Playthrough tier listPlatinum

Best Bug Pokémon in Platinum

Heracross and Pinsir (post-game) lead the 36 Bug Pokémon for beating Platinum.

36gradedNov 11, 2026updated
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  • Post-game
  • Trade to evolve
Rapid gradeTap a tier to start your own list · 36 Pokémon
STop2 PokémonCarries a Platinum run against most of the bossesClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
HeracrossHeracross
PinsirPinsirPost-game
Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade
AStrong1 PokémonA strong pick for most of the game
ArmaldoArmaldoPost-game · Fossil
BSolid4 PokémonDoes the job with some help
ScizorScizorTrade to evolve
NinjaskNinjaskPost-game
YanmegaYanmega
ParasectParasectPost-game
CSituational7 PokémonStruggles against several bosses
MasquerainMasquerainPost-game
VenomothVenomothPost-game
IllumiseIllumisePost-game
VolbeatVolbeatPost-game
AriadosAriadosPost-game
BeautiflyBeautifly
AnorithAnorithPost-game · Fossil
DBottom22 PokémonHard to use for beating the game
MothimMothim
LedianLedianPost-game
ShedinjaShedinjaPost-game
KricketuneKricketune
VespiquenVespiquen
WormadamWormadam
DustoxDustox
ScytherScyther
NincadaNincadaPost-game
YanmaYanma
ParasParasPost-game
SurskitSurskitPost-game
VenonatVenonatPost-game
SpinarakSpinarakPost-game
SilcoonSilcoon
WurmpleWurmple
SkorupiSkorupi
BurmyBurmy
LedybaLedybaPost-game
KricketotKricketot
CombeeCombee
CascoonCascoon

What each tier means

  • STop Carries a Platinum 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 Platinum, Heracross does well in 7 of the 13 boss fights, Roark to Cynthia, and 4 fights have no Bug answer.

Is Heracross the Bug Pokémon to raise, or is Yanmega better?

Raise Heracross, with 7 of 13 fights, starting with Gardenia; Yanmega does well in 5 fights.

A filled box is a fight the pick does well in: Heracross has 7 of 13, first at Gardenia.

Gym 1, RoarkGym 2, GardeniaGym 3, FantinaGym 4, MayleneGym 5, Crasher WakeGym 6, ByronGym 7, CandiceGym 8, VolknerElite Four, AaronElite Four, BerthaElite Four, FlintElite Four, LucianChampion, Cynthia
  • HeracrossGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: does wellGym 3 Fantina: no clear edgeGym 4 Maylene: does wellGym 5 Crasher Wake: no clear edgeGym 6 Byron: does wellGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: does wellAaron: does wellBertha: no clear edgeFlint: no clear edgeLucian: does wellCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 1Floaroma MeadowHoney Tree
    Not yet: RoarkDoes wellGardeniaMayleneByronCandiceVolknerAaronLucianNo clear edgeFantina, Crasher Wake, Bertha, Flint, Cynthia
  • YanmegaGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: not on your team yetGym 3 Fantina: not on your team yetGym 4 Maylene: not on your team yetGym 5 Crasher Wake: does wellGym 6 Byron: has troubleGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: no clear edgeAaron: does wellBertha: does wellFlint: no clear edgeLucian: does wellCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 4YanmaGreat Marsh area 525% of encounters except at night#183YanmaKnows AncientPower#184Yanmegafinal form by Crasher Wake
    Not yet: Roark to MayleneDoes wellCrasher WakeCandiceAaronBerthaLucianHas troubleByronNo clear edgeVolkner, Flint, Cynthia
  • BeautiflyGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: does wellGym 3 Fantina: no clear edgeGym 4 Maylene: no clear edgeGym 5 Crasher Wake: no clear edgeGym 6 Byron: has troubleGym 7 Candice: no clear edgeGym 8 Volkner: has troubleAaron: no clear edgeBertha: does wellFlint: has troubleLucian: does wellCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 1WurmpleRoute 204 south10% of encounters except at night#048WurmpleLevel 7 (Random)#049SilcoonLevel 10#050Beautiflyfinal form by Gardeniaabout half of Wurmple
    Not yet: RoarkDoes wellGardeniaBerthaLucianHas troubleByron, Volkner, FlintNo clear edgeFantina, Maylene, Crasher Wake, Candice, Aaron, Cynthia
  • MothimGym 1 Roark: not on your team yetGym 2 Gardenia: does wellGym 3 Fantina: has troubleGym 4 Maylene: no clear edgeGym 5 Crasher Wake: no clear edgeGym 6 Byron: has troubleGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: has troubleAaron: no clear edgeBertha: does wellFlint: has troubleLucian: no clear edgeCynthia: no clear edgeAfter badge 1BurmyFloaroma MeadowHoney Tree#045BurmyLevel 20 ♂#047Mothimfinal form by Gardenia
    Not yet: RoarkDoes wellGardeniaCandiceBerthaHas troubleFantina, Byron, Volkner, FlintNo clear edgeMaylene, Crasher Wake, Aaron, Lucian, Cynthia
  • KricketuneGym 1 Roark: no clear edgeGym 2 Gardenia: does wellGym 3 Fantina: has troubleGym 4 Maylene: no clear edgeGym 5 Crasher Wake: no clear edgeGym 6 Byron: no clear edgeGym 7 Candice: does wellGym 8 Volkner: no clear edgeAaron: has troubleBertha: no clear edgeFlint: has troubleLucian: does wellCynthia: has troubleFrom the startKricketotRoute 20110% of encounters except by day#015KricketotLevel 10#016Kricketunefinal form by Roark
    Does wellGardeniaCandiceLucianHas troubleFantina, Aaron, Flint, CynthiaNo clear edgeRoark, Maylene, Crasher Wake, Byron, Volkner, Bertha
NextWormadam 3Scizor 3Vespiquen 2

Best pair

Heracross + Wormadam9/13 togetherevery fight a Bug pick wins

After the creditsOnly after you beat CynthiaCounted in no fight

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

From Roark to Cynthia, which fights have no Bug answer?

Roark, Fantina, Flint and Cynthia have no Bug answer.

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

Gyms

  1. Closest: Kricketune

    Team

    1. GeodudeLv 12RockGround
    2. OnixLv 12RockGround
    3. CranidosLv 14RockAce

    No clear edge (1)Kricketune

    Full fight

  2. Heracross+5 more

    Team

    1. TurtwigLv 20Grass
    2. CherrimLv 20Grass
    3. RoseradeLv 22GrassPoisonAce

    Does well (6)HeracrossMoves: Aerial AceBeautiflyMoves: GustKricketuneMoves: Leech LifeMothimMoves: Bug BiteVespiquenas CombeeMoves: Bug Bite and GustDustoxMoves: Poison Sting and Gust

    No clear edge (1)Wormadam

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Beautifly

    Team

    1. DuskullLv 24Ghost
    2. HaunterLv 24GhostPoison
    3. MismagiusLv 26GhostAce

    No clear edge (4)BeautiflyVespiquenHeracrossWormadam

    Has trouble (3)MothimKricketuneDustox

    Full fight

  4. Heracross+1 more

    Team

    1. MedititeLv 28FightingPsychic
    2. MachokeLv 29Fighting
    3. LucarioLv 32FightingSteelAce

    Does well (2)HeracrossMoves: Aerial Ace and Focus BlastScizor Trade to evolveMoves: Aerial Ace and Brick Break

    No clear edge (6)MothimVespiquenBeautiflyKricketuneWormadamDustox

    Full fight

  5. Yanmega+1 more

    Team

    1. GyaradosLv 33WaterFlying
    2. QuagsireLv 34WaterGround
    3. FloatzelLv 37WaterAce

    Does well (2)YanmegaMoves: Ancient Power and Solar BeamWormadamMoves: Solar Beam

    No clear edge (7)MothimBeautiflyHeracrossDustoxScizor Trade to evolveVespiquenKricketune

    Full fight

  6. Heracross

    Team

    1. MagnetonLv 37ElectricSteel
    2. SteelixLv 38SteelGround
    3. BastiodonLv 41RockSteelAce

    Does well (1)HeracrossMoves: Earthquake and Close Combat

    No clear edge (2)Scizor Trade to evolveKricketune

    Has trouble (6)YanmegaBeautiflyMothimWormadamVespiquenDustox

    Full fight

  7. Heracross+4 more

    Team

    1. SneaselLv 40DarkIce
    2. PiloswineLv 40IceGround
    3. AbomasnowLv 42GrassIce
    4. FroslassLv 44IceGhostAce

    Does well (5)HeracrossMoves: Focus Punch, Fury Cutter and Night SlashScizor Trade to evolveMoves: Brick Break, Flash Cannon and X-ScissorYanmegaMoves: U-turn, Solar Beam and ThiefKricketuneMoves: Brick Break, Leech Life and Night SlashMothimMoves: U-turn, Solar Beam and Thief

    No clear edge (4)BeautiflyVespiquenWormadamDustox

    Full fight

  8. Heracross

    Team

    1. JolteonLv 46Electric
    2. RaichuLv 46Electric
    3. LuxrayLv 48Electric
    4. ElectivireLv 50ElectricAce

    Does well (1)HeracrossMoves: Earthquake

    No clear edge (4)Scizor Trade to evolveYanmegaVespiquenKricketune

    Has trouble (4)BeautiflyMothimWormadamDustox

    Full fight

League

  1. Heracross+1 more

    Team

    1. YanmegaLv 49BugFlying
    2. ScizorLv 49BugSteel
    3. VespiquenLv 50BugFlying
    4. HeracrossLv 51BugFighting
    5. DrapionLv 53PoisonDarkAce

    Does well (2)HeracrossMoves: Stone Edge, Focus Punch and Aerial AceYanmegaMoves: Ancient Power, Aerial Ace and U-turn

    No clear edge (4)Scizor Trade to evolveVespiquenMothimBeautifly

    Has trouble (3)KricketuneWormadamDustox

    Full fight

  2. Yanmega+3 more

    Team

    1. WhiscashLv 50WaterGround
    2. GliscorLv 53GroundFlying
    3. HippowdonLv 52Ground
    4. GolemLv 52RockGround
    5. RhyperiorLv 55GroundRockAce

    Does well (4)YanmegaMoves: Solar Beam and Aerial AceWormadamMoves: Leaf StormMothimMoves: Solar Beam and Air SlashBeautiflyMoves: Solar Beam and Aerial Ace

    No clear edge (4)HeracrossScizor Trade to evolveDustoxKricketune

    Has trouble (1)Vespiquen

    Full fight

  3. Closest: Heracross

    Team

    1. HoundoomLv 52DarkFire
    2. FlareonLv 55Fire
    3. RapidashLv 53Fire
    4. InfernapeLv 55FireFighting
    5. MagmortarLv 57FireAce

    No clear edge (2)HeracrossYanmega

    Has trouble (7)BeautiflyMothimKricketuneWormadamScizor Trade to evolveVespiquenDustox

    Full fight

  4. Heracross+6 more

    Team

    1. Mr MimeLv 53Psychic
    2. EspeonLv 55Psychic
    3. BronzongLv 54SteelPsychic
    4. AlakazamLv 56Psychic
    5. GalladeLv 59PsychicFightingAce

    Does well (7)HeracrossMoves: Megahorn and Aerial AceScizor Trade to evolveMoves: X-Scissor and Aerial AceYanmegaMoves: Bug Buzz and Air SlashVespiquenMoves: Attack Order and Aerial AceKricketuneMoves: Bug Buzz and Aerial AceWormadamMoves: Bug Bite and Shadow BallBeautiflyMoves: Bug Buzz and Aerial Ace

    No clear edge (2)MothimDustox

    Full fight

  5. Closest: Heracross

    Team

    1. SpiritombLv 58GhostDark
    2. RoseradeLv 58GrassPoison
    3. TogekissLv 60NormalFlying
    4. LucarioLv 60FightingSteel
    5. MiloticLv 58Water
    6. GarchompLv 62DragonGroundAce

    No clear edge (6)HeracrossYanmegaScizor Trade to evolveVespiquenBeautiflyMothim

    Has trouble (3)KricketuneWormadamDustox

    Full fight

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