Stats & Training
An unusually even spread gives Caterpie flexibility. HP barely edges ahead. But Sp. Atk isn't far off. Easy to catch and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve. Yields 1 HP stat exp.
For protection, it releases a horrible stench from the antenna on its head to drive away enemies.
Its feet have suction cups designed to stick to any surface. It tenaciously climbs trees to forage.
Caterpie Weakness
Type-wise, Caterpie takes extra damage from Fire, Flying, and Rock. Standard number of weaknesses for the Bug typing.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Flying, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Ground |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
- Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
 Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x275-324%KO Fire Punch 2x189-224%KO Ember 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
 Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
 Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Growlithe builds →Fire Blast 2x210-248%KO Ember 2x81-95% | ||
 Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
 Scyther Bug | C | |
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x287-338%KO Fire Punch 2x199-235%KO Ember 2x108-127%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Fly 2x108-127%KO Peck 2x45-54% | ||
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
 Golbat Poison | D | |
Scyther Bug | C | |
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x286-338%KO Fire Punch 2x198-233%KO Ember 2x108-128%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Fly 2x105-124%KO Peck 2x44-53% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Scyther Bug | C | |
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x286-338%KO Fire Punch 2x198-233%KO Ember 2x108-128%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Fly 2x105-124%KO Peck 2x44-53% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
 Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x146-173%KO Peck 2x60-71% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x286-338%KO Fire Punch 2x198-233%KO Ember 2x108-128%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Noctowl builds →Fly 2x105-124%KO Peck 2x44-53% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
In Gold & Silver, Houndoom can KO Caterpie with Fire Blast (345-406%). Dragonite threatens a KO with Thunder (106-125%). Rhydon's Rock Slide also KOs at 195-230%.
 Houndoom DarkFire | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Houndoom builds →Fire Blast 2x345-406%KO Crunch126-148%KO Pursuit63-74% | ||
 Dragonite Dragon | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Dragonite builds →Ice Beam87-102%KO Thunder106-125%KO Thunderbolt87-102%KO | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Rhydon builds →Rock Slide 2x195-230%KO Earthquake65-77% | ||
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Charizard builds →Earthquake30-35% Fire Blast 2x342-403%KO Rock Slide 2x90-106%KO | ||
Gold & Silver Evolution
Three stages ahead. Caterpie grows into Metapod, then pushes on to Butterfree. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, quick to hatch with a decent partner pool via one egg group. Evolving adds up to 200 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Caterpie easily with 23 breeding partners from the Bug egg group.
Gold & Silver Caterpie Best Moveset
Best Build
Gen 2 build content has limited support (no abilities).
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Not a lot to pick from. Caterpie gets Bug STAB for same-type damage, and Normal coverage rounds things out. You're building around what's available rather than choosing from a deep bench.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Gold & Silver Caterpie Locations
high spawn rates in early-game areas across 30 locations. Caterpie's one of the easier catches on the list. Two different catch methods are in play here. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Best Locations to Catch Caterpie in Gold & Silver
30 spots to find Caterpie at Lv. 3-18 via headbutt and walking. Not all of them exist in both Gold and Silver versions, so filter by your copy below.
Caterpie Guide
Caterpie becomes Metapod at level 7, then Butterfree at level 10. Straight three-stage line with no branching.
Caterpie evolves into Metapod at level 7. Early evolution, you'll hit it before the third gym in most games.
For Gold & Silver, you can run Caterpie through the first few routes without issues. 195 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Metapod as fast as you can.
Caterpie is catchable in Gold & Silver. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 18 other games across the series.
Game Availability
One of the original 151, Caterpie has appeared in 19 games — most mainline games. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves