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.
Pinsir is astoundingly strong. It can grip a foe weighing twice its weight in its horns and easily lift it. This Pokémon’s movements turn sluggish in cold places.
Pinsir has a pair of massive horns. Protruding from the surface of these horns are thorns. These thorns are driven deeply into the foe’s body when the pincer closes, making it tough for the foe to escape.
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 |
 Chatot Normal | C | |
 Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x61-72% Rock Tomb 2x61-72% Rock Throw 2x48-59% | ||
 Shieldon RockSteel | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
 Chimchar Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
Chatot Normal | C | |
Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x59-71% Pluck 2x59-71% Rock Tomb 2x59-71% Rock Throw 2x49-59% | ||
 Aron SteelRock | C | |
Shieldon RockSteel | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
Chatot Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Chatot builds →Chatter 2x67-79% Peck 2x24-29% | ||
Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x56-67% Pluck 2x56-67% Ancient Power 2x53-63% Rock Tomb 2x56-67% | ||
Aron SteelRock | C | |
Shieldon RockSteel | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Cyndaquil builds →Flame Wheel 2x35-42% Ember 2x31-38% | ||
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Air Cutter 2x35-42% Sky Drop 2x45-53% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% Rock Tomb 2x29-35% | ||
 Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x122-145%KO Flamethrower 2x86-102%KO Lava Plume 2x78-92% Flame Wheel 2x45-53% | ||
 Golbat Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 2x45-53% Air Cutter 2x47-56% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% | ||
Chatot Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Chatot builds →Chatter 2x66-78% Aerial Ace 2x39-46% Peck 2x24-28% | ||
 Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Ponyta builds →Overheat 2x99-116%KO Flamethrower 2x72-85% Flame Wheel 2x45-53% Flame Charge 2x39-46% | ||
Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Air Cutter 2x37-43% Sky Drop 2x44-53% Aerial Ace 2x44-53% Rock Tomb 2x30-36% | ||
Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x124-147%KO Flamethrower 2x88-103%KO Lava Plume 2x76-90% Flame Wheel 2x44-53% | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 2x44-53% Air Cutter 2x48-57% Aerial Ace 2x44-53% | ||
Chatot Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Chatot builds →Chatter 2x68-80% Aerial Ace 2x37-43% Peck 2x22-27% | ||
Ponyta Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Ponyta builds →Overheat 2x99-117%KO Flamethrower 2x70-83% Flame Wheel 2x44-53% Flame Charge 2x39-47% | ||
Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x64-75% Air Cutter 2x36-44% Sky Drop 2x45-53% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x79-94% Flamethrower 2x44-52% Fire Fang 2x39-46% Wing Attack 2x53-63% | ||
Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x124-147%KO Flamethrower 2x88-103%KO Lava Plume 2x76-91% Flame Wheel 2x45-53% | ||
 Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tropius builds →Fly 2x58-69% Aerial Ace 2x40-47% Gust 2x36-44% | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x64-75% Wing Attack 2x45-53% Air Cutter 2x50-59% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% | ||
Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x64-76% Air Slash 2x44-52% Air Cutter 2x35-43% Sky Drop 2x44-52% | ||
 Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Xatu builds →Fly 2x60-71% Air Slash 2x80-94% Aerial Ace 2x42-50% Peck 2x26-31% | ||
Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x124-146%KO Fire Blast 2x106-125%KO Stone Edge 2x49-58% Heat Wave 2x92-109%KO | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tropius builds →Fly 2x56-66% Air Slash 2x64-76% Aerial Ace 2x38-45% Gust 2x35-43% | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x64-76% Wing Attack 2x44-52% Air Cutter 2x48-57% Aerial Ace 2x44-52% | ||
Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x61-72% Air Slash 2x43-51% Air Cutter 2x35-42% Sky Drop 2x41-48% | ||
Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Xatu builds →Fly 2x58-69% Air Slash 2x78-92% Aerial Ace 2x41-48% Peck 2x25-30% | ||
Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x122-143%KO Fire Blast 2x104-122%KO Stone Edge 2x47-55% Heat Wave 2x90-106%KO | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tropius builds →Fly 2x55-65% Air Slash 2x62-74% Aerial Ace 2x37-44% Gust 2x35-42% | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x61-72% Wing Attack 2x41-48% Air Cutter 2x47-55% Aerial Ace 2x41-48% | ||
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Zapdos's Heat Wave hits Pinsir for 82-96%. Tyranitar's Stone Edge also KOs at 154-181%.
 Heatran FireSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemSitrus Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave 2x82-96% Thunderbolt58-68% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tyranitar builds →Stone Edge 2x154-181%KO Pursuit31-36% Crunch61-72% Superpower31-36% | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySpeed Boost ItemQuickclaw NatureHardy Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Blaziken builds →High Jump Kick32-38% Flare Blitz 2x120-141%KO Stone Edge 2x67-79% | ||
 Staraptor Normal | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityReckless ItemChoice Scarf NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Staraptor builds →Close Combat25-29% Double Edge75-88% U Turn29-35% | ||
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire 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 68 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Bug Bite, Close Combat, Feint and 6 more to offspring.
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Pinsir Best Moveset
One guaranteed turn is all Pinsir needs. Focus Sash buys it, max Attack and Speed EVs make it count, and Mold Breaker adds something extra. The goal: get Stealth Rock up and deal damage with Xscissor. Ground coverage gives it play beyond just the lead turn.
Best Build
Pinsir best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- X Scissor
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Tomb
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Bulk Up
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
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
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Pinsir Locations
Pinsir starts showing up in mid-game routes at moderate rates across 2 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Best Locations to Catch Pinsir in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Pinsir Guide
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, 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 Focus Sash is the standard set.
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Pinsir can Mega Evolve into Mega Pinsir. That's 600 BST, up from 500. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, 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