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 powerful pincers and will not let go until the prey is torn in half.
It grips prey with its powerful pincers and will not let go until the prey is torn in half.
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 |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Tepig Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift | ||
 Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Flame Wheel 2x42-51% Flame Charge 2x34-41% Ember 2x37-46% | ||
Tepig Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Tepig builds →Flame Charge 2x34-41% Ember 2x29-36% | ||
 Pidove Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Pidove builds →Air Cutter 2x37-46% Gust 2x25-31% | ||
 Zubat Poison | D | |
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Obtain MethodRelic Castle Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Volcarona builds →Flame Charge 2x32-38% Gust 2x40-48% Ember 2x60-72% Fire Spin 2x51-61% | ||
 Braviary Normal | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Braviary builds →Wing Attack 2x60-72% Aerial Ace 2x60-72% Rock Tomb 2x40-48% Peck 2x38-44% | ||
 Mandibuzz Dark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Mandibuzz builds →Pluck 2x40-48% Rock Tomb 2x26-32% Gust 2x32-38% | ||
 Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Air Cutter 2x69-82% Gust 2x49-58% | ||
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Flame Burst 2x60-72% Fire Fang 2x43-51% Flame Wheel 2x40-48% Flame Charge 2x34-41% | ||
Braviary Normal | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Braviary builds →Fly 2x88-104%KO Wing Attack 2x59-70% Aerial Ace 2x59-70% Pluck 2x59-70% | ||
Mandibuzz Dark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Mandibuzz builds →Fly 2x54-64% Pluck 2x36-43% Rock Tomb 2x23-29% Incinerate 2x28-33% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x49-58% Air Cutter 2x67-80% Pluck 2x34-40% Smack Down 2x18-22% | ||
 Emolga Electric | C | |
Growlithe Fire | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Growlithe builds →Flamethrower 2x74-89% Flame Burst 2x59-70% Fire Fang 2x41-49% Flame Wheel 2x39-46% | ||
Braviary Normal | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Braviary builds →Fly 2x86-103%KO Rock Slide 2x49-58% Wing Attack 2x59-70% Aerial Ace 2x59-70% | ||
Mandibuzz Dark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Mandibuzz builds →Fly 2x52-62% Pluck 2x36-43% Rock Tomb 2x24-29% Aerial Ace 2x36-43% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x48-57% Air Cutter 2x66-78% Aerial Ace 2x34-41% Pluck 2x34-41% | ||
 Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Unfezant builds →Fly 2x82-97% Air Slash 2x59-70% Air Cutter 2x48-57% Aerial Ace 2x55-65% | ||
 Golbat Poison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Golbat builds →Fly 2x61-73% Wing Attack 2x41-49% Air Cutter 2x48-57% Aerial Ace 2x41-49% | ||
Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Obtain MethodRelic Castle Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Volcarona builds →Fire Blast 2x153-180%KO Fly 2x33-40% Incinerate 2x84-100%KO Aerial Ace 2x22-27% | ||
Braviary Normal | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Braviary builds →Fly 2x88-104%KO Air Slash 2x53-62% Rock Slide 2x49-58% Wing Attack 2x60-71% | ||
Mandibuzz Dark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Mandibuzz builds →Fly 2x53-62% Air Slash 2x53-62% Pluck 2x36-42% Rock Tomb 2x24-28% | ||
 Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Sigilyph builds →Fly 2x49-58% Air Slash 2x83-98% Air Cutter 2x67-80% Aerial Ace 2x33-40% | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | A | |
Obtain MethodRoute 22 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Terrakion builds →Rock Slide 2x76-90% Rock Tomb 2x61-73% Aerial Ace 2x41-49% Smack Down 2x52-62% | ||
Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Obtain MethodRelic Castle Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Volcarona builds →Fire Blast 2x154-182%KO Fly 2x34-40% Incinerate 2x85-101%KO Aerial Ace 2x23-27% | ||
Braviary Normal | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Braviary builds →Fly 2x89-105%KO Air Slash 2x54-64% Rock Slide 2x49-59% Wing Attack 2x60-71% | ||
Mandibuzz Dark | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 4 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Mandibuzz builds →Fly 2x54-64% Air Slash 2x52-62% Pluck 2x36-43% Rock Tomb 2x24-29% | ||
Drifblim Ghost | C | |
In Black 2 & White 2, Dragonite's Outrage hits Pinsir for 81-96%. Volcarona threatens a KO with Fire Blast (183-215%). Terrakion's Stone Edge also KOs at 121-142%.
 Dragonite Dragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMultiscale ItemLum Berry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Dragonite builds →Extreme Speed36-43% Outrage81-96% | ||
Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain21-25% Fire Blast 2x183-215%KO | ||
Terrakion RockFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Terrakion builds →Close Combat36-42% Stone Edge 2x121-142%KO | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | C | |
Fire is super effective against PinsirView Blaziken → | ||
 Staraptor Normal | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityReckless ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Pinsir View Staraptor builds →Close Combat23-27% U Turn27-32% Double Edge68-81% | ||
Black 2 & White 2 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 65 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Bug Bite, Close Combat, Feint and 6 more to offspring.
Black 2 & White 2 Pinsir Best Moveset
Prediction matters here. Choice Scarf means Pinsir can't change moves after clicking, but the payoff is speed patching through item lock. Max Attack and Speed EVs with Hypercutter back that up. Ground coverage prevents free switches.
Best Build
Pinsir best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- X Scissor
- Earthquake
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
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
Black 2 & White 2 Pinsir Locations
Pinsir appears at decent spawn rates across 4 spots in mid-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Best Locations to Catch Pinsir in Black 2 & White 2
Walking encounters at Lv. 24-42 across 4 spots for Pinsir. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.
Pinsir Guide
In Black 2 & White 2, 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 Choice Scarf is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Black 2 & White 2, but Pinsir does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Pinsir hits 600 BST.
In Black 2 & White 2, 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