Stats & Training
An unusually even spread gives Caterpie flexibility. HP barely edges ahead. But Special isn't far off. Easy to catch and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve. Yields 1 HP stat exp.
If you touch the feeler on top of its head, it will release a horrible stink to protect itself.
Caterpie Weakness
Type-wise, Caterpie takes extra damage from Fire, Poison, Flying, and Rock. Standard number of weaknesses for the Bug typing.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Poison, Flying, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Ground |
- Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
- Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
- Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
 Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
 Nidoran♀ (female) Poison | D | |
 Nidoran♂ (male) Poison | D | |
Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
 Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 24 Gift | ||
Nidoran♀ (female) Poison | D | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Nidoran♀ (female) builds →Poison Sting 2x21-26% | ||
Nidoran♂ (male) Poison | D | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Nidoran♂ (male) builds →Poison Sting 2x26-32% | ||
 Spearow Normal | D | |
Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 24 Gift | ||
Nidoran♀ (female) Poison | D | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Nidoran♀ (female) builds →Poison Sting 2x21-26% | ||
Nidoran♂ (male) Poison | D | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Nidoran♂ (male) builds →Poison Sting 2x26-32% | ||
Spearow Normal | D | |
 Dodrio Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Dodrio builds →Fly 2x194-229%KO Drill Peck 2x174-206%KO Peck 2x76-91% | ||
 Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Fearow builds →Fly 2x165-196%KO Drill Peck 2x146-172%KO Peck 2x65-78% | ||
 Ponyta Fire | C | |
 Nidorina Poison | D | |
 Nidorino Poison | D | |
 Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Articuno builds →Fly 2x158-186%KO Peck 2x63-74% | ||
Dodrio Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Dodrio builds →Fly 2x194-228%KO Drill Peck 2x173-204%KO Peck 2x76-90% | ||
 Golbat Poison | C | |
Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Fearow builds →Fly 2x166-196%KO Drill Peck 2x149-175%KO Peck 2x67-80% | ||
Ponyta Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x212-250%KO Ember 2x79-93% Fire Spin 2x70-82% | ||
 Zapdos Electric | S | |
Obtain MethodPower Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Zapdos builds →Sky Attack 2x265-313%KO Fly 2x172-203%KO Drill Peck 2x153-180%KO | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Articuno builds →Sky Attack 2x253-298%KO Fly 2x163-193%KO Peck 2x66-78% | ||
 Moltres Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodVictory Road Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Moltres builds →Sky Attack 2x288-340%KO Fire Blast 2x376-443%KO Fly 2x187-220%KO Fire Spin 2x121-143%KO | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodCinnabar Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Aerodactyl builds →Sky Attack 2x302-355%KO Fire Blast 2x138-163%KO Fly 2x195-230%KO Wing Attack 2x132-155%KO | ||
 Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift | ||
In Yellow, Articuno can KO Caterpie with Blizzard (152-179%). Golem threatens a KO with Explosion (201-237%). Charizard's Fire Blast also KOs at 342-403%.
Articuno Ice | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Articuno builds →Blizzard152-179%KO Hyper Beam90-106%KO Ice Beam125-147%KO | ||
 Golem RockGround | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Golem builds →Earthquake61-71% Explosion201-237%KO Rock Slide 2x183-216%KO Body Slam68-81% | ||
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Charizard builds →Earthquake30-35% Fire Blast 2x342-403%KO Hyper Beam90-106%KO | ||
 Victreebel GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Victreebel builds →Wrap11-13% | ||
 Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Caterpie View Nidoking builds →Earthquake53-62% Rock Slide 2x106-125%KO Thunderbolt76-89% Ice Beam76-89% | ||
Yellow Evolution
Caterpie starts a line toward Butterfree. Can't breed this Bug type (195 stats), so keep the evolution path going. Evolving adds up to 200 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Yellow Caterpie Best Moveset
Best Build
Gen 1 build content has limited support (no abilities, held items, or natures).
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
Yellow Caterpie Locations
Caterpie is available from early-game routes onward at high spawn rates. 1 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.
Best Locations to Catch Caterpie in Yellow
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 Yellow, 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 Yellow. 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