Butterfree

Butterfree
Metapod
012
Weedle
Ability	Compound Eyes Tinted Eyes (Hidden)
Egg group	Bug
First game	Pokémon Red and Blue (1996)
Creator	Game Freak

Butterfree<sup>(JPJapanese: バタフリー

Romaji: Butterfree)</sup> 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.

Appearances

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.

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.

In-game information

Pokédex entries

Title	Entry
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)
First Pokémon generation
Pokémon Red and Blue	Evolve Metapod
Pokémon Yellow	Evolve Metapod
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold	Route 2Morn 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	National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)Tu/Th/Sa
Pokémon Crystal	Routes 2, 24, and 25Morn/Day National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)Tu/Th/Sa Ilex Forest (Headbutt)
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ruby	Trade
Pokémon FireRed	Evolve Metapod
Pokémon LeafGreen	Evolve Metapod
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond	Evolve Metapod
Pokémon Pearl	Evolve Metapod
Pokémon Platinum	Evolve Metapod
Pokémon HeartGold	Route 2, Viridian Forest National Park (Bug-Catching Contest) Route 47, Ilex Forest (Headbutt)
Pokémon SoulSilver	National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	Trade
Pokémon White	Route 12 (Rustling grass)
Pokémon White 2	Pinwheel Forest (Hidden Grotto)
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	Friend Safari (Bug)
Pokémon Y	Friend Safari (Bug)
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	Route 5, Melemele Meadow Route 5, Melemele Meadow, Lush Jungle (SOS Battle)
Pokémon Moon	Route 5, Melemele Meadow Route 5, Melemele Meadow, Lush Jungle (SOS Battle)
Pokémon Ultra Sun	Route 5, Melemele Meadow Route 5, Melemele Meadow, Lush Jungle (SOS Battle)
Pokémon Ultra Moon	Route 5, Melemele Meadow Route 5, Melemele Meadow, Lush Jungle (SOS Battle)
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu	Viridian Forest
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee	Viridian Forest
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	East Lake Axewell, Rolling Fields, Deep Slumbering Weald, Giant's Mirror Max Raid Battle - Rolling Fields *
Pokémon Shield	East Lake Axewell, Rolling Fields, Deep Slumbering Weald, Giant's Mirror Max Raid Battle - Rolling Fields *
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond	Evolve Metapod

Evolution

Caterpie	Reach level 7.	Metapod	Reach level 10.	Butterfree

Form Change

Butterfree	Dynamax with Gigantamax Factor	Butterfree Gigantamax Form

Base Stats

Gen I-V

Base Stats
HP	60
Attack	45
Defense	50
Sp. Attack	80
Sp. Defense	80
Speed	70
Total	385

Gen VI +

Base Stats
HP	60
Attack	45
Defense	50
Sp. Attack	90
Sp. Defense	80
Speed	70
Total	395

Gallery

Sprites

Sprites and renders
Red Green	Red Blue	Yellow
Gold	Silver	Crystal
Ruby Sapphire	Emerald	Fire Leaf
Diamond Pearl	Platinum File:PKMNP012.png File:PKMNP012-S.png	Heart Soul
Black White	Black 2 White 2 File:PKMNBW2012-S.png	X Y File:PKMNXY012-S.png
Pikachu Eevee File:PKMNLGPE012-S.png	Sword Shield File:PKMNSS012-S.png	Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl File:PKMNBDSP012.png File:PKMNBDSP012-S.png

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.