Bug catchers around the world appreciate the Pokémon Butterfree. Its design is simple and friendly, but it can beat opponents with a flap of its wings - especially with its Gigantamax form in Sword and Shield's generation. Here's everything you need to know about evolving it, and which moves it can learn.
Gen 1 introduced us to this winged bug Pokémon, and it's still in our hearts (mostly because of the Pokémon TV show). Find out who's next in the Pokédex, and then check out our list of the best fairy Pokémon and ghost Pokémon for some team inspiration.
Here's everything in our Butterfree guide:
Here's the key information you need to know about Butterfree:
| National Pokédex # | 0,012 |
| Type | Bug / Flying |
| Ability | Compound Eyes |
| Hidden ability | Tinted Lens |
| Gender ratio | Male - 50% Female - 50% |
| Catch rate | 45 |
| Egg groups | Bug |
| EV yield | 3 |
Butterfree's evolution
Butterfree is the final evolution of the Caterpie line. First, get yourself a Caterpie and level it up into a Metapod at level seven. Then, at level ten, it'll evolve into a Butterfree. It doesn't require any items, trades, or specific methods.
Butterfree's locations
Here are the locations and ways you can obtain a Butterfree in each Pokémon game:
Gen 1 locations
| Red / Blue | Evolve Metapod |
| Yellow | Evolve Metapod |
Gen 2 locations
| Gold | Routes 2, 26, 27, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39, Azalea Town, Ilex Forest, and the Lake of Rage |
| Silver | National Park |
| Crystal | Routes 2, 24, and 25, National Park, and Ilex Forest |
Gen 3 locations
| Ruby / Sapphire | Trade |
| Emerald | Trade |
| FireRed / LeafGreen | Evolve Metapod |
| Colosseum | Trade |
| XD | Cipher Key Lair |
Gen 4 locations
| Diamond / Pearl | Evolve Metapod |
| Platinum | Evolve Metapod |
| HeartGold | Routes 2 and 47, Ilex Forest, and National Park |
| SoulSilver | National Park |
Gen 5 locations
| Black | Trade |
| White | Route 12 |
| Black 2 | Trade |
| White 2 | Pinwheel Forest |
Gen 6 locations
| X / Y | Friend Safari |
| Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire | Trade |
Gen 7 locations
| Sun / Moon | Route 5, Lush Jungle, and Melemele Meadow |
| Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon | Route 5, Lush Jungle, and Melemele Meadow |
| Let's Go Pikachu | Viridian Forest |
| Let's Go Eevee | Evolve Metapod |
Gen 8 locations
| Sword / Shield | Bridge Field, Dappled Grove, East Lake Axewell, Giant's Cap, Giant's Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills, Rolling Fields, Slumbering Weald, and South Lake Miloch |
| Expansion pass | Ballimere Lake, Crown Shrine, Giant's Foot, Max Lair, and Slippery Slope |
| Brilliant Diamond | Evolve Metapod |
| Shining Pearl | Trade |
| Legends: Arceus | Unobtainable |
Gen 9 locations
| Scarlet / Violet | Unobtainable |
You can also get a Gigantamax Butterfree in Pokémon Go, to assert dominance over your local gyms and other trainers.
Butterfree's base stats
Butterfree's base stats are as follows:
- HP - 60
- Attack - 45
- Defense - 5
- Sp. Atk - 80
- Sp. Def - 80
- Speed - 70
When you start leveling your Butterfree, its stats will increase as it gets stronger.
Butterfree's type strengths and weaknesses
Butterfree, as a bug type, is resistant to fellow bug attacks. However, it's weak to flying - despite having that as its secondary type. Make sure to pay attention to the weaknesses of this Pokémon; otherwise, it's bye-bye Butterfree in battle.
| Normal damage | Dark, Dragon, Fairy, Ghost, Normal, Poison, Psychic, Steel, Water |
| Weak | Electric, Fire, Flying, Ice, Rock |
| Resistant | Bug, Fighting, Grass |
| Immune | Ground |
Butterfree's moveset
In the latest generation of Pokémon games, Butterfree can learn the following moves:
Level up moves
| One | Bug Bite | Bug |
| One | Gust | Flying |
| One | Harden | Normal |
| One | String Shot | Bug |
| One | Tackle | Normal |
| Four | Supersonic | Normal |
| Eight | Confusion | Psychic |
| 12 | Poison Powder | Poison |
| 12 | Sleep Powder | Grass |
| 12 | Stun Spore | Grass |
| 16 | Psybeam | Psychic |
| 20 | Whirlwind | Normal |
| 24 | Air Slash | Flying |
| 28 | Safeguard | Normal |
| 32 | Bug Buzz | Bug |
| 36 | Tailwind | Flying |
| 40 | Rage Powder | Bug |
| 44 | Quiver Dance | Bug |
Learnable TMs
| Acrobatics | Flying |
| Air Slash | Flying |
| Attract | Normal |
| Baton Pass | Normal |
| Bug Buzz | Bug |
| Draining Kiss | Fairy |
| Electroweb | Electric |
| Endure | Normal |
| Energy Ball | Grass |
| Facade | Normal |
| Giga Drain | Grass |
| Giga Impact | Normal |
| Hurricane | Flying |
| Hyper Beam | Normal |
| Iron Defense | Steel |
| Pollen Puff | Bug |
| Protect | Normal |
| Psychic | Psychic |
| Rain Dance | Water |
| Rest | Psychic |
| Round | Normal |
| Safeguard | Normal |
| Shadow Ball | Ghost |
| Skill Swap | Psychic |
| Sleep Talk | Normal |
| Snore | Normal |
| Solar Beam | Grass |
| Substitute | Normal |
| Sunny Day | Fire |
| Swift | Normal |
| Thief | Dark |
| U-turn | Bug |
| Venoshock | Poison |
There you are - everything you need to know about Butterfree.