Physical
Balanced
290Low
15Very Slow
DTier

Pineco doesn't have much going for it on its own — the stats just aren't there. The payoff is Forretress, and getting there is worth the grind. Known as the Bagworm Pokemon. Been around since Gen 2.

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

Base Stats
290Below
HP50
D
Attack65
C
Defense90
B
Sp. Atk35
F
Sp. Def35
F
Speed15
F
Total290
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Pineco yields +1 Def
HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch190EasyMedium Fast1M XP0.6m / 2'00"7.2kg / 15.9 lbs58Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It spits out a fluid that it uses to glue tree bark to its body. The fluid hardens when it touches air.

Crystal

Pineco Weakness

Avg

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

Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Scorei-3
Stealth Rock25% on switch
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
SturdyPrevents being KOed from full HP, leaving 1 HP instead. Protects against the one-hit KO moves regardless of HP.
OvercoatHAProtects against damage from weather.

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.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
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 23 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Flail, Pin Missile, Reflect and 1 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
4moves
Breed With (best first)
parasectparasshuckleforretressvenomothgligarariadosbutterfreebeedrillledianyanmavenonat

Best Build

Gen 2 build content has limited support (no abilities).

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Egg moves make a real difference. Pineco gets Flail and Pin Missile exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Grass coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Pin Missile.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Protect+4
10Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
3510035Normal
Lv 8
Self-Destruct
2001005Normal
Lv 15
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 22
Rapid Spin
5010040Normal
Lv 29
Bide+1
10Normal
Lv 36
Explosion
2501005Normal
Lv 43
Spikes
20Ground
Lv 50
Double-Edge
12010015Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM03
Curse
10Ghost
TM40
Defense Curl
40Normal
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM20
Endure+4
10Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM19
Giga Drain
751005Grass
TM02
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM08
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM04
Rollout
309020Rock
TM35
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM34
Swagger
8515Normal
TM12
Sweet Scent
10020Normal
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Flail
10015Normal
Egg
Pin Missile
149520Bug
Egg
Reflect
20Psychic
Egg
Swift
6020Normal

Tutor Moves

Pineco can't learn any Tutor moves

high spawn rates in early-game areas across 15 locations. Pineco's one of the easier catches on the list. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.

Best Locations

You'll find Pineco across 15 headbutt encounters from Lv. 10+, sorted by game progression. Earlier spots show up first so you can grab one as soon as it's reachable.

Ilex Forest
Headbutting treesLv.10CommonEarlyForest
EASY
Lake of Rage
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyWater
EFFORTLESS
Route 29
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 30
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 31
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 32
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 34
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 35
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 36
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 37
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 38
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 39
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 43
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 26
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 27
Headbutting special treesLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
EFFORTLESS
  • Pineco isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Forretress to unlock its full potential. At 290 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

  • Pineco's biggest threats include Charizard (Fire), Aerodactyl (Flying), and Tyranitar (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. At base 15 Speed, Pineco won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.

  • Pineco evolves into Forretress at level 31. Pineco is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Pineco fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 65 Attack. Base 15 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go.

  • Pineco appears in 16 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.

Pineco first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 16 games across 8 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.