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.
Their pincers are strong enough to shatter thick logs. Because they dislike cold, PINSIR burrow and sleep under the ground on chilly nights.
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 |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
 Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodLittleroot Town Gift | ||
 Taillow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Taillow builds →Wing Attack 2x41-49% Peck 2x24-31% | ||
 Wingull Water | D | |
 Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Torchic Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torchic builds →Rock Tomb 2x27-33% Ember 2x41-49% | ||
 Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Air Cutter 2x45-53% Peck 2x26-32% | ||
 Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Flamethrower 2x86-102%KO Ember 2x41-49% Fire Spin 2x35-42% | ||
 Swellow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Swellow builds →Wing Attack 2x45-53% Peck 2x29-35% | ||
 Golbat Poison | D | |
 Aron SteelRock | D | |
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Air Cutter 2x44-53% Peck 2x28-33% | ||
Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x124-147%KO Flamethrower 2x88-103%KO Ember 2x39-47% Fire Spin 2x37-43% | ||
Swellow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Swellow builds →Wing Attack 2x44-53% Peck 2x28-33% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Aron SteelRock | D | |
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x64-75% Air Cutter 2x45-53% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% Peck 2x26-31% | ||
Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x124-147%KO Flamethrower 2x88-103%KO Ember 2x40-47% Fire Spin 2x36-44% | ||
 Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tropius builds →Fly 2x58-69% Aerial Ace 2x40-47% Gust 2x26-31% | ||
Swellow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Swellow builds →Fly 2x66-78% Wing Attack 2x45-53% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% Peck 2x29-34% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 2x45-53% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% | ||
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x64-76% Air Cutter 2x45-53% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% Peck 2x26-32% | ||
 Dodrio Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Dodrio builds →Fly 2x82-97% Aerial Ace 2x55-66% Peck 2x33-39% | ||
 Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Xatu builds →Fly 2x60-71% Aerial Ace 2x42-50% Peck 2x26-32% | ||
Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x125-147%KO Fire Blast 2x107-126%KO Flamethrower 2x87-103%KO Ember 2x39-47% | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tropius builds →Fly 2x55-66% Aerial Ace 2x38-45% Gust 2x26-32% | ||
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Skarmory builds →Fly 2x64-76% Air Cutter 2x45-53% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% Peck 2x26-32% | ||
Dodrio Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Dodrio builds →Fly 2x82-97% Aerial Ace 2x55-66% Peck 2x33-39% | ||
Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Xatu builds →Fly 2x60-71% Aerial Ace 2x42-50% Peck 2x26-32% | ||
Torkoal Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Torkoal builds →Overheat 2x125-147%KO Fire Blast 2x107-126%KO Flamethrower 2x87-103%KO Ember 2x39-47% | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tropius builds →Fly 2x55-66% Aerial Ace 2x38-45% Gust 2x26-32% | ||
In Emerald, Aerodactyl's Rock Slide hits Pinsir for 84-99%. Charizard threatens a KO with Fire Blast (143-169%).
 Aerodactyl Rock | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRockhead ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake19-22% Rock Slide 2x84-99% Double Edge45-53% | ||
 Charizard Fire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemLeftovers NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Charizard builds →Fire Blast 2x143-169%KO | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Gyarados builds →Earthquake15-18% | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemSalacberry NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Blaziken builds →Fire Blast 2x116-136%KO | ||
Emerald 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 4 egg moves worth looking into. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Pinsir easily with 37 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like False Swipe, Feint Attack, Flail and 1 more to offspring.
Emerald Pinsir Best Moveset
Hypercutter isn't flashy, but it matters. Combined with Leftovers for passive recovery each turn and max Attack without Speed EVs, Pinsir fills the defensive wall slot reliably. Impish nature finishes the spread.
Best Build
Pinsir best EVs are Attack and Defense
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Brick Break
- Hidden Power Ghost
Recommended Teammates
Moves
The natural movepool does the job, but False Swipe and Feint Attack from the egg pool give Pinsir something extra. Pair those with Fury Cutter 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
Emerald Pinsir Locations
moderate rates is the best you'll get on Pinsir in mid-game routes. Use the sort toggle below. Best shows where the odds peak, Earliest shows where you can access it soonest in your playthrough.
Best Locations to Catch Pinsir in Emerald
Pinsir Guide
In Emerald, Mold Breaker changes the entire equation for Pinsir. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a wallbreaker. Earthquake with Leftovers is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Emerald, but Pinsir does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Pinsir hits 600 BST.
In Emerald, 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