Is Pinsir Good in Sun & Moon Playthrough?
Pinsir is wild in Alola and available as a gift. No Mega Stone during the story, so the AbilityAerilate form from XY and ORAS isn't available. Base Pinsir still brings solid Attack though.
Pinsir resists most of Ilima's coverage and hits back hard.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Hala's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Lana's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Kiawe's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Mallow's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Olivia's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Sophocles's team.
Pinsir trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Nanu's team.
Pinsir trades roughly evenly with Totem Kommo-o's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Hapu's team.
Pinsir trades roughly evenly with Hala's team.
Pinsir trades roughly evenly with Olivia's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Acerola's team.
Pinsir trades roughly evenly with Kahili's team.
Catch Pinsir on Lush Jungle (walking, Lv 18-21).
Sun & Moon Pinsir Locations
moderate rates for Pinsir across 10 locations in mid-game routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Best Locations to Catch Pinsir in Sun & Moon
5 spots to find Pinsir at Lv. 18-55 via gift and walking. Not all of them exist in both Moon and Sun versions, so filter by your copy below.
Pinsir Weakness
Pinsir's Bug/Flying typing leaves it vulnerable to Rock, Fire, Electric, Ice, and Flying. Rock hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Ground-type attacks completely. Pinsir's physical bulk (base 120 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Rock |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Electric, Ice, Flying |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Bug |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
What is Pinsir Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Pinsir
 Salamence Dragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Salamence builds →Rock Slide 4x104-122%KO Fly 2x92-110%KO Fire Fang 2x45-53% Thunder Fang 2x45-53% | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
 Carbink RockFairy | C | |
 Roggenrola Rock | C | |
 Oricorio Fire | C | |
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Salamence Dragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Salamence builds →Rock Slide 4x98-116%KO Fly 2x85-102%KO Fire Fang 2x44-52% Thunder Fang 2x44-52% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
 Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
Roggenrola Rock | C | |
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Salamence Dragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Salamence builds →Rock Slide 4x91-107%KO Fly 2x79-94% Fire Fang 2x40-48% Thunder Fang 2x40-48% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Glaceon Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) | ||
Roggenrola Rock | C | |
 Cranidos Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 8 Gift | ||
 Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 8 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Rock Slide 4x119-142%KO Wing Attack 2x49-58% | ||
 Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Vikavolt builds →Thunderbolt 2x110-129%KO Air Slash 2x61-72% | ||
Salamence Dragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Salamence builds →Rock Slide 4x94-111%KO Fly 2x81-96% Fire Fang 2x39-47% Thunder Fang 2x39-47% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
 Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x114-135%KO Spark 2x21-25% | ||
Cranidos Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 8 Gift | ||
Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 8 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Rock Slide 4x114-135%KO Wing Attack 2x48-56% | ||
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Vikavolt builds →Thunderbolt 2x108-128%KO Air Slash 2x59-70% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
 Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rampardos builds →Rock Slide 4x166-196%KO Thunderbolt 2x40-48% Ice Beam 2x40-48% | ||
 Lycanroc Rock | C | |
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x121-143%KO Thunderbolt 2x45-53% | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Rock Slide 4x63-75% Fly 2x55-65% | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rampardos builds →Rock Slide 4x160-189%KO Ice Beam 2x38-45% Thunderbolt 2x38-45% | ||
Lycanroc Rock | C | |
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x114-135%KO Thunderbolt 2x42-50% | ||
Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
 Salazzle PoisonFire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Salazzle builds →Overheat 2x123-146%KO Acrobatics 2x20-23% | ||
Cranidos Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 8 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Cranidos builds →Head Smash 4x249-293%KO Fire Blast 2x27-33% Thunderbolt 2x24-28% Ice Beam 2x24-28% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rhydon builds →Stone Edge 4x173-204%KO Fire Blast 2x36-43% Ice Beam 2x30-36% Thunderbolt 2x30-36% | ||
 Archeops Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Archen (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archeops builds →Stone Edge 4x184-218%KO Fly 2x84-100%KO | ||
Lycanroc Rock | C | |
 Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tirtouga (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Carracosta builds →Stone Edge 4x151-178%KO Ice Beam 2x46-55% | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rampardos builds →Head Smash 4x318-375%KO Fire Blast 2x45-54% Thunderbolt 2x38-45% Ice Beam 2x38-45% | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rhydon builds →Stone Edge 4x174-205%KO Fire Blast 2x36-42% Ice Beam 2x29-34% Thunderbolt 2x29-34% | ||
Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Archeops Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Archen (Route 8 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archeops builds →Stone Edge 4x186-220%KO Fly 2x83-98% | ||
Lycanroc Rock | C | |
In Sun & Moon, Lanturn deals 46-54% with Ice Beam.
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureHardy Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Claydol builds →Rapid Spin8-10% Psychic20-23% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityContrary ItemLeftovers NatureBrave Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Lurantis builds →Superpower10-11% Knock Off21-25% Leaf Storm8-9% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemAssault Vest NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Lanturn builds →Volt Switch 2x35-42% Scald20-24% Ice Beam 2x46-54% Surf23-27% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemEviolite NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Roselia builds →Sludge Bomb26-31% Giga Drain5-6% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Audino builds →
| ||
Pinsir Evolutions
Pinsir is what you get. No evolutions, but it breeds through one egg group with plenty of partners. Hatching is average hatch time. It's got 9 egg moves worth looking into. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
SM Pinsir Best Moveset
Mega Pinsir adds Flying typing with AbilityAerilate converting Normal moves to boosted Flying attacks. 155 Attack fires Aerilate-boosted MoveReturn at enormous power. Base form's AbilityMoxie raises Attack on each KO. The moveset has the Mega Flying conversion but Bug base typing and Stealth Rock weakness limit switch-in opportunities.
Best Build
Pinsir best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The natural movepool does the job, but Bug Bite and Close Combat from the egg pool give Pinsir something extra.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
The influence of Mega Evolution leaves it in a state of constant excitement. It pierces enemies with its two large horns before shredding them.
Bathed in the energy of Mega Evolution, its wings become unusually developed. It flies at speeds of approximately 30 mph
Pinsir Sun & Moon Guide
For Sun & Moon, we rate Pinsir B-Tier: a solid option in Sun & Moon for the right team. At 600 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Close Combat with Focus Sash is the standard set.
In Sun & Moon, Pinsir can Mega Evolve into Mega Pinsir. That's 700 BST, up from 600. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
In Sun & Moon, watch for Aerodactyl (Rock), Arcanine (Fire), and Jolteon (Electric) when using Pinsir. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Aerodactyl is the most dangerous since Rock moves deal 4x damage. Ice and Flying-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Aerilate turns the bearer's normal moves into flying moves and strengthens them to 1.3× their power. That's the one you want on Pinsir. It's the only ability Pinsir has.
Base 105 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Pinsir is a physical attacker with base 155 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Pinsir has appeared in 20 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 6, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
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 6ORASMega
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