What does Caterpie evolve into?

Caterpie becomes Metapod at level 7, then Butterfree at level 10. Straight three-stage line with no branching.

At what level does Caterpie evolve?

Caterpie evolves into Metapod at level 7. Early evolution, you'll hit it before the third gym in most games.

Should I use Caterpie?

For Sun & Moon, 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.

Where can you catch Caterpie?

Caterpie is catchable in Sun & Moon. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 18 other games across the series.

Caterpie - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Utility

Balanced

DTier

45Speed · Slow

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.

Base Stats

Low

HP45

Attack30

Defense35

Sp. Atk20

Sp. Def20

Speed45

Total195

Details

Catch Rate

Guaranteed255 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height0.3 m

Weight2.9 kg

Base XP39

Abilities

Shield Dust

Protects against incoming moves' extra effects.

Run AwayHA

Ensures success fleeing from wild battles.

EV Yield

HP+1AtkDefSpASpDSpe

HP training source

Pokedex Entries

When attacked by bird Pokémon, it resists by releasing a terrifically strong odor from its antennae, but it often becomes their prey.

Caterpie Weakness

Type-wise, Caterpie takes extra damage from Fire, Flying, and Rock. Standard number of weaknesses for the Bug typing.

Caterpie Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Fire, Flying, Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Grass, Fighting, Ground

Type ChartAvg

3Weak

3Resist

0Immune

Score-3

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Fire Flying Rock

½xResist

Grass Fighting Ground

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (3)

Grass Psychic Dark

How to Beat Caterpie in Sun & Moon (Best Counters)

Butterfree BugFlying	C
Available Move Moves GustLv. 1 Damage vs Caterpie Gust 2x 92-111%KO View Butterfree builds →
Rowlet GrassFlying	D
Obtain MethodIki Town Gift Available Move Moves PeckLv. 8 Damage vs Caterpie Peck 2x 53-63% View Rowlet builds →
Litten Fire	D
Obtain MethodIki Town Gift Available Move Moves EmberLv. 1 Damage vs Caterpie Ember 2x 74-87% View Litten builds →
Wingull WaterFlying	D
Obtain MethodRoute 1 Surfing Available Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 8 Damage vs Caterpie Wing Attack 2x 58-71% View Wingull builds →
Pikipek NormalFlying	D
Available Move Moves PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Caterpie Peck 2x 58-71% View Pikipek builds →

Sun & Moon Evolution

Three stages ahead. Caterpie grows into Metapod, then pushes on to Butterfree. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, quick to hatch with plenty of partners via one egg group. Evolving adds up to 200 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms

#010Caterpie

Level 7

#011Metapod

Level 10

#012Butterfree

Stat Comparison 3 Stages

Caterpie

Bug

Metapod

Bug

Butterfree

BugFlying

50+5

60+10

ATK

20-10

45+25

DEF

55+20

50-5

SP.ATK

25+5

90+65

SP.DEF

25+5

80+55

SPE

30-15

70+40

BST

195D-Tier

205D-Tier+10

395C-Tier+190

ROLE

Balanced

TYPE

Utility

Special

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Caterpie easily with 77 breeding partners from the Bug egg group.

Egg Groups

Bug

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

15 cycles·3,855 steps

Quick~4 min with Flame Body

Breed With (best first)

Sun & Moon Caterpie Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.

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

Lv 1

String Shot

——9540Bug

Lv 1

Tackle

—4010035Normal

Lv 9

Bug Bite

D6010020Bug

TM Moves

Caterpie can't learn any TM moves

Egg Moves

Caterpie doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Caterpie can't learn any Tutor moves

Sun & Moon Caterpie Locations

22 encounter spots for Caterpie at decent spawn rates starting from early-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.

Best Locations to Catch Caterpie in Sun & Moon

You can catch Caterpie through 22 walking encounters from Lv. 2-21, but availability differs between Sun and Moon. Some spots are exclusive to one version.

Route 1 - East

SunGrass Lv.2-3 Route

20%Early

Route 1 - East

MoonGrass Lv.2-3 Route

20%Early

Route 1 - West

SunGrass Lv.3-5 Route

10%Early

Route 1 - West

MoonGrass Lv.3-5 Route

10%Early

Route 1 - West

SunGrass Lv.3-5 Route

Early

SOS from Metapod

Route 1 - West

MoonGrass Lv.3-5 Route

Early

SOS from Metapod

Melemele Meadow

SunGrass Lv.9-12

10%Early

Melemele Meadow

MoonGrass Lv.9-12

10%Early

Melemele Meadow

SunGrass Lv.9-12

Early

SOS from Metapod

Melemele Meadow

MoonGrass Lv.9-12

Early

SOS from Metapod

Route 1 - South

SunGrass Lv.10-13 Route

10%Early

Route 1 - South

MoonGrass Lv.10-13 Route

10%Early

Route 1 - South

SunGrass Lv.10-13 Route

Early

SOS from Metapod

Route 1 - South

MoonGrass Lv.10-13 Route

Early

SOS from Metapod

Route 5

SunGrass Lv.13-16 Route

10%Early

Route 5

MoonGrass Lv.13-16 Route

10%Early

Route 5

SunGrass Lv.13-16 Route

Early

SOS from Metapod

Route 5

MoonGrass Lv.13-16 Route

Early

SOS from Metapod

Lush Jungle - South

SunGrass Lv.18-21 Forest

10%Mid

Lush Jungle - South

MoonGrass Lv.18-21 Forest

10%Mid

Lush Jungle - South

MoonGrass Lv.18-21 Forest

Mid

SOS from Metapod

Lush Jungle - South

SunGrass Lv.18-21 Forest

Mid

SOS from Metapod

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 Sun & Moon, 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 Sun & Moon. 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

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Volcarona BugFire	A
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves Quiver Dance Bug Buzz Hidden Power Ground Giga Drain Damage vs Caterpie Giga Drain 56-66% View Volcarona builds →
Gliscor GroundFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB RoostRecovery DefogUtility ToxicUtility Damage vs Caterpie Earthquake 50-58% View Gliscor builds →
Terrakion RockFighting	B
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves Close Combat Stone Edge Earthquake Swords Dance Damage vs Caterpie Close Combat 141-165%KO Stone Edge 2x 469-552%KO Earthquake 78-92% View Terrakion builds →
Charizard FireFlying	C
Recommended Build AbilitySolarpower ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves Heat Wave Dragon Pulse ProtectPriority Air Cutter Damage vs Caterpie Heat Wave 2x 368-434%KO Dragon Pulse 110-129%KO View Charizard builds →
Staraptor NormalFlying	C
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemChoice Scarf NatureHardy Moves Brave Bird U Turn Close Combat Final Gambit Damage vs Caterpie U Turn 70-82% Close Combat 59-70% View Staraptor builds →