Metapod is an insectPokémon that resembles a green chrysalis. Its body is crescent-shaped with several segments making up the lower point. The front of Metapod's shell resembles a face with heavy-lidded eyes and a sharply pointed nose. The back of its shell consists of several geometrically shaped portions and projections.
Metapod's soft body is protected by a hard outer shell as it undergoes metamorphosis. While this shell is said to be as hard as steel, a sudden, powerful impact could cause its liquid innards to pop out, leaving it completely exposed. Metapod generally remains motionless, rebuilding its cells for evolution. If an enemy discovers Metapod, it is unable to do anything other than harden its outer shell. Metapod lives in temperate forests and jungles, often in groups. Pikipek is a natural predator of Metapod.
Metapod also appeared in I Choose You!, which is set in a different continuity from the main series. He evolved from Caterpie during a battle against a Pinsir and later evolved into Butterfree after a battle against a group of Primeape.
Other
In Challenge of the Samurai, Samurai's Metapod battled Ash's 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.
A Metapod appeared in Caterpie's Big Dilemma, under the ownership of Zander. It became giant after eating some enhanced Rare Candies. Zander'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.
In Butterfree and Me!, multiple Metapod evolved into Butterfree on Wayfarer Island. One Metapod had been befriended by Ash as a Caterpie, and Ash helped it eventually evolve into Butterfree.
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.
In File 1: Red, a Metapod was seen in Professor Oak's introduction, while another was under the ownership of Red. Red sent out Metapod during his Gym battle with Brock, where it was able to slow Onix down with String Shot but was defeated afterwards.
Ash's Caterpie evolved into Metapod in Play Misty For Me. It was depicted as slightly thinner than other Metapod, as well as having a large spike on its back.
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.
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.
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.
Inside that hard shell, Metapod’s cells are being completely rebuilt! Metapod often stick together in groups, moving as little as possible so their innards don’t spill out of their shells.
Due to this, it was impossible to complete a Generation I game using only Caterpie or Metapod, since Struggle couldn't hit Ghost types at the time.
Metapod is usually depicted with white sclerae, such as in the games, TCG, and promotional illustrations, but it has yellow sclerae in the anime.
In the anime episode Challenge of the Samurai, the process of Metapod's evolution was similar to a real life butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. In laterepisodes, however, Metapod is shown to evolve like any other Pokémon.
Ume Aoki, a Japanese cartoonist famous for her work on the manga Hidamari Sketch and as the character designer for the anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, utilizes a likeness of herself cosplaying as a Metapod to represent herself in her works.
In the Space World '97 Super Game Boy demo version of Pokémon Gold, Metapod has a unique orange sprite that is exclusive to the demo.
For other sprites and images, please see Metapod images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
