Is Butterfree Good in Yellow Playthrough?
Your answer to Brock in Yellow. Pikachu can't touch Rock-types, so Butterfree with MoveConfusion is the real solution for the first gym. Beyond Pewter City, MoveSleep Powder keeps Butterfree relevant long after its stats should have fallen off. No other version makes Butterfree this essential this early.
Brock's Pokemon outpace and outclass Caterpie here.
Misty's typing presses Butterfree's defenses.
Lt. Surge's team hits Butterfree's weaknesses hard.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.
Butterfree resists most of Koga's coverage and hits back hard.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Blaine's team hits Butterfree's weaknesses hard.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Butterfree has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.
Lance's team hits Butterfree's weaknesses hard.
Butterfree trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.
Catch Metapod on Viridian Forest (walking, Lv 4-6, uncommon).
Your Caterpie should hit Level 10 before you reach Misty, at typical leveling pace.
- LV 14GrassStun Spore—75%30
- LV 15GrassSleep Powder—75%15
- After Erika
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- TM10NormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- TM29PsychicPsychic90100%10
- TM02NormalRazor Wind80100%10
- After Sabrina
- TM22GrassSolar Beam120100%10
- After Koga
- TM09NormalTake Down9085%20
How to Get Butterfree in Yellow
Can't catch Butterfree directly. Start with Caterpie at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 10. The 3-stage chain from Caterpie to Butterfree is where the leveling time goes.
Butterfree Weakness
Butterfree is weak to Rock, Fire, Electric, Ice, Poison, and Flying. Watch out for Rock attacks, those deal 4x damage. On the flip side, it's immune to Ground-type moves entirely. Butterfree's special bulk (base 80 Special) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Rock |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Electric, Ice, Poison, Flying |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Bug |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | 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
What is Butterfree Weak Against
FragileBest Pokemon Against Butterfree
 Pidgeotto Normal | C | |
 Pikachu Electric | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Move Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Pikachu builds →Thunder Shock 2x31-38% | ||
 Nidoran♀ (female) Poison | D | |
 Nidoran♂ (male) Poison | D | |
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
 Charmeleon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Route 24 Gift) | ||
Pidgeotto Normal | C | |
 Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Pikachu Electric | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Move Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Pikachu builds →Thunder Shock 2x29-35% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Nidoking builds →Thunderbolt 2x58-69% Poison Sting 2x23-29% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
 Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Pikachu Electric | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
Charmeleon Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Route 24 Gift) | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
 Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Pallet Town Old Rod) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Gyarados builds →Ice Beam 2x43-51% Thunderbolt 2x43-51% | ||
 Raichu Electric | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Pichu (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Nidoking builds →Rock Slide 4x145-171%KO Ice Beam 2x55-66% Thunderbolt 2x55-66% Poison Sting 2x24-29% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | B | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Lapras builds →Ice Beam 2x84-100%KO Thunderbolt 2x56-67% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
 Magneton Electric | C | |
Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
Raichu Electric | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Pichu (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
 Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Rhyhorn builds →Rock Slide 4x188-222%KO Thunderbolt 2x28-34% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | B | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Lapras builds →Ice Beam 2x86-102%KO Thunderbolt 2x57-68% | ||
Magneton Electric | C | |
Jolteon Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Rhydon builds →Rock Slide 4x265-312%KO Fire Blast 2x44-52% Blizzard 2x40-47% Thunderbolt 2x35-41% | ||
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Charmander (Route 24 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Charizard builds →Fire Blast 2x128-151%KO Fly 2x86-102%KO | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Graveler builds →Rock Slide 4x205-241%KO Fire Blast 2x44-52% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | B | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Lapras builds →Blizzard 2x96-113%KO Thunderbolt 2x56-66% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodCinnabar Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x104-123%KO Fire Blast 2x54-63% | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Rhydon builds →Rock Slide 4x272-320%KO Fire Blast 2x45-53% Blizzard 2x41-49% Thunderbolt 2x36-43% | ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodPower Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Zapdos builds →Thunderbolt 2x117-138%KO Sky Attack 2x184-218%KO | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodCinnabar Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Aerodactyl builds →Sky Attack 2x211-249%KO Fire Blast 2x55-65% | ||
 Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Articuno builds →Blizzard 2x107-127%KO Sky Attack 2x177-209%KO | ||
 Moltres Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodVictory Road Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Moltres builds →Fire Blast 2x147-173%KO Sky Attack 2x201-238%KO | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Rhydon builds →Rock Slide 4x272-321%KO Fire Blast 2x44-52% Blizzard 2x40-48% Thunderbolt 2x35-41% | ||
Zapdos Electric | A | |
Obtain MethodPower Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Zapdos builds →Thunderbolt 2x117-138%KO Sky Attack 2x186-219%KO | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodCinnabar Island Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Aerodactyl builds →Sky Attack 2x211-248%KO Fire Blast 2x54-64% | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Articuno builds →Blizzard 2x107-126%KO Sky Attack 2x176-208%KO | ||
Moltres Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodVictory Road Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Moltres builds →Fire Blast 2x146-172%KO Sky Attack 2x202-238%KO | ||
In Yellow, Gengar's Explosion hits Butterfree for 84-99%. Jolteon threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (98-115%). Lapras's Blizzard also KOs at 97-114%.
 Gengar GhostPoison | S | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Gengar builds →Explosion84-99% Thunderbolt 2x75-89% Psychic38-44% | ||
Jolteon Electric | A | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Jolteon builds →Thunderbolt 2x98-115%KO Pin Missile4-5% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Butterfree View Lapras builds →Thunderbolt 2x52-62% Blizzard 2x97-114%KO | ||
Butterfree Evolutions
Butterfree is the evolved form of Caterpie, reached at level 10. A Bug/Flying type at 385 stats that still can't breed. Evolving from Caterpie gave Butterfree the biggest boost in Special (+60), bringing the total to 385 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Y Butterfree Best Moveset
Lands MoveSleep Powder before going down to whatever wakes up. 80 Special can't threaten from Bug or Flying TermStab, so the contribution starts and ends with one sleep turn. Faster Pokemon do the same sleep job and survive to do something after.
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Sleep Powder
- Psychic
- Mega Drain
- Stun Spore
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
TMs define Butterfree's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Gust, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Psychic and Normal coverage. That's where the options open up.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
Its wings, covered with poisonous powders, repel water. This allows it to fly in the rain.
Butterfree Yellow Guide
In Yellow, Butterfree's biggest threats include Golem (Rock), Charizard (Fire), and Raikou (Electric), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Golem is the most dangerous since Rock moves deal 4x damage. Ice, Poison, and Flying-type attackers are also a problem. With 6 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Honestly, in Yellow Butterfree is a tough sell at 385 BST. Plenty of stronger Bug/Flying options exist. Fun pick, not a practical one.
In Yellow, Butterfree has a 385 base stat total and ranks as C-Tier: a niche pick in Yellow's meta. It works best as a balanced. Sleep Powder anchors the moveset.
In Yellow, Butterfree fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 45 Attack. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many.
For Yellow, the core moveset is Sleep Powder, Psychic, Megadrain, and Stun Spore. Sleep Powder leads at 0% usage. This set covers the balanced role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Butterfree first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 19 games across 10 generations. It later gained a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGigantamax
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves