Metapod
Metapod is a Bug-type Pokémon, the Cocoon Pokémon, number 11 (#0011) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the Kanto region. It is 0.7 m tall and weighs 9.9 kg.
Metapod is the Cocoon Pokémon, a Bug type with a shell reputedly as tough as steel, though the soft body inside can still pop out of a big enough knock. All it can do is harden and wait to evolve.
How to pronounce Metapod
Metapod is pronounced MET-uh-pod. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Metapod said out loud:
In Japanese it is トランセル (Transel).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Metapod is a green, crescent-shaped chrysalis, 0.7 m tall and 9.9 kg, with sleepy eyes at the sides of its shell and three spikes on the back. From the right angle the back looks like a sharp-nosed face. Inside, the Pokédex says, every cell is being rebuilt for evolution.
Behaviour
Metapod barely moves, often in groups, because a hard hit could dislodge its soft insides, and if an enemy finds it, it just hardens further. Bulbapedia names Pikipek as a natural predator, and in Pokémon Sleep Metapod sleeps while using Harden non-stop.
Habitat
The Pokédex habitat list says Forest, and Bulbapedia describes temperate forests and jungles. In Sword and Shield, wild Metapod turn up in Galar's Rolling Fields.
Powers
Harden is the only move Metapod learns by levelling, so its battles tend to be stand-offs. Its Ability Shed Skin gives it a 33% chance each turn of curing a status condition. Its best base stats are 55 Defense and 50 HP, and its Attack is just 20.
Name origin
Metapod may combine 'metamorphosis' and 'pod', a shell holding seeds. The Japanese name is Transel (トランセル), which may combine 'transform' and 'cell', or be a pun on randoseru (ランドセル), the Japanese school bag.
Design inspiration
Metapod looks modelled on a butterfly chrysalis, perhaps a cabbage white's, given its pointed shape and green colour. This is a fan reading.
Evolution notes
Metapod evolves from Caterpie at level 7 and into Butterfree at level 10. That 3-level gap ties it with Kakuna, Silcoon, Cascoon and Spewpa for the shortest between two evolutions.
In the games
A Metapod is part of Bugsy's Gym team in the Johto games, and in Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team it is Caterpie's friend. It first appeared in Red and Green (Red and Blue outside Japan) and can be caught in Sword and Shield, but Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Scarlet and Violet and in Legends: Z-A.
In the anime
Ash's Caterpie evolved into Metapod in 'Ash Catches a Pokémon', which was also the species' debut, and became Butterfree in 'Challenge of the Samurai'. In 'Gettin' The Bugs Out', Bugsy's Metapod did something rare and fought back with Tackle.
Fun facts
- In 'Challenge of the Samurai', Ash's Metapod and Samurai's Metapod both knew only Harden, so their battle dragged on for hours, ending only when Beedrill swarmed in.
- Bulbapedia credits Metapod with the first evolution seen in a film, in 'Celebi: The Voice of the Forest'.
- Ume Aoki, the cartoonist who designed the characters of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, draws herself dressed as a Metapod in her own works.
Base stats
- HP: 50
- Attack: 20
- Defense: 55
- Sp. Atk: 25
- Sp. Def: 25
- Speed: 30
Metapod’s base stat total is 205. Its highest stat is Defense.
Type matchups
What is Metapod weak to?
Metapod takes extra damage from Fire (2×), Flying (2×), Rock (2×) moves.
It resists Grass (½×), Fighting (½×), Ground (½×).
Evolution
What does Metapod evolve from?
Metapod evolves from Caterpie at level 7.
How does Metapod evolve?
Metapod evolves into Butterfree at level 10.
The whole family: Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree.
Abilities
- Shed Skin: Has a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn.
Moves
Moves Metapod learns by level up in Sword / Shield
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evo | Harden | Normal | Status | — |
| 1 | Harden | Normal | Status | — |
“Evo” means Metapod learns the move the moment it evolves: Harden.
TM moves (2)
Metapod can learn 2 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Electroweb, Iron Defense.
Breeding & training
- Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
- Egg groups: Bug.
- Egg cycles: 15 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 1,920).
- Catch rate: 120 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
- Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 2 Defense effort values.
- Base experience yield: 72.
Pokédex entries
Even though it is encased in a sturdy shell, the body inside is tender. It can't withstand a harsh attack. (FireRed, Shield)
It is waiting for the moment to evolve. At this stage, it can only harden, so it remains motionless to avoid attack. (Sword)
Hardens its shell to protect itself. However, a large impact may cause it to pop out of its shell. (Yellow, Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)
Its hard shell doesn't crack a bit even if Pikipek pecks at it, but it will tip over, spilling out its insides. (Ultra Moon)
Its shell is filled with a thick liquid. All of the cells throughout its body are being rebuilt in preparation for evolution. (Ultra Sun)
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. (Moon)
Names around the world
| Japanese | トランセル |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Transel |
| French | Chrysacier |
| German | Safcon |
| Spanish | Metapod |
| Italian | Metapod |
| Korean | 단데기 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 铁甲蛹 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 鐵甲蛹 |
Trivia
- Taller than 34% of all Pokémon (0.7 m).
- Heavier than 27% of all Pokémon (9.9 kg).
- Base stat total 205, ranked #1007 of 1,025.
- One of 92 Bug-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
- One of 130 green Pokémon.
- Number 11 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto).
- Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
- Can learn 3 different moves in Sword / Shield.
- Catch rate 120: about 15.7% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 14 distinct Pokédex entries.
Sources and fact-checking
- Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
- Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Metapod (Pokémon), Serebii: Metapod (Sword/Shield Pokédex; page not found in the Scarlet and Violet Pokédex).
- Pronunciation (MET-uh-pod): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Bug-type Pokémon · Kanto region guide · Shed Skin ability · Compare Metapod · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
Browse similar Pokémon
Gen 1 Bug-type Pokémon · Gen 1 Pokémon list · Green Pokémon list · Bug egg group · Pokémon that start with M · Bug Pokémon · Butterfly and Moth Pokémon
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