01Card Stats

Stage 2 (evolves from Metapod)

HP 70

TypeGrass

RarityUncommon

IllustratorKagemaru Himeno

WeaknessFire ×2

Retreat—

SetBase Set 2

Released2000

02Editions and Print Runs

Printed in the WotC era when 1st Edition and Unlimited distinctions still applied.

1st Edition

How to spot it: 1st Edition stamp in the bottom-left of the artwork frame.

First print window; smaller run than Unlimited.

Unlimited

How to spot it: No 1st Edition stamp; standard print frame.

Most common version of this card.

04Variants and Foiling

Rarity tiers: Uncommon
Foiling: Non-holo standard finish.
Alt art / specials: No full-art, secret rare, or alternate-art version documented for this print.

05Language and Regional Versions

English: Standard English release.
Japanese: Released in the equivalent Japanese set.
European: Localized European prints exist with translated text.
Other: No documented language-exclusive errors or major regional variants.

06Current Market Value

Non Holo	~$1.40 TCGplayer market (asking-price proxy); eBay solds may differ — verify current listings.

TCGplayer market is an asking-price proxy and can run above realized eBay sold prices; verify against recent solds before buying or selling.

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07Why Collectors Want It

Original WotC-era printing from the Base Set 2 set — foundational vintage Butterfree.
Final evolution of the Caterpie line — home to the line’s holos, Illustration Rares, and Butterfree-GX prints.
Required for any complete Butterfree master set across eras.
Collectors of the Base Set 2 set need this card to finish it.

08Competitive Playability

Tier: None

Stage 2 Butterfree with 70 HP; top attack around 40 damage. Functions as an evolution-chain piece rather than a tournament attacker.

09Card Moves and Abilities

Whirlwind Cost: Colorless + Colorless · 20 damage

If your opponent has any Benched Pokémon, he or she chooses 1 of them and switches it with the Defending Pokémon. (Do the damage before switching the Pokémon.)

Mega Drain Cost: Grass + Grass + Grass + Grass · 40 damage

Remove a number of damage counters from Butterfree equal to half the damage done to the Defending Pokémon (after applying Weakness and Resistance) (rounded up to the nearest 10). If Butterfree has fewer damage counters than that, remove all of them.

Weakness: Fire ×2
Resistance: Fighting -30
Retreat cost: 0

10Grading and Population

PSA 10 estimate: WotC-era Butterfree PSA 10 populations vary; small numbers across most sets.

Graded copies command notable premiums over raw, especially for 1st Edition prints.

Other graders: BGS and CGC also grade vintage Pokemon; PSA dominates secondary-market liquidity.

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