Stats & Training
Nothing fancy in Metapod's spread. It leans mixed with Defense out front. And you'll get 2 Defense stat exp per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
This is its pre-evolved form. At this stage, it can only harden, so it remains motionless to avoid attack.
Metapod Weakness
Metapod's Bug typing leaves it vulnerable to Fire, Flying, and Rock. Metapod's physical bulk (base 55 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| 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
Magby Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Magby builds →Fire Blast 2x191-225%KO Fire Punch 2x130-155%KO Ember 2x71-86% | ||
Natu Psychic | D | |
Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Cyndaquil builds →Fire Blast 2x171-204%KO Ember 2x68-80% | ||
Spearow Normal | D | |
Hoothoot Normal | D | |
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Magby Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Magby builds →Fire Blast 2x194-228%KO Fire Punch 2x133-157%KO Ember 2x76-90% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Growlithe builds →Fire Blast 2x194-228%KO Ember 2x76-90% | ||
Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Natu Psychic | D | |
Scyther Bug | C | |
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Noctowl builds →Fly 2x78-93% Peck 2x35-41% | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Fearow builds →Fly 2x119-141%KO Peck 2x49-59% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Scyther Bug | C | |
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Noctowl builds →Fly 2x76-90% Peck 2x34-40% | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Fearow builds →Fly 2x116-137%KO Peck 2x48-58% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Scyther Bug | C | |
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Noctowl builds →Fly 2x76-90% Peck 2x34-40% | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Fearow builds →Fly 2x116-137%KO Peck 2x48-58% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x107-127%KO Peck 2x42-51% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Noctowl builds →Fly 2x76-90% Peck 2x34-40% | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Fearow builds →Fly 2x116-137%KO Peck 2x48-58% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
In Crystal, Houndoom can KO Metapod with Fire Blast (293-345%). Dragonite threatens a KO with Thunder (90-106%). Rhydon's Rock Slide also KOs at 136-161%.
Houndoom DarkFire | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Houndoom builds →Fire Blast 2x293-345%KO Crunch107-126%KO Pursuit54-63% | ||
Dragonite Dragon | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Dragonite builds →Ice Beam73-87% Thunder90-106%KO Thunderbolt73-87% | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Rhydon builds →Rock Slide 2x136-161%KO Earthquake45-54% | ||
Arcanine Fire | C | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Metapod View Arcanine builds →Extreme Speed42-49% Fire Blast 2x270-317%KO Flamethrower 2x221-260%KO Crunch66-77% | ||
Crystal Evolution
Metapod sits between Caterpie and Butterfree in this three-stage line. Not the final form yet. For breeding, quick to hatch with a decent partner pool via one egg group. So far, Defense got the biggest boost (+20 from Caterpie). The final form adds another 190 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Crystal Metapod 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
A compact toolkit overall. The offense runs through Bug STAB for Metapod, with Normal coverage doing what it can. Don't expect versatility from this one.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
How to Get Metapod in Crystal
5 encounter spots for Metapod at decent spawn rates starting from early-game routes. Two different catch methods are in play here. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Metapod in Crystal
To get Metapod, start by catching Caterpie through walking and headbutt encounters at Lv. 3-18. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch CaterpieRoute 24Grass Lv.8-10 Route60%EarlyMorning/dayRoute 30Grass Lv.3-4 Route50%EarlyMorning/dayRoute 2Grass Lv.3 Route30%EarlyMorning/dayRoute 31Grass Lv.4 Route30%EarlyMorning/dayIlex ForestGrass Lv.5 Forest30%EarlyMorning/dayRoute 25Grass Lv.10 Route30%EarlyMorning/dayNational Park - Bug Catching ContestGrass Lv.7-18 Facility20%EarlyIlex ForestHeadbutting special trees Lv.10 Forest15%EarlyNational ParkGrass Lv.10 Facility5%EarlyMorning/day
Step 2Metapod ✓Ilex ForestGrass Lv.7 Forest20%EarlyMorning/dayRoute 24Grass Lv.12 Route20%EarlyMorningNational Park - Bug Catching ContestGrass Lv.9-18 Facility10%EarlyRoute 25Grass Lv.12 Route10%EarlyMorning/dayIlex ForestHeadbutting special trees Lv.10 Forest5%Earlyor evolve from Caterpie (Step 1)
Metapod Guide
Get Metapod to Butterfree at level 10. At 205 BST, Metapod is just the starting point.
Level 10 gets you Butterfree. Quick enough that Metapod barely slows you down.
In Crystal, For a casual playthrough, Metapod works as a placeholder. Bug coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Butterfree. That's where the stats start mattering.
You can find Metapod in Crystal. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 18 other games across the series.
Game Availability
Present since Red & Blue, Metapod appears in 19 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Metapod have the longest track record of availability in the series.
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
