Butterfree (Pokémon)

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Butterfree バタフリー Butterfree #012
Artwork from FR/LG
Type Bug Flying Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Butterfly Pokémon
Ability Compoundeyes Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,000,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #012 Johto #026 Hoenn #214 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 3′07″ Imperial 1.1 m Metric 3′07″/1.1 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 70.5 lbs. Imperial 32.0 kg Metric 70.5 lbs./32.0 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color White	Catch rate 45 (5.9%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown Gender unknown
Breeding Bug group 1 cycles (255 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 160 Battle Exp.: 1601*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Butterfree (Japanese: バタフリー Butterfree) is a Bug/Flying-type Pokémon, but it can learn some Psychic-type moves.

Biology

Physiology

Butterfree resembles a vaguely anthropomorphic butterfly. Unlike true insects, it only has four legs, which are a pale blue color. It has a nose-like structure which is a similar color. Its body’s coloration is a darker purple-blue. It has large veined wings which are white with black markings, in very rare cases individuals may be born with pinkish coloration. The markings can help distinguish male and female individuals. It has large compound eyes which tend to be a reddish color. Like members of the order Lepidoptera butterfree’s wings are covered in fine scales. Its legs are covered in fine hairs which aid in the collection of honey.

Gender differences

A female has black spots on the lower parts of its wings.

Special abilities

The waterproof scales on butterfree’s wings are loosely attached, and if the butterfree flaps them hard enough, they will be released into the air. This resulting “dust” is toxic, and can be irritating if inhaled.

Behavior

Butterfree spends most of its time foraging for nectar and pollen from flowers. In the wild they need to eat constantly. Special adaptations such as waterproofing on their wings, and tiny hairs on their legs let them gather food even in the rain. Butterfree will roam up to six miles from their nest in search of honey. During breeding season, Butterfree take to the air en-masse. Female Butterfree generally choose their mates on the basis of performed aerial aerobics, however other factors may come into play.

Habitat

Butterfree can be found in forests and wooded areas with high amounts of moisture and mist. They can also sometimes be found flying near the ocean, which may be part of their migratory breeding pattern.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Butterfree collect and consume pollen and honey from flowers. Butterfree also consume sap from trees if they have been opened by Heracross.

In the anime

Ash Ketchum had a Butterfree that he had caught as a Caterpie, which was the first Pokémon he ever caught. Ritchie also has a Butterfree named Happy.

After Team Rocket kidnapped Dr. Gordon and flew away on Jessie's Dustox (who was currently Mothra-sized) in Caterpie's Big Dilemma, Zander's giant-sized Metapod evolved into a Mothra-sized Butterfree in order to chase Team Rocket. Zander's Butterfree shrunk back to its normal size at the end of the episode.

Jeremy used a Butterfree in the first half of the Silver town Pokémon Contest in Weekend Warrior.

In the Kanto Grand Festival a Butterfree is used by Solidad in Channeling the Battle Zone.

Drew has a Butterfree which made its debut in The Unbeatable Lightness of Seeing.

In the manga

In Pokémon Special, Yellow has a Butterfree which evolved from a Caterpie she befriended and captured. Her uncle, Fisherman Wilton, also has a Butterfree. Both of them are able to use Butterfree as a mode of flight, using Butterfree to hold onto their backs as they fly.

Ash's Butterfree evolved at the Cerulean Gym in the Electric Tale of Pikachu.

In the TCG

Seven Butterfree cards have been released.

• Jungle: Butterfree
• Neo Discovery: Butterfree
• Expedition Base Set: Butterfree, Butterfree, Butterfree, and Butterfree
• EX FireRed and LeafGreen: Butterfree

Game data

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Butterfree is the mother of Caterpie, who she sends the player to rescue in the first mission of the game.

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red In battle, it flaps its wings at high speed, releasing highly toxic dust into the air. Blue Yellow Its wings, covered with poisonous powders, repel water. This allows it to fly in the rain. Stadium Its wings are covered with poisonous dust. If you see one flapping its wings, be careful not to inhale any of the dust.
Generation II Gold It collects honey every day. It rubs honey onto the hairs on its legs to carry it back to its nest. Silver Water-repellent powder on its wings enables it to collect honey, even in the heaviest of rains. Crystal It flits from flower to flower, collecting honey. It can even identify distant flowers in bloom. Stadium 2 It collects honey every day. It rubs honey onto the hairs on its legs to carry it back to its nest.
Generation III 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. 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. 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. FireRed The wings are protected by a rain-repellent dust. As a result, this Pokémon can fly about even in rain. LeafGreen In battle, it flaps its wings at great speed to release highly toxic dust into the air.
Generation IV Diamond It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. Pearl It loves the honey of flowers and can locate flower patches that have even tiny amounts of pollen. Platinum {{{platinumdex}}} HeartGold {{{heartgolddex}}} SoulSilver {{{soulsilverdex}}}
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Alternate Games

Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Trading Card Game (Base Set, Base Set 2, Legendary Collection)

In battle, it flaps its wings at high speed, releasing highly toxic dust into the air.

Pokémon Trading Card Game (Neo Discovery)

It collects honey every day. It rubs honey onto the hairs on its legs to carry it back to its nest.

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue None Evolve from Metapod Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow None Evolve from Metapod
Generation II Gold Silver Gold: Uncommon Silver: Rare Gold: National Park during the Bug-Catching Contest, Route 2, and may drop from Headbutted trees Silver: National Park during the Bug-Catching Contest Crystal Uncommon National Park during the Bug-Catching Contest, Routes 2, 24 and 25, and may drop from Headbutted trees
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald None Trade FireRed LeafGreen None Evolve from Metapod Colosseum None Trade XD One Snag from Cipher Peon Targ in Cipher Key Lair (Shadow)
Generation IV Diamond Pearl None Evolve from Metapod Platinum None Trade HeartGold SoulSilver None Trade Pal Park Forest Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Snap	Beach
Pokémon Channel	Viridian Forest
Pokémon Trozei	Secret Storage 1 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon	Evolve from Metapod

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 60		120 - 167	230 - 324
Attack: 45		45 - 106	85 - 207
Defense: 50		49 - 112	94 - 218
Sp. Atk: 80		76 - 145	148 - 284
Sp. Def: 80		76 - 145	148 - 284
Speed: 70		67 - 134	130 - 262
Total: 385	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature. This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 80.

Of the first generation Bug Pokémon, Butterfree ties with Scyther, Beedrill and Parasect for the highest base SpDef.

Type effectiveness

In Generation I, the effectiveness of Poison-type moves is 200.

Learnset

By leveling up

Level	Generation I		Generation II	Generation III	Generation IV
	RB	Yellow
Start	Tackle String Shot Harden		Tackle String Shot Harden	Tackle String Shot Harden	Tackle String Shot Harden
10		Confusion	Confusion	Confusion	Confusion
12	Confusion				Poisonpowder Stun Spore Sleep Powder
13				Poisonpowder
14		Poisonpowder		Stun Spore
15	Poisonpowder	Sleep Powder	Sleep Powder	Sleep Powder
16	Stun Spore				Gust
17	Sleep Powder
18		Supersonic	Supersonic	Supersonic	Supersonic
21	Supersonic
22					Whirlwind
23		Whirlwind	Whirlwind	Whirlwind
24					Psybeam
26	Whirlwind
28		Gust	Gust	Gust	Silver Wind
30					Tailwind
32	Psybeam
34		Psybeam	Psybeam	Psybeam	Safeguard
36					Captivate
40			Safeguard	Safeguard	Bug Buzz
47				Silver Wind

By TM/HM

Number	Generation I		Generation II	Generation III	Generation IV
	RB	Y
TM02	Razor Wind
TM03			Curse
TM04	Whirlwind
TM06	Toxic		Toxic	Toxic	Toxic
TM09	Take Down
TM10	Double-Edge		Hidden Power	Hidden Power	Hidden Power
TM11			Sunny Day	Sunny Day	Sunny Day
TM13			Snore
TM15	Hyper Beam		Hyper Beam	Hyper Beam	Hyper Beam
TM17			Protect	Protect	Protect
TM18				Rain Dance	Rain Dance
TM19			Giga Drain	Giga Drain	Giga Drain
TM20	Rage		Endure	Safeguard	Safeguard
TM21	Mega Drain		Frustration	Frustration	Frustration
TM22	Solarbeam		Solarbeam	Solarbeam	Solarbeam
TM27			Return	Return	Return
TM29	Psychic		Psychic	Psychic	Psychic
TM30	Teleport			Shadow Ball	Shadow Ball
TM31	Mimic		Mud-Slap
TM32	Double Team		Double Team	Double Team	Double Team
TM33	Reflect
TM34	Bide		Swagger
TM35			Sleep Talk
TM39	Swift		Swift
TM40			Defense Curl	Aerial Ace	Aerial Ace
TM42				Facade	Facade
TM43				Secret Power	Secret Power
TM44	Rest		Rest	Rest	Rest
TM45			Attract	Attract	Attract
TM46	Psywave			Thief	Thief
TM48				Skill Swap	Skill Swap
TM50	Substitute		Nightmare
TM51					Roost
TM53					Energy Ball
TM58					Endure
TM62					Silver Wind
TM68					Giga Impact
TM70					Flash
TM77					Psych Up
TM78					Captivate
TM82					Sleep Talk
TM83					Natural Gift
TM85					Dream Eater
TM87					Swagger
TM89					U-turn
TM90					Substitute
HM05		Flash	Flash	Flash	Defog

By tutoring

In Pokémon FireRed, Pokémon LeafGreen, and Pokémon Emerald:

• Double-Edge
• Dream Eater
• Mimic
• Substitute

In Pokémon Emerald Only:

• Endure
• Sleep Talk
• Snore
• Swagger
• Swift

Special moves

In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Butterfree knows Shadow Mist and Shadow Rush as a Shadow Pokémon, and learns Morning Sun after being purified.

Trivia

• It is one of the few Pokémon whose Japanese name is the same as its English one.
• Butterfree is the first Pokémon shown in the anime to have an alternate color. However, this alternate color was pink, which is not the same as the alternate color of Butterfree in the games.

Origin

Its design appears to be based upon a common butterfly, most likely a Cabbage White butterfly, more specifically, Aporia crataegi.

Name origin

Butterfree's name is a combination of butterfly and free, possibly referring to its ability to fly after being grounded for two evolutionary stages.

In other languages

• German: Smettbo
• French: Papilusion - Papillon means butterfly, and illusion is the same as in English.
• Korean: 버터플 Beoteopeul
• Chinese (Taiwan): 巴大蝴 Ba Dái Hú ("comma patterned giant butterfly")
• Chinese (Hong Kong): 巴他蝶 Ba Ta Díe ("comma patterned other butterfly")

Related articles

• Ash's Butterfree
• Pink Butterfree

External links

• Article on Wikipedia
• Flying off into the sunset, the fanlisting for Butterfree at The Anime Fanlistings Network

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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.