gives Caterpie flexibility. HP barely edges ahead. But Sp. Atk isn't far off. Easy to catch and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve. Yields 1 HP EV.
It releases a stench from its red antenna to repel enemies. It grows by molting repeatedly.
It releases a stench from its red antenna to repel enemies. It grows by molting repeatedly.
Caterpie Weakness
Type-wise, Caterpie takes extra damage from Fire, Flying, and Rock. Standard number of weaknesses for the Bug typing.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Flying, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Ground |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Growlithe builds →Fire Blast 2x203-240%KO Ember 2x83-98% | ||
Staravia Normal | D | |
Doduo Normal | D | |
Chimchar Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodLake Verity Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Chimchar builds →Fire Blast 2x183-218%KO Ember 2x75-90% | ||
Combee Bug | D | |
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Murkrow builds →Wing Attack 2x100-119%KO Pluck 2x100-119%KO Peck 2x60-72% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Growlithe builds →Fire Blast 2x210-248%KO Flame Wheel 2x88-103%KO Ember 2x78-93% | ||
Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Obtain MethodValley Windworks Interact Encounter | ||
Staravia Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Staravia builds →Wing Attack 2x91-109%KO Pluck 2x91-109%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x171-201%KO Fly 2x111-130%KO Pluck 2x76-91% Peck 2x46-55% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x161-189%KO Wing Attack 2x111-130%KO Pluck 2x111-130%KO Peck 2x67-79% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Fly 2x154-182%KO Wing Attack 2x104-122%KO Air Cutter 2x120-142%KO Pluck 2x104-122%KO | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x214-253%KO Flamethrower 2x178-209%KO Ember 2x80-95% Fire Spin 2x70-83% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x171-201%KO Fly 2x111-130%KO Aerial Ace 2x76-91% Pluck 2x76-91% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x161-189%KO Wing Attack 2x111-130%KO Aerial Ace 2x111-130%KO Pluck 2x111-130%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Fly 2x154-182%KO Wing Attack 2x104-122%KO Air Cutter 2x120-142%KO Aerial Ace 2x104-122%KO | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x214-253%KO Flamethrower 2x178-209%KO Ember 2x80-95% Fire Spin 2x70-83% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 2x93-111%KO Gust 2x111-130%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x165-196%KO Fly 2x108-128%KO Air Slash 2x183-216%KO Aerial Ace 2x74-88% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x160-189%KO Wing Attack 2x108-128%KO Aerial Ace 2x108-128%KO Pluck 2x108-128%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Fly 2x152-179%KO Wing Attack 2x102-121%KO Air Cutter 2x117-138%KO Aerial Ace 2x102-121%KO | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x211-249%KO Flamethrower 2x174-206%KO Ember 2x80-94% Fire Spin 2x71-84% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 2x91-108%KO Gust 2x111-131%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x165-194%KO Fly 2x106-125%KO Air Slash 2x180-213%KO Aerial Ace 2x71-84% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x156-184%KO Wing Attack 2x106-125%KO Aerial Ace 2x106-125%KO Pluck 2x106-125%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Fly 2x148-175%KO Wing Attack 2x100-119%KO Air Cutter 2x117-138%KO Aerial Ace 2x100-119%KO | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x213-250%KO Flamethrower 2x175-206%KO Ember 2x79-94% Fire Spin 2x69-81% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 2x90-106%KO Gust 2x111-131%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x165-194%KO Fly 2x107-126%KO Air Slash 2x182-215%KO Aerial Ace 2x72-85% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x157-185%KO Wing Attack 2x105-124%KO Aerial Ace 2x105-124%KO Pluck 2x105-124%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Fly 2x150-176%KO Wing Attack 2x102-121%KO Air Cutter 2x117-138%KO Aerial Ace 2x102-121%KO | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x212-250%KO Flamethrower 2x175-206%KO Ember 2x79-94% Fire Spin 2x70-82% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 2x89-106%KO Gust 2x112-132%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x166-197%KO Fly 2x107-127%KO Air Slash 2x184-217%KO Aerial Ace 2x72-85% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x162-191%KO Wing Attack 2x109-129%KO Aerial Ace 2x109-129%KO Pluck 2x109-129%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Fly 2x153-181%KO Wing Attack 2x103-122%KO Air Cutter 2x118-140%KO Aerial Ace 2x103-122%KO | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Chatot builds →Fly 2x132-155%KO Chatter 2x169-199%KO Aerial Ace 2x88-103%KO Pluck 2x88-103%KO | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Ponyta builds →Flare Blitz 2x215-253%KO Fire Blast 2x217-256%KO Flamethrower 2x178-209%KO Bounce 2x103-121%KO | ||
In Diamond & Pearl, Gliscor's Earthquake hits Caterpie for 50-58%. Aerodactyl threatens a KO with Stone Edge (271-319%). Rhyperior's Stone Edge also KOs at 365-430%.
Gliscor Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityHypercutter ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Gliscor builds →Earthquake50-58% Ice Fang43-51% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake45-53% Stone Edge 2x271-319%KO | ||
Rhyperior GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemLeftovers NatureBrave Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Rhyperior builds →Earthquake91-107%KO Stone Edge 2x365-430%KO Megahorn146-172%KO | ||
Charizard Fire | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Charizard builds →Air Slash 2x379-445%KO Flamethrower 2x455-535%KO | ||
Staraptor Normal | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Staraptor builds →Close Combat59-70% U Turn70-82% Double Edge179-210%KO | ||
Diamond & Pearl Evolution
Three stages ahead. Caterpie grows into Metapod, then pushes on to Butterfree. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, quick to hatch with a decent partner pool via one egg group. Evolving adds up to 200 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Diamond & Pearl Caterpie Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Not a lot to pick from. Caterpie gets Bug STAB for same-type damage, and Normal coverage rounds things out. You're building around what's available rather than choosing from a deep bench.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Diamond & Pearl Caterpie Locations
Caterpie tops out at moderate rates across 2 locations in early-game routes. The encounters below are sorted by rate so you can see exactly what you're working with.
Best Locations to Catch Caterpie in Diamond & Pearl
Caterpie Guide
Caterpie becomes Metapod at level 7, then Butterfree at level 10. Straight three-stage line with no branching.
Caterpie evolves into Metapod at level 7. Early evolution, you'll hit it before the third gym in most games.
For Diamond & Pearl, you can run Caterpie through the first few routes without issues. 195 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Metapod as fast as you can.
Caterpie is catchable in Diamond & Pearl. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 18 other games across the series.
Game Availability
One of the original 151, Caterpie has appeared in 19 games — most mainline games. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut

Red & Blue - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM

Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves
