From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Metapod (Japanese: トランセル Trancell) is a Bug-type Pokémon.
It evolves from Caterpie starting at level 7 and evolves into Butterfree starting at level 10.
Biology
Metapod resembles a chrysalis. Its soft body is protected by a hard outer shell while it undergoes metamorphosis. While this shell is said to be as hard as steel, a sudden, powerful impact could cause its tender body to pop out, leaving it completely exposed. Metapod generally remains motionless, preparing its soft innards for evolution inside its hard shell. If an enemy discovers Metapod, it is unable to do anything other than harden its outer shell. Metapod lives in forests.
In the anime
Metapod's original evolution method
Major appearances
Ash had a Metapod that he caught as a Caterpie and evolved in Ash Catches a Pokémon. It eventually evolved into Butterfree in Challenge of the Samurai.
Other
Samurai, in Challenge of the Samurai, battled Ash's Metapod with his own Metapod, but because both Metapod only knew Harden, the battle went on for hours until a swarm of Beedrill forced the battle to end.
In Gettin' The Bugs Out, Bugsy used a Metapod against Ash for the Gym Battle. Unlike most Metapod, this one was actually able to fight back by using Tackle. Multiple other Metapod were also seen in the Azalea Gym in the same episode.
In Caterpie's Big Dilemma, Xander's Caterpie became giant-sized after eating some enhanced Rare Candies. Xander's Caterpie knocked down part of a radio tower in order to make a place for it to evolve into Metapod. It later evolved again to become a Butterfree.
Multiple Metapod appeared in Butterfree and Me!, including one that Ash worked with to help it eventually evolve into Butterfree.
Minor appearances
Multiple Metapod also appeared in Celebi: Voice of the Forest.
A Metapod appeared in The Breeding Center Secret.
A Metapod had a small cameo in Tracey Gets Bugged as one of the Bug Pokémon on Murcott Island.
A Metapod appeared in Illusion Confusion! as an illusion created by Haunter and Gengar.
A Metapod was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School!.
Pokédex entries
| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| EP003
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Metapod
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Ash's Pokédex
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Metapod, Caterpie's next stage. It has encased its body in a hard shell. This specimen reached this stage faster than any previously discovered Pokémon of this variety.
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| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| AG142
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Metapod
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May's Pokédex
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Metapod, the Cocoon Pokémon. Metapod is the evolved form of Caterpie. Using a hard shell to protect its body, it prepares for its next evolution.
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| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| BW130
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Metapod
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Ash's Pokédex
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Metapod, the Cocoon Pokémon. Metapod's vulnerable body is surrounded by its hard shell, which protects it while it waits to evolve.
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In the manga
Metapod in The Electric Tale of Pikachu
In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
- Main article: Ash's Metapod
Ash's Butterfree makes a brief appearance in the manga series The Electric Tale of Pikachu. It was first caught in Pikachu, I See You! as a Caterpie and then evolved into Metapod in Play Misty For Me. In this appearance it appears to be slightly thinner than other Metapod, as well as having a large spike on its back.
Ash's Metapod evolves into Butterfree in Play Misty For Me during Ash's Gym battle with Misty. Its last appearance as a Butterfree was in Haunting My Dreams, battling a giant Haunter.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
- Main article: Kitty
Metapod's first appearance is a cameo in Bulbasaur, Come Home! as one of the Pokémon that escapes from Professor Oak's Laboratory. Yellow's Caterpie, which was called "Kitty", briefly evolved into Metapod before evolving again into Butterfree during Yellow's showdown with Lance.
Bugsy also uses two Metapod on his team, one the first appeared in Into the Unown. It again appeared in Ursaring Major where it, a Kakuna and Bugsy visited the Azalea Town's well where Team Rocket had been.
In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga
Bugsy's Butterfree was first seen as a Metapod in Let's Aim For The Goal. It evolved prior to Gold And Black VS. Team Rocket.
In the TCG
- Main article: Metapod (TCG)
Game data
NPC appearances
Pokédex entries
| Generation I
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| Red(ENG)
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This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.
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| Blue
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| Yellow
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Hardens its shell to protect itself. However, a large impact may cause it to pop out of its shell.
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| Stadium
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When it hardens, only the external shell is transformed. The inside remains tender.
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| Generation II
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| Gold
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Inside the shell, it is soft and weak as it prepares to evolve. It stays motionless in the shell.
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| Silver
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It prepares for evolution by hardening its shell as much as possible to protect its soft body.
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| Crystal
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This is its preevolved form. At this stage, it can only harden, so it remains motionless to avoid attack.
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| Stadium 2
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Inside the shell, it is soft and weak as it prepares to evolve. It stays motionless in the shell.
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| Generation III
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| Ruby
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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.
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| Sapphire
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| Emerald
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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.
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| FireRed
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Even though it is encased in a sturdy shell, the body inside is tender. It can't withstand a harsh attack.
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| LeafGreen
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This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.
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| Generation IV
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| Diamond
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A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.
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| Pearl
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| Platinum
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| HeartGold
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Inside the shell, it is soft and weak as it prepares to evolve. It stays motionless in the shell.
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| SoulSilver
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It prepares for evolution by hardening its shell as much as possible to protect its soft body.
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| Generation V
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| Black
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A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.
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| White
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| Black 2
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A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.
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| White 2
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| Generation VI
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| X
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A steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution.
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| Y
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This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.
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| Omega Ruby
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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.
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| Alpha Sapphire
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In side games
- Pokémon Pinball, Pokémon Trading Card Game (Base Set, Base Set 2, Legendary Collection)
- This Pokémon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.
- Pokémon Trading Card Game (Neo Discovery)
- Inside the shell, it is soft and weak as it prepares to evolve. It stays motionless in the shell.
Game locations
In side games
Held items
Stats
Base stats
| Stat
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Range
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| At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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50
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110 - 157
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210 - 304
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20
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22 - 79
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40 - 152
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55
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54 - 117
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103 - 229
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25
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27 - 84
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49 - 163
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25
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27 - 84
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49 - 163
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30
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31 - 90
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58 - 174
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Total: 205
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- 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 25.
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Pokéathlon stats
Type effectiveness
| Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by 6
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of 6
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Metapod
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Metapod
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Metapod in Generation VI
- Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
- Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Metapod in that game.
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Metapod
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Metapod
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
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- A black or white abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Metapod can be tutored the move in that game
- A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Metapod cannot be tutored the move in that game
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Metapod
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Metapod
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations
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Tackle
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Normal
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Physical
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50
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100%
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35
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String Shot
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Bug
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Status
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—
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95%
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40
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Bug Bite
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Bug
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Physical
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60
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100%
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20
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Metapod
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Metapod
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see moves from other generations
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TCG-only moves
Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
Trivia
- Metapod shares its species name with Kakuna, Silcoon, and Cascoon. They are all known as the Cocoon Pokémon.
- They also share the same base stat total, learnset, Ability, and EV yield.
- This ties them as the evolved Pokémon with the lowest base stat total.
- Metapod is the first Pokémon to evolve in a movie, and part of the first evolution cycle in an episode.
- Until the release of Pokémon Platinum, when its pre-evolution became able to learn Bug Bite, Metapod was unable to damage Ghost-type Pokémon except by using Struggle. It shared this trait with Caterpie.
- Due to this, it was impossible to complete a Generation I game using only Caterpie or Metapod since Struggle could not hit Ghost types at the time.
- Metapod is usually depicted with white sclera, such as in the games, trading cards, and promotional illustrations, but it has yellow sclera in the anime.
Origin
Its design appears to be based upon a generic butterfly chrysalis, most likely a Large White or Swallowtail butterfly.
Name origin
Metapod is a combination of metamorphosis and pod (referring to its chrysalis state).
Trancell appears to be a combination of transform and cell or shell.
In other languages
| Language
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Title
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Meaning
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 Japanese
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トランセル Trancell
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From transform and cell
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 French
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Chrysacier
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From chrysalide and acier
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 Spanish
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Metapod
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Same as English name
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 German
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Safcon
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From Safe and Kokon
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 Italian
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Metapod
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Same as English name
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 Korean
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단데기 Dandegi
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From 단단하다 dan-danhada and 번데기 beondegi
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 Mandarin Chinese
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鐵甲蛹 / 铁甲蛹 Tiějiáyǒng
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"Armored chrysalis"
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 Cantonese Chinese
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鐵甲蟲 Titgaapchùhng
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"Armored bug"; 甲蟲 means "beetle"
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| More languages
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 Thai
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ทรานเซล Trancell
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Same as Japanese name
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Related articles
External links
Notes
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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.
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For other sprites and images, please see Metapod images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
