Physical
Hazard Setter
DTier
15Speed · Very Slow

Stats & Training

Pineco's spread isn't flashy. Defense leads, Speed trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Common in the wild and worth 1 Defense EV, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
Below
HP50
D
Attack65
C
Defense90
B
Sp. Atk35
F
Sp. Def35
F
Speed15
F
Total290
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.6 m
2'00"Small
Weight7.2 kg
15.9 lbsFeather
Base XP58
Low Yield
Abilities
SturdyTop Pick
Prevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
OvercoatHA
Protects against damage from weather.
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Defense training source
Pokedex Entries

It looks just like a pinecone. Its shell protects it from bird Pokémon that peck it by mistake.

Pineco Weakness

Pineco is weak to Fire, Flying, and Rock. Pineco's physical bulk (base 90 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Pineco Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fire, Flying, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Fighting, Ground
Type ChartAvg
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-3
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
FireFlyingRock
½xResist
GrassFightingGround
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
STAB (3)
GrassPsychicDark
How to Beat Pineco in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Best Counters)
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

Pineco evolves into Forretress. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 175 stat points total. 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 Pineco easily with 48 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Counter, Double-Edge, Flail and 6 more to offspring.

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 Pineco Best Moveset

Pineco's job is getting Toxic Spikes up and staying on the field. Berryjuice provides extra utility, Sturdy helps it stick around, and spread EVs prioritize longevity.

Best Build

Experimental
Support
Ability
Sturdy
Item
Berry JuiceRECOVERY
Best Nature for Pineco
Bold+DEF

Pineco best EVs are Speed

EVs

Support Moveset

  • Toxic Spikes
  • ToxicUtility
  • Pain Split
  • Rapid Spin

Recommended Teammates

Magnemite
MagnemiteGood
Aron
AronDecent

Moves

Egg moves make a real difference. Pineco gets Counter and Double-Edge exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 7 types rounds out the picture alongside Bug Buzz and Bug Bite.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Protect+4
A——10Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D4010035Normal
Lv 6
Self-Destruct
B2001005Normal
Lv 9
Bug Bite
D6010020Bug
Lv 12
Take Down
D908520Normal
Lv 17
Rapid Spin
A5010040Normal
Lv 20
Autotomize
C——15Steel
Lv 23
Rollout
—309020Rock
Lv 28
Spikes
A——20Ground
Lv 31
Payback
D5010010Dark
Lv 34
Explosion
B2501005Normal
Lv 39
Iron Defense
C——15Steel
Lv 42
Gyro Ball
D—1005Steel
Lv 45
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
C—10015Normal
TM62
Bug Buzz
D9010010Bug
TM83
Bulldoze
D6010020Ground
TM28
Dig
D8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
A10010010Ground
TM58
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM64
Explosion
B2501005Normal
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM19
Giga Drain
D7510010Grass
TM74
Gyro Ball
D—1005Steel
TM16
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
TM66
Payback
D5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
A——10Normal
TM33
Reflect
C——20Psychic
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM80
Rock Slide
D759010Rock
TM98
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
D609515Rock
TM37
Sandstorm
D——10Rock
TM82
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
D12010010Grass
TM96
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
D—8515Normal

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
S——20Poison

Tutor Moves

Pineco can't learn any Tutor moves

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Pineco Locations

Pineco starts showing up in endgame routes at moderate rates across 8 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.

Best Locations to Catch Pineco in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Before you go hunting for Pineco, check which of the 8 spots belong to your version. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl each have different walking encounters at Lv. 58-63.

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

Pineco Guide

  • Pineco evolves into Forretress at level 31. One evolution, no branching. Solid jump from 290 BST.

  • Pineco evolves into Forretress at level 31. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Pineco does the job early-game if you need a Bug type on your team. Evolve it into Forretress before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

  • Pineco is catchable in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 15 other games across the series.

Game Availability

Pineco first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 16 games across 9 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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