Metapod

Metapod
Current
Information
Type	Bug
Gender	50% ♂ / 50% ♀
Abilities	Regular Shed Skin
Species	Cocoon Pokémon
Height and Weight	Height 0.7 m / 2'04" Weight 9.9 kg / 21.8 lbs.
Introduced in	Generation I
Evolution	Evolves from Caterpie Evolves into Butterfree
Body, Footprint, Color, Egg group, and Cry	Body Footprint Color Green Egg group(s) Bug Cry
Pokédex
National Pokédex	0011
Kanto	011 / N/A (PE)
Johto	025 / N/A (HGSS)
Hoenn	N/A / N/A (ORAS)
Sinnoh and Hisui	Sinnoh N/A / N/A (Pt) Hisui N/A
Unova	N/A / N/A (B2W2)
Kalos	Central Kalos 024 Coastal Kalos N/A Mountain Kalos N/A
Alola	018 / N/A (USUM)
Galar	014 / N/A (TIoA) / N/A (TCT)
Paldea, Kitakami and Blueberry	Paldea N/A Kitakami N/A Blueberry N/A
In other languages
Japanese	Name トランセル Toranseru
Japanese	Name トランセル Toranseru
English	Name Metapod
English	Name Metapod

Metapod (Japanese: トランセル, Hepburn: Toranseru) (MET-uh-pod) is a Bug-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I. It is the evolved form of Caterpie.

Biology

Physiology

Metapod is an insect-like Pokémon with an appearance similar to that of a green-colored chrysalis or cocoon. Although it is covered in its hard shell, Metapod's eyes are still clearly visible and usually appear dazed, drowsy, or angry for reasons unknown.

Behavior

When preparing to evolve, Caterpie spin cocoons around themselves. These cocoons, while still vulnerable when soft, will eventually harden into iron-hard casings, triggering their evolutions into Metapod.

To avoid attacks, these Pokémon stay motionless and simply ​wait. Metapod are remarkably patient, enduring whatever pain they must to reach their final stages. They must remain upright while biding their time or risk spilling out their innards.

They are often regarded as nearly useless in battle, as freshly-caught Metapod are incapable of damaging foes at all (other than by using Struggle). Luckily, however, the Caterpie line undergoes some of the quickest evolutions known to date, and it does not take very long for Metapod to finally evolve into Butterfree.

Natural abilities

Metapod have the ability Shed Skin which allows for a 1/3 chance that a harmful status effect will be dropped every turn.

A Metapod's exterior is regularly hardened to protect its soft and tender innards while undergoing metamorphosis to eventually become a Butterfree. To conserve energy for this event, the Metapod barely moves.

Evolution

Metapod evolves from Caterpie starting at level 7, and evolves into Butterfree starting at level 10.

Game info

Locations

Locations
Version(s)	Area(s)	Rarity
Red and Blue	Viridian Forest, Route 25 Route 24(Blue only)	Uncommon(Red) Common(Blue)
Yellow	Viridian Forest	Common
Gold and Silver	Ilex Forest National Park, Route 2, 30, 31(Gold only) Bug-Catching Contest(Silver only)	Common(Gold) Uncommon(Silver)
Crystal	Ilex Forest, National Park, Route 2, 24, 25, 30, 31	Common
Ruby and Sapphire	Trade	None
FireRed and LeafGreen	Viridian Forest, Pattern Bush, Route 24, 25	Common
Emerald	Trade	None
Diamond and Pearl	Route 204	Dongle (FireRed)
Platinum	Eterna Forest	Dongle (FireRed)
HeartGold and SoulSilver	Route 2, 30, 31, National Park, Ilex Forest, Viridian Forest, Bug-Catching Contest, Headbutt trees	Common
Black and White	Trade (Black only) Route 12 (White only)	Rare
Black 2 and White 2	Trade (Black 2 only) Evolve Caterpie (White 2 only)	None
X and Y	Evolve Caterpie	None
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire	Trade	None
Sun and Moon	Route 1 (Alola), Route 5 (Alola), Lush Jungle, Melemele Meadow	Common
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon	Melemele Meadow, Lush Jungle, Route 5	Common
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!	Viridian Forest	Common
Sword and Shield	Rolling Fields Max Raid Battle: Bridge Field, Dappled Grove, Rolling Fields, South Lake Miloch	Common

Spin-off game locations

Locations
Game(s)	Area(s)
Pokémon Snap	River
Pokémon Trozei!	SOL Laboratory 2, Secret Storage 8, Endless Level 4, Mr. Who's Den
Red Rescue Team & Blue Rescue Team	Joyous Tower (7-8F)
Explorers of Time & Explorers of Darkness	Mystifying Forest (1-13BF), Mystery Jungle (1-29BF), Happy Outlook (1-19BF)
Pokémon Rumble	Silent Forest
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure	Haunted Zone

Pokédex entries

• Red and Blue

  This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.

• Yellow

  This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.

• Gold

  Inside the shell, it is soft and weak as it prepares to evolve. It stays motionless in the shell.

• Silver

  It prepares for evolution by hardening its shell as much as possible to protect its soft body.

• Crystal

  This is its pre-evolved form. At this stage, it can only harden, so it remains motionless to avoid attack.

• Ruby

  The shell covering this Pokémon's body is as hard as an iron slab. Metapod does not move very much. It stays still because it is preparing its soft innards for evolution inside the hard shell.

• Sapphire

  The shell covering this Pokémon's body is as hard as an iron slab. Metapod does not move very much. It stays still because it is preparing its soft innards for evolution inside the hard shell.

• FireRed

  Even though it is encased in a sturdy shell, the body inside is tender. It can't withstand a harsh attack.

• LeafGreen

  This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.

• Emerald

  Its shell is as hard as an iron slab. A Metapod does not move very much because it is preparing its soft innards for evolution inside the shell.

• Diamond

  A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.

• Pearl

  A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.

• Platinum

  A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.

• HeartGold

  Inside the shell, it is soft and weak as it prepares to evolve. It stays motionless in the shell.

• SoulSilver

  It prepares for evolution by hardening its shell as much as possible to protect its soft body.

• Black

  A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.

• White

  A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.

• Black 2

  A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.

• White 2

  A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.

• X

  A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.

• Y

  This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.

• Omega Ruby

  The shell covering this Pokémon’s body is as hard as an iron slab. Metapod does not move very much. It stays still because it is preparing its soft innards for evolution inside the hard shell.

• Alpha Sapphire

  The shell covering this Pokémon’s body is as hard as an iron slab. Metapod does not move very much. It stays still because it is preparing its soft innards for evolution inside the hard shell.

• Sun

  Its shell is filled with its soft innards. It doesn’t move much because of the risk it might carelessly spill its innards out.

• Moon

  Its shell is hard, but it’s still just a bug shell. It’s been known to break, so intense battles with it should be avoided.

• Ultra Sun

  Its shell is filled with a thick liquid. All of the cells throughout its body are being rebuilt in preparation for evolution.

• Ultra Moon

  Its hard shell doesn't crack a bit even if Pikipek pecks at it, but it will tip over, spilling out its insides.

• Let's Go, Pikachu!

  Hardens its shell to protect itself. However, a large impact may cause it to pop out of its shell.

• Let's Go, Eevee!

  Hardens its shell to protect itself. However, a large impact may cause it to pop out of its shell.

• Sword

  It is waiting for the moment to evolve. At this stage, it can only harden, so it remains motionless to avoid attack.

• Shield

  Even though it is encased in a sturdy shell, the body inside is tender. It can't withstand a harsh attack.

• Brilliant Diamond

  A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. The Pokémon quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.

• Shining Pearl

  A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. The Pokémon quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.

Stats

Stats
HP	50
Attack	20
Defense	55
Sp. Atk	25
Sp. Def	25
Speed	30
Total	205

Learnset

By leveling up

• Generation VIII
• Generation VII
• Generation VI
• Generation V
• Generation IV
• Generation III
• Generation II
• Generation I

LevelingGeneration VIII
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
1	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal	Status
Evo	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal	Status
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration VII
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
1	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal	Status
Evo	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal	Status
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration VI
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.	Contest Cat.	Appeal	Jam
1	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal	Status		2 ♥	0 ♥
7	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal	Status		2 ♥	0 ♥
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration V
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
1	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal	Status
7	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal	Status
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration IV
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.	Contest Cat.	Appeal
1	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal	Status		2 ♥
7	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal	Status		2 ♥
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration III
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Contest Cat.	Appeal	Jam
1	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal		2 ♥	0 ♥
7	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal		2 ♥	0 ♥
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration II
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type
1	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal
7	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration I
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type
1	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal
7	Harden	—	—%	30	Normal
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

By TM/TR

• Generation VIII
• Generation VII-I

Generation VIII
Machine	Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy	PP
TM82	Electroweb		Special	55	95%	15
TR46	Iron Defense		Status	—	100%	15
Bold indicates that this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates that an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Metapod learns no moves via TM/HM.

By breeding

Metapod learns no moves via breeding.

By tutoring

• Generation VII
• Generation VI
• Generation V
• Generation IV

Tutoring Generation VII
Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
Bug Bite USUM	60	100%	20	Bug	Physical
Electroweb USUM	55	95%	15	Electric	Special
Iron Defense USUM	—	—%	15	Steel	Status
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Tutoring Generation VI
Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.	Contest Cat.	Appeal	Jam
Bug Bite ORAS	60	100%	20	Bug	Physical		3 ♥	0 ♥
Electroweb ORAS	55	95%	15	Electric	Special		2 ♥	1 ♥
Iron Defense ORAS	—	—%	15	Steel	Status		1 ♥	0 ♥
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Tutoring Generation V
Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
Bug Bite	60	100%	20	Bug	Physical
Electroweb	55	95%	15	Electric	Special
Iron Defense	—	—%	15	Steel	Status
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Tutoring Generation IV
Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.	Contest Cat.	Appeal
Bug Bite HGSS	60	100%	20	Bug	Physical		0 ♥
Iron Defense	—	—%	15	Steel	Status		2 ♥
String Shot HGSS	—	95%	40	Bug	Status		2 ♥
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Appearances

Anime

• Ash's Metapod.
• Goh's Metapod.

1/2

Main article: Butterfree (anime)

Metapod debuted in the anime episode Ash Catches a Pokémon when Ash's Caterpie quickly evolved into a Metapod near the episode's end.

In the episode Challenge of the Samurai, Ash battled a Samurai-like trainer using his Metapod against the Samurai's Pinsir and Metapod.

Gym Leader Bugsy used his own Metapod against Ash in the episode Gettin' the Bugs Out. This Metapod proved to be more capable than others in previous episodes as it was actually able to knock out Ash's Chikorita.

• Samurai's Metapod
• Bugsy's Metapod

Manga

Pokémon Adventures

Metapod make its first appearance in PA002 as one of the Pokémon in Professor Oak's Lab. Yellow had a Caterpie which evolved into a Metapod and then a Butterfree during her battle with Lance. There are also two Metapods which belong to Bugsy.

Trivia

• Despite being immobile, Metapod can still learn Tackle and Bug Bite.
• Metapod, along with Kakuna, Silcoon, and Cascoon, are all known as the Cocoon Pokémon.
• It is possible to catch a Metapod that cannot attack by capturing one that only knows Harden. This also applies to Kakuna, Silcoon, and Cascoon.
• Metapod has a similar cry to Tentacruel.

Origins

It appears to be based upon an amalgamation of butterfly chrysalises, resembling the general shape of a Black Swallowtail chrysalis (or possibly a Large White) with a large nose-like protrusion and side protrusions resembling a Polydamas Swallowtail or Pipevine Swallowtail chrysalis.

Etymology

Metapod is a portmanteau of "metamorphosis" and "pod."

Toranseru is likely a portmanteau of "transform" and "cell."

Gallery

See also

• Pokémon.com Pokédex
• Legendary Pokémon data
• The Pokémon Database
• Pokémon Dream Pokédex data
• Psypokes Psydex data