Is Pinsir Good in X & Y Playthrough?
Bug with AbilityHyper Cutter. Wild in Kalos. Mega Pinsir gains Flying and AbilityAerilate, turning Normal moves into boosted Flying attacks. One of the strongest physical Megas available. Handles Ramos and anything that doesn't resist Flying.
Pinsir resists most of Viola's coverage and hits back hard.
Pinsir resists most of Grant's coverage and hits back hard.
Pinsir trades roughly evenly with Korrina's team.
Pinsir resists most of Ramos's coverage and hits back hard.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Clemont's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Valerie's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Olympia's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Wulfric's team.
Pinsir trades roughly evenly with Malva's team.
Pinsir trades roughly evenly with Wikstrom's team.
Pinsir trades roughly evenly with Drasna's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Siebold's team.
Pinsir has the type edge here and should clean up Diantha's team.
Catch Pinsir on Route 12 (walking, Lv 25, rare).
X & Y Pinsir Locations
Finding Pinsir at moderate rates takes patience. 2 spots are available in mid-game routes, but the rate difference between them matters. Lock in the top one from the sorted list below.
Best Locations to Catch Pinsir in X & Y
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
 Pikachu Electric | C | |
 Pansear Fire | D | |
 Fennekin Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodAquacorde Town Gift | ||
 Fletchling Normal | D | |
 Pidgey Normal | D | |
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Rock Tomb 4x98-116%KO Wing Attack 2x48-58% Fire Fang 2x35-42% Ice Fang 2x35-42% | ||
 Cranidos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Cranidos builds →Rock Tomb 4x115-135%KO Thunderbolt 2x27-32% | ||
 Rhyhorn GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rhyhorn builds →Rock Tomb 4x90-106%KO Thunderbolt 2x27-32% | ||
 Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Rock Tomb 4x106-126%KO Wing Attack 2x53-63% | ||
 Anorith RockBug | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Anorith builds →Rock Tomb 4x90-106%KO Aerial Ace 2x29-35% | ||
 Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rampardos builds →Rock Tomb 4x131-155%KO Thunderbolt 2x38-45% | ||
 Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x115-135%KO Thunderbolt 2x42-49% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Rock Tomb 4x92-110%KO Wing Attack 2x46-55% Fire Fang 2x32-39% Ice Fang 2x32-39% | ||
 Bastiodon RockSteel | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Shieldon (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Bastiodon builds →Rock Tomb 4x55-65% Thunderbolt 2x30-37% | ||
 Boldore Rock | C | |
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rampardos builds →Rock Tomb 4x131-155%KO Thunderbolt 2x38-45% | ||
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x115-135%KO Thunderbolt 2x42-49% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Rock Tomb 4x92-110%KO Fly 2x66-77% Fire Fang 2x32-39% Ice Fang 2x32-39% | ||
Bastiodon RockSteel | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Shieldon (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Bastiodon builds →Rock Tomb 4x55-65% Thunderbolt 2x30-37% | ||
Boldore Rock | C | |
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rampardos builds →Rock Tomb 4x131-155%KO Thunderbolt 2x38-45% | ||
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x115-135%KO Thunderbolt 2x42-49% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Rock Tomb 4x92-110%KO Fly 2x66-77% Fire Fang 2x32-39% Ice Fang 2x32-39% | ||
Bastiodon RockSteel | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Shieldon (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Bastiodon builds →Rock Tomb 4x55-65% Thunderbolt 2x30-37% | ||
Boldore Rock | C | |
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rampardos builds →Rock Tomb 4x135-160%KO Thunderbolt 2x39-46% | ||
 Archeops Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Archen (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archeops builds →Rock Tomb 4x117-138%KO Fly 2x86-102%KO | ||
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Probopass builds →Power Gem 4x117-138%KO Thunderbolt 2x43-51% | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Rock Tomb 4x94-110%KO Fly 2x67-80% Fire Fang 2x32-39% Ice Fang 2x32-39% | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rampardos builds →Stone Edge 4x218-258%KO Thunderbolt 2x39-47% | ||
 Armaldo RockBug | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Anorith (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Armaldo builds →Stone Edge 4x174-205%KO Aerial Ace 2x35-42% | ||
Archeops Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Archen (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archeops builds →Stone Edge 4x192-226%KO Fly 2x84-100%KO | ||
 Kabutops RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Kabuto (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Kabutops builds →Stone Edge 4x161-189%KO Aerial Ace 2x32-39% | ||
 Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tirtouga (Ambrette Town Gift) | ||
Cranidos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Cranidos builds →Head Smash 4x255-300%KO Fire Blast 2x29-34% Thunderbolt 2x24-29% Ice Beam 2x24-29% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rhydon builds →Stone Edge 4x178-210%KO Fire Blast 2x36-43% Thunderbolt 2x30-36% Ice Beam 2x30-36% | ||
 Aggron SteelRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aggron builds →Stone Edge 4x153-180%KO Aerial Ace 2x31-37% Fire Blast 2x44-53% Thunderbolt 2x36-43% | ||
Armaldo RockBug | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Anorith (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Armaldo builds →Stone Edge 4x171-201%KO Aerial Ace 2x35-41% | ||
Archeops Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Archen (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archeops builds →Stone Edge 4x189-223%KO Fly 2x85-101%KO | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rampardos builds →Head Smash 4x321-378%KO Fire Blast 2x46-54% Ice Beam 2x38-45% Thunderbolt 2x38-45% | ||
 Tyrantrum RockDragon | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tyrunt (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tyrantrum builds →Head Smash 4x244-288%KO Aerial Ace 2x33-40% | ||
Aggron SteelRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aggron builds →Stone Edge 4x151-178%KO Aerial Ace 2x31-36% Fire Blast 2x43-51% Thunderbolt 2x36-43% | ||
Archeops Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Archen (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archeops builds →Stone Edge 4x186-219%KO Fly 2x83-98% | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rhydon builds →Stone Edge 4x175-206%KO Fire Blast 2x35-42% Thunderbolt 2x29-34% Ice Beam 2x29-34% | ||
In X & Y, Rhyperior can KO Pinsir with Stone Edge (240-282%). Blaziken threatens a KO with Flare Blitz (167-196%). Staraptor deals 64-75% with Double-Edge.
 Rhyperior GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rhyperior builds →Stone Edge 4x240-282%KO | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySpeed Boost ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Blaziken builds →Flare Blitz 2x167-196%KO High Jump Kick22-26% | ||
 Staraptor Normal | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityReckless ItemChoice Scarf NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Staraptor builds →Close Combat11-13% Double Edge64-75% U Turn13-15% | ||
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
XY Pinsir Best Moveset
The Mega form gains AbilityAerilate converting Normal moves to Flying at 1.3x power, and 155 Attack fires boosted MoveReturn as a Flying-type nuke. Base Pinsir at 125 Attack with AbilityMold Breaker ignores abilities. The moveset is entirely defined by the Mega this generation, one of the strongest physical attackers available.
Best Build
Pinsir best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- X Scissor
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Tomb
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
Base Stats
It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can’t tear, it tosses far.
It swings its long pincer horns wildly to attack. During cold periods, it hides deep in forests.
Pinsir X & Y Guide
For X & Y, we rate Pinsir B-Tier: a solid option in X & Y for the right team. At 600 BST, it fits the sweeper role. Xscissor with Focus Sash is the standard set.
In X & Y, 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 X & Y, 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