Butterfree (Pokémon)

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#011: Metapod
Pokémon
#013: Weedle
Butterfree
バタフリー Butterfree

Artwork from FR/LG
Types Species
 Bug  Flying  Butterfly Pokémon
Ability Exp. at 100
Compoundeyes 1,000,000
Pokédex
Kanto
#012
Johto
#026
Hoenn
#214*
Sinnoh
#—
Browser
Fiore
R—
Almia
R—
Height Weight
3'07" 70.5 lbs.
Pokédex color Body style Footprint Catch rate
White Image:Body13.png Image:F012.png 45
Gender ratio
 
50% male
 
50% female
Egg groups Egg cycles
Bug 21 (5355 steps*)
EV yield
HP
0
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
2
Sp.Def
1
Speed
0
Exp.
160

Butterfree (Japanese: バタフリー Butterfree) is a dual-type Bug/Flying Pokémon.

It evolves from Metapod starting at level 10. It is the final form of Caterpie.

Contents

Biology

Physiology

Butterfree resembles a vaguely anthropomorphic butterfly. Unlike true insects, it only has four legs, which are a pale blue color. It has a nose-like structure which is a similar color. Butterfree's body’s coloration is a darker purple-blue. It has large veined wings which are white with black markings. These markings can help distinguish male and female individuals. It has large compound eyes which tend to be a reddish color. Like members of the order Lepidoptera, Butterfree’s wings are covered in fine scales. Its legs are covered in fine hairs which aid in the collection of honey.

Gender differences

A female has black spots on the lower parts of her wings.

Special abilities

The waterproof scales on Butterfree’s wings are loosely attached, and if the Butterfree flaps them hard enough, they will be released into the air. This resulting “dust” is toxic, and can be irritating if inhaled.

Behavior

Butterfree spends most of its time foraging for nectar and pollen from flowers. In the wild they need to eat constantly. Special adaptations such as waterproofing on their wings, and tiny hairs on their legs let them gather food even in the rain. Butterfree will roam up to six miles from their nest in search of honey.

Habitat

Butterfree can be found in forests and wooded areas with high amounts of moisture and mist. They can also sometimes be found flying near the ocean, which may be part of Butterfrees' migratory breeding pattern.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Butterfree collect and consume pollen and honey from flowers. Butterfree also consume sap from trees if they have been opened by Heracross.

In the anime

Ash's Pikachu riding on Butterfree.

Major appearances

Ash's Butterfree

Ash Ketchum had a Butterfree that he had caught as a Caterpie, which was the first Pokémon he ever caught. It was also the first Pokémon he let go, allowing it to mate with a pink Butterfree in Bye-Bye Butterfree.

Ritchie's Butterfree

Ritchie has a Butterfree named Happy. It was first seen in A Friend in Deed.

Other

After Team Rocket kidnapped Dr. Gordon and flew away on Jessie's Dustox in Caterpie's Big Dilemma, Xander's giant-sized Metapod evolved into a Mothra-sized Butterfree in order to chase Team Rocket. Xander's Butterfree shrunk back to its normal size at the end of the episode.

A differently patterned Butterfree.

Jeremy used a Butterfree in the first half of the Silver Town Pokémon Contest in Weekend Warrior.

In Channeling the Battle Zone, Solidad used her Butterfree in the Kanto Grand Festival.

Drew has a Butterfree which made its debut in The Unbeatable Lightness of Seeing.

It was also seen as part of Lila's famous "Tiger Lily Smile" background in Battling the Generation Gap!.

Minor appearances

A differently patterned Butterfree appeared in Poké Ball Peril.

A regular Butterfree appeared in Pinch Healing!.

Butterfree appeared in Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu! Part One.

Another Butterfree appeared in Camping It Up!.

Pokédex Entries

Episode Pokémon Pokédex Entry
EP004 Butterfree Ash's Pokédex Butterfree. One week after Caterpie evolves into Metapod, it again evolves into Butterfree.
This concludes the entries from the Original series.

In the manga

In Pokémon Special, Yellow has a Butterfree which evolved from a Caterpie she befriended and captured. Her uncle, Fisherman Wilton, also has a Butterfree. Both of them are able to use Butterfree as a mode of flight, using Butterfree to hold onto their backs as they fly.

Ash's Butterfree evolved from Metapod at the Cerulean Gym in the Electric Tale of Pikachu.

In the TCG

Main article: Butterfree (TCG)

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

Gen Game Pokédex entry
I Red In battle, it flaps its wings at high speed, releasing highly toxic dust into the air.
Blue In battle, it flaps its wings at high speed, releasing highly toxic dust into the air.
Yellow Its wings, covered with poisonous powders, repel water. This allows it to fly in the rain.
Stadium Its wings are covered with poisonous dust. If you see one flapping its wings, be careful not to inhale any of the dust.
II Gold It collects honey every day. It rubs honey onto the hairs on its legs to carry it back to its nest.
Silver Water-repellent powder on its wings enables it to collect honey, even in the heaviest of rains.
Crystal It flits from flower to flower, collecting honey. It can even identify distant flowers in bloom.
Stadium 2 It collects honey every day. It rubs honey onto the hairs on its legs to carry it back to its nest.
III Ruby Butterfree has a superior ability to search for delicious honey from flowers. It can even search out, extract, and carry honey from flowers that are blooming over six miles from its nest.
Sapphire Butterfree has a superior ability to search for delicious honey from flowers. It can even search out, extract, and carry honey from flowers that are blooming over six miles from its nest.
Emerald It has a superior ability to search for delicious honey from flowers. It can seek, extract, and carry honey from flowers blooming over six miles away.
FireRed The wings are protected by a rain-repellent dust. As a result, this Pokémon can fly about even in rain.
LeafGreen In battle, it flaps its wings at great speed to release highly toxic dust into the air.
IV Diamond It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen.
Pearl It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen.
Platinum It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen.

Alternate games

Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Trading Card Game (Base Set)
In battle, it flaps its wings at high speed, releasing highly toxic dust into the air.
Pokémon Trading Card Game (Neo Discovery)
It collects honey every day. It rubs honey onto the hairs on its legs to carry it back to its nest.

Game locations

Gen Game Rarity Area
I Red Blue None Evolve Metapod
Yellow None Evolve Metapod
II Gold Silver Gold: Uncommon
Silver: Rare
Gold: National Park during the Bug-Catching Contest, Route 2, may drop from Headbutted trees
Silver: National Park during the Bug-Catching Contest
Crystal Uncommon National Park during the Bug-Catching Contest, Routes 2, 24, and 25, may drop from Headbutted trees
III Ruby Sapphire None Trade
Emerald None Trade
FireRed LeafGreen None Evolve Metapod
Colosseum None Trade
XD One Cipher Key Lair (Shadow)
IV Diamond Pearl None Evolve Metapod
Platinum None Evolve Metapod
 Pal Park  Forest

In side games

Game Location
Pokémon Snap Beach
Pokémon Channel Viridian Forest
Pokémon Trozei! Secret Storage 1
Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Red/Blue Rescue Team
Evolve from Metapod
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Explorers of Time/Darkness
Apple Woods (1F-7F) (Time)
Evolve from Metapod
Melee! Pokémon Scramble Quiet Forest

Held items

Game Items
Gold, Silver, and Crystal Silverpowder (8%)
Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Silverpowder (5%)
FireRed and LeafGreen Silverpowder (5%)
Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum Silverpowder (5%)

Base stats

Stat Base At Lv. 50 At Lv. 100
Min. Max. Min. Max.
HP: 60
 
120 167 230 324
Attack: 45
 
45 106 85 207
Defense: 50
 
49 112 94 218
Special Attack: 80
 
76 145 148 284
Special Defense: 80
 
76 145 148 284
Speed: 70
 
67 134 130 262
Total: 385 Other Pokémon with this total
  • Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and a hindering nature.
  • Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and a helpful nature.
  • This Pokémon's  Special  base stat in Generation I was 80.


Type effectiveness

Weak to Resistant to Immune to Normal effectiveness

Notes:

Learnset

Butterfree is capable of learning the following moves in Generation IV.

  • Moves in bold are damaging moves to which STAB applies.


By leveling up

Generation IV
Other generation learnsets: I - II - III
Level Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Contest Appeal
Start Confusion Psychic Special 50 100% 25 Smart 3 ♥♥♥
10 Confusion Psychic Special 50 100% 25 Smart 3 ♥♥♥
12 PoisonPowder Poison Status 75% 35 Smart 2 ♥♥
12 Stun Spore Grass Status 75% 30 Smart 2 ♥♥
12 Sleep Powder Grass Status 75% 15 Smart 2 ♥♥
16 Gust Flying Special 40 100% 35 Smart 3 ♥♥♥
18 Supersonic Normal Status 55% 20 Smart 2 ♥♥
22 Whirlwind Normal Status 100% 20 Smart 0
24 Psybeam Psychic Special 65 100% 20 Beauty 2 ♥♥
28 Silver Wind Bug Special 60 100% 5 Beauty 2 ♥♥
30 Tailwind Flying Status —% 30 Smart 2 ♥♥
34 Safeguard Normal Status —% 25 Beauty 2 ♥♥
36 Captivate Normal Status 100% 20 Beauty 2 ♥♥
40 Bug Buzz Bug Special 90 100% 10 Cute 2 ♥♥
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon

By TM/HM

Generation IV
Other generation learnsets: I - II - III
TM Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Contest Appeal
TM06 Toxic Poison Status 85% 10 Smart 2 ♥♥
TM10 Hidden Power Normal Special 100% 15 Smart 1
TM11 Sunny Day Fire Status —% 5 Beauty 2 ♥♥
TM15 Hyper Beam Normal Special 150 90% 5 Cool 2 ♥♥
TM17 Protect Normal Status —% 10 Cute 0
TM18 Rain Dance Water Status —% 5 Tough 2 ♥♥
TM19 Giga Drain Grass Special 60 100% 10 Smart 1
TM20 Safeguard Normal Status —% 25 Beauty 2 ♥♥
TM21 Frustration Normal Physical 100% 20 Cute 2 ♥♥
TM22 SolarBeam Grass Special 120 100% 10 Cool 1
TM27 Return Normal Physical 100% 20 Cute 2 ♥♥
TM29 Psychic Psychic Special 90 100% 10 Smart 2 ♥♥
TM30 Shadow Ball Ghost Special 80 100% 15 Smart 2 ♥♥
TM32 Double Team Normal Status —% 15 Cool 2 ♥♥
TM40 Aerial Ace Flying Physical 60 —% 20 Cool 2 ♥♥
TM42 Facade Normal Physical 70 100% 20 Cute 2 ♥♥
TM43 Secret Power Normal Physical 70 100% 20 Smart 2 ♥♥
TM44 Rest Normal Status —% 10 Cute 0
TM45 Attract Normal Status 100% 15 Cute 2 ♥♥
TM46 Thief Dark Physical 40 100% 10 Tough 0
TM48 Skill Swap Psychic Status —% 10 Smart 0
TM51 Roost Flying Status —% 10 Cool 0
TM53 Energy Ball Grass Special 80 100% 10 Beauty 2 ♥♥
TM58 Endure Normal Status —% 10 Tough 2 ♥♥
TM62 Silver Wind Bug Special 60 100% 5 Beauty 2 ♥♥
TM68 Giga Impact Normal Physical 150 90% 5 Beauty 2 ♥♥
TM70 Flash Normal Status 100% 20 Beauty 2 ♥♥
TM77 Psych Up Normal Status —% 10 Smart 0
TM78 Captivate Normal Status 100% 20 Beauty 2 ♥♥
TM82 Sleep Talk Normal Status —% 10 Cute 3 ♥♥♥
TM83 Natural Gift Normal Physical 100% 15 Cool 2 ♥♥
TM85 Dream Eater Psychic Special 100 100% 15 Smart 1
TM87 Swagger Normal Status 90% 15 Cute 2 ♥♥
TM89 U-turn Bug Physical 70 100% 20 Cute 0
TM90 Substitute Normal Status —% 10 Smart 1
HM05 Defog Flying Status —% 15 Beauty 2 ♥♥
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon

By breeding

None.

By tutoring

Generations III and IV
Other generation learnsets: II - III
Game Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Contest Appeal
FR LG E XD D P Pt Air Cutter Flying Special 55 95% 25 Cool 3 ♥♥♥
FR LG E XD D P Pt Double-Edge Normal Physical 120 100% 15 Tough 0
FR LG E XD D P Pt Dream Eater Psychic Special 100 100% 15 Smart 1
FR LG E XD D P Pt Endure Normal Status —% 10 Tough 2 ♥♥
FR LG E XD D P Pt Mimic Normal Status —% 10 Cute 0
FR LG E XD D P Pt Nightmare Ghost Status —% 15 Smart 2 ♥♥
FR LG E XD D P Pt Ominous Wind Ghost Special 60 100% 5 Smart 0
FR LG E XD D P Pt Signal Beam Bug Special 75 100% 15 Beauty 2 ♥♥
FR LG E XD D P Pt Sleep Talk Normal Status —% 10 Cute 3 ♥♥♥
FR LG E XD D P Pt Snore Normal Special 40 100% 15 Cute 3 ♥♥♥
FR LG E XD D P Pt Substitute Normal Status —% 10 Smart 1
FR LG E XD D P Pt Swagger Normal Status 90% 15 Cute 2 ♥♥
FR LG E XD D P Pt Swift Normal Special 60 —% 20 Cool 2 ♥♥
FR LG E XD D P Pt Twister Dragon Special 40 100% 20 Cool 3 ♥♥♥
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon
A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game,
while a colored background indicates that the move is available.

Special moves

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
Shadow moves Level 30+ Purified moves
Shadow Mist Shadow File:012.png Morning Sun Normal
Shadow Rush Shadow Psychic Psychic
-- Sleep Powder Grass
-- Aerial Ace Flying

TCG-only Moves

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
Image:Pin012.png Acquisition: Evolve


Pokémon Trozei!
Image:Trozeiani012.gif Rarity: Rare Image:Trozeiani012.gif
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
Body size: 1 Recruit Rate: Evolve Friend Area: Mist-Rise Forest
Phrases
51%-100% HP I'll protect you with the wicked toxins in my wings.
26%-50% HP Oh, no... My health has dropped to half...
1%-25% HP I've about had it... It hurts to even fly...
Level Up I leveled up! I'm in peak form! Let me show you!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness
Image:MDP012.png Body size: 1 Recruit Rate: 5.5% IQ Group: A

Evolution

Unevolved
Level 7
First evolution
Level 10
Second evolution
Image:010.png
Caterpie
 Bug 
Image:011.png
Metapod
 Bug 
Image:012.png
Butterfree
 Bug  Flying 

Sprites

Gen Game
I Red Blue Yellow Red (Ja) Green Back
Image:Spr_1b_012.png Image:Spr_1y_012.png Image:Spr_1g_012.png Image:Spr_b_g1_012.png
II Gold Silver Crystal   Back
Image:Spr_2g_012.png Image:Spr_2s_012.png Image:Spr_2c_012.gif Image:Spr_b_g2_012.png
Image:Spr_2g_012_s.png Image:Spr_2s_012_s.png Image:Spr_2c_012_s.gif Image:Spr_b_g2_012_s.png
III Ruby Sapphire Emerald FireRed LeafGreen Back
Image:Spr_3r_012.png Image:Spr_3e_012.gif Image:Spr_3f_012.png Image:Spr_b_g3_012.png
Image:Spr_3r_012_s.png File:Spr 3e 012 s.gif Image:Spr_3f_012_s.png Image:Spr_b_g3_012_s.png
IV Diamond Pearl Platinum HeartGold SoulSilver Back
Image:Spr_4d_012_m.png Image:Spr_4p_012_m.png NO SPRITES
AVAILABLE
Image:Spr_b_g4_012_m.png
Image:Spr_4d_012_f.png Image:Spr_4p_012_f.png Image:Spr_b_g4_012_f.png
Image:Spr_4d_012_m_s.png Image:Spr_4p_012_m_s.png Image:Spr_b_g4_012_m_s.png
Image:Spr_4d_012_f_s.png Image:Spr_4p_012_f_s.png Image:Spr_b_g4_012_f_s.png
Butterfree For other sprites and images, please see Butterfree images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

  • Butterfree is the first Pokémon shown in the anime to have an alternate color. However, this alternate color was pink, which is not the same as the alternate color of Butterfree in the games, in which only its wings, feet, hands, and mouth are pink.
  • The Butterfree species has been trained by four anime trainers: Ash, Ritchie, Solidad, and Drew.
  • Butterfree shares the same species name with Beautifly. They are both known as the Butterfly Pokémon.
  • Even though the 'main' part of its body is purple, it is classed as being white in the Pokédex. This is probably because the wings of Butterfree are white. However, in its Generation II and Generation IV sprites, they are shown to be a light shade of blue.
  • While Butterfree cannot learn Iron Defense itself, it can be taught it as a Metapod before evolving. It shares this trait with Beedrill, Dustox, Beautifly, Huntail, Gorebyss, and Salamence.
  • Butterfree's Gold and Crystal sprites resemble its sprite from Red and Blue.
  • Butterfree has the same sprite in every Generation III game.

Origin

Its design appears to be based upon a common butterfly, most likely a Cabbage White butterfly (more specifically, Aporia crataegi).

Name origin

Butterfree's name is a combination of butterfly and free, possibly referring to its ability to fly after being grounded for two evolutionary stages.

In other languages

  • German: Smettbo - From Schmetterling (butterfly) and possibly (gust).
  • French: Papilusion - From papillon (butterfly) and illusion.
  • Korean: 버터플 Beoteopeul - Corruption of butterfly.
  • Chinese (Taiwan): 巴大蝴 Ba Dá Hú - 巴大 sounds like butter in Butterfree, 蝴 is the first part of 蝴蝶 (butterfly).
  • Chinese (Hong Kong): 巴他蝶 Ba Ta Díe - 巴他 sounds like butter in Butterfree, 蝶 is the second part of 蝴蝶 (butterfly).

Related articles

External links

Notes



#011: Metapod
Pokémon
#013: Weedle
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.
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