
Is Metapod Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
Grinding through Viridian Forest, Metapod's AbilityShed Skin has a chance to shake off poison or paralysis each turn. A quality-of-life upgrade over the originals where status lingered until you healed it. Push to level 10 for Butterfree. The cocoon stage passes faster than it feels.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.
Misty's typing presses Butterfree's defenses.
Lt. Surge's team hits Butterfree's weaknesses hard.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.
Lance's team hits Butterfree's weaknesses hard.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Terry's team.
Catch Caterpie on Route 2 (walking, Lv 4-5, rare).
- STARTING (Lv 4)
- LV 4NormalTackle40100%35
How to Get Metapod in FireRed & LeafGreen
Don't count on finding wild Metapod easily. Eight early-game grass encounters in both versions, and every one is rare or uncommon.
4 locations to catch Metapod5 locations to catch Caterpie
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Catch Caterpie at any of the 5 locations below, then level it up to 7 — it evolves into Metapod.
Where To Catch Metapod in FRLG
Caterpie is your first catch on the way to Metapod. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 3-9 across 18 total spots in the chain.
Step 2Metapod ✓Viridian ForestLv.4-6GrassLeafGreenRate 10%Viridian ForestLv.5GrassFireRedRate 5%Pattern BushLv.9GrassFireRedRate 5%Pattern BushLv.9GrassLeafGreenRate 5%or evolve from Caterpie (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into ButterfreeBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Four Island Pokemon Day Care to receive a Butterfree egg. Requires the Rainbow Pass to access Four Island.
Metapod Weakness
Metapod's Bug typing leaves it vulnerable to Fire, Flying, and Rock. Metapod's physical bulk (base 55 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| 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
What is Metapod Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Metapod
Charmander Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
Pidgey Normal | D | |
Charmeleon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Charmeleon builds →Ember 2x83-98% Aerial Ace 2x43-52% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Spearow Normal | C | |
Zubat Poison | D | |
Charmeleon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Charmeleon builds →Ember 2x83-98% Aerial Ace 2x43-52% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Spearow Normal | C | |
Zubat Poison | D | |
Flareon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Charmeleon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Charmeleon builds →Flamethrower 2x180-213%KO Aerial Ace 2x42-50% | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Pallet Town Old Rod) | ||
Flareon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Dodrio Normal | B | |
Charmeleon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Charmeleon builds →Flamethrower 2x190-223%KO Aerial Ace 2x43-51% | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Flareon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Dodrio Normal | B | |
Charmeleon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Charmeleon builds →Flamethrower 2x190-223%KO Aerial Ace 2x43-51% | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Charizard Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Charizard builds →Overheat 2x346-407%KO Fly 2x86-102%KO | ||
Flareon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Dodrio Normal | B | |
Golbat Poison | C | |
Aerodactyl Rock | A | |
Obtain MethodCinnabar Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x103-122%KO Ancient Power 2x88-104%KO Fire Blast 2x122-144%KO | ||
Moltres Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodMt Ember Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Moltres builds →Overheat 2x408-480%KO Fly 2x104-122%KO | ||
Charizard Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Charizard builds →Overheat 2x362-427%KO Fly 2x90-106%KO | ||
Flareon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Magcargo FireRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Magcargo builds →Overheat 2x310-365%KO Rock Slide 2x65-77% | ||
Rapidash Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Rapidash builds →Overheat 2x281-331%KO Bounce 2x82-98% | ||
Ho-oh Fire | S | |
Obtain MethodNavel Rock Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Ho-oh builds →Overheat 2x371-437%KO Fly 2x128-151%KO | ||
Moltres Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodMt Ember Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Moltres builds →Overheat 2x414-488%KO Fly 2x102-121%KO | ||
Charizard Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Charizard builds →Overheat 2x370-435%KO Fly 2x89-105%KO | ||
Entei Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter | ||
Flareon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Arcanine can KO Metapod with Overheat (340-401%).
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureLonely Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Arcanine builds →Extreme Speed54-63% Overheat 2x340-401%KO | ||
Metapod Evolutions
Metapod sits between Caterpie and Butterfree in this three-stage line. Not the final form yet. For breeding, quick to hatch with a decent partner pool via one egg group. So far, Defense got the biggest boost (+20 from Caterpie). The final form adds another 190 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Metapod to get Caterpie eggs easily using 37 partners from the Bug egg group.
FRLG Metapod Best Moveset
Bug cocoon with AbilityShed Skin curing status occasionally. Harden is the signature option. Nothing in the moveset contributes at any level of play.
Best Build
Metapod best EVs are HP and Sp. Atk
Utility Moveset
- Tackle
- String Shot
- Harden
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
A compact toolkit overall. The offense runs through Bug STAB for Metapod, with Normal coverage doing what it can. Don't expect versatility from this one.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
Even though it is encased in a sturdy shell, the body inside is tender. It can’t withstand a harsh attack.
This POKéMON is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.
Metapod FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
Metapod can be caught in the wild at Viridian Forest, Route 24, Pattern Bush, and Route 25 in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen.
Game Availability
Present since Red & Blue, Metapod appears in 19 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Metapod have the longest track record of availability in the series.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut

Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM

Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves