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 is covered with a green skin. When it grows, it sheds the skin, covers itself with silk, and becomes a cocoon.
Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls.
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 |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
 Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
 Pidgey Normal | D | |
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x100-120%KO Rock Throw 2x84-100%KO | ||
 Spearow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Spearow builds →Aerial Ace 2x84-100%KO Peck 2x49-60% | ||
Pidgey Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Pidgey builds →Aerial Ace 2x67-80% Gust 2x49-60% | ||
 Zubat Poison | D | |
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Charmander builds →Aerial Ace 2x49-58% Ember 2x73-87% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x100-120%KO Rock Throw 2x84-100%KO | ||
Spearow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Spearow builds →Aerial Ace 2x84-100%KO Peck 2x49-60% | ||
Pidgey Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Pidgey builds →Aerial Ace 2x67-80% Gust 2x49-60% | ||
Zubat Poison | D | |
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Charmander builds →Aerial Ace 2x49-58% Ember 2x73-87% | ||
 Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x127-150%KO Aerial Ace 2x127-150%KO | ||
 Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Growlithe builds →Flamethrower 2x178-211%KO Aerial Ace 2x59-70% Ember 2x82-97% | ||
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Charmander builds →Flamethrower 2x158-186%KO Aerial Ace 2x50-59% Ember 2x72-85% | ||
 Vulpix Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Vulpix builds →Flamethrower 2x141-166%KO Ember 2x65-77% | ||
Spearow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Spearow builds →Aerial Ace 2x82-97% Peck 2x47-57% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x133-157%KO Aerial Ace 2x133-157%KO | ||
 Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Fearow builds →Fly 2x167-198%KO Aerial Ace 2x115-135%KO Peck 2x68-80% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Growlithe builds →Flamethrower 2x187-220%KO Flame Wheel 2x127-150%KO Aerial Ace 2x62-73% Ember 2x87-102%KO | ||
 Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Pidgeotto builds →Fly 2x124-146%KO Wing Attack 2x83-99% Aerial Ace 2x83-99% Gust 2x59-70% | ||
 Doduo Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Doduo builds →Fly 2x161-190%KO Aerial Ace 2x109-128%KO Peck 2x65-77% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x133-157%KO Aerial Ace 2x133-157%KO | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Fearow builds →Fly 2x167-198%KO Aerial Ace 2x115-135%KO Peck 2x68-80% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Growlithe builds →Flamethrower 2x187-220%KO Flame Wheel 2x127-150%KO Aerial Ace 2x62-73% Ember 2x87-102%KO | ||
Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Pidgeotto builds →Fly 2x124-146%KO Wing Attack 2x83-99% Aerial Ace 2x83-99% Gust 2x59-70% | ||
Doduo Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Doduo builds →Fly 2x161-190%KO Aerial Ace 2x109-128%KO Peck 2x65-77% | ||
 Articuno Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Articuno builds →Fly 2x158-186%KO Aerial Ace 2x105-125%KO Gust 2x72-85% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x130-154%KO Aerial Ace 2x130-154%KO | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Fearow builds →Fly 2x166-196%KO Drill Peck 2x149-175%KO Aerial Ace 2x112-133%KO Peck 2x67-80% | ||
 Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 2x101-119%KO Air Cutter 2x101-119%KO Aerial Ace 2x101-119%KO | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Growlithe builds →Overheat 2x265-313%KO Fire Blast 2x226-265%KO Flamethrower 2x185-218%KO Flame Wheel 2x124-146%KO | ||
 Zapdos Electric | S | |
Obtain MethodPower Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Zapdos builds →Fly 2x172-203%KO Drill Peck 2x153-180%KO Aerial Ace 2x114-135%KO Peck 2x68-80% | ||
 Moltres Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodMt Ember Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Moltres builds →Overheat 2x443-523%KO Fire Blast 2x376-443%KO Flamethrower 2x308-363%KO Fly 2x187-220%KO | ||
Articuno Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Articuno builds →Fly 2x163-193%KO Aerial Ace 2x110-130%KO Gust 2x74-88% | ||
 Rapidash Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Rapidash builds →Overheat 2x308-363%KO Fire Blast 2x261-308%KO Flamethrower 2x214-253%KO Bounce 2x118-138%KO | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x136-160%KO Aerial Ace 2x136-160%KO | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Charizard can KO Caterpie with Fire Blast (427-503%). Gyarados's Earthquake hits Caterpie for 56-66%. Regirock's Explosion also KOs at 239-282%.
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemLeftovers NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Charizard builds →Fire Blast 2x427-503%KO | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Gyarados builds →Earthquake56-66% | ||
 Regirock Rock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Regirock builds →Explosion239-282%KO Rock Slide 2x216-255%KO Superpower58-68% | ||
FireRed & LeafGreen 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
Breeding
Breed Caterpie easily with 37 breeding partners from the Bug egg group.
FireRed & LeafGreen Caterpie Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 3.
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
FireRed & LeafGreen Caterpie Locations
high spawn rates in early-game routes across 10 locations. Caterpie's one of the easier catches on the list. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Best Locations to Catch Caterpie in FireRed & LeafGreen
10 spots to find Caterpie at Lv. 3-8 via walking. Not all of them exist in both LeafGreen and FireRed versions, so filter by your copy below.
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 FireRed & LeafGreen, 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 FireRed & LeafGreen. 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