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.
With its pincer horns, it digs burrows to sleep in at night. In the morning, damp soil clings to its body.
It swings its long pincer horns wildly to attack. During cold periods, it hides deep in forests.
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)
 Golbat Poison | D | |
 Chatot Normal | D | |
 Natu Psychic | D | |
 Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Cyndaquil builds →Fire Blast 2x85-102%KO Flamethrower 2x73-87% Flame Wheel 2x35-44% Ember 2x35-44% | ||
 Numel FireGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Numel builds →Fire Blast 2x90-106%KO Flamethrower 2x77-92% Rock Tomb 2x27-32% Ember 2x35-44% | ||
 Scyther Bug | C | |
 Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x121-144%KO Flamethrower 2x101-120%KO Ember 2x47-56% Fire Spin 2x44-52% | ||
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Chatot builds →Chatter 2x71-84% Peck 2x27-32% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x57-67% Aerial Ace 2x57-67% | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x119-140%KO Flamethrower 2x99-117%KO Fire Punch 2x62-73% Ember 2x44-53% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Butterfree builds →Aerial Ace 2x31-37% Gust 2x42-50% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x64-77% Wing Attack 2x44-53% Air Cutter 2x48-57% Aerial Ace 2x44-53% | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Chatot builds →Fly 2x53-63% Chatter 2x68-80% Pluck 2x37-43% Aerial Ace 2x37-43% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x55-65% Aerial Ace 2x55-65% | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x121-143%KO Flamethrower 2x101-119%KO Fire Punch 2x62-74% Ember 2x48-56% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Butterfree builds →Aerial Ace 2x30-36% Gust 2x43-50% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x65-77% Wing Attack 2x45-53% Air Cutter 2x50-59% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Chatot builds →Fly 2x55-65% Chatter 2x70-83% Pluck 2x38-45% Aerial Ace 2x38-45% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x54-64% Aerial Ace 2x54-64% | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x116-138%KO Flamethrower 2x96-113%KO Fire Punch 2x59-70% Ember 2x44-52% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x67-80% Fly 2x44-52% Air Slash 2x72-86% Aerial Ace 2x31-37% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x62-73% Wing Attack 2x41-49% Air Cutter 2x46-55% Aerial Ace 2x41-49% | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Chatot builds →Fly 2x54-64% Chatter 2x67-80% Pluck 2x36-43% Aerial Ace 2x36-43% | ||
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x64-76% Air Slash 2x45-53% Air Cutter 2x35-42% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x55-66% Aerial Ace 2x55-66% | ||
Magmar Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Magmar builds →Fire Blast 2x120-142%KO Flamethrower 2x100-118%KO Lava Plume 2x89-105%KO Fire Punch 2x60-71% | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x69-82% Fly 2x46-55% Air Slash 2x74-87% Aerial Ace 2x31-37% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x64-76% Wing Attack 2x45-53% Air Cutter 2x49-58% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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% | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver 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.
HeartGold & SoulSilver 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.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Pinsir Locations
You'll want early-game access before hunting Pinsir. Moderate rates across 4 encounter spots means the location matters. Sort by Best below and target the top-rated area first.
Best Locations to Catch Pinsir in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Pinsir appears in 4 walking locations at Lv. 13-28 across HeartGold and SoulSilver. Not all encounters show up in every version, so check which ones match your game.
Pinsir Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver, but Pinsir does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Pinsir hits 600 BST.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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