Playthrough tier listDiamond & Pearl

Best Bug Pokémon in Diamond & Pearl

Scizor (Diamond, post-game, evolves by trade holding a Metal Coat), Pinsir (Pearl, post-game) and Heracross lead the 36 Bug Pokémon for beating Diamond and Pearl.

36gradedNov 11, 2026updated

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Post-game

Rapid gradeTap a tier to start your own list · 36 Pokémon

STop3 PokémonCarries a Diamond & Pearl run against most of the bossesClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade

ScizorPost-game · Diamond only · Trade to evolve

PinsirPost-game · Pearl only

Heracross

Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade

AStrong2 PokémonA strong pick for most of the game

YanmegaPost-game

ArmaldoPost-game · Fossil

BSolid5 PokémonDoes the job with some help

NinjaskPost-game

VenomothPost-game

ParasectPost-game

IllumisePost-game

VolbeatPost-game

CSituational9 PokémonStruggles against several bosses

Beautifly

MasquerainPost-game

Mothim

AriadosPost-game

LedianPost-game

Kricketune

ScytherPost-game · Diamond only

YanmaPost-game

AnorithPost-game · Fossil

DBottom17 PokémonHard to use for beating the game

ShedinjaPost-game

Vespiquen

Wormadam

Dustox

NincadaPost-game

VenonatPost-game

ParasPost-game

Silcoon

Wurmple

SurskitPost-game

Burmy

SpinarakPost-game

LedybaPost-game

Skorupi

Kricketot

Combee

Cascoon

What each tier means

STop Carries a Diamond & Pearl run against most of the bosses
AStrong A strong pick for most of the game
BSolid Does the job with some help
CSituational Struggles against several bosses
DBottom Hard to use for beating the game

2 reads blended into one listreblend in Showing36/ 36

Board breakdown

Among Bug Pokémon in Diamond and Pearl, Heracross does well in 10 of the 13 boss fights, Roark to Cynthia, 2 fights have no Bug answer, and both versions play out the same.

With Scizor (Diamond) out of reach until the credits, which Bug pick should you raise?

Take Heracross, which handles 10 of 13 fights, starting with Gardenia.

A filled box is a fight the pick does well in: Heracross has 10 of 13, first at Gardenia.

Gym 1, Roark

Gym 2, Gardenia

Gym 3, Maylene

Gym 4, Crasher Wake

Gym 5, Fantina

Gym 6, Byron

Gym 7, Candice

Gym 8, Volkner

Elite Four, Aaron

Elite Four, Bertha

Elite Four, Flint

Elite Four, Lucian

Champion, Cynthia

HeracrossGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: does wellGym 3 Maylene: does wellGym 4 Crasher Wake: no clear edgeGym 5 Fantina: no clear edgeGym 6 Byron: does wellGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: does wellAaron: does wellBertha: does wellFlint: does wellLucian: does wellCynthia: does wellAfter badge 1Route 205 northHoney Tree
Not yet: RoarkDoes wellGardeniaMayleneByronCandiceVolknerAaronBerthaFlintLucianCynthiaNo clear edgeCrasher Wake, Fantina
BeautiflyGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: does wellGym 3 Maylene: does wellGym 4 Crasher Wake: does wellGym 5 Fantina: no clear edgeGym 6 Byron: has troubleGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: no clear edgeAaron: no clear edgeBertha: does wellFlint: no clear edgeLucian: does wellCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 1WurmpleRoute 205 northHoney Tree#048WurmpleLevel 7 (Random)#049SilcoonLevel 10#050Beautiflyfinal form by Gardeniaabout half of Wurmple
Not yet: RoarkDoes wellGardeniaMayleneCrasher WakeCandiceBerthaLucianHas troubleByronNo clear edgeFantina, Volkner, Aaron, Flint, Cynthia
MothimGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: no clear edgeGym 3 Maylene: does wellGym 4 Crasher Wake: does wellGym 5 Fantina: no clear edgeGym 6 Byron: has troubleGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: no clear edgeAaron: no clear edgeBertha: does wellFlint: no clear edgeLucian: does wellCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 1BurmyRoute 205 northHoney Tree#045BurmyLevel 20 ♂#047Mothimfinal form by Gardenia
Not yet: RoarkDoes wellMayleneCrasher WakeCandiceBerthaLucianHas troubleByronNo clear edgeGardenia, Fantina, Volkner, Aaron, Flint, Cynthia
VespiquenGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: does wellGym 3 Maylene: does wellGym 4 Crasher Wake: no clear edgeGym 5 Fantina: no clear edgeGym 6 Byron: has troubleGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: no clear edgeAaron: does wellBertha: no clear edgeFlint: no clear edgeLucian: does wellCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 1CombeeRoute 205 northHoney Tree#053CombeeLevel 21 ♀#054Vespiquenfinal form by Maylene
Not yet: RoarkDoes wellGardeniaMayleneCandiceAaronLucianHas troubleByronNo clear edgeCrasher Wake, Fantina, Volkner, Bertha, Flint, Cynthia
KricketuneGym 1 Roark: no clear edgeGym 2 Gardenia: does wellGym 3 Maylene: no clear edgeGym 4 Crasher Wake: no clear edgeGym 5 Fantina: has troubleGym 6 Byron: no clear edgeGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: no clear edgeAaron: no clear edgeBertha: no clear edgeFlint: has troubleLucian: does wellCynthia: no clear edgeFrom the startKricketotRoute 20220% of encounters at night#015KricketotLevel 10#016Kricketunefinal form by Roark
Does wellGardeniaCandiceLucianHas troubleFantina, FlintNo clear edgeRoark, Maylene, Crasher Wake, Byron, Volkner, Aaron, Bertha, Cynthia
DustoxGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: does wellGym 3 Maylene: no clear edgeGym 4 Crasher Wake: no clear edgeGym 5 Fantina: has troubleGym 6 Byron: no clear edgeGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: no clear edgeAaron: no clear edgeBertha: does wellFlint: has troubleLucian: no clear edgeCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 1WurmpleRoute 205 northHoney Tree#048WurmpleLevel 7 (Random)#051CascoonLevel 10#052Dustoxfinal form by Gardeniaabout half of Wurmple
Not yet: RoarkDoes wellGardeniaCandiceBerthaHas troubleFantina, FlintNo clear edgeMaylene, Crasher Wake, Byron, Volkner, Aaron, Lucian, Cynthia
WormadamGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: has troubleGym 3 Maylene: no clear edgeGym 4 Crasher Wake: does wellGym 5 Fantina: no clear edgeGym 6 Byron: no clear edgeGym 7 Candice: has troubleGym 8 Volkner: no clear edgeAaron: has troubleBertha: does wellFlint: has troubleLucian: no clear edgeCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 1BurmyRoute 205 northHoney Tree#045BurmyLevel 20 ♀#046Wormadamfinal form by Gardenia
Not yet: RoarkDoes wellCrasher WakeBerthaHas troubleGardenia, Candice, Aaron, FlintNo clear edgeMaylene, Fantina, Byron, Volkner, Lucian, Cynthia

NextDustox 3Wormadam 2

Best pair

Heracross + Beautifly11/13 togetherevery fight a Bug pick wins

After the creditsOnly after you beat CynthiaCounted in no fight

ScizorAfter the Hall of Fame
PinsirAfter the Hall of Fame
YanmegaAfter the Hall of Fame
ArmaldoAfter the Hall of Fame
NinjaskAfter the Hall of Fame
VenomothAfter the Hall of Fame
ParasectAfter the Hall of Fame
IllumiseAfter the Hall of Fame
VolbeatAfter the Hall of Fame
MasquerainAfter the Hall of Fame
AriadosAfter the Hall of Fame
LedianAfter the Hall of Fame
ShedinjaAfter the Hall of Fame

Which gym leaders, up to the Champion, have no Bug answer?

Bug has no answer you can get for Roark and Fantina.

The best Bug pick you can have by each fight, Roark to Cynthia. First with none: Roark.

Gyms

Closest: Kricketune
Team
1. GeodudeLv 12RockGround
2. OnixLv 12RockGround
3. CranidosLv 14RockAce
No clear edge (1)Kricketune
Full fight
Heracross+4 more
Team
1. CherubiLv 19Grass
2. TurtwigLv 19Grass
3. RoseradeLv 22GrassPoisonAce
Does well (5)HeracrossMoves: Aerial AceBeautiflyMoves: GustKricketuneMoves: Leech LifeVespiquenas CombeeMoves: GustDustoxMoves: Gust
No clear edge (1)Mothim
Has trouble (1)Wormadam
Full fight
Heracross+3 more
Team
1. MedititeLv 27FightingPsychic
2. MachokeLv 27Fighting
3. LucarioLv 30FightingSteelAce
Does well (4)HeracrossMoves: Aerial Ace and Focus BlastMothimMoves: Aerial AceBeautiflyMoves: Aerial AceVespiquenMoves: Aerial Ace
No clear edge (3)KricketuneWormadamDustox
Full fight
Beautifly+2 more
Team
1. GyaradosLv 27WaterFlying
2. QuagsireLv 27WaterGround
3. FloatzelLv 30WaterAce
Does well (3)BeautiflyMoves: Aerial Ace and Solar BeamWormadamMoves: Solar BeamMothimMoves: Aerial Ace and Solar Beam
No clear edge (4)DustoxHeracrossVespiquenKricketune
Full fight
Closest: Vespiquen
Team
1. DrifblimLv 32GhostFlying
2. GengarLv 34GhostPoison
3. MismagiusLv 36GhostAce
No clear edge (5)VespiquenMothimHeracrossBeautiflyWormadam
Has trouble (2)KricketuneDustox
Full fight
Heracross
Team
1. BronzorLv 36SteelPsychic
2. SteelixLv 36SteelGround
3. BastiodonLv 39RockSteelAce
Does well (1)HeracrossMoves: Close Combat
No clear edge (3)KricketuneWormadamDustox
Has trouble (3)BeautiflyMothimVespiquen
Full fight
Heracross+5 more
Team
1. SnoverLv 38GrassIce
2. SneaselLv 38DarkIce
3. MedichamLv 40FightingPsychic
4. AbomasnowLv 42GrassIceAce
Does well (6)HeracrossMoves: Focus Punch and Aerial AceKricketuneMoves: Bug Buzz, Brick Break and Aerial AceVespiquenMoves: Attack Order and Aerial AceMothimMoves: U-turn and Aerial AceBeautiflyMoves: U-turn and Aerial AceDustoxMoves: U-turn and Aerial Ace
Has trouble (1)Wormadam
Full fight
Heracross
Team
1. RaichuLv 46Electric
2. AmbipomLv 47Normal
3. OctilleryLv 47Water
4. LuxrayLv 49ElectricAce
Does well (1)HeracrossMoves: Earthquake and Focus Punch
No clear edge (6)WormadamKricketuneDustoxBeautiflyVespiquenMothim
Full fight

League

Heracross+1 more
Team
1. DustoxLv 53BugPoison
2. BeautiflyLv 53BugFlying
3. VespiquenLv 54BugFlying
4. HeracrossLv 54BugFighting
5. DrapionLv 57PoisonDarkAce
Does well (2)HeracrossMoves: Aerial Ace, Stone Edge and EarthquakeVespiquenMoves: Aerial Ace, Power Gem and Attack Order
No clear edge (4)MothimBeautiflyKricketuneDustox
Has trouble (1)Wormadam
Full fight
Heracross+4 more
Team
1. QuagsireLv 55WaterGround
2. SudowoodoLv 56Rock
3. GolemLv 56RockGround
4. WhiscashLv 55WaterGround
5. HippowdonLv 59GroundAce
Does well (5)HeracrossMoves: Megahorn and Focus PunchWormadamMoves: Leaf StormBeautiflyMoves: Solar BeamMothimMoves: Solar BeamDustoxMoves: Solar Beam
No clear edge (2)KricketuneVespiquen
Full fight
Heracross
Team
1. RapidashLv 58Fire
2. SteelixLv 57SteelGround
3. DrifblimLv 58GhostFlying
4. LopunnyLv 57Normal
5. InfernapeLv 61FireFightingAce
Does well (1)HeracrossMoves: Earthquake, Focus Punch and Night Slash
No clear edge (3)MothimVespiquenBeautifly
Has trouble (3)KricketuneDustoxWormadam
Full fight
Heracross+4 more
Team
1. Mr MimeLv 59Psychic
2. GirafarigLv 59NormalPsychic
3. MedichamLv 60FightingPsychic
4. AlakazamLv 60Psychic
5. BronzongLv 63SteelPsychicAce
Does well (5)HeracrossMoves: Megahorn and Aerial AceVespiquenMoves: Attack Order and Aerial AceKricketuneMoves: Bug Buzz and Aerial AceBeautiflyMoves: Bug Buzz and Aerial AceMothimMoves: Bug Buzz and Air Slash
No clear edge (2)DustoxWormadam
Full fight
Heracross
Team
1. SpiritombLv 61GhostDark
2. RoseradeLv 60GrassPoison
3. GastrodonLv 60WaterGround
4. LucarioLv 63FightingSteel
5. MiloticLv 63Water
6. GarchompLv 66DragonGroundAce
Does well (1)HeracrossMoves: Megahorn, Aerial Ace and Focus Punch
No clear edge (6)BeautiflyMothimVespiquenWormadamKricketuneDustox
Full fight