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Butterfree game sprite

National Pokédex #012 · Generation 1

Released in GOKantoStandard species

Butterfree

BugFlying

Butterfree is National Pokédex #012, a Bug/Flying-type standard species associated with Kanto and Generation 1. It is released in Pokémon GO. It has no outgoing evolution route recorded in DexJourney.

Open Butterfree in my collectionQuick checklist

At a glance

Butterfree facts

These facts combine DexJourney's National Pokédex, Pokémon GO metadata, release, form and costume catalogs.

Pokédex#012
Generation1
Region groupKanto
TypeBug / Flying
ClassStandard species
GO statusReleased

Evolution Journey

How Butterfree evolves

Direct incoming and outgoing evolution routes are shown with every Candy, item, buddy, time, gender, trade or task requirement recorded by DexJourney.

Evolution requirements reviewed July 10, 2026.

Acquisition

How to obtain Butterfree

  • Evolve Metapod

    Butterfree can be registered by evolving Metapod with the requirements below.

    50 Candy

Availability outside evolution can rotate through events, research, raids, Eggs or trades. Verify current availability in Pokémon GO.

Form Dex

Butterfree forms and variants

No separate forms and variants entries are recorded for this species in the catalog reviewed 2026-07-15.

Open Butterfree in Forms & Costumes →

Costume Dex

Butterfree costumes

  • Fashionable costumeReleased
    Costume · Fashionable costume · First released 2021
    Shiny released

Costume entries are historical released appearances, not a promise of current availability.

Search like Pokémon GO

Butterfree search examples

Paste these into DexJourney Collection search. Combine terms with &, use | for alternatives, or add ! to exclude a term.

  • Butterfree by name
    butterfree
  • Exact Pokédex number
    #12
  • Evolution family
    +butterfree
  • Missing and released
    missing&released&butterfree
  • Shiny checklist
    shiny&butterfree
  • Bug-type collection
    bug

PvP & raids

Best Butterfree movesets

Compare a dedicated recommendation for every permanent GO Battle League and a separate raid-attacking set.

1,500 CP

Great League

#1119 · 44.7
Fast MoveConfusion
Charged Move 1Bug Buzz
Charged Move 2Signal Beam

Overall open-league recommendation for Butterfree.

2,500 CP

Ultra League

Moveset estimate
Fast MoveConfusion
Charged Move 1Bug Buzz
Charged Move 2Psychic

Butterfree is not ranked in the current open-league simulation; this fallback favors energy generation, damage efficiency and coverage.

No CP limit

Master League

Moveset estimate
Fast MoveConfusion
Charged Move 1Bug Buzz
Charged Move 2Psychic

Butterfree is not ranked in the current open-league simulation; this fallback favors energy generation, damage efficiency and coverage.

Bug-type attacker

Raid attack moveset

Neutral estimate
Fast MoveBug BiteElite TM / legacy
Charged Move 1Bug Buzz
Estimated neutral cycle21.00damage/sec

Use this as a starting point for Butterfree. The actual best raid set depends on the boss's weaknesses, weather, Party Power and available forms.

How to read these recommendations

PvP sets are open-league starting points, not guarantees for every team or matchup. Ranked sets come from PvPoke simulations; unranked Pokémon receive a clearly labeled DexJourney estimate. The raid set is a neutral same-type cycle estimate rather than a boss-specific counter ranking.

Review current PvPoke rankings ↗ · Pokémon GO Game Master source ↗

Battle data reviewed July 21, 2026. Move balance can change after seasonal updates.

All recorded Butterfree move names

BugbiteBugbuzzConfusionPsychicSignalbeamStrugglebug

The complete move-name list supports collection search. Moves marked Elite TM / legacy may require an Elite TM or a limited event.