Nothing but Harden. Metapod exists to bridge Caterpie to Butterfree, and you'll blast through this stage in a couple battles.
205HP50Attack20Defense55Speed30Sp.Def25Sp.Atk25
Caterpie
Metapod
Butterfree
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
30Speed · Very Slow

Is Metapod Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Same deal. No offensive options, just MoveHarden until level 10. Evolves into Butterfree, which is the only reason to bother.

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

Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.

You Win
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Even
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBide
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 GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

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

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

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

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

Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

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

Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

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

Butterfree 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
Strong

Butterfree resists most of Giovanni's coverage and hits back hard.

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

Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.

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

Butterfree resists most of Bruno's coverage and hits back hard.

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

Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

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

Lance's typing presses Butterfree's defenses.

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

Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Risky
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
Even
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 Caterpie

Available before Badge 1
Type
Bug
Tier
F

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

View Caterpie locations

How to Get Metapod in Red & Blue

Metapod fills Viridian Forest and a couple of nearby routes, five wild spots in all. It runs common in Blue and rare in Red, or you can level a Caterpie to 7.

3 locations to catch Metapod

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 1
Badge 2

Where To Catch Metapod in RB

To get Metapod, start by catching Caterpie through walking encounters at Lv. 3-8. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

  1. Butterfree
    Step 3Evolve into Butterfree

To plan your throws, open the Red & Blue catch rate calculator with Metapod preloaded.

Metapod Weakness

Metapod's Bug typing leaves it vulnerable to Fire, Poison, Flying, and Rock. Metapod's physical bulk (base 55 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Metapod 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 Metapod Weak Against

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

What is Metapod Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Metapod

Pidgey
Pidgey
NormalFlying
D
D
Weedle
Weedle
BugPoison
D

Metapod Evolutions

Metapod connects Caterpie to Butterfree as a Bug type. Can't breed at 205 stats, just keep evolving. 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

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Metapod
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

RB Metapod Best Moveset

Bug pre-evolution. Harden and nothing else. No competitive purpose.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Metapod
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • String ShotSTAB
  • TackleCoverage
  • HardenUtility

Moves List

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

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Harden
A——30Normal

TM Moves

Metapod can't learn any TM moves

Tutor Moves

Metapod can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP50
D
Attack20
F
Defense55
D
Sp. Atk25
F
Sp. Def25
F
Speed30
F
Total205
Details
Catch Rate
Moderate120 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.7 m
Weight9.9 kg
Base XP72
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe
Defense training target
Pokedex Entry

This POKéMON is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Metapod Red & Blue Guide

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

Game Availability

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

Explore

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