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.
These Pokémon judge one another based on pincers. Thicker, more impressive pincers make for more popularity with the opposite gender.
This Pokémon clamps its pincers down on its prey and then either splits the prey in half or flings it away.
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 |
 Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Corviknight builds →Pluck 2x48-58% Peck 2x32-39% | ||
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
 Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Flame Wheel 2x45-53% Ember 2x40-48% | ||
 Drifloon Ghost | D | |
 Woobat Psychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Woobat builds →Air Cutter 2x48-58% Gust 2x32-39% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Corviknight builds →Pluck 2x46-54% Peck 2x28-33% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Butterfree builds →Air Slash 2x74-88% Gust 2x42-50% | ||
 Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Farfetch'd builds →Aerial Ace 2x49-58% Peck 2x31-38% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Fire Fang 2x42-50% Flame Wheel 2x42-50% Ember 2x35-42% | ||
Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Corviknight builds →Pluck 2x44-53% Peck 2x28-34% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 2x70-83% Air Slash 2x70-83% Peck 2x21-26% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Butterfree builds →Air Slash 2x73-86% Gust 2x41-49% | ||
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% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Fire Fang 2x41-49% Flame Wheel 2x38-45% Ember 2x35-41% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x66-79% Drill Peck 2x59-70% Pluck 2x47-55% Peck 2x27-32% | ||
 Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x69-82% Bounce 2x66-79% Wing Attack 2x47-55% Aerial Ace 2x47-55% | ||
 Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x50-58% Air Slash 2x83-99% Air Cutter 2x69-82% Gust 2x47-55% | ||
 Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x83-99% Air Cutter 2x50-58% Gust 2x34-41% | ||
 Heatmor Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Heatmor builds →Fire Lash 2x66-79% Incinerate 2x69-82% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x67-80% Drill Peck 2x61-72% Pluck 2x47-55% Peck 2x28-33% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x70-83% Bounce 2x67-80% Wing Attack 2x49-58% Aerial Ace 2x49-58% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x49-58% Air Slash 2x86-102%KO Air Cutter 2x70-83% Gust 2x47-55% | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x83-99% Air Cutter 2x49-58% Gust 2x35-41% | ||
Heatmor Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Heatmor builds →Fire Lash 2x65-77% Incinerate 2x70-83% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x64-76% Drill Peck 2x57-68% Air Slash 2x51-61% Pluck 2x45-53% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x68-81% Bounce 2x64-76% Wing Attack 2x47-55% Aerial Ace 2x47-55% | ||
 Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Drifblim builds →Fly 2x61-73% Acrobatics 2x38-45% Gust 2x40-48% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x47-55% Air Slash 2x81-96% Air Cutter 2x66-78% Gust 2x45-53% | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x81-96% Air Slash 2x57-68% Air Cutter 2x47-55% Gust 2x32-38% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Corviknight builds →Fly 2x65-77% Drill Peck 2x59-70% Air Slash 2x51-60% Pluck 2x45-53% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x68-80% Bounce 2x65-77% Rock Slide 2x38-45% Wing Attack 2x47-56% | ||
Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Drifblim builds →Fly 2x61-73% Acrobatics 2x39-46% Gust 2x41-48% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x49-58% Air Slash 2x82-97% Air Cutter 2x68-80% Gust 2x45-53% | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x82-97% Air Slash 2x57-68% Air Cutter 2x47-56% Gust 2x32-39% | ||
 Ninetales Fire | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Ninetales builds →Fire Blast 2x100-118%KO Inferno 2x90-107%KO Flamethrower 2x83-98% Incinerate 2x56-67% | ||
 Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Arcanine builds →Burn Up 2x139-164%KO Flare Blitz 2x105-124%KO Flamethrower 2x96-113%KO Fire Fang 2x59-69% | ||
 Togekiss Fairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Togekiss builds →Sky Attack 2x67-80% Fly 2x45-53% Air Slash 2x94-111%KO Ancient Power 2x51-61% | ||
 Noivern Dragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Noivern builds →Fly 2x56-67% Air Slash 2x79-93% Wing Attack 2x39-47% Air Cutter 2x64-76% | ||
 Coalossal RockFire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Coalossal builds →Rock Slide 2x53-62% Ancient Power 2x54-64% Incinerate 2x54-64% Rock Tomb 2x43-51% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Celesteela threatens a KO with Air Slash (117-138%). Nihilego's Power Gem also KOs at 121-143%.
 Heatran FireSteel | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
 Celesteela Steel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Celesteela builds →Flamethrower 2x93-110%KO Air Slash 2x117-138%KO | ||
 Nihilego RockPoison | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Nihilego builds →Power Gem 2x121-143%KO | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySpeed Boost ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Blaziken builds →Close Combat38-44% Flare Blitz 2x151-177%KO | ||
Sword & Shield 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 5 egg moves worth looking into. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Pinsir easily with 47 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Feint, Flail, Fury Attack and 2 more to offspring.
Sword & Shield 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 Moxie 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 Feint and Flail from the egg pool give Pinsir something extra. Pair those with X-Scissor and Bug Bite 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
Sword & Shield Pinsir Locations
Pinsir sits at moderate rates across 9 spots in early-game routes. Pick one from the sorted list and commit to it. Jumping between areas wastes more time than waiting in the right location.
Best Locations to Catch Pinsir in Sword & Shield
Catching Pinsir takes patience. The 9 walking encounters at Lv. 13-18 all have low spawn rates, so pick one location and stay put for the best odds.
Pinsir Guide
In Sword & Shield, 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 Sword & Shield, but Pinsir does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Pinsir hits 600 BST.
In Sword & Shield, 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