What separates Pinsir from the pack is Mold Breaker — it ignores opposing abilities when attacking. Combine that with Bug typing and it sits at a decent but contested Speed tier. Only weak to Fire, Flying, and Rock.
Attack and Defense carry most of Pinsir's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 2 Attack EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn apart. What it can’t tear, it tosses far away.
Pinsir Weakness
AvgPinsir's Bug typing leaves it vulnerable to Fire, Flying, and Rock moves. Pinsir's physical bulk (base 100 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
Pinsir is what you get. No evolutions, but it breeds through one egg group with plenty of partners. Hatching is average hatch time.
How to Evolve
Breed Pinsir easily with 91 breeding partners from the Bug egg group.
Bulk and offense in one package. Pinsir runs Heavy-Duty Boots for hazard immunity on every switch-in with a Jolly nature, so it survives long enough to threaten with Xscissor. Max Attack and Speed EVs and Ground coverage make it hard to safely switch into.
Best Build
Best Pinsir Moveset
- X Scissor
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
Recommended Teammates
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Pinsir. TMs unlock coverage across 7 types and turn a straightforward STAB kit around X-Scissor and Lunge into something with actual range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
The natural movepool does the job, but Bug Bite and Close Combat from the egg pool give Pinsir something extra.
The natural movepool does the job, but Feint and Flail from the egg pool give Pinsir something extra. Pair those with X-Scissor and Bug Bite for STAB and Normal and Fighting coverage and more for reach, and the kit fills out nicely.
Leveling does the heavy lifting. Pinsir picks up Thrash and Superpower along the way, building toward a complete offensive set. TMs add Normal and Fighting coverage and more, but the foundation's already strong by then.
No wild encounters for Pinsir in Legends: Z-A. It's available in Blue, Yellow, or Ultra Sun and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Pinsir is available from mid-game routes onward at high spawn rates. 9 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.
Best Locations
Walking encounters at Lv. 16-63 across 9 spots for Pinsir. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.
Pinsir sits at moderate rates across 9 spots in early-game routes. Pick one from the sorted list and commit to it. Jumping between areas wastes more time than waiting in the right location.
Best Locations
Catching Pinsir takes patience. The 9 walking encounters at Lv. 13-18 all have low spawn rates, so pick one location and stay put for the best odds.
You'll want late-game access before hunting Pinsir. Low spawn rates across 2 encounter spots means the location matters. Sort by Best below and target the top-rated area first.
Best Locations
Mold Breaker changes the entire equation for Pinsir. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a wallbreaker.
Watch for Arcanine (Fire), Dodrio (Flying), and Aerodactyl (Rock) when using Pinsir. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
Pinsir doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Bug-type Pokemon with strong stats at 500 BST — no evolution needed.
Mold Breaker is what you want on Pinsir. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Hyper Cutter, Moxie) work on paper but Mold Breaker is what makes Pinsir worth using. On wall sets, Mold Breaker pairs with Pinsir's base 100 Defense to absorb physical hits on the switch.
Base 85 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Pinsir is a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a wallbreaker.
Pinsir appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Pinsir has appeared in 20 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A