Like Metapod, Kakuna only knows Harden. Push through to Beedrill at level 10 and don't look back.
205HP45Attack25Defense50Speed35Sp.Def25Sp.Atk25
Weedle
Kakuna
Beedrill
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
35Speed · Very Slow

Is Kakuna Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

MoveHarden until level 10. Beedrill waits on the other side, though the payoff is smaller than Butterfree's.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTEEGEGEEEETTEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Beedrill's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Avoid
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBide
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Beedrill trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Beedrill trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Risky
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Good

Beedrill has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.

Easy KO
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
You Win
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Easy KO
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Beedrill trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Risky
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Good

Beedrill has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.

You Win
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
Even
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Even
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Beedrill trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
Even
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Risky
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Risky
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Beedrill trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

You Win
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
Risky
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
Even
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Beedrill trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
You Win
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Beedrill trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Risky
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
Risky
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Tough

Agatha's team hits Beedrill's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Risky
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Risky
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Tough

Lance's typing presses Beedrill's defenses.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Avoid
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Beedrill trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Risky
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
You Win
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStomp
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 63
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Risky
Charizard
Lv 65
FireFlying
Blaze
RageSlashFire BlastFire Spin

Catch Weedle

Available before Badge 1
Type
BugPoison
Tier
F

Catch Weedle on Route 2 (walking, Lv 3-5, uncommon).

View Weedle locations

How to Get Kakuna in Red & Blue

Weedle's cocoon stage turns up at five wild spots around Viridian Forest, common in Red but scarce in Blue. Most players just raise a Weedle past level 7 instead of hunting Kakuna.

3 locations to catch Kakuna

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Badge 2

Where To Catch Kakuna in RB

The path to Kakuna starts with Weedle at Lv. 3-8 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Beedrill
    Step 3Evolve into Beedrill

Not landing the catch? Calculate Kakuna catch rates for Red & Blue by ball, status, and HP.

Kakuna Weakness

Type-wise, Kakuna takes extra damage from Fire, Flying, Psychic, Bug, and Rock. Kakuna's physical bulk (base 50 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Kakuna Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fire, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock
0.25x (Resist)Grass, Fighting
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 Kakuna Weak Against

Fragile
5Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Score-6
4xCritical
None
½xResist
None
¼xResist
0xImmune
None

What is Kakuna Strong Against

4Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+3
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Kakuna

Pidgey
Pidgey
NormalFlying
D
D

Kakuna Evolutions

This Bug/Poison-type links Weedle to Beedrill. Kakuna has 205 stats but sits in the Undiscovered egg group. Defense has grown the most so far (+20), but there's still another 190 stats to gain in the final evolution. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Weedle
BugPoison
Kakuna
BugPoison
Beedrill
BugPoison
HP
40
45+5
65+20
ATK
35
25-10
90+65
DEF
30
50+20
40-10
SP.ATK
20
25+5
45+20
SP.DEF
20
25+5
80+55
SPE
50
35-15
75+40
BST
195F-Tier
205F-Tier+10
395E-Tier+190
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Kakuna Best Moveset

Bug pre-evolution with Harden as its signature move. Stats near single digits across the board. No competitive purpose.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Kakuna
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • HardenUtility

Moves List

A compact toolkit overall. The offense runs through Bug and Poison STAB for Kakuna, with limited coverage doing what it can. Don't expect versatility from this one.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Harden
S——30Normal

TM Moves

Kakuna can't learn any TM moves

Tutor Moves

Kakuna can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP45
D
Attack25
F
Defense50
D
Sp. Atk25
F
Sp. Def25
F
Speed35
F
Total205
Details
Catch Rate
Moderate120 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.6 m
Weight10.0 kg
Base XP72
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe
Defense training target
Pokedex Entry

Almost incapable of moving, this POKéMON can only harden its shell to protect itself from predators.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Kakuna Red & Blue Guide

  • In Red & Blue, for a casual playthrough, Kakuna works as a placeholder. Bug/Poison coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Beedrill. That's where the stats start mattering.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Kakuna appears in 19 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Kakuna have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Explore

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