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Butterfree(JP) is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a dual-type Bug/Flying Pokémon that made its first appearance in the first generation games Red and Blue. It evolves from Metapod starting at level 10. It has a Gigantamax form in Galar.
Physiology and Behaviour[]
Butterfree is a lepidopteran insect Pokémon which resembles a vaguely anthropomorphic butterfly with a purple body. Unlike true insects, it only has two body segments and four light blue legs. The upper pair of its legs resemble small, three-fingered hands, while the lower pair resembles long, digit-less feet. Butterfree has two black antennae, a light blue snout with two fangs underneath, and large, red compound eyes. Its two pairs of wings are white with black venation. Two oval scales on a female Butterfree's lower wings are black, but they are white on a male.
The wings of Butterfree are coated with poisonous scales that easily fall off continuously as it flies. If inhaled, it results in several status conditions. It will defend Caterpie from bird Pokémon using this powder. This powder also repels water, enabling it to fly and gather honey even in the rain. Butterfree can use its sensitive antenna to detect the odors of blooming flowers six miles (ten kilometers) from its nest in search of nectar, which it carries with the hairs of its legs. Sometimes, it has territorial disputes with Cutiefly over fields of flowers. It also consumes sap from trees pierced by Heracross, as seen in the anime. Butterfree is found in temperate forests and jungles, but it has also been observed flying near the ocean as part of its migratory breeding pattern.
Gigantamax Butterfree[]
As Gigantamax Butterfree, its wings become shades of bright and dark green with a white pattern on them. At the base of the wings are a fur-like circle, which attaches to Gigantamax Butterfree's back. Its antennae become bright green as well, and extend to the point where the tip bends, and three red clouds surround them. Its eyes glow bright red. Several green scales, created from crystallized Gigantamax energy, can be seen floating around Gigantamax Butterfree. These are its most effective weapons, capable of causing paralysis, poisoning, or sleep. Gigantamax Butterfree scatters these scales by the winds that it generates with each flap of its wings; these winds are powerful enough to lift a 10-ton truck.
Appearances[]
Main Pokémon games[]
Other Pokémon games[]
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team: Butterfree is the mother of Caterpie, who she sends the player to rescue in the first mission of the game.
Super Smash Bros. series[]
In the Saffron City stage, multiple Butterfree can be seen flying in the background.
Trophy descriptions[]
In the anime[]

Ash's Butterfree and a Pink Butterfree
Ash Ketchum had a Butterfree that he caught as a Caterpie, the first Pokémon he ever caught. He evolved from Metapod in Challenge of the Samurai. Butterfree was also the first Pokémon that Ash let go, allowing him to mate with a pink Butterfree in Bye Bye Butterfree. He later reunited with Ash in JN136. Butterfree is the first Pokémon that Ash released.
Origin and inspiration[]
Butterfree seems to be based on the black-veined white butterfly.
Butterfree's parallels to Beedrill could possibly be a reference to the phrase "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee", which was coined by American boxer Muhammad Ali. This is further backed by the phrase being used in two episodes of the English dub of the anime as "floating like a Butterfree and stinging like a Beedrill".
Butterfree may be a combination of butterfly and free.
In-game information[]
Pokédex entries[]
Title | Entry |
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First Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Red and Blue | In battle, it flaps its wings at high speed to release highly toxic dust into the air. |
Pokémon Yellow | Its wings, covered with poisonous powders, repel water. This allows it to fly in the rain. |
Pokémon Stadium | Its wings are covered with poisonous dust. If you see one flapping its wings, be careful not to inhale any of the dust. |
Second Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Gold | It collects honey every day. It rubs honey onto the hairs on its legs to carry it back to its nest. |
Pokémon Silver | Water-repellent powder on its wings enables it to collect honey, even in the heaviest of rains. |
Pokémon Crystal | It flits from flower to flower, collecting honey. It can even identify distant flowers in bloom. |
Third Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Ruby | Butterfree has a superior ability to search for delicious honey from flowers. It can even search out, extract, and carry honey from flowers that are blooming over six miles from its nest. |
Pokémon Sapphire | Butterfree has a superior ability to search for delicious honey from flowers. It can even search out, extract, and carry honey from flowers that are blooming over six miles from its nest. |
Pokémon Emerald | It has a superior ability to search for delicious honey from flowers. It can seek, extract, and carry honey from flowers blooming over six miles away. |
Pokémon FireRed | The wings are protected by a rain-repellent dust. As a result, this Pokémon can fly about even in rain. |
Pokémon LeafGreen | In battle, it flaps its wings at great speed to release highly toxic dust into the air. |
Fourth Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Diamond | It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. |
Pokémon Pearl | It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. |
Pokémon Platinum | It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. |
Pokémon HeartGold | It collects honey every day. It rubs honey onto the hairs on its legs to carry it back to its nest. |
Pokémon SoulSilver | Water-repellent powder on its wings enables it to collect honey, even in the heaviest of rains. |
Fifth Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Black | It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. |
Pokémon White | It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. |
Pokémon Black 2 | It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. |
Pokémon White 2 | It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. |
Sixth Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon X | It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. |
Pokémon Y | The wings are protected by rain-repellent dust. As a result, this Pokémon can fly about even in rain. |
Pokémon Omega Ruby | Butterfree has a superior ability to search for delicious honey from flowers. It can even search out, extract, and carry honey from flowers that are blooming over six miles from its nest. |
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire | Butterfree has a superior ability to search for delicious honey from flowers. It can even search out, extract, and carry honey from flowers that are blooming over six miles from its nest. |
Seventh Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Sun | Close examination of its large eyes reveals that each eye is composed of a myriad of tiny eyes. |
Pokémon Moon | When attacked by other Pokémon, it defends itself by scattering its poisonous scales and fluttering its wings. |
Pokémon Ultra Sun | Its wings are covered in toxic scales. If it finds bird Pokémon going after Caterpie, Butterfree sprinkles its scales on them to drive them off. |
Pokémon Ultra Moon | Nectar from pretty flowers is its favorite food. In fields of flowers, it has heated battles with Cutiefly for territory. |
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu |
Its wings, covered with poisonous powder, repel water. This allows it to fly in the rain. |
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee |
Its wings, covered with poisonous powder, repel water. This allows it to fly in the rain. |
Eighth Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Sword | In battle, it flaps its wings at great speed to release highly toxic dust into the air. Gigantamax - Crystallized Gigantamax energy makes up this Pokémon's blindingly bright and highly toxic scales. |
Pokémon Shield | It collects honey every day. It rubs honey onto the hairs on its legs to carry it back to its nest. Gigantamax - Once it has opponents trapped in a tornado that could blow away a 10-ton truck, it finishes them off with its poisonous scales. |
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond | It loves the nectar of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. |
Pokémon Shining Pearl | It loves the nectar of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. |
Game locations[]
Title | Location(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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First Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Red and Blue | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Yellow | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Second Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Gold | National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)Tu/Th/Sa Azalea Town, Ilex Forest,Lake of Rage, Route 26, 27, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 (Headbutt) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Silver | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Crystal | National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)Tu/Th/Sa Ilex Forest (Headbutt) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Third Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Ruby | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon FireRed | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon LeafGreen | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fourth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Diamond | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Pearl | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Platinum | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon HeartGold | National Park (Bug-Catching Contest) Route 47, Ilex Forest (Headbutt) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon SoulSilver | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fifth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Black | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon White | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon White 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sixth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Seventh Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Sun | Route 5, Melemele Meadow, Lush Jungle (SOS Battle) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Moon | Route 5, Melemele Meadow, Lush Jungle (SOS Battle) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Ultra Sun | Route 5, Melemele Meadow, Lush Jungle (SOS Battle) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Ultra Moon | Route 5, Melemele Meadow, Lush Jungle (SOS Battle) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu |
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Pokémon Let's Go Eevee |
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Eighth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Sword | Max Raid Battle - Rolling Fields * | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Shield | Max Raid Battle - Rolling Fields * | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond |
Evolution[]
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Form Change[]
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Gigantamax Form | ||
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Base Stats[]
Gen I-V[]
HP | 60 |
Attack | 45 |
Defense | 50 |
Sp. Attack | 80 |
Sp. Defense | 80 |
Speed | 70 |
Total | 385 |
Gen VI +[]
HP | 60 |
Attack | 45 |
Defense | 50 |
Sp. Attack | 90 |
Sp. Defense | 80 |
Speed | 70 |
Total | 395 |
Moveset[]
Gallery[]
Sprites[]
Reception[]
Butterfree has received generally positive reception, described as an iconic Pokémon and one that many players had used in their teams by Sports Illustrated writer Dave Aubrey. In their Pokémon of the Day series, IGN stated that they appreciated the fact that Butterfree was a Pokémon that players could obtain early through evolution and who was useful against in-game opponents early in the game, but that it petered off eventually and largely became useless. Bye Bye Butterfree has been considered one of the most touching farewell episodes in the Pokémon anime, with Real Sound staff noting that it caused many fans to cry over Butterfree's departure. Author Quentin Gervasoni believed that Butterfree was famous because of this episode, and that the scene of it departing became a meme due to its emotion. The fact that it was the first Pokémon released by anyone in the anime series at that point was also a contributing factor to its departure's impact according to IGN. Anime News Network writer Jacob Chapman stated that, despite not being as torn up over Butterfree's departure as others, the scene was "burned into [his] brain." He also suggested that this scene mirrored the first experience of loss for many children. TheGamer writer Brandon Howard expressed a desire for Butterfree to return to the anime upon hearing that Ash's story was nearing its conclusion; he felt that releasing Butterfree was one of Ash's most difficult decisions in the series, stating that it would be a good send-off for Ash for him and Butterfree to reunite.
Trivia[]
- Butterfree was the first Pokémon shown in the anime with an alternate color, pink in its case. This has only been seen in a single female, and unlike a Shiny Butterfree, which has green eyes and pink wings, limbs, and snout, this Butterfree only differed in its pink body and wings.
Gigantamax Pokémon | |
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Generation I | Venusaur • Charizard • Blastoise • Butterfree • Pikachu • Meowth • Machamp • Gengar • Kingler • Lapras • Eevee • Snorlax |
Generation V | Garbodor |
Generation VII | Melmetal |
Generation VIII | Rillaboom • Cinderace • Inteleon • Corviknight • Orbeetle • Drednaw • Coalossal • Flapple • Appletun • Sandaconda • Toxtricity • Centiskorch • Hatterene • Grimmsnarl • Alcremie • Copperajah • Duraludon • Urshifu |