Stats & Training
Attack and Defense carry most of Pinsir's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 2 Attack EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can’t tear, it tosses far.
It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can’t tear, it tosses far.
Pinsir Weakness
Pinsir's Bug typing leaves it vulnerable to Fire, Flying, and Rock. Pinsir's physical bulk (base 100 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 |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Farfetch'd builds →Aerial Ace 2x48-59% Peck 2x33-39% | ||
 Pansear Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodDreamyard Gift | ||
 Tepig Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodNuvema Town Gift | ||
 Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x61-73% Pluck 2x61-73% Ancient Power 2x56-68% Rock Throw 2x48-58% | ||
Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Farfetch'd builds →Aerial Ace 2x53-63% Peck 2x32-39% | ||
 Woobat Psychic | D | |
Pansear Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodDreamyard Gift | ||
Tepig Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodNuvema Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tepig builds →Flame Charge 2x35-44% Ember 2x27-34% | ||
Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x57-69% Pluck 2x57-69% Ancient Power 2x54-64% Rock Throw 2x47-56% | ||
Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Farfetch'd builds →Aerial Ace 2x50-60% Air Cutter 2x47-56% Peck 2x31-39% | ||
 Tranquill Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tranquill builds →Air Cutter 2x43-51% Gust 2x31-39% | ||
Woobat Psychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Woobat builds →Air Cutter 2x47-56% Gust 2x31-39% | ||
Pansear Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodDreamyard Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Pansear builds →Flame Burst 2x50-60% Incinerate 2x43-51% | ||
 Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodDesert Resort Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Darmanitan builds →Fire Punch 2x79-94% Fire Fang 2x70-83% Incinerate 2x31-38% Rock Tomb 2x43-50% | ||
 Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Air Cutter 2x66-79% Gust 2x44-53% | ||
Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x54-64% Pluck 2x54-64% Ancient Power 2x50-60% Rock Tomb 2x54-64% | ||
Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Farfetch'd builds →Aerial Ace 2x48-56% Air Cutter 2x44-53% Peck 2x28-34% | ||
Tranquill Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tranquill builds →Air Cutter 2x41-49% Gust 2x28-34% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodDesert Resort Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Darmanitan builds →Fire Punch 2x81-97% Fire Fang 2x73-87% Incinerate 2x31-37% Rock Tomb 2x44-53% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x79-93% Fire Fang 2x38-44% Wing Attack 2x53-63% Ancient Power 2x44-53% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x50-60% Air Cutter 2x68-80% Gust 2x48-57% | ||
 Emolga Electric | C | |
Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x57-67% Pluck 2x57-67% Ancient Power 2x53-63% Rock Tomb 2x57-67% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodDesert Resort Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x134-157%KO Fire Punch 2x83-98% Fire Fang 2x72-86% Incinerate 2x30-36% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x80-95% Fire Fang 2x39-46% Wing Attack 2x55-65% Ancient Power 2x48-56% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x50-59% Air Cutter 2x70-83% Aerial Ace 2x35-42% Gust 2x48-56% | ||
 Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x85-101%KO Air Slash 2x60-71% Air Cutter 2x50-59% Aerial Ace 2x57-68% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x43-50% Acrobatics 2x40-48% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodDesert Resort Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x128-151%KO Fire Blast 2x52-62% Fire Punch 2x80-95% Rock Slide 2x53-63% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x48-57% Air Cutter 2x66-78% Aerial Ace 2x34-41% Gust 2x46-54% | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x82-97% Air Slash 2x59-70% Air Cutter 2x48-57% Aerial Ace 2x55-65% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x41-49% Acrobatics 2x36-43% | ||
Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Rock Slide 2x66-78% Wing Attack 2x55-65% Pluck 2x55-65% Ancient Power 2x52-62% | ||
Darmanitan Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodDesert Resort Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Darmanitan builds →Flare Blitz 2x130-152%KO Fire Blast 2x52-61% Fire Punch 2x81-96% Rock Slide 2x54-64% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x50-59% Air Slash 2x84-98% Air Cutter 2x66-79% Aerial Ace 2x33-39% | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x84-98% Air Slash 2x60-71% Air Cutter 2x48-57% Aerial Ace 2x56-66% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x39-47% Acrobatics 2x37-44% | ||
Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Rock Slide 2x69-81% Wing Attack 2x54-64% Pluck 2x54-64% Ancient Power 2x52-61% | ||
In Black & White, Dragonite's Outrage hits Pinsir for 81-96%. Volcarona threatens a KO with Fire Blast (183-215%). Terrakion's Stone Edge also KOs at 121-142%.
 Dragonite Dragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMultiscale ItemLum Berry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Dragonite builds →Extreme Speed36-43% Outrage81-96% | ||
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain21-25% Fire Blast 2x183-215%KO | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Terrakion builds →Close Combat36-42% Stone Edge 2x121-142%KO | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | C | |
Fire is super effective against PinsirView Blaziken → | ||
 Staraptor Normal | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityReckless ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Staraptor builds →Close Combat23-27% U Turn27-32% Double Edge68-81% | ||
Black & White Evolution
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
Breeding
Breed Pinsir easily with 65 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Bug Bite, Close Combat, Feint and 6 more to offspring.
Black & White Pinsir Best Moveset
Prediction matters here. Choice Scarf means Pinsir can't change moves after clicking, but the payoff is speed patching through item lock. Max Attack and Speed EVs with Hypercutter back that up. Ground coverage prevents free switches.
Best Build
Pinsir best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- X Scissor
- Earthquake
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
Recommended Teammates
Moves
The natural movepool does the job, but Bug Bite and Close Combat from the egg pool give Pinsir something extra.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Black & White Pinsir Locations
Pinsir tops out at moderate rates across 4 locations in endgame routes. The encounters below are sorted by rate so you can see exactly what you're working with.
Best Locations to Catch Pinsir in Black & White
Which version you're playing matters for Pinsir. 4 walking spots at Lv. 50-60 spread across Black and White, and some routes only appear in one cartridge. Check the version badges below.
Pinsir Guide
In Black & White, Mold Breaker changes the entire equation for Pinsir. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a wallbreaker. Xscissor with Choice Scarf is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Black & White, but Pinsir does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Pinsir hits 600 BST.
In Black & White, watch for Arcanine (Fire), Dodrio (Flying), and Aerodactyl (Rock) when using Pinsir. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
Mold Breaker is what you want on Pinsir. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Hyper Cutter, Moxie) work on paper but Mold Breaker is what makes Pinsir worth using. On wall sets, Mold Breaker pairs with Pinsir's base 100 Defense to absorb physical hits on the switch.
Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Pinsir is a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a wallbreaker.
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 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
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 6ORASMega
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