Physical
Hazard Setter
BTier
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.
OvercoatHANot in game
Protects against damage from weather.
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe
Defense training target
Pokedex Entries

It is encased in a steel shell. Its peering eyes are all that can be seen of its mysterious innards.

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 9 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, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel
0.25x (Resist)Grass
0x (Immune)Poison
Type ChartFortress
1Weak
9Resist
1Immune
Score+9
Gen IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCritical
Fire
2xWeak
None
½xResist
NormalIcePsychicBugGhostDragonDarkSteel
¼xResist
Grass
0xImmune
Poison
STAB (5)
GrassPsychicDarkIceRock
How to Beat Forretress in Diamond & Pearl (Best Counters)
Metagross
MetagrossResists Steel, sets up Agility, outspeeds
SteelPsychic
S
Recommended Build
AbilityClearbody
ItemLum Berry
NatureAdamant
Moves
  • Meteor Mash
  • Earthquake
  • Explosion
  • Stealth Rock
Damage vs Forretress
Earthquake
20-23%
Explosion
25-29%
View Metagross builds →

Diamond & 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·

Diamond & Pearl Forretress Best Moveset

Lead with Forretress, set Spikes, and keep pressure on. Sturdy and Leftovers buy the time it needs, with max HP and Defense EVs letting it take hits while controlling the hazard game.

Best Build

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

Forretress best EVs are HP and Defense

EVs

Hazard Setter Moveset

  • Rapid Spin
  • SpikesHazard
  • ExplosionCoverage
  • PaybackCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Gyarados
GyaradosDecent
Jirachi
JirachiDecent
Latias
LatiasDecent

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 Flash Cannon and Mirror Shot, with coverage across 7 types rounding things out.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Protect+4
C——10Normal
Lv 1
Self-Destruct
B2001005Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
—3510035Normal
Lv 1
Take Down
—908520Normal
Lv 1
Toxic Spikes
B——20Poison
Lv 6
Self-Destruct
B2001005Normal
Lv 9
Take Down
—908520Normal
Lv 12
Rapid Spin
S5010040Normal
Lv 17
Bide+1
———10Normal
Lv 20
Natural Gift
D—10015Normal
Lv 23
Spikes
S——20Ground
Lv 28
Payback
A5010010Dark
Lv 31
Mirror Shot
—658510Steel
Lv 33
Explosion
A2501005Normal
Lv 38
Iron Defense
D——15Steel
Lv 45
Gyro Ball
B—1005Steel
Lv 50
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Lv 57
Magnet Rise
D——10Electric
Lv 62
Zap Cannon
—120505Electric

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
——10015Normal
TM78
Captivate
——10020Normal
TM28
Dig
C8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
C10010010Ground
TM58
Endure+4
———10Normal
TM64
Explosion
A2501005Normal
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM91
Flash Cannon
C8010010Steel
TM21
Frustration
D—10020Normal
TM19
Giga Drain
D6010010Grass
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM74
Gyro Ball
B—1005Steel
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM16
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
TM83
Natural Gift
D—10015Normal
TM66
Payback
A5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM33
Reflect
D——20Psychic
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM69
Rock Polish
C——20Rock
TM80
Rock Slide
C759010Rock
HM06
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
D609510Rock
TM37
Sandstorm
———10Rock
TM43
Secret Power
—7010020Normal
TM82
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
C12010010Grass
TM76
Stealth Rock
A——20Rock
HM04
Strength
C8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
——9015Normal
TM06
Toxic
C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Egg
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Egg
Flail
——10015Normal
Egg
Pin Missile
—149520Bug
Egg
Reflect
D——20Psychic
Egg
Revenge-4
—6010010Fighting
Egg
Sand Tomb
—358515Ground
Egg
Swift
—60—20Normal
Egg
Toxic Spikes
B——20Poison

Tutor Moves

Forretress can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 3
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Gen 3
Defense Curl
———40Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
———10Normal

How to Get Forretress in Diamond & Pearl

Can't catch Forretress directly. Start with Pineco at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 31. The 2-stage line from Pineco to Forretress is where the leveling time goes.

How to Obtain Forretress in Diamond & Pearl

Pineco is your first catch on the way to Forretress. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 5-20 across 12 total spots in the chain.

  1. Pineco
    Step 1Catch Pineco
    Route 203
    DiamondGrass Lv.5 Route
    RareEarly
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Route 203
    PearlGrass Lv.5 Route
    RareEarly
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Route 204 - North
    PearlGrass Lv.6 Route
    RareEarly
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Route 204 - North
    DiamondGrass Lv.6 Route
    RareEarly
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Route 204 - South
    PearlGrass Lv.8 Route
    RareEarly
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Route 204 - South
    DiamondGrass Lv.8 Route
    RareEarly
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Eterna Forest
    DiamondGrass Lv.12 Forest
    RareEarly
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Eterna Forest
    PearlGrass Lv.12 Forest
    RareEarly
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Route 229
    PearlGrass Lv.20 Route
    8%Mid
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Route 229
    DiamondGrass Lv.20 Route
    8%Mid
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Route 210 - South
    PearlGrass Lv.18-20 Route
    RareMid
    Dual-slot: Emerald
    Route 210 - South
    DiamondGrass Lv.18-20 Route
    RareMid
    Dual-slot: Emerald
  2. Forretress
    Step 2Forretress ✓

Forretress Guide

  • For Diamond & Pearl, we rate Forretress B-Tier: a solid option in Diamond & Pearl for the right team. At 465 BST, it fits the hazard setter role. Rapid Spin with Leftovers is the standard set.

  • In Diamond & 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 Diamond & Pearl, run Rapid Spin, Spikes, Explosion, and Payback on Forretress. Rapid Spin is the most common pick at 24% 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

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback