Forretress Best Moveset
Bug/Steel at 140 Defense behind a typing that resists 8 types with only one weakness: Fire (4x). AbilitySturdy guarantees surviving anything from full HP. Held ItemLeftovers with NatureBold runs the moveset as a hazard setter and physical wall. Rapid Spin clears opposing hazards. The moveset sets Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes while absorbing physical hits.
Spikes and Rapid Spin on a Bug/Steel wall in Gen II (Gold & Silver). Set hazards, remove them, Explode when done. The original hazard workhorse.
Best Moves
Best Build
Support Moveset
- Spikes
- Explosion
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Bug/Steel resisted nine types in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Forretress was the only Pokemon that could both lay Spikes AND spin them away. Two gens of dominance.
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Explosion
- Earthquake
Recommended Teammates
Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes — Forretress could set all three AND spin in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). No other Pokemon matched that hazard utility.
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Rapid Spin
- Spikes
- Explosion
- Payback
Recommended Teammates
Four straight gens at the top. Sturdy prevented OHKOs in Gen V (Black & White), guaranteeing at least one turn of hazard setup. Volt Switch let it pivot out after.
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Rapid Spin
- Spikes
- Gyro Ball
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
Defog started replacing Rapid Spin in Gen VI (X & Y). Forretress kept its hazard-stacking niche but the unique spin-plus-set combination was less exclusive.
Physical Tank Moveset
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Toxic Spikes
Recommended Teammates
Ferrothorn did the Steel hazard setter job with better stats and Leech Seed in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Forretress was the older, less effective version.
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Gyro Ball
Recommended Teammates
Returned in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Still stacked all hazard types, but the format had plenty of removal options that made triple hazards less impactful.
Pivot Moveset
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Volt Switch
Recommended Teammates
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Fire |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Ice, Psychic, Bug, Dragon, Steel, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass |
| 0x (Immune) | Poison |
What is Forretress Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Forretress
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityGrassy Surge ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Forretress View Rillaboom builds →Knock Off18-22% U Turn10-12% Wood Hammer8-10% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityProtean ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Forretress View Meowscarada builds →Knock Off15-18% U Turn8-10% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityShielddust ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Forretress View Ribombee builds →Moonblast18-21% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Forretress View Amoonguss builds →Giga Drain5-6% | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySnow Warning ItemLightclay NatureTimid Moves View Ninetales-Alola builds →
| ||
Evolution
Evolved from Pineco. Forretress is the final form in this two-stage line. Plenty of partners 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
Breeding
Breed with Forretress to get Pineco eggs easily using 91 partners from the Bug egg group.
How to Get Forretress
A few locations for Forretress with moderate rates across late-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Forretress in SV
To get Forretress, start by catching Pineco through walking encounters at Lv. 17-56. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch PinecoCasseroya Lake - ForestLv.17-35OverworldRate 36%East Province (Area One) - ForestLv.17-35OverworldRate 36%East Province (Area Two) - ForestLv.17-35OverworldRate 36%North Province (Area One) - ForestLv.17-35OverworldRate 36%North Province (Area Two) - ForestLv.17-35OverworldRate 36%South Province (Area Four) - ForestLv.17-35OverworldRate 36%South Province (Area One) - ForestLv.17-35OverworldRate 36%South Province (Area Two) - ForestLv.17-35OverworldRate 36%Tagtree Thicket - ForestLv.17-35OverworldRate 36%West Province (Area Three) - ForestLv.17-35OverworldRate 36%
Step 2Forretress ✓Casseroya Lake - ForestLv.45-56OverworldRate 8%or evolve from Pineco (Step 1)
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 BDSP
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.
Step 1Catch PinecoBogsunk CavernLv.58-63GrassPost-gameGrassland CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameSunlit CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameSwampy CaveLv.58-63GrassPost-game
Step 2Forretress ✓
Forretress doesn't appear wild. Catch Pineco instead, it shows up at solid rates. Evolve it at level 31 to get Forretress. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Forretress in USUM
Step 1Catch PinecoRoute 10Lv.26-29GrassRate 30%Shaking spot
Step 2Forretress ✓
Forretress isn't available in the wild in Sun & Moon. Start by transferring Pineco from Gold & Silver, Crystal, or HeartGold & SoulSilver. The evolution path from Pineco to Forretress is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Forretress in SM
Step 1Obtain PinecoBREEDINGAvailableLeave Forretress with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Pineco egg.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Headbutt special · Lake of Rage. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Headbutt special · Route 26. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom EmeraldNot TradeableAppears in Emerald via Walking · Altering Cave. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Walking · Route 229 · Dual-slot: Emerald. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom PlatinumNot TradeableAppears in Platinum via Walking · Route 210 · Dual-slot: Emerald. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in HeartGold & SoulSilver via Headbutt · Viridian City. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.- Step 2Forretress ✓
Base Stats
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.
It’s usually found hanging on to a fat tree trunk. It shoots out bits of its shell when it sees action.
Forretress Guide
We rate Forretress C-Tier: a situational pick that fills a niche. At 465 BST, it fits the hazard setter role. Base 140 Defense stands out.
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 mixed attacker with base 90 Attack and 60 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a hazard setter.
Run Rapid Spin, Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Volt Switch on Forretress. Rapid Spin is the most common pick at 0% 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
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves