NationalDex
pinsir
#127

Pinsir

Stag Beetle Pokémon

Bug

If it fails to crush the victim in its pincers, it will swing it around and toss it hard.

Base Stats

HP 65
Attack 125
Defense 100
Sp. Atk 55
Sp. Def 70
Speed 85
Total 500

Type Effectiveness

Evolution Chain

Moves

Locations

Details

Category Stag Beetle Pokémon
Height 1.5 m
Weight 55.0 kg
Base Exp 175
Growth Rate Slow
Capture Rate 45
Base Happiness 70
Gender 50% ♂ / 50% ♀
Habitat Forest
Egg Groups Bug

Sprites

pinsir Front Front
pinsir Back Back
pinsir Front Shiny Front Shiny
pinsir Back Shiny Back Shiny
pinsir Official Art Official Art
pinsir Official Art (Shiny) Official Art (Shiny)

Competitive

ou Usage: 2.7%
Swords Dance
Moves
Slash / Body Slam / Bind
Submission / Bind

Strategy Overview

Pinsir is the sole viable Bug-type in RBY OU thanks to an amazing Attack stat that can be further boosted by Swords Dance, allowing it to let loose nuclear Hyper Beams while trapping with Bind. A +2 Pinsir is nothing to be trifled with, capable of beating Snorlax outright with Submission and possessing a Hyper Beam that can OHKO the physically frailer Pokemon in the tier, including Jolteon, Chansey, Jynx, Alakazam, and Victreebel. Additionally, Pinsir has the strongest non-STAB Slash in the game, hitting nearly as hard as Persian right out of the gate. This makes it one of the few physical attackers that can contest Reflect users like Snorlax and Chansey, the latter of which it can 2HKO. Pinsir's typing gives it surprising defensive utility as well, resisting Earthquake and not being hit super effectively by Thunderbolt, giving it use over other Swords Dance users like Kingler. Pinsir is by no means slow relative to OU either, outpacing Victreebel and Cloyster, and, with paralysis support, it can absolutely mow down even the faster Pokemon in the tier, acting as a surprisingly strong late-game sweeper.

However, like all RBY Bug-types, Pinsir suffers from some severe downsides. While powerful, Pinsir cannot hit Gengar without Seismic Toss, possessing strictly Normal- and Fighting-type attacks in its offensive movepool. Ergo, Gengar can effortlessly switch in and let out a completely uncontested Hypnosis while Pinsir is forced to switch out or pivot out with Bind. Pinsir also suffers from a bit of four moveslot syndrome, demanding Swords Dance and Hyper Beam while having to pick between Slash, Submission, and Bind for its last two slots, all of which can significantly affect its matchups. Worse still, Pinsir is very reliant on its Speed to sweep, as being outsped exposes its noticeably mediocre special bulk, leading to it getting forced out by paralysis inducers such as Alakazam, Starmie, and full HP Chansey. These flaws make Pinsir a rare sight in RBY OU, but a serviceable pick nonetheless.

Most Used Moves

Bind
97.9%
Body Slam
41.0%

Most Used Items

Nothing
100.0%

Competitive data from Smogon University via data.pkmn.cc