Pinsir (Pokémon)

← #126: Magmar

Pokémon

#128: Tauros →

Pinsir カイロス Kailios #127
Art by Ken Sugimori from FireRed and LeafGreen
Type  Bug   Bug   Bug   Bug   Bug   Bug	Species Stag Beetle Pokémon
Abilities Hyper Cutter or Mold Breaker Mold Breaker Moxie Hidden Ability
Exp. at Lv. 100 1,250,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #127 Johto #113* Hoenn #167 Sinnoh #— Unova #— Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R-093 Almia R-123 Oblivia R— Oblivia (past) N— Not in any regional Browser
Height 4'11" Imperial 1.5m Metric 4'11"/1.5m 0.0m	Weight 121.3lbs Imperial 55.0kg Metric 121.3lbs/55.0kg 0.0kg
Dex color Brown	Footprint
Body style	Catch rate 45 5.9%
Gender ratio Genderless Unknown 50% male, 50% female
Breeding Bug group 26 cycles (6630 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 2 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 200 Battle Exp.: 2001*
External links On Legendary Pokémon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V On Eevee's Pokédex On Psypoke Pokédex On Pokecharms Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Marriland Pokédex Generation IV Generation V Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Pinsir (Japanese: カイロス Kailios) is a Bug-type Pokémon.

It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.

Contents 1 Biology 1.1 Physiology 1.1.1 Gender differences 1.2 Special abilities 1.3 Behavior 1.4 Habitat 1.5 Diet 2 In the anime 2.1 Major Appearances 2.2 Minor Appearances 2.3 Pokédex entries 3 In the manga 3.1 Pokémon Adventures 4 In the TCG 5 Game data 5.1 NPC appearances 5.2 Pokédex entries 5.3 Game locations 5.3.1 In side games 5.4 Held items 5.5 Stats 5.5.1 Base stats 5.5.2 Pokéathlon stats 5.6 Type effectiveness 5.7 Learnset 5.7.1 By leveling up 5.7.2 By TM/HM 5.7.3 By breeding 5.7.4 By tutoring 5.7.5 Special moves 5.7.6 Anime-only moves 5.7.7 TCG-only moves 5.8 Side game data 5.9 Evolution 5.10 Sprites 5.10.1 Japanese sprites 6 Trivia 6.1 Origin 6.1.1 Name origin 7 In other languages 8 Notes 9 External links

Biology

Physiology

Pinsir is a bipedal Pokémon that has a brown body with a large pair of white horns/pincers that are dotted with small spikes. Pinsir has short legs with three toes each and skinny, three-clawed arms. Its mouth has long, flat teeth that are arranged vertically rather than horizontally. Pinsir is cold-blooded.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Pinsir's horns/pincers have enough crushing power to shatter thick logs and allow it to lift things twice its own weight. Its horns are very flexible, and are capable of being launched downwards.

Behavior

Pinsir's movements are more sluggish when exposed to cold weather, so they hide in burrows, treetops or tree roots during chilly nights. Pinsir are known to dig holes with their horns to sleep in. However, when they are fully awake, they can be quite aggressive.

Habitat

Pinsir are mostly found in jungle-like areas, but have also been imported into Kanto's Safari Zone and the National Park of Johto during Bug-Catching Contests. Sinnoh and Unova also offer a good habitat for them.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Much like Heracross, Pinsir seem to enjoy tree sap. As a result they often compete with Heracross over trees with the best sap. Pinsir also eats prey, gripping it with its pincers until the prey is torn in half.

In the anime

Major Appearances

Pinsir first appeared in Challenge of the Samurai. Samurai used it to battle against Ash.

In A Sappy Ending, Pinsir were being driven into a forest that was Heracross territory because Team Rocket was stealing the sap from the trees that were in their territory.

Minor Appearances

At the beginning of Mewtwo Strikes Back, Raymond uses a Pinsir to battle Ash's Pikachu, alongside his Golem and Venomoth. All three of Raymond's Pokémon are defeated by Pikachu.

Pinsir makes an appearance on an island that is mainly inhabited by Bug-type Pokémon in Tracey Gets Bugged.

A wild Pinsir attacks Misty's Togepi in Houndoom's Special Delivery.

Gary Oak also has a Pinsir, which is seen in his profile in The Ties that Bind!.

Pinsir were also used by a building company that has plans to demolish a Pokémon Center in Celebi and Joy.

Anthony uses Swalot and Pinsir for the double-battle portion of the Grand Festival in Rhapsody in Drew.

Pinsir makes a cameo in Numero Uno Articuno as a Pokémon belonging to Noland.

Howie, a character of the day in The Ole' Berate and Switch, has a Pinsir. Ash's Corphish battles against this Pinsir during a bogus competition that Team Rocket creates.

At the beginning of Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, The Phantom uses a Pinsir alongside Parasect to attack Jack Walker.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP004 Pinsir Ash's Pokédex Pinsir. This fearsome Pokémon uses its powerful claws to put the squeeze on its opponents. This concludes the entries from the original series.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Pinsir makes its first appearance as the Pokémon Pika fought and lost against due to the uselessness of the fake items Red bought from Green, which fired up the boy to confront the scamming con artist and get his money back, losing his badges this time, in the process.

After making many appearances that were not worth noting, Pinsir made another major appearance as one of the rental Pokémon Emerald used in the Battle Factory in his challenge against Noland, defeating the Factory Head's Mawile before losing to his Golem's Rock Slide.

In the TCG

Main article: Pinsir (TCG)

Game data

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Stadium 2: Pinsir stars in a mini-game alongside Scyther called "Clear Cut Challenge." Each player chops a falling log for each round of the game. The score for each player is determined by how close the player is to the white line on the log. Cut anywhere above the log will cause the player to lose points.

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I. Generation I Red Blue If it fails to crush the victim in its pincers, it will swing it around and toss it hard. Yellow Grips its prey in its pincers and squeezes hard! It can't move if it's cold, so it lives in warm places. Stadium Grips and tears at its enemy with the two pincers on its head. Enemies with hard bodies are gripped and tossed. Generation II Gold With its horns, it digs burrows to sleep in at night. In the morning, damp soil clings to its body. Silver Swings its long antlers wildly to attack. During cold periods, it hides deep in forests. Crystal When the temperature drops at night, it sleeps on treetops or among roots where it is well hidden. Generation III Ruby Sapphire Emerald {{{rsedex}}} Ruby Sapphire {{{rsdex}}} Ruby Pinsir is astoundingly strong. It can grip a foe weighing twice its weight in its horns and easily lift it. This Pokémon's movements turn sluggish in cold places. Sapphire Pinsir has a pair of massive horns. Protruding from the surface of these horns are thorns. These thorns are driven deeply into the foe's body when the pincer closes, making it tough for the foe to escape. Emerald Their pincers are strong enough to shatter thick logs. Because they dislike cold, Pinsir burrow and sleep under the ground on chilly nights. FireRed LeafGreen {{{frlgdex}}} FireRed Its two long pincer horns are powerful. Once they grip an enemy, they won't release until the foe is torn. LeafGreen If it fails to crush the foe in its pincers, it will swing around and toss the opponent. Generation IV Diamond Pearl {{{dpdex}}} Diamond Pearl Platinum It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can't tear, it tosses far. Diamond {{{diamonddex}}} Pearl {{{pearldex}}} Platinum {{{platinumdex}}} HeartGold SoulSilver {{{hgssdex}}} HeartGold With its horns, it digs burrows to sleep in at night. In the morning, damp soil clings to its body. SoulSilver It swings its long pincer horns wildly to attack. During cold periods, it hides deep in forests. Generation V Black White It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can't tear, it tosses far. Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}}  ??? No Pokédex data is available.

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I. Generation I Red Blue Rare Safari Zone, Rocket Game Corner (Blue only) Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow Rare Safari Zone, Rocket Game Corner Generation II Gold Silver Rare National Park (Bug-Catching Contest) Crystal Rare National Park (Bug-Catching Contest) Generation III Ruby Sapphire Rare Safari Zone Emerald Rare Safari Zone FireRed LeafGreen Rare Safari Zone, Celadon Game Corner (LeafGreen only) Colosseum None Trade XD One Citadark Isle (Shadow) Generation IV Diamond Pearl Rare Route 229 (Pearl only) Platinum Swarm Route 229 HeartGold SoulSilver Rare National Park (Bug-Catching Contest) Pal Park Forest Generation V Black White Rare Route 12

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Pinball	Celadon City Safari Zone
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire	Safari Zone (Ruby Field)
Pokémon Trozei!	Endless Level 43 Endless Level 58 Forever Level 17 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Mt. Steel (7F-8F) Western Cave (21F-28F) Joyous Tower (9F-11F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Foggy Forest (7F-11F)
Pokémon Ranger	Dusk Factory
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia	Peril Cliffs
Pokémon Rumble	Silent Forest
Pokémon Rumble Blast	Treetops: World Axle - B2F (post ending)

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Red*	Blue*	Bitter Berry (100%)
Yellow*

Stats

Base stats

Stat	Range
	At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 65	125 - 172	240 - 334
Attack: 125	117 - 194	229 - 383
Defense: 100	94 - 167	184 - 328
Sp.Atk: 55	54 - 117	103 - 229
Sp.Def: 70	67 - 134	130 - 262
Speed: 85	81 - 150	157 - 295
Total: 500   Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and a helpful nature. This Pokémon's  Special  base stat in Generation I was 55.

Pokéathlon stats

Speed 2/2 ★★	Power 4/5 ★★★★☆
Skill 3/4 ★★★☆	Stamina 4/5 ★★★★☆
Jump 2/3 ★★☆	Total 15/19 ★★★

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:
Weak to Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 2× Poison 1× Ground ½× Rock 2× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 2× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None	Resistant against Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 2× Poison 1× Ground ½× Rock 2× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 2× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None	Unaffected by Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 2× Poison 1× Ground ½× Rock 2× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 2× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None	Damaged normally by Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 2× Poison 1× Ground ½× Rock 2× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 2× Water 1× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None
Notes: In Generation I, the effectiveness of  Poison-type  moves is 2×.

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation V Other generations: I - II - III - IV
Level	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
Start	ViceGrip	Normal	Physical	55	100%	30
Start	Focus Energy	Normal	Status	—	—%	30
4	Bind	Normal	Physical	15	85%	20
8	Seismic Toss	Fighting	Physical	—	100%	20
13	Harden	Normal	Status	—	—%	30
18	Revenge	Fighting	Physical	60	100%	10
21	Brick Break	Fighting	Physical	75	100%	15
25	Vital Throw	Fighting	Physical	70	—%	10
30	X-Scissor	Bug	Physical	80	100%	15
35	Thrash	Normal	Physical	120	100%	10
38	Swords Dance	Normal	Status	—	—%	30
42	Submission	Fighting	Physical	80	80%	25
47	Guillotine	Normal	Physical	—	—%	5
52	Superpower	Fighting	Physical	120	100%	5
A level of "Start" indicates a move that will be known by a Pinsir obtained at level 1 in Generation V Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Pinsir Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Pinsir Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM/HM

Generation V Other generations: I - II - III - IV
TM		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	—	90%	10
	TM08	Bulk Up	Fighting	Status	—	—%	20
	TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	—	100%	15
	TM11	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	—	—%	5
	TM15	Hyper Beam	Normal	Special	150	90%	5
	TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	—	—%	10
	TM18	Rain Dance	Water	Status	—	—%	5
	TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20
	TM23	Smack Down	Rock	Physical	50	100%	15
	TM26	Earthquake	Ground	Physical	100	100%	10
	TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20
	TM28	Dig	Ground	Physical	80	100%	10
	TM31	Brick Break	Fighting	Physical	75	100%	15
	TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	—	—%	15
	TM39	Rock Tomb	Rock	Physical	50	80%	10
	TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	70	100%	20
	TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	—	—%	10
	TM45	Attract	Normal	Status	—	100%	15
	TM46	Thief	Dark	Physical	40	100%	10
	TM48	Round	Normal	Special	60	100%	15
	TM52	Focus Blast	Fighting	Special	120	70%	5
	TM54	False Swipe	Normal	Physical	40	100%	40
	TM56	Fling	Dark	Physical	—	100%	10
	TM68	Giga Impact	Normal	Physical	150	90%	5
	TM71	Stone Edge	Rock	Physical	100	80%	5
	TM75	Swords Dance	Normal	Status	—	—%	30
	TM76	Struggle Bug	Bug	Special	30	100%	20
	TM78	Bulldoze	Ground	Physical	60	100%	20
	TM80	Rock Slide	Rock	Physical	75	90%	10
	TM81	X-Scissor	Bug	Physical	80	100%	15
	TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	—	90%	15
	TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	—	—%	10
	TM94	Rock Smash	Fighting	Physical	40	100%	15
	HM01	Cut	Normal	Physical	50	95%	30
	HM04	Strength	Normal	Physical	80	100%	15
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Pinsir Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Pinsir Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
Father	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	Bug Bite	Bug	Physical	60	100%	20
	Close Combat	Fighting	Physical	120	100%	5
	Faint Attack	Dark	Physical	60	—%	20
	Feint	Normal	Physical	30	100%	10
	Flail	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15
	Fury Attack	Normal	Physical	15	85%	20
	Me First	Normal	Status	—	—%	20
	Quick Attack	Normal	Physical	40	100%	30
	Superpower	Fighting	Physical	120	100%	5
Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Pinsir in Generation V Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Pinsir in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Pinsir Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Pinsir Click on the generation numbers at the top to see egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
Game		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
This Pokémon learns no moves by tutoring.
A black abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Pinsir can be tutored the move in that game A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Pinsir cannot be tutored the move in that game Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Pinsir Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Pinsir Click on the generation numbers at the top to see move tutor moves from other generations

Special moves

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
Shadow moves		Level 35+	Purified moves
Shadow Break	Shadow		Helping Hand	Normal
Shadow Shed	Shadow		Guillotine	Normal
--			False Swipe	Normal
--			Submission	Fighting

Anime-only moves

Move	Type	Episode
Tackle	Normal	Challenge of the Samurai

TCG-only moves

Move	Cost	Card
SonicBoom		Pinsir (EX Hidden Legends 13)

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball     Acquisition: Catch	Pokémon Pinball RS     Acquisition: Catch	Pokémon Trozei!    Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 8.3% Friend Area: Overgrown Forest Phrases 51%-100% HP My pincers are a one-way ride to your oblivion! 26%-50% HP They managed to cut my HP in half... 1%-25% HP I'm out of power... I can't even close my pincers... Level up Leveled up! I can feel the power in my pincers! Partner phrases 51%-100% HP <name>, my HP is between 51% and 100%. 26%-50% HP <name>, my HP is between 26% and 50%. 1%-25% HP <name>, my HP is between 1% and 25%. Level up Leveled up! I can feel the power in my pincers!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 8.2% IQ group: C
Pokémon Ranger Group:  Bug  Poké Assist: ( Bug ) Field move: (Cut ×2) Loops: 6 Min. exp.: 82 Max. exp.: 102 Browser entry   Pinsir grips items with its two long horns. It cuts through a Metal Fence with ease.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group:  Bug  Poké Assist: ( Bug ) Field move: (Cut ×2) Browser entry   It rams with the powerful horns on its head to attack.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Poké Assist: Field move:  Normal  None Past ( Normal ) None Past (Electrify ×1) Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.

Evolution

Does not evolve Pinsir  Bug

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow	Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal			Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald	FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum	HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White				Back

For other sprites and images, please see Pinsir images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Japanese sprites

Gold and Silver back sprites

Trivia

• Although Pinsir was introduced in Generation I as a pure Bug-type, it could not learn any Bug-type attacks by level-up until Generation IV, and even then it could only learn one (X-Scissor).
  • The only Bug-type move it could learn before then (and only in Generations II & III) was Fury Cutter.
• Pinsir is currently the only non-Fighting-type Pokémon to learn Vital Throw.
• Pinsir is one of the few non-legendary Generation I Pokémon that still have no evolutionary relatives, along with Farfetch'd, Kangaskhan, Lapras, Tauros, Aerodactyl, and Ditto.
• Pinsir can be seen as a parallel to Scyther. Both of them are Bug-type Generation I Pokémon. Pinsir is exclusive to Blue, LeafGreen and Pearl, while Scyther is exclusive to Red, FireRed and Diamond.
  • Additionally, Pinsir can also be seen as a counterpart to Heracross. Both are Bug-type Pokémon based on beetles who lack an evolutionary family. Unlike Heracross, Pinsir is not part Fighting-type, however, it learns several Fighting-type moves by leveling up.
    • Before the release of Gold and Silver, it was speculated that Heracross would be a pre-evolution or evolution of Pinsir.

Origin

It is based on a stag beetle, possibly the Prosopocoilus inclinatus, a popular beetle used in insect fighting.

Name origin

Pinsir's name is a corruption of pincer, referring to the claws on its head. It could also involve the title Sir. Its Japanese name may be based on the Greek letter Χ (カイ kai) combined with the English word cross, referring to its scissor-like horns, or alternatively 傀 kai, large, 魁偉 kaii, brawny, or 刈 kai, cut, combined with the Greek word for bug, κοριός korios.

In other languages

Language Name Name Origin German Pinsir French Scarabrute A combination of scarabée and brute. Korean 쁘사이저 Ppeusaijeo Chinese (Mandarin) 大甲 Dàjiǎ Literally "Big armor". Chinese (Cantonese) 鉗刀甲蟲 Kìhmdōugaapchùhng Literally "Pincer-blade beetle".

Notes

External links

← #126: Magmar

Pokémon

#128: Tauros →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.