Metapod Pokemon

Metapod is a bug-type Pokemon that was introduced in the original Pokemon games as a part of the generation one series. It evolves from Caterpie, from level 7 onwards, and then Metapod evolves into Butterfree from level 10. It is based on the cocoon/chrysalis phase of butterfly development. Metapod has become an iconic part of the original games due to its simple design, and its unique quirk of only being able to learn Harden.

About Metapod

First appearance in anime	The Original Pokemon Series
First appearance in game	Red, Blue, and Yellow
Region	Kanto
Evolution	-->Butterfree
1st Evo level	10
2nd Evo level	N/A
Pokedex Entry	This Pokemon is vulnerable to attack while its shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body. Hardens its shell to protect itself. However, a large impact may cause it to pop out of its shell.

Metapod Base stats

HP	50
ATTACK	20
DEFENCE	55
SP. ATTACK	25
SP. DEFENCE	25
SPEED	30
TOTAL	205

Appearance

Metapod is a Pokemon similar to a green pupa or chrysalis. Its body is shaped like a half-moon, with several parts forming the lower points of its body. The front part of the Metapod shell resembles a face with heavy eyes and a pointed nose. The back of its shell is composed of several geometrically shaped parts and protrusions. Metapod is mostly depicted with white sclerae, such as in the games, TCG, and promotional illustrations, but within the anime, it has yellow sclera

Behavior

Metapod has a soft body which is protected by a hard shell when it metamorphoses. Although the shell is said to be as hard as steel, a sudden strong impact can cause its liquid internal organs to pop, leaving it completely exposed. Metapod generally stands still and rebuilds its cells for its future evolution into Butterfree. If the enemy finds a Metapod, it can do nothing but harden its shell and wait. Metapod lives in temperate forests and jungles, and has a natural enemy in the form Pikipek, since it mainly preys on Metapods.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Metapod has relatively low stats with decent HP and defence stats. As a bug-type, Metapod is weak to flying, fire, and rock-types, has no immunities and is resistant to fighting, ground, and grass-types. Metapod has the unique quirk of only being able to learn Harden.

Best moveset

Metapod is not a great Pokemon for combat but that changes once it evolves into Butterfree. However, Metapod can theoretically be used as an effective physical wall with the move, Harden (or the more effective TM variant, Iron Defense), continuously raises Metapod’s defence in order to frustrate opponents. Bug Bite is a move that can be learned by Caterpie and can serve as a STAB (same-type attack bonus) move after it evolves into Metapod. Electro Web can serve as viable type coverage after being taught with a TM. Finally, String Shot can lower the opponents speed in order to make it more difficult for the opponent to attack Metapod before it can use Harden or Iron Defense.

Harden/ Iron Defense	Bug Bite
Electro Web	String Shot

How to catch Metapod in Pokemon Go?

As a bug-type, Metapod can be found on farmland, woods and forests, as well as gardens and grassy areas like parks, nature reserves, smaller pathways, golf courses, and playgrounds. It can also be found more frequently during rainy weather. Metapod evolves from Caterpie with 12 candies and Metapod evolves into Butterfree with 50 candies. The first quest of the Pokemon Snap quest, which occurred during April 2021, is taking a snapshot of Metapod in the wild. Metapod and its other forms are available as weather boosted raid bosses.

Explainer

Trivia

1. Metapod shares its category as the Cocoon Pokemon with Kakuna, Silcoon, and Cascoon. These Pokemon all share the same base stat total, learnset, ability, and EV yield making them the evolved Pokémon with the lowest base stat total
2. Metapod is the first Pokemon to evolve in a movie, and part of the first evolution cycle in an episode of the Pokemon anime series
3. Up until the release of Pokemon Platinum, when Caterpie became capable of learning Bug Bite, Metapod was unable to damage ghost-type Pokemon except by using Struggle, a trait which had been with Caterpie. This made it impossible to complete a Generation I game using only Caterpie or Metapod since Struggle could not hit ghost types at that time
4. Metapod is mostly depicted with white sclerae, such as in the games, TCG, and promotional illustrations, but within the anime it has yellow sclera
5. In the anime episode Challenge of the Samurai, the process of Metapod's evolution was shown to be similar to a real life butterfly when it emerges from its chrysalis. In later episodes of the anime, however, Metapod is shown to evolve like any other Pokemon
6. Ume Aoki, a Japanese cartoonist/mangaka famous for her work on the manga Hidamari Sketch as well as her role as the character designer for the anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, often utilizes a likeness of herself cosplaying as a Metapod in order to represent herself in her works
7. In the Space World '97 Super Game Boy demo version of Pokemon Gold, Metapod has an orange sprite exclusive to the demo
8. Metapod seems to be based on the intermediate metamorphosis stage of a butterfly, a butterfly chrysalis. Metapod specifically bears resemblance to the chrysalis of the cabbage white butterfly
9. Metapod may be a combination of metamorphosis (the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in insects) and pod (a shell containing seeds)

FAQs

1. What does a Metapod turn into?
2. Metapod evolves into Butterfree starting from level 10 onwards.
3. Is Metapod a good Pokemon?
4. Metapod has relatively low stats with decent HP and defence stats. This has caused Metapod to not be a great Pokemon for combat up until its evolution into Butterfree. However, it can, theoretically, be used as an effective physical wall with the move, Harden (or the more effective TM variant, Iron Defense), which continuously raises Metapod’s defence in order to frustrate opponents.
5. Which side is Metapods face?
6. Metapod’s face is on both sides of its body, and it doesn’t really have a definitive front, since as a cocoon with no mouth, nose, or face, it doesn't have definitive sides. However, its eyes can be used to come up with a vague idea of a front/ back.

Conclusion

Metapod is notoriously somewhat useless as an evolutionary form, since the only move it can learn on its own is Harden. Despite this, Metapod is an iconic bug-type Pokemon due to its simplistic cocoon design and the fact that it was part of the line that introduced the standard three stage bug Pokemon to the game.