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.
For protection, it releases a horrible stench from the antennae on its head to drive away enemies.
Its feet have suction cups designed to stick to any surface. It tenaciously climbs trees to forage.
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)
 Golbat Poison | D | |
 Chatot Normal | D | |
 Natu Psychic | D | |
 Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Cyndaquil builds →Fire Blast 2x198-233%KO Flamethrower 2x165-194%KO Flame Wheel 2x80-94% Ember 2x74-89% | ||
 Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Numel builds →Fire Blast 2x207-244%KO Flamethrower 2x174-206%KO Rock Tomb 2x56-67% Ember 2x80-94% | ||
 Scyther Bug | C | |
 Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x297-351%KO Flamethrower 2x243-286%KO Ember 2x112-134%KO Fire Spin 2x97-115%KO | ||
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Chatot builds →Chatter 2x168-198%KO Peck 2x54-65% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x131-154%KO Aerial Ace 2x131-154%KO | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x287-338%KO Flamethrower 2x235-277%KO Fire Punch 2x144-169%KO Ember 2x108-127%KO | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Butterfree builds →Aerial Ace 2x68-81% Gust 2x101-119%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Fly 2x150-177%KO Wing Attack 2x101-119%KO Air Cutter 2x114-135%KO Aerial Ace 2x101-119%KO | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Chatot builds →Fly 2x127-150%KO Chatter 2x159-188%KO Pluck 2x87-104%KO Aerial Ace 2x87-104%KO | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x134-159%KO Aerial Ace 2x134-159%KO | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x307-362%KO Flamethrower 2x252-297%KO Fire Punch 2x149-176%KO Ember 2x114-134%KO | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Butterfree builds →Aerial Ace 2x70-83% Gust 2x105-124%KO | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Fly 2x155-183%KO Wing Attack 2x105-124%KO Air Cutter 2x123-145%KO Aerial Ace 2x105-124%KO | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Chatot builds →Fly 2x131-155%KO Chatter 2x172-203%KO Pluck 2x91-107%KO Aerial Ace 2x91-107%KO | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x128-152%KO Aerial Ace 2x128-152%KO | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x287-339%KO Flamethrower 2x236-279%KO Fire Punch 2x144-169%KO Ember 2x107-127%KO | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x161-191%KO Fly 2x105-124%KO Air Slash 2x176-208%KO Aerial Ace 2x72-85% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Fly 2x146-173%KO Wing Attack 2x99-116%KO Air Cutter 2x113-134%KO Aerial Ace 2x99-116%KO | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Chatot builds →Fly 2x126-148%KO Chatter 2x161-191%KO Pluck 2x86-102%KO Aerial Ace 2x86-102%KO | ||
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x156-184%KO Air Slash 2x109-129%KO Air Cutter 2x88-104%KO Aerial Ace 2x104-122%KO | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x135-159%KO Aerial Ace 2x135-159%KO | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x306-361%KO Flamethrower 2x252-297%KO Lava Plume 2x223-263%KO Fire Punch 2x148-174%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x168-199%KO Fly 2x111-132%KO Air Slash 2x187-220%KO Aerial Ace 2x74-89% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golbat builds →Fly 2x156-184%KO Wing Attack 2x104-122%KO Air Cutter 2x121-144%KO Aerial Ace 2x104-122%KO | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver 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 48 breeding partners from the Bug egg group.
HeartGold & SoulSilver 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 Bite 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
HeartGold & SoulSilver Caterpie Locations
high spawn rates in early-game routes across 14 locations. Caterpie's one of the easier catches on the list. Two different catch methods are in play here. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Best Locations to Catch Caterpie in HeartGold & SoulSilver
14 spots to find Caterpie at Lv. 2-36 via walking and headbutt. Not all of them exist in both HeartGold and SoulSilver 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver. 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