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.
Its two long pincer horns are powerful. Once they grip an enemy, they won’t release until the foe is torn.
If it fails to crush the foe in its pincers, it will swing around and toss the opponent.
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
 Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
 Pidgey Normal | D | |
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x49-59% Rock Throw 2x39-47% | ||
 Spearow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Spearow builds →Aerial Ace 2x39-47% Peck 2x24-29% | ||
Pidgey Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Pidgey builds →Aerial Ace 2x33-41% Gust 2x24-29% | ||
 Zubat Poison | D | |
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Charmander builds →Aerial Ace 2x25-31% Ember 2x33-41% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Geodude builds →Rock Tomb 2x49-59% Rock Throw 2x39-47% | ||
Spearow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Spearow builds →Aerial Ace 2x39-47% Peck 2x24-29% | ||
Pidgey Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Pidgey builds →Aerial Ace 2x33-41% Gust 2x24-29% | ||
Zubat Poison | D | |
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Charmander builds →Aerial Ace 2x25-31% Ember 2x33-41% | ||
 Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x53-64% Aerial Ace 2x53-64% | ||
 Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Flamethrower 2x74-88% Aerial Ace 2x26-31% Ember 2x35-42% | ||
Charmander Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Charmander builds →Flamethrower 2x66-78% Aerial Ace 2x21-26% Ember 2x33-39% | ||
 Vulpix Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Vulpix builds →Flamethrower 2x60-71% Ember 2x29-35% | ||
Spearow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Spearow builds →Aerial Ace 2x35-42% Peck 2x24-28% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x55-66% Aerial Ace 2x55-66% | ||
 Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Fearow builds →Fly 2x69-81% Aerial Ace 2x47-56% Peck 2x29-34% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Flamethrower 2x76-91% Flame Wheel 2x53-63% Aerial Ace 2x26-31% Ember 2x36-44% | ||
 Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Pidgeotto builds →Fly 2x53-63% Wing Attack 2x36-44% Aerial Ace 2x36-44% Gust 2x26-31% | ||
 Doduo Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Doduo builds →Fly 2x66-78% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% Peck 2x29-34% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x55-66% Aerial Ace 2x55-66% | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Fearow builds →Fly 2x69-81% Aerial Ace 2x47-56% Peck 2x29-34% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Flamethrower 2x76-91% Flame Wheel 2x53-63% Aerial Ace 2x26-31% Ember 2x36-44% | ||
Pidgeotto Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Pidgeotto builds →Fly 2x53-63% Wing Attack 2x36-44% Aerial Ace 2x36-44% Gust 2x26-31% | ||
Doduo Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Doduo builds →Fly 2x66-78% Aerial Ace 2x45-53% Peck 2x29-34% | ||
 Articuno Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Articuno builds →Fly 2x64-75% Aerial Ace 2x44-52% Gust 2x30-36% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x52-61% Aerial Ace 2x52-61% | ||
Fearow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Fearow builds →Fly 2x67-80% Drill Peck 2x60-70% Aerial Ace 2x46-55% Peck 2x27-32% | ||
 Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 2x40-48% Air Cutter 2x40-48% Aerial Ace 2x40-48% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Overheat 2x104-123%KO Fire Blast 2x89-105%KO Flamethrower 2x73-86% Flame Wheel 2x50-59% | ||
 Zapdos Electric | S | |
Obtain MethodPower Plant Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Zapdos builds →Fly 2x69-81% Drill Peck 2x61-73% Aerial Ace 2x47-56% Peck 2x29-34% | ||
 Moltres Fire | B | |
Obtain MethodMt Ember Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Moltres builds →Overheat 2x171-201%KO Fire Blast 2x144-169%KO Flamethrower 2x118-139%KO Fly 2x74-88% | ||
Articuno Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Articuno builds →Fly 2x65-77% Aerial Ace 2x45-54% Gust 2x31-36% | ||
 Rapidash Fire | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Rapidash builds →Overheat 2x118-139%KO Fire Blast 2x100-118%KO Flamethrower 2x84-99% Bounce 2x47-56% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Obtain MethodCeladon City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 2x54-64% Aerial Ace 2x54-64% | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, 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 | ||
FireRed & LeafGreen 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.
FireRed & LeafGreen 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 Bug STAB 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
FireRed & LeafGreen Pinsir Locations
Pinsir sits at moderate rates across 3 spots in mid-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 FireRed & LeafGreen
Catching Pinsir takes patience. The 3 walking and gift encounters at Lv. 18-28 all have low spawn rates, so pick one location and stay put for the best odds.
Pinsir Guide
In FireRed & LeafGreen, 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 FireRed & LeafGreen, but Pinsir does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Pinsir hits 600 BST.
In FireRed & LeafGreen, 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