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 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 |
 Fennekin Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodAquacorde Town Gift | ||
 Combee Bug | D | |
 Pansear Fire | D | |
 Fletchling Normal | D | |
 Pidgey Normal | D | |
 Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x61-73% Pluck 2x61-73% Ancient Power 2x56-68% Aerial Ace 2x61-73% | ||
 Shieldon RockSteel | D | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift | ||
 Drifloon Ghost | D | |
 Woobat Psychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Woobat builds →Aerial Ace 2x32-39% Gust 2x32-39% | ||
Pansear Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Pansear builds →Incinerate 2x45-53% Rock Tomb 2x24-29% Flame Charge 2x32-39% | ||
 Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Hawlucha builds →Bounce 2x66-77% Wing Attack 2x46-55% Aerial Ace 2x46-55% Rock Tomb 2x30-37% | ||
 Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Carbink builds →Ancient Power 2x41-48% Rock Tomb 2x30-35% Rock Throw 2x27-32% Smack Down 2x27-32% | ||
 Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Air Cutter 2x66-77% Aerial Ace 2x35-42% Gust 2x46-55% | ||
 Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x41-48% Acrobatics 2x38-45% | ||
Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Archen builds →Wing Attack 2x55-65% Pluck 2x55-65% Ancient Power 2x52-61% Aerial Ace 2x55-65% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x76-90% Fire Fang 2x38-45% Wing Attack 2x52-61% Ancient Power 2x46-55% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x68-81% Bounce 2x66-77% Wing Attack 2x46-55% Aerial Ace 2x46-55% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Carbink builds →Ancient Power 2x41-48% Rock Tomb 2x30-35% Rock Throw 2x27-32% Smack Down 2x27-32% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x48-58% Air Cutter 2x66-77% Aerial Ace 2x35-42% Gust 2x46-55% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x41-48% Acrobatics 2x38-45% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x76-90% Fire Fang 2x38-45% Wing Attack 2x52-61% Ancient Power 2x46-55% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x68-81% Bounce 2x66-77% Wing Attack 2x46-55% Aerial Ace 2x46-55% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Carbink builds →Ancient Power 2x41-48% Rock Tomb 2x30-35% Rock Throw 2x27-32% Smack Down 2x27-32% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x48-58% Air Cutter 2x66-77% Aerial Ace 2x35-42% Gust 2x46-55% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x41-48% Acrobatics 2x38-45% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Fly 2x77-91% Fire Fang 2x39-46% Wing Attack 2x53-63% Ancient Power 2x47-55% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Hawlucha builds →Fly 2x70-83% Bounce 2x67-80% Wing Attack 2x49-58% Aerial Ace 2x49-58% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Carbink builds →Ancient Power 2x39-47% Rock Tomb 2x30-36% Rock Throw 2x26-30% Smack Down 2x26-30% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x49-58% Air Cutter 2x70-83% Aerial Ace 2x35-41% Gust 2x47-55% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x41-50% Acrobatics 2x37-44% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Stone Edge 2x87-103%KO Fly 2x78-92% Fire Fang 2x39-46% Wing Attack 2x54-63% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Carbink builds →Stone Edge 2x51-61% Ancient Power 2x39-47% Rock Tomb 2x31-37% Rock Throw 2x26-32% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x51-61% Air Cutter 2x69-82% Aerial Ace 2x35-42% Gust 2x46-55% | ||
Emolga Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Emolga builds →Aerial Ace 2x42-50% Acrobatics 2x38-45% | ||
 Chatot Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Chatot builds →Fly 2x55-66% Chatter 2x69-82% Aerial Ace 2x38-45% Peck 2x22-26% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Hawlucha builds →Sky Attack 2x107-126%KO Stone Edge 2x52-61% Fly 2x69-81% Bounce 2x65-77% | ||
Carbink RockFairy | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Carbink builds →Stone Edge 2x49-58% Power Gem 2x52-62% Rock Slide 2x38-45% Ancient Power 2x40-47% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Sky Attack 2x76-90% Fly 2x49-58% Air Slash 2x85-101%KO Air Cutter 2x69-81% | ||
 Heatmor Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Heatmor builds →Fire Blast 2x125-148%KO Flamethrower 2x104-122%KO Flame Burst 2x80-94% Incinerate 2x69-81% | ||
 Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Fire Blast 2x105-124%KO Stone Edge 2x49-57% Flamethrower 2x87-103%KO Lava Plume 2x78-92% | ||
In X & Y, 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% | ||
X & Y 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.
X & Y 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
X & Y Pinsir Locations
Finding Pinsir at moderate rates takes patience. 2 spots are available in mid-game routes, but the rate difference between them matters. Lock in the top one from the sorted list below.
Best Locations to Catch Pinsir in X & Y
Pinsir Guide
In X & Y, 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 X & Y, 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 X & Y, 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