Is Shadow Caterpie better than regular Caterpie?

Shadow Caterpie deals 20% more damage than its regular counterpart but also takes 20% more damage. For raids, Shadow Caterpie is generally the better investment due to higher DPS output. For PvP, it depends on the specific matchups — the extra damage taken can be a significant drawback in extended battles. Shadow Caterpie comes with Frustration, which should be replaced using a Charged TM during a Team GO Rocket event.

How do you get Caterpie in Pokemon GO?

Caterpie can be obtained in Pokemon GO through several methods: wild encounters, rescuing Shadow Caterpie from Team GO Rocket, and trading with other trainers. Walking Caterpie as your buddy earns 1 candy every 1.0 km.

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Caterpie

Q: What are Caterpie's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?

Caterpie is a Bug-type Pokemon weak to Fire, Flying, Rock-type moves in Pokemon GO. When battling against Caterpie, use attackers with these move types for super effective damage. On the other hand, Caterpie resists Fighting, Grass, Ground-type moves.

Q: What is Caterpie's max CP in Pokemon GO?

Caterpie's maximum CP is 494 at level 50 (requires XL Candy), or 437 at level 40. Its base stats are 55 Attack, 55 Defense, and 128 Stamina, giving it a total stat product of 238. Power up costs from level 20 to 50 total approximately 135,000 Stardust.

Q: What CP is a 100% IV Caterpie?

A perfect 15/15/15 IV Caterpie has 249 CP at level 20 (from raids or eggs), 312 CP at level 25 (weather boosted catch), and 494 CP at level 50 fully powered up. If you catch a Caterpie showing 249 CP from a raid, it has perfect IVs — definitely keep it and invest.

Q: Can Caterpie be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Shiny Caterpie availability in Pokemon GO depends on whether Niantic has released its shiny form. Check the current events page for any boosted shiny rates during special events.

Best moveset, PvP rankings, counters & stats for Pokemon GO.

Bug

Max CP 494 Bug Bite + Struggle Rainy

Blastoise | Metapod

Caterpie is a Bug-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO, originally from the Kanto region (#10, Generation 1). With a max CP of 494 and base stats of 55/55/128 (Atk/Def/Sta), Caterpie has a total stat product of 238.

Caterpie is weak to Fire, Flying, Rock-type moves. It resists Fighting, Grass, Ground-type attacks. Caterpie is a 1.0 km buddy Pokemon.

Stats

Max CP

494

Lv.40: 437 Lv.50: 494

Attack 55

Defense 55

Stamina 128

Total 238

Buddy 1.0 km Gen 1 · Kanto 2nd Move: 10,000 Dust · 25 Candy

Type Chart

Weak to

Resists

Moves

Fast Moves

Bug Bite STAB

DPS

5.0 PWR 6 EN 0.5s DUR 12 EPS Rainy

Tackle

DPS

5.0 PWR 5 EN 0.5s DUR 10 EPS Partly Cloudy

Charged Moves

Struggle

17.5

DPS

35.0 PWR 0 EN 2.0s DUR

Best Moveset Analysis

Among fast moves, the highest DPS option is Bug Bite (10 DPS), while Bug Bite generates energy the fastest (12 EPS).

Evolution

Caterpie

12 Candy

Metapod

50 Candy

Butterfree

Forms & Variants

Caterpie

Shadow Caterpie Shadow

Metapod

Shadow Metapod Shadow

Butterfree

Shadow Butterfree Shadow

Raid Guide

Caterpie as Raid Boss

Not Currently in Raids

Caterpie is not currently available as a raid boss. When Caterpie returns to raids, here are the best counters to defeat it. A 100% IV Caterpie from raids would have 249 CP at level 20, or 312 CP at level 25 with weather boost.

View full raid guide →

Best Counters to Beat Caterpie

Mega Blaziken

Fire Spin + Blast Burn

Fire Spin + Blast Burn

Air Slash + Hurricane

110.9 DPS

Shadow Tornadus (Therian)

Gust + Bleakwind Storm

109.9 DPS

Shadow Darmanitan (Standard)

Smack Down + Rock Slide

105.9 DPS

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Caterpie is weak to Fire, Flying, Rock-type moves, so counters with these move types will deal the most damage.

How to Get Caterpie

Caterpie can be encountered in the wild in Pokemon GO.

A Shadow version of Caterpie is available from Team GO Rocket. Shadow Caterpie knows Frustration as its charged move, which can be removed with a Charged TM. Purifying costs 1,000 Stardust and 1 Candy, and the purified form learns Return. Walking Caterpie as your buddy earns 1 candy every 1.0 km.

Caterpie Catch CP

These are the possible CP values when encountering Caterpie in different scenarios. The range shows minimum (lowest IV floor) to maximum (100% perfect IV).

Wild Catch

Level 1–30

10 – 378 CP

Wild (Weather Boost)

Level 1–35

10 – 409 CP

Raid Catch

Level 20

225 – 256 CP

Raid (Weather Boost)

Level 25

280 – 318 CP

Egg Hatch

Level 20

225 – 256 CP

Research Encounter

Level 15

170 – 193 CP

GO Battle League

Level 20

225 – 256 CP

A 100% IV Caterpie from raids or eggs will show 249 CP at level 20. If you see this number, don't hesitate — it's a perfect catch!

Trainer Tips

Caterpie is a Bug-type Pokemon with a stat total of 238. With its bulk spread of 55 Defense and 128 Stamina, Caterpie has solid survivability in battles.

Watch out for Fire, Flying, Rock-type moves when using Caterpie. These types deal super effective damage that can cut into Caterpie's performance.

Caterpie's moves get a damage boost in Rainy weather. Take advantage of weather conditions to maximize your DPS in raids and gym battles.

Unlocking a second charged move costs 10,000 Stardust and 25 Candy.

Should I Invest in Caterpie?

Power-Up Costs

Level 20 → 40 (Standard)

135,000 Stardust

15 Candy

Level 40 → 50 (XL Candy)

0 Stardust

0 XL Candy

Total (20 → 50)

135,000 Stardust

Verdict

Collector's Pick
Caterpie is a Bug-type Pokemon with base stats of 55/55/128 (Atk/Def/Sta) and a max CP of 494. While it doesn't currently rank among the top raid attackers or PvP contenders, every Pokemon has its place in a trainer's collection. Caterpie may shine during specific events, in limited-format cups, or when new moves are added in future updates. For now, hold onto a good IV specimen but save your Stardust and Candy for more impactful investments unless you're a dedicated fan of this Pokemon.

Shadow vs Regular: Shadow Caterpie deals 20% more damage but takes ~20% more. For raids, Shadow is generally the better investment. For PvP, evaluate matchups carefully — the bulk loss can be significant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best moveset for Caterpie in Pokemon GO?

Caterpie has multiple viable movesets depending on the battle format. The ideal moveset varies based on whether you are using Caterpie for raids, gym battles, or PvP — check the moves section above for a full breakdown of each move's DPS, energy cost, and coverage.

What are Caterpie's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?

Caterpie is weak to Fire, Flying, Rock-type moves. On the other hand, Caterpie resists Fighting, Grass, Ground-type attacks, so avoid using those types against it. To counter Caterpie effectively in raids and gyms, build a team using its weakest type matchups and pick attackers that have STAB moves of those types.

What is Caterpie's max CP in Pokemon GO?

Caterpie's maximum CP is 494 at level 50 (with XL Candy), or 437 at level 40. Reaching level 50 requires XL Candy, which is only available to trainers level 31 and above — earning XL Candy involves catching, hatching, transferring, and walking Pokemon. Caterpie's CP is calculated from its base stats: 55 Attack, 55 Defense, and 128 Stamina. Powering up from level 40 to 50 requires a significant investment of XL Candy and Stardust, so plan your resources carefully. A 100% IV Caterpie caught from raids or eggs (level 20) will have 249 CP, or 312 CP with weather boost (level 25).

What CP is a 100% IV Caterpie?

A perfect 15/15/15 IV Caterpie has the following CP at key levels: 187 CP at level 15 (research encounters), 249 CP at level 20 (raid and egg catches), 312 CP at level 25 (weather-boosted raids), and 494 CP at level 50 fully powered up. If you catch a perfect IV Caterpie, it is worth investing Stardust and Candy to power it up, especially if Caterpie ranks well in raids or PvP. A 100% IV (also called a "hundo") is the rarest IV combination, so tag and favorite it to make sure you don't accidentally transfer it.

Is Shadow Caterpie better than regular?

Shadow Caterpie deals 20% more damage than its regular counterpart but also takes 20% more damage. For raids, Shadow Caterpie is generally better due to the higher DPS output. For PvP, it depends on the matchup — the extra damage taken can be a significant drawback in extended battles where survivability matters. Shadow Caterpie comes with Frustration, which should be replaced with a Charged TM before powering up.

How to get Caterpie in Pokemon GO?

Caterpie can be found in the wild, though it may be rare depending on your biome and current events. Caterpie can also be obtained through trading with other trainers.

Can Caterpie be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Shiny Caterpie's availability depends on whether Niantic has released its shiny form. Not all Pokemon have their shiny forms available yet. Check the current events page and Community Day announcements for any updates on shiny Caterpie availability and boosted shiny rates during special events.

Max CP per Level

L1 10 CP

L5 59 CP

L10 125 CP

L15 187 CP

L20 249 CP

L25 312 CP

L30 374 CP

L35 406 CP

L40 437 CP

L50 494 CP

L1 10

L2 19

L3 32

L4 45

L5 59

L6 72

L7 85

L8 98

L9 111

L10 125

L11 137

L12 150

L13 162

L14 174

L15 187

L16 199

L17 212

L18 224

L19 237

L20 249

L21 262

L22 274

L23 287

L24 299

L25 312

L26 324

L27 337

L28 349

L29 362

L30 374

L31 381

L32 387

L33 393

L34 399

L35 406

L36 412

L37 418

L38 424

L39 431

L40 437

L41 442

L42 448

L43 454

L44 459

L45 465

L46 471

L47 477

L48 482

L49 488

L50 494

Pokedex Info

Pokedex Number #10

Generation Gen 1

Region Kanto

Height 0.30 m

Weight 2.90 kg

Buddy Distance 1.0 km

Tradable Yes

2nd Charged Move 10,000 Dust / 25 Candy

Shadow Move Frustration

Purified Move Return

Purification Cost 1,000 Dust / 1 Candy