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.
It likes to make its shell thicker by adding layers of tree bark. The additional weight doesn’t bother it.
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Flying, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Ground |
In X & Y, Zapdos threatens a KO with Heat Wave (153-180%). Tyranitar's Stone Edge also KOs at 189-223%.
 Heatran FireSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemSitrus Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Pineco View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave 2x153-180%KO Thunderbolt108-127%KO | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Pineco View Tyranitar builds →Stone Edge 2x189-223%KO Pursuit38-45% Crunch76-89% Superpower37-44% | ||
 Salamence Dragon | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMoxie ItemLum Berry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pineco View Salamence builds →Earthquake28-33% Outrage101-119%KO | ||
X & Y Evolution
Pineco evolves into Forretress. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. Plenty of partners 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
Breeding
Breed Pineco easily with 68 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Counter, Double-Edge, Endure and 8 more to offspring.
X & Y 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 flexible EVs prioritize longevity.
Best Build
Support Moveset
- Toxic
- Toxic Spikes
- Pain Split
- Rapid Spin
Recommended Teammates
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 8 types rounds out the picture alongside Bug Bite and Struggle Bug.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Pineco in X & Y
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 X & Y, 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 X & Y. 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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves