An incredibly determined Pokémon fan has completed Pokémon Moon with the aid of a single Butterfree. The Butterfly Pokémon is one of the franchise’s original 151, and has appeared in most mainline games since. Like many of its contemporaries, it's considered one of the more recognizable Pokémon out there.
Reddit user Great__Jaggi recently made a post about their unusual accomplishment on the Pokémon subreddit. Unimpressed with the new Pokémon found in Alola, Great__Jaggi decided they "could do better with a Caterpie." Leaving behind their unfortunate Starter, a Rowlett, Great__Jaggi proceeded to battle all the way to the new Alolan Pokémon League. Despite an additional ban on Z-Moves, but with the help of many resets, Great__Jaggi’s lone Butterfree (unofficially nicknamed ‘Free’) eventually triumphed over Professor Kukui at a staggering Level 90. It is clear that a lot of patience was required to beat this unusual challenge run of a Pokémon game, so much so that Great__Jaggi confessed they had originally been unsure they would actually finish.
Pokémon Moon Sees Butterfree At A Disadvantage
As the final barrier between the player and the title of champion, Professor Kukui naturally poses one of the toughest battles in Sun and Moon. For a single Butterfree, the challenge posed is almost insurmountable. As a Bug and Flying type, Free suffers a 4x weakness to Rock-type moves, and a 2x weakness to Flying, Fire, Electric, and Ice types. These are all represented by members of Kukui’s championship team, which consists of Lycanroc, Alolan Ninetails, Braviary, Magnezone, Snorlax, and Incineroar. The difficulty involved is clearly indicated by the level disparity; Free needed to be both extremely lucky and Level 90 to beat Kukui, whose own Pokémon range between Levels 56 and 58. Some of the hardest Pokémon challenges do require many attempts, as did this run, but this only demonstrates the dedication of those who successfully undertake them.
In the wider Pokémon franchise, Butterfree is of course known as one of Ash Ketchum’s first Pokémon, being the new World Champion’s first-ever capture as a Caterpie. This Butterfree was later released to join its new-found mate in the anime episode Bye Bye Butterfree, prompting tears from many fans. In the games, meanwhile, Butterfree and its pre-evolutions appear to have inspired something of a trend; early-game Pokémon routes generally contain at least one Bug-type, and most of these have two evolutions, including a cocoon or larval-like middle stage like Metapod. It is a somewhat similar situation to that of the generational 'Pikachu clones,' the latest of which is Pawmi, one of the first new Pokémon revealed for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
Beating any Pokémon game with a single partner is certainly worth praise, but to do so with a Butterfree is certainly a further step up in difficulty. This is especially true in Pokémon Moon, where the final battle could not be any better tailored to counter the delicate Butterfly Pokémon. Great__Jaggi has managed to overcome the odds, however, and the story of their journey is a testament to their determination. Despite their early misgivings, it seems that in the end they just could not bring themselves to give up. This is a cool accomplishment, and one that others may seek to emulate. Despite the difficulties, it is undoubtedly less time intensive than some other Pokémon challenges. One fan spent 1,400 hours capturing every Let’s Go, Eevee! Shiny, for example, further demonstrating the extreme dedication of Pokémon fans.
Source: Great__Jaggi/Reddit