Metapod (Pokémon)

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Metapod
トランセル Tranceru

Artwork from FR/LG
Type Bug
Species Cocoon Pokémon
Kanto Dex
National Dex
#011
Johto Dex #025
Hoenn Dex #213*
Sinnoh Dex #—
Fiore Browser R—
Almia Browser R—
Height 2′04″ (0.7m)
Weight 21.8 lbs. (9.9kg)
Ability Shed Skin
Egg group Bug
Time to hatch 3,840 steps
Effort yield 2 Def
Exp. yield 72 base exp.
Lv. 100 at 1,000,000 exp.
Gender 50% ♀/50% ♂
Pokédex color Green
Catch rate 120
Footprint Image:F011.png
Body style Image:Body02.png

Metapod (Japanese: トランセル Tranceru) is a Bug-type Pokémon.

It evolves from Caterpie at level 7, and it evolves into Butterfree at level 10.

Contents

Biology

Physiology

While Metapod is classified as a cocoon Pokémon, it bears more resemblance to a chrysalis. Its soft body is protected by a hard outer shell while it undergoes metamorphosis. While this shell is said to be as hard as steel, a large sudden impact could cause its vulnerable body to pop out, leaving it completely exposed. It shares many physiological and behavioral characteristics with Kakuna, suggesting that they may have a distant relationship.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Metapod posses a very limited range of movement. However, by hardening their outer shell, they can protect themselves from most kinds of enemies.

Behavior

In order to conserve as much energy as possible, Metapod generally remain motionless. They can be very difficult to spot in the wild, because their green coloration helps them blend in with the tree-top canopies. If it is discovered by an enemy it is unable to do anything other than harden its outer shell. While this is enough to deter most predators it does not offer complete protection, as the Metapod's insides still remain soft and vulnerable. Its second line of defense is to drop out of the trees using String Shot. Because of its vulnerability, Metapod evolve rapidly into their final evolutionary stage.

Habitat

Metapod can often be found in wooded areas, such as Viridian Forest. They dangle themselves from leafy canopies using String Shot.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Metapod does not eat. It relies on the energy it stored as a Caterpie.

In the anime

Ash Ketchum had a Metapod that he caught as a Caterpie and evolved in Ash Catches a Pokémon. It eventually evolved into Butterfree in Challenge of the Samurai.

In Gettin' The Bugs Out, Bugsy used a Metapod against Ash for the Gym Battle. Unlike most Metapod, this one was actually able to fight back.

In Caterpie's Big Dilemma, Zander's Caterpie became giant-sized after eating some enhanced Rare Candies. Zander's Caterpie knocked down part of a radio tower in order to make a place for it to evolve into Metapod.

In the manga

Pokémon Special

Metapod's first appearance is a cameo in Bulbasaur, Come Home! as one of the Pokémon that escapes from Professor Oak's Laboratory. Also, Yellow's Caterpie was a Metapod briefly before evolving again into Butterfree. Bugsy also uses two Metapod on his team.

In the TCG

Main article: Metapod (TCG)

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

Gen Game Pokédex entry
I Red This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.
Blue
Yellow Hardens its shell to protect itself. However, a large impact may cause it to pop out of its shell.
Stadium When it hardens, only the external shell is transformed. The inside remains tender.
II Gold Inside the shell, it is soft and weak as it prepares to evolve. It stays motionless in the shell.
Silver It prepares for evolution by hardening its shell as much as possible to protect its soft body.
Crystal This is its preevolved form. At this stage, it can only harden, so it remains motionless to avoid attack.
Stadium 2 Inside the shell, it is soft and weak as it prepares to evolve. It stays motionless in the shell.
III Ruby The shell covering this Pokémon's body is as hard as an iron slab. Metapod does not move very much. It stays still because it is preparing its soft innards for evolution inside the hard shell.
Sapphire The shell covering this Pokémon's body is as hard as an iron slab. Metapod does not move very much. It stays still because it is preparing its soft innards for evolution inside the hard shell.
Emerald Its shell is as hard as an iron slab. A Metapod does not move very much because it is preparing its soft innards for evolution inside the shell.
FireRed Even though it is encased in a sturdy shell, the body inside is tender. It can't withstand a harsh attack.
LeafGreen This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.
IV Diamond A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.
Pearl A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.
Platinum Currently unknown

In side games

Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Trading Card Game (Base Set, Base Set 2, Legendary Collection)
This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.
Pokémon Trading Card Game (Neo Discovery)
Inside the shell, it is soft and weak as it prepares to evolve. It stays motionless in the shell.

Game locations

Gen Game Rarity Location
I Red Blue Red: Uncommon
Blue: Common
Red: Route 25, Viridian Forest
Blue: Routes 24 and 25, Viridian Forest
Yellow Common Viridian Forest
II Gold Silver Gold: Common
Silver: Uncommon
Gold: Routes 2, 30, and 31 Ilex Forest, National Park
Silver: National Park during the Bug-Catching Contest
Crystal Common Routes 2, 24, 25, 30, and 31, Ilex Forest, National Park
III Ruby Sapphire None Trade
Emerald None Trade
FireRed LeafGreen Common Route 25, Viridian Forest, Pattern Bush
Colosseum None Trade
XD None Trade
IV Diamond Pearl Dongle Eterna Forest (FireRed)
Platinum Dongle Eterna Forest (FireRed)
Pal Park Forest

In side games

Game Location
Pokémon Snap River
Pokémon Trozei! SOL Laboratory 2
Secret Storage 8
Endless Level 4
Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
(Red and Blue)
Joyous Tower (7F-8F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
(Time and Darkness)
Mystifying Forest (B1-B13)
Mystery Jungle (B1-B29)
Happy Outlook (B1-B19)

Base stats

HP: 50
 
Attack: 20
 
Defense: 55
 
Special: 25
 
SpAtk: 25
 
SpDef: 25
 
Speed: 30
 

The Special stat was used only in Generation I; it was later split into Special Attack and Special Defense.

Type effectiveness

Weak to Resistant to Immune to Normal effectiveness

Notes:

Learnset

Metapod is capable of learning the following moves (from its evolution onwards):
NOTE: Moves in bold are damage moves to which STAB apply.

By leveling up

Generation IV
Other generation learnsets: I - II - III
Level Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Contest Appeal
Start Tackle Normal Physical 35 95% 35 Tough 3 ♥♥♥
Start String Shot Bug Status 95% 40 Smart 2 ♥♥
7 Harden Normal Status —% 30 Tough 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

None

By breeding

None

By tutoring

Generation III and IV
Other generation learnsets: II - III
Game Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Contest Appeal
FR LG E XD D P Pt Iron Defense Steel Status —% 15 Tough 2 ♥♥
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.

TCG-only Moves

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
Image:Pin011.png Acquisition: Evolve


Pokémon Trozei!
Image:Trozeiani011.gif Rarity: Common Image:Trozeiani011.gif
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
Body size: 1 Recruit Rate: -19% Friend Area: Mist-Rise Forest
Phrases
51%-100% HP Now is the time to endure.
26%-50% HP Oh, no... My health is down to half...
1%-25% HP I can't keep going... I don't know if I can metamorphose...
Level Up Oh! I leveled up!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness
Body size: 1 Recruit Rate: -10% IQ Group: A


Evolution

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

Sprites

Gen Game
I Red Blue Yellow Red (Ja) Green Back
Image:Spr_1b_011.png Image:Spr_1y_011.gif Image:Spr_1g_011.png Image:Spr_b_g1_011.png
II Gold Silver Crystal   Back
Image:Spr_2g_011.png Image:Spr_2s_011.png Image:Spr_2c_011.gif Image:Spr_b_g2_011.png
Image:Spr_2g_011_s.png Image:Spr_2s_011_s.png Image:Spr_2c_011_s.gif Image:Spr_b_g2_011_s.png
III Ruby Sapphire Emerald FireRed LeafGreen Back
Image:Spr_3r_011.png Image:Spr_3e_011.gif Image:Spr_3f_011.png Image:Spr_b_g3_011.png
Image:Spr_3r_011_s.png Image:Spr 3e 011 s.gif Image:Spr_3f_011_s.png Image:Spr_b_g3_011_s.png
IV Diamond Pearl Platinum   Back
Image:Spr_4d_011.png Image:Spr 4p 011.png Image:Spr_b_g4_011.png
Image:Spr_4d_011_s.png Image:Spr 4p 011 s.png Image:Spr_b_g4_011_s.png
Metapod For other sprites and images, please see Metapod images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

  • In early years of Pokémon, some fans could not make out which side of Metapod was the front, due to several different released images of Metapod facing different angles.
  • Metapod, tied with Kakuna, Silcoon, and Cascoon, are the weakest evolved Pokémon in the games, by average base stats.
  • Metapod shares the same species name with Kakuna, Silcoon, and Cascoon. They are all known as Cocoon Pokémon.
  • Its backsprite looks almost identical to its Japanese front sprite, only zoomed in.
  • In Pokémon Platinum, it can learn Bug Bite by evolution from Caterpie despite not having a visible mouth.

Origin

Its design appears to be based upon a generic butterfly chrysalis, most likely a Cabbage White or Swallowtail chrysalis.

Name origin

Metapod's name is a combination of metamorphosis and pod, referring to its chrysalis state. Its Japanese name appears to be a combination of transform and cell or shell.

In other languages

  • German: Safcon
  • French: Chrysacier - Chrysalis as in the English and acier, meaning steel.
  • Korean: 단데기 Dandegi
  • Chinese (Taiwan): 铁甲蛹 Tîe Jîa Yông - "Iron armor cocoon".
  • Chinese (Hong Kong): 鐵甲蟲 Tîe Jîa Chong - "Iron armor insect". (notice 甲蟲 is a beetle)

Related articles

External links

Image:Project Pokédex logo.png 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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