Physical
Hazard Setter
CTier
40Speed · Very Slow

Stats & Training

Defense leads and Speed gets almost nothing. That's Forretress's stat line in a nutshell. 2 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Defense EVs.

Base Stats
Above
HP75
C
Attack90
B
Defense140
A
Sp. Atk60
C
Sp. Def60
C
Speed40
D
Total465
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging75 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.2 m
3'11"Small
Weight125.8 kg
277.3 lbsHeavy
Base XP163
Average
Abilities
SturdyTop Pick
Prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
OvercoatHANiche
Protects against damage from weather.
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe
Defense training target
Pokedex Entries

It is encased in a steel shell. Forretress’s eyes peer out, but what lies within this Pokémon’s shell is unknown.

Forretress Weakness

Fire moves hit Forretress for super-effective damage. Fire hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. The upside? Poison-type moves can't touch it at all. With 8 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Forretress's physical bulk (base 140 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Forretress Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Fire
0.5x (Resist)Normal, Ice, Psychic, Bug, Dragon, Steel, Fairy
0.25x (Resist)Grass
0x (Immune)Poison
Type ChartExcellent
1Weak
8Resist
1Immune
Score+8
4xCritical
Fire
2xWeak
None
½xResist
NormalIcePsychicBugDragonSteelFairy
¼xResist
Grass
0xImmune
Poison
STAB (6)
GrassPsychicDarkIceRockFairy
How to Beat Forretress in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Best Counters)

In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Charizard threatens a KO with Overheat (529-622%).

Heatran
Heatran
FireSteel
S
Recommended Build
AbilityFlashfire
ItemLeftovers
NatureTimid
Moves
  • Earth Power
  • Magma Storm
  • Stealth Rock
  • TauntUtility
View Heatran builds →

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Evolution

Evolved from Pineco. Forretress is the final form in this two-stage line. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Defense grew the most through evolution (+50 over Pineco), and Forretress peaks at 465 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Pineco
#204Pineco
31
Level 31
Forretress
#205Forretress
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Pineco
Bug
Forretress
BugSteel
HP
50
75+25
ATK
65
90+25
DEF
90
140+50
SP.ATK
35
60+25
SP.DEF
35
60+25
SPE
15
40+25
BST
290C-Tier
465B-Tier+175
ROLE
Balanced
Trick Room
TYPE
Physical
Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Forretress to get Pineco eggs easily using 48 partners from the Bug egg group. Notable egg moves include Counter, Double-Edge, Flail and 6 more.

Egg Groups
Bug
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
9moves
Breed With (best first)
flygondrapionmasquerainvolbeatillumiseparasectvibravaskorupiparastrapinchsurskitshuckle
12 of 48·

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Forretress Best Moveset

Lead with Forretress, set Stealth Rock, and keep pressure on. Sturdy and Leftovers buy the time it needs, with flexible EVs letting it take hits while controlling the hazard game.

Best Build

Experimental
Hazard Setter
Ability
Sturdy
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Forretress
Impish+DEF

Forretress best EVs are HP and Defense

EVs

Hazard Setter Moveset

  • Stealth Rock
  • Rapid Spin
  • ExplosionCoverage
  • SpikesHazard

Recommended Teammates

Ditto
DittoDecent

Moves

Without breeding, Forretress misses out on Counter and Double-Edge. That's 9 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Bug Buzz and Flash Cannon, with coverage across 7 types rounding things out.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Autotomize
C——15Steel
Lv 1
Bug Bite
C6010020Bug
Lv 1
Heavy Slam
D—10010Steel
Lv 1
Magnet Rise
D——10Electric
Lv 1
Protect+4
B——10Normal
Lv 1
Self-Destruct
B2001005Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D4010035Normal
Lv 1
Toxic Spikes
A——20Poison
Lv 1
Zap Cannon
D120505Electric
Lv 6
Self-Destruct
B2001005Normal
Lv 9
Bug Bite
C6010020Bug
Lv 12
Take Down
C908520Normal
Lv 17
Rapid Spin
S5010040Normal
Lv 20
Reflect
C——20Psychic
Lv 23
Rollout
—309020Rock
Lv 28
Spikes
A——20Ground
Lv 32
Payback
D5010010Dark
Lv 36
Explosion
A2501005Normal
Lv 42
Iron Defense
C——15Steel
Lv 46
Gyro Ball
D—1005Steel
Lv 50
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Lv 56
Magnet Rise
D——10Electric
Lv 60
Zap Cannon
D120505Electric
Lv 64
Heavy Slam
D—10010Steel

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
C—10015Normal
TM62
Bug Buzz
C9010010Bug
TM83
Bulldoze
D6010020Ground
TM28
Dig
C8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
C10010010Ground
TM58
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM64
Explosion
A2501005Normal
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM91
Flash Cannon
C8010010Steel
TM19
Giga Drain
D7510010Grass
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM74
Gyro Ball
D—1005Steel
TM15
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM16
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
TM66
Payback
D5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
B——10Normal
TM33
Reflect
C——20Psychic
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM69
Rock Polish
C——20Rock
TM80
Rock Slide
C759010Rock
TM98
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
D609515Rock
TM37
Sandstorm
D——10Rock
TM82
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
C12010010Grass
TM96
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
D—8515Normal
TM43
Volt Switch
A7010020Electric

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Egg
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Egg
Flail
D—10015Normal
Egg
Pin Missile
D259520Bug
Egg
Power Trick
D——10Psychic
Egg
Revenge-4
D6010010Fighting
Egg
Sand Tomb
D358515Ground
Egg
Swift
D60—20Normal
Egg
Toxic Spikes
A——20Poison

Tutor Moves

Forretress can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Forretress in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

No wild encounters for Forretress. The 2-stage line runs through Pineco, which you can catch at moderate rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 31 once you've got the levels.

How to Obtain Forretress in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Pineco is your first catch on the way to Forretress. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 58-63 across 8 total spots in the chain.

  1. Pineco
    Step 1Catch Pineco
    Bogsunk Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
    Bogsunk Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Swampy Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
    Swampy Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Swamp
    Post
    Post-game
  2. Forretress
    Step 2Forretress ✓

Forretress Guide

  • For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, we rate Forretress C-Tier: a niche pick in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl's meta. At 465 BST, it fits the hazard setter role. Stealth Rock with Leftovers is the standard set.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, watch for Arcanine (Fire) when using Forretress. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Arcanine is the most dangerous since Fire moves deal 4x damage. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. At base 40 Speed, Forretress won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.

  • Sturdy prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. That's the one you want on Forretress. Overcoat is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.

  • Base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Forretress is a physical attacker with base 90 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a hazard setter.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, run Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, Explosion, and Spikes on Forretress. Stealth Rock is the most common pick at 19% usage. This set covers the hazard setter role with a mix of damage and utility.

Game Availability

Available in 16 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Forretress spans 9 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in most mainline games.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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