Catch Caterpie in Viridian Forest and push to Butterfree by level 10. One of Yellow's fastest evolution chains and an early-game carry.
195HP45Attack30Defense35Speed45Sp.Def20Sp.Atk20
Caterpie
Metapod
Butterfree
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
45Speed · Slow

Is Caterpie Good in Yellow Playthrough?

More important in Yellow than in any other version. Butterfree is one of the only things that can beat Brock when your starter is Pikachu. Catch Caterpie in Viridian Forest and rush to level 10 before Pewter City.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadEETEGETGEGGTEBrockGym 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
Even

Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
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

Catchable

Available before Badge 1
Type
Bug
Tier
F

Catch Caterpie in Viridian Forest (walking, Lv 3-6, common).

View Caterpie locations

How to Get Caterpie in Yellow

Caterpie packs into Viridian Forest, common in the grass at low levels. That one early spot is the whole story, so it's an easy first bug catch.

1 location to catch Caterpie

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Where To Catch Caterpie in Y

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

Bring the right balls: check Caterpie catch odds in the Yellow Catch Rate Calculator before you throw.

Caterpie Weakness

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

Caterpie Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fire, Poison, Flying, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Fighting, 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 Caterpie Weak Against

Vulnerable
4Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-5
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Caterpie Strong Against

3Strong
4Resisted
0Immune
Score-1
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Caterpie

Pidgeotto
Pidgeotto
NormalFlying
C
D
D

Caterpie Evolutions

Caterpie starts a line toward Butterfree. Can't breed this Bug type (195 stats), so keep the evolution path going. Evolving adds up to 200 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Caterpie
Bug
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 Caterpie Best Moveset

Nothing in the move list threatens anything at any level. The entire purpose is reaching Butterfree, and even that destination barely justifies the trip.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Caterpie
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • TackleCoverage
  • String ShotSTAB

Moves List

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

Lv 1
String Shot
S—9540Bug
Lv 1
Tackle
S409535Normal

TM Moves

Caterpie can't learn any TM moves

Tutor Moves

Caterpie can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Low
HP45
D
Attack30
F
Defense35
F
Sp. Atk20
F
Sp. Def20
F
Speed45
D
Total195
Details
Catch Rate
Guaranteed255 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.3 m
Weight2.9 kg
Base XP39
EV Yield
HP+1AtkDefSpASpDSpe
HP training source
Pokedex Entry

If you touch the feeler on top of its head, it will release a horrible stink to protect itself.

Pokemon Yellow

Caterpie Yellow Guide

  • For Yellow, 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.

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.

Explore

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