Two battles and done. Metapod only knows Harden, so rush through to Butterfree and put the real moves to work.
205HP50Attack20Defense55Speed30Sp.Def25Sp.Atk25
Caterpie
Metapod
Butterfree
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
30Speed · Very Slow

Is Metapod Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Every level between Caterpie and Butterfree feels slow, but the payoff matters more in Yellow than anywhere else. Brock is waiting and Pikachu can't help you.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadETTEGETGEGGTEBrockGym 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
Tough

Misty's typing presses Butterfree's defenses.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Avoid
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 Metapod in Viridian Forest (walking, Lv 4-6, uncommon).

View Metapod locations

Catch Caterpie

Available before Badge 1
Type
Bug
Tier
F

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

View Caterpie locations

How to Get Metapod in Yellow

You can find Metapod itself in Viridian Forest, though it's the uncommon side of the grass there. Catching a low Caterpie and bumping it to level 7 is the faster path.

1 location to catch Metapod

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Where To Catch Metapod in Y

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

To plan your throws, open the Yellow 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

Pidgeotto
Pidgeotto
NormalFlying
C
D
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

Y Metapod Best Moveset

Harden raises Defense on a Pokemon with nothing to attack with and nothing worth defending. One evolution from Butterfree's MoveSleep Powder, which is the only thing keeping this line relevant.

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
Lv 7
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

Hardens its shell to protect itself. However, a large impact may cause it to pop out of its shell.

Pokemon Yellow

Metapod Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, 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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