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Compoundeyes
- Raises accuracy by 30% and increases the probability of wild Pokémon holding items.
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Level 50 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
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Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
60
|
- |
135 |
167 |
- |
| Atk |
45
|
58 |
65 |
97 |
106 |
| Def |
50
|
63 |
70 |
102 |
112 |
| SpA |
80
|
90 |
100 |
132 |
145 |
| SpD |
80
|
90 |
100 |
132 |
145 |
| Spe |
70
|
81 |
90 |
122 |
134 |
Overview
Without question Butterfree is one of the worst Pokémon in the game. It's not good enough for standard, it's not good enough for UU (Scyther outclasses it, among a lot of others), and even among the NU Pokémon there's still plenty of other choices in Ledian, Ariados, and Dustox. Its main use is using Sleep Powder and other status moves to delay opponents from hitting your other Pokémon.
Using Butterfree in standard play is automatic suicide. The best way to use this set is to come in on a Choice Banded Earthquake or a slower Earthquake, or on a predicted switch to a slower Pokémon, and then use Sleep Powder. If you're sure you put something to Sleep that is not a Sleep Talker, either start attacking or try to inflict more status on the switch with Stun Spore or Toxic. Psychic hits Heracross and Hidden Power Fire hits Steels. When in a pinch you can always pray for Quick Claw to activate to get that Sleep Powder in. Compoundeyes will make sure it hits.
The same goes when using Butterfree in UU with switching in. Sleep Talk is less common in UU, but Pokémon are more offensive in general, so it's still dangerous. Using this set in NU play is not a bad idea at all, you may want to use other attacking moves though.
Choice Band Butterfree is decent for a Butterfree set, but Heracross, Scyther, and even Ledian do it much better in any metagame. Use it in NU play for a surprise. Sleep Powder is the only advantage Butterfree will have over them. You can use an attacking move first to hit the Sleep absorber they'll likely bring in, and then save Sleep for later when they think you have a pure attacking set. Shadow Ball is another option, to hit Banette.
Other Options
Thanks to Compoundeyes, all of Butterfree's moves are fairly accurate, so you can use Swagger and just hope your opponent hits himself in confusion all the time. Toxic is an alternative to Stun Spore, if you're into that. Thief steals some item—make sure not to attach anything to Butterfree if you're using it. Giga Drain can be used for Whiscash in NU.
EVs
You'll always want to max Speed for Butterfree to get in that Sleep Powder or Choice Banded hit. Stack an attacking stat if you're using one, or pump some HP to live through an Ice Beam.
Checks and Counters
With weaknesses to some of the most prominent attacks in the game (Rock Slide, Fire Blast, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and Flying moves) and the same capability of taking hits as a wet piece of paper, I'm sure you can find some way of beating Butterfree. Sleep Talk also negates Butterfree's main use: putting something to sleep. Generally, switch in something that can afford going to sleep, then send in anything that can hurt it or set up. In the NU environment, good bets are Whiscash (if there's no Giga Drain), Ledian, Dustox (Psychic will do little, especially with Light Screen), Murkrow, Pidgeot (beware of Stun Spore), Mawile, and Lickitung.
