Metapod (Pokémon)

Metapod トランセル Trancell

Artwork from FR/LG

Type Species  Bug  Cocoon Pokémon Ability Exp. at 100 Shed Skin 1,000,000 Pokédex Kanto #011 Johto #025 Hoenn #213* Sinnoh #— Browser Fiore R— Almia R— Height Weight 2'04" 21.8 lbs. Pokédex color Body style Footprint Catch rate Green 120 Gender ratio   50% male   50% female Egg groups Egg cycles Bug 21 (5355 steps*) EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 2 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Exp. 72 External links On Legendary Pokémon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Pokémon Palace Network Pokédex (Gen. I-III) On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV On Eevee's Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) On Psypoke Pokédex On Pokecharms Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Marriland Pokédex (Gen. IV) On Serebii's Pokédex: Generation I/II Generation III (Spin-Off games) Generation IV (Spin-Off games) On Azure Heights Pokédex (Gen. I) On Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex (Gen. I-II) On Ultimate Pokémon Center Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

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

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

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 possess 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 Metapod 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

Forest Pokémon

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

Metapod in the anime

Major appearances

Ash's Metapod

Ash 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.

Other

Samurai, in Challenge of the Samurai, battled Ash's Metapod with his own Metapod, but because both Metapod only knew Harden, the battle went on for hours until a swarm of Beedrill forced the battle to end.

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.

Minor appearances

A Metapod was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School!.

Pokédex Entries

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

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Metapod is Caterpie's friend.

Pokédex entries

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

In side games

Base stats

Type effectiveness

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

By TM/HM

None

By breeding

None

By tutoring

TCG-only Moves

• Stun Spore
• Rollout
• Sharpen

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
	Acquisition: Evolve
Pokémon Trozei!
	Rarity: Common
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	→ Level 7	First evolution	→ Level 10	Second evolution
	Caterpie  Bug		Metapod  Bug		Butterfree  Bug  Flying

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow	Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal			Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald	FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
			File:Spr 3e 011 s.gif
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum	HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
				NO SPRITES AVAILABLE

For other sprites and images, please see Metapod images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Metapod is tied with Kakuna, Silcoon, and Cascoon; they 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.
• Despite not being able to move, Metapod can know Tackle if it evolves from Caterpie. Also, in Pokémon Platinum, it can learn Bug Bite by evolution from Caterpie despite not having a visible mouth.
• Metapod has the same sprite in every Generation III game, making it one of the few Kanto natives in that generation to do so.
• Metapod is the first Pokémon to evolve in a movie.

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 - a combination of Safe (safe) and Kokon (cocoon)
• French: Chrysacier - From chrysalis and acier, (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"; note 甲蟲 means beetle.

Related articles

• Ash's Metapod

External links

Notes

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.