Butterfree

The Butterfly Pokémon
#012 - Butterfree
Pre-Evolve	Metapod
Debut	Pokémon: Red Version Pokémon: Green Version
Species Info
Type	+ +
Height	1.1 m (3'07")
Weight	32.0 kg (70.5 lbs.)
Color	White
Gender Ratio	1♂ : 1♀
Ability	Compoundeyes
Hidden Ability	Tinted Lens
Egg Group	Bug
Icon		Sprite
		File:012sprite.png
Footprint
30px
Base Statistics
Hit Points	60	Speed	70
Attack	45	Sp. Attack	80
Defense	50	Sp. Defense	80
Training Info
Catch Rate	045	Hatch Steps	3,840
Base Exp.	160	Effort Points	SpA
Happiness	70		SpA
To Lv.100	Normal		SpD

Kanto #	Johto #	Hoenn #	Sinnoh #
< 012 >	< 026 >
Unova #	Johto (IV) #
	< 026 >

Butterfree is a butterfly-like Pokémon that was introduced in the first generation games. It is the third and final form in Caterpie's evolutionary line. It also has a foil in the form of Beedrill.

Information

Butterfree evolves from Metapod at Level 10, which completes its metamorphosis from Caterpie. Its wings are covered with poisonous powders that it releases into the air by flapping its wings at high speed in battle, and its wings can also repel water allowing it to fly in the rain. This helps it to always be capable of collecting honey from various flowers. Butterfree store honey by rubbing it onto the hair on their legs to return to their nest. They have special abilities in detecting honey, even being capable of detecting flowers in bloom at distances of six miles.

Appearances

Mainstream Games

Butterfree could originally be obtained solely through evolution in the first generation games. In Gold, Crystal and HeartGold, Butterfree appeared at Route 2, in the National Park during the Bug-Catching Contest and in certain trees when headbutted. They also appeared at Routes 24 and 25 in Crystal, and at Virdiian Forest in HeartGold. In Silver and SoulSilver, Butterfree could only be caught at the Bug-Catching Contest.

In Pokémon White, Butterfree were rarely found at rustling grass in Route 12.

Moves

Generation I

Name	Type	Cat	PP	Power	Accur	Gen	Cont	R/B	Y

Generation II

Name	Type	Cat	PP	Power	Accur	Gen	Cont	G/S	C

Generation III

Name	Type	Cat	PP	Power	Accur	Gen	Cont	R/S	E

Generation IV

Name	Type	Cat	PP	Power	Accur	Gen	Cont	D/P	P

Weaknesses

x0.5

x1

x1

x2

x0.25

x2

x2

x1

x0.25

x0

x2

x1

x1

x1

x4

x1

x1

Other Games

Butterfree appeared in Pokémon Pinball, where it could only be obtained through evolution. In Pokémon Snap, it appeared at the Beach. In Hey You, Pikachu!, Pikachu helped raise several Caterpie in the Caring for Caterpie missions, which evolved into Metapod and eventually Butterfree, at which point each Butterfree awarded Pikachu with a ruby, a glass marble, a balloon or a colored jewel. Ritchie's Butterfree, Happy, also appeared as part of his roster in Pokémon Puzzle League. Butterfree was also featured in the "Flower Power" Pokémon e-Reader minigame, where the player controlled a Butterfree seeking flowers while avoiding Beedrill, Rattata and Koffing, and within the "Here Comes Gloom" short it was shown among Pokémon knocked out of trees by Gloom's scent. It also appeared in Pokémon Stadium, Pokémon Stadium 2 and Pokémon Colosseum. In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, a Shadow Butterfree could be snagged at Cipher Key Lair. After being purified, this Butterfree could be transferred to any of the GBA color versions.

In Pokémon Trozei!, it was found at Secret Storage 1 and Mr. Who's Den. In Pokémon Channel, Butterfree appeared at Viridian Forest on cloudy mornings and nights. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red and Blue Rescue Teams, Butterfree could only be obtained through evolution, and a non-playable Butterfree mother appeared to send the player character's rescue team on their first mission to rescue her son, a Caterpie. In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Butterfree could be found at the first seven floors of Apple Woods, while it could still only be obtained through evolution in Explorers of Darkness. Butterfree also appeared in Pokémon Rumble at Silent Forest. In PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, it was found at the Meadow Zone. In Pokémon Rumble Blast, it appeared at Sun-Dappled Bank.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Butterfree made a cameo appearance as one of the Pokémon that could be seen flying in the background of the Saffron City stage.

In Other Media

• In the Pokémon anime, Ash Ketchum's first Pokémon was a Caterpie that quickly evolved into a Butterfree within several episodes of its capture, in time to rescue Ash and his friends from a swarm of angry Beedrill. It was Ash's most loyal Pokémon, which caused him to regret trading it for a Raticate aboard the St. Anne and he wound up reclaiming it. However, soon afterwards he reluctantly released his Butterfree to join a flock of wild Butterfree and mate with a pink one it met. Other Butterfree to appear have included Ritchie's Butterfree (which is nicknamed Happy), Drew's Butterfree and a temporarily giant-sized Caterpie that evolved into an equally giant Butterfree which acted as an homage to Mothra (although it eventually reverted to its original size).
• Ash similarly acquires a Butterfree in the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga, although this one evolves suddenly during Ash's gym battle with Misty. Butterfree winds up being crucial to defeating Misty by taking out her Gyarados with Sleep Powder. However, Butterfree eventually disappears from the series, leaving it uncertain whether or not this Ash wound up releasing his Butterfree like the Ash of the anime (as this manga loosely followed the anime's storyline for the most part).
• In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Butterfree is one of Yellow's main Pokémon after it evolves from Caterpie, and her uncle Fisherman Wilton also owns one. Both also ride their Butterfree as methods of flight.

Trivia

• Its name is a combination of "butterfly" and "free".

See Also

• Beedrill
• Beautifly