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)
 Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Fire Blast 2x93-111%KO Ember 2x37-46% | ||
 Staravia Normal | D | |
 Doduo Normal | D | |
 Chimchar Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodLake Verity Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Chimchar builds →Fire Blast 2x83-98% Ember 2x37-46% | ||
 Combee Bug | D | |
 Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Murkrow builds →Wing Attack 2x45-54% Pluck 2x45-54% Peck 2x30-36% | ||
 Beautifly Bug | D | |
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Fire Blast 2x91-107%KO Flame Wheel 2x42-49% Ember 2x37-45% | ||
 Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Obtain MethodValley Windworks Interact Encounter | ||
Staravia Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Staravia builds →Wing Attack 2x42-49% Pluck 2x42-49% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x72-85% Fly 2x45-55% Pluck 2x32-38% Peck 2x19-24% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x69-82% Wing Attack 2x45-55% Pluck 2x45-55% Peck 2x28-34% | ||
 Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x66-78% Wing Attack 2x45-55% Air Cutter 2x49-58% Pluck 2x45-55% | ||
 Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x90-106%KO Flamethrower 2x72-85% Ember 2x34-41% Fire Spin 2x32-38% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x72-85% Fly 2x45-55% Aerial Ace 2x32-38% Pluck 2x32-38% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x69-82% Wing Attack 2x45-55% Aerial Ace 2x45-55% Pluck 2x45-55% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x66-78% Wing Attack 2x45-55% Air Cutter 2x49-58% Aerial Ace 2x45-55% | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x90-106%KO Flamethrower 2x72-85% Ember 2x34-41% Fire Spin 2x32-38% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 2x40-48% Gust 2x45-55% | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x69-82% Fly 2x47-55% Air Slash 2x74-87% Aerial Ace 2x32-38% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x66-79% Wing Attack 2x44-52% Aerial Ace 2x44-52% Pluck 2x44-52% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x61-73% Wing Attack 2x42-50% Air Cutter 2x50-58% Aerial Ace 2x42-50% | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x86-102%KO Flamethrower 2x71-84% Ember 2x34-41% Fire Spin 2x29-35% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 2x39-47% Gust 2x47-55% | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x68-81% Fly 2x46-54% Air Slash 2x73-86% Aerial Ace 2x32-38% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x64-76% Wing Attack 2x43-51% Aerial Ace 2x43-51% Pluck 2x43-51% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x61-73% Wing Attack 2x41-49% Air Cutter 2x48-57% Aerial Ace 2x41-49% | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x85-100%KO Flamethrower 2x68-81% Ember 2x32-38% Fire Spin 2x30-35% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 2x39-46% Gust 2x46-54% | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x66-78% Fly 2x45-53% Air Slash 2x71-83% Aerial Ace 2x29-35% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x64-76% Wing Attack 2x43-50% Aerial Ace 2x43-50% Pluck 2x43-50% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x61-73% Wing Attack 2x43-50% Air Cutter 2x47-55% Aerial Ace 2x43-50% | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Ponyta builds →Fire Blast 2x83-98% Flamethrower 2x68-81% Ember 2x32-38% Fire Spin 2x28-33% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 2x38-45% Gust 2x45-53% | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x67-80% Fly 2x45-53% Air Slash 2x71-84% Aerial Ace 2x30-36% | ||
Murkrow Dark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Murkrow builds →Fly 2x66-78% Wing Attack 2x45-53% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% Pluck 2x45-53% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x62-73% Wing Attack 2x43-51% Air Cutter 2x47-56% Aerial Ace 2x43-51% | ||
 Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Chatot builds →Fly 2x53-62% Chatter 2x66-78% Aerial Ace 2x36-42% Pluck 2x36-42% | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Ponyta builds →Flare Blitz 2x87-102%KO Fire Blast 2x84-100%KO Flamethrower 2x70-82% Bounce 2x41-49% | ||
In Diamond & Pearl, Infernape can KO Pinsir with Fire Blast (109-128%). Dragonite threatens a KO with Outrage (106-125%). Aerodactyl's Stone Edge also KOs at 104-123%.
 Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Infernape builds →Close Combat31-37% U Turn24-29% Fire Blast 2x109-128%KO | ||
 Dragonite Dragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Dragonite builds →Extreme Speed47-55% Outrage106-125%KO | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake17-20% Stone Edge 2x104-123%KO | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Blaziken builds →Flare Blitz 2x137-162%KO Superpower34-40% Fire Blast 2x115-135%KO | ||
 Staraptor Normal | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Staraptor builds →Close Combat23-27% U Turn27-32% Double Edge69-81% | ||
Diamond & Pearl Evolution
Pinsir is what you get. No evolutions, but it breeds through one egg group with a decent partner pool. Hatching is average hatch time. It's got 7 egg moves worth looking into. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Pinsir easily with 48 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Close Combat, False Swipe, Feint and 4 more to offspring.
Diamond & Pearl Pinsir Best Moveset
One boost from Swords Dance and Pinsir gets dangerous fast. The Jolly nature targets max Attack and Speed, and Mold Breaker backs the whole approach. Xscissor and Ground coverage handle most of what's left standing.
Best Build
Pinsir best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- X Scissor
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
Moves
The natural movepool does the job, but Close Combat and False Swipe from the egg pool give Pinsir something extra. Pair those with X-Scissor for STAB and Normal and Fighting coverage and more for reach, and the kit fills out nicely.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Diamond & Pearl Pinsir Locations
Pinsir tops out at moderate rates across 1 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 Diamond & Pearl
Pinsir Guide
In Diamond & Pearl, 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 Diamond & Pearl, but Pinsir does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Pinsir hits 600 BST.
In Diamond & Pearl, 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