Pinsir

Pinsir
Magmar
127
Tauros
Ability	Hyper Cutter Mold Breaker Moxie (Hidden) Aerilate Mega
Egg group	Bug
First game	Pokémon Red and Blue (1996)
Creator	Game Freak

Pinsir <sup>(JPJapanese: カイロス

Romaji: Kailios)</sup> is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a Bug-type Pokémon that made its first appearance in the first generation games Red and Blue. It can Mega Evolve into Mega Pinsir using Pinsirite, gaining a Flying type.

Physiology and Behavior

Pinsir is a bipedal, insectoid Pokémon with a wide, dull-brown body divided into segments by thin lines. On top of its head is a large pair of gray, spiky pincers on top of its head. In its mouth are many long, flat teeth arranged horizontally and it has triangular eyes. Its legs are short and thick, while its arms are long and thin. It has three claws on each hand and foot; two of its toes face forward and one backward.

Pinsir can use its pincers to crush, toss, bludgeon, or tear opponents; lift things twice its weight; and shatter logs. Captured prey is kept in place by the piercing thorns and sheer strength of Pinsir's horns and will not be released until they are torn in half. Pinsir’s horns are quite flexible as depicted in the Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards where they have a wide range of motion. In addition to hunting prey, the anime has shown that it enjoys tree sap. In addition to hunting prey, the anime has shown that it enjoys tree sap. Pinsir lives deep in the temperate forests and jungles, where it burrows underground or hides in the treetops on nights cold enough to render it immobile. In Alola, it has a rivalry with Vikavolt and gets along with Heracross. Pinsir are known to judge each other based on their pincers. The pincers determine its popularity with the opposite gender based on how more thick and impressive it looks.

Mega Pinsir

As Mega Pinsir, it gains a large pair of clear, yellow wings with an area of orange venation near the base. Additionally, a set of brown wing coverings appear. Slicing through each wing cover is a pair of orange blades. Its arms become longer and it has a T-shaped spike on each forearm. The pincers on its head are now longer with larger spikes, and its eyes are now yellow.

When it Mega Evolves, Pinsir is left in a constant state of excitement. It rarely touches the ground due to its ability to now fly. Mega Pinsir can travel up to approximately 30 mph (50 km/h) and uses its two large horns to pierce its enemies before shredding them. Mega Pinsir can lift opponents up to 10 times heavier than itself with its horns and still fly around easily.

Appearances

Other Pokémon games

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. Cuts anywhere above the log will cause the player to lose points.

Origin and inspiration

Pinsir is based on a stag beetle.

In-game information

Pokédex entries

Title	Entry
First Pokémon generation
Pokémon Red and Blue	If it fails to crush the victim in its pincers, it will swing it around and toss it hard.
Pokémon Yellow	Grips its prey in its pincers and squeezes hard! It can't move if it's cold, so it lives in warm places.
Pokémon Stadium	Grips and tears at its enemy with the two pincers on its head. Enemies with hard bodies are gripped and tossed.
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold	With its horns, it digs burrows to sleep in at night. In the morning, damp soil clings to its body.
Pokémon Silver	Swings its long antlers wildly to attack. During cold periods, it hides deep in forests.
Pokémon Crystal	When the temperature drops at night, it sleeps on treetops or among roots where it is well hidden.
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon 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.
Pokémon 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.
Pokémon Emerald	Their pincers are strong enough to shatter thick logs. Because they dislike cold, Pinsir burrow and sleep under the ground on chilly nights.
Pokémon FireRed	Its two long pincer horns are powerful. Once they grip an enemy, they won't release until the foe is torn.
Pokémon LeafGreen	If it fails to crush the foe in its pincers, it will swing around and toss the opponent.
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond	It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can't tear, it tosses far.
Pokémon Pearl	It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can't tear, it tosses far.
Pokémon Platinum	It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can't tear, it tosses far.
Pokémon HeartGold	With its horns, it digs burrows to sleep in at night. In the morning, damp soil clings to its body.
Pokémon SoulSilver	It swings its long pincer horns wildly to attack. During cold periods, it hides deep in forests.
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can't tear, it tosses far.
Pokémon White	It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can't tear, it tosses far.
Pokémon Black 2	It grips prey with its powerful pincers and will not let go until the prey is torn in half.
Pokémon White 2	It grips prey with its powerful pincers and will not let go until the prey is torn in half.
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn in half. What it can't tear, it tosses far.
Pokémon Y	It swings its long antlers wildly to attack. During cold periods, it hides deep in forests.
Pokémon Omega 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.
Pokémon Alpha 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.
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	It grips its prey in its pincers and splits them apart. Although it is a powerful Pokémon, it can't deal with the cold.
Pokémon Moon	One solid blow from its horns is enough to split apart a large tree. Its greatest rival in Alola is Vikavolt.
Pokémon Ultra Sun	It gets into territorial disputes with Vikavolt. For some reason, it apparently gets along well with Heracross in Alola.
Pokémon Ultra Moon	Although it's tough, it can't handle cold well. When night falls, it buries itself in leafage and sleeps.
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu	Grips its prey in its pincers and squeezes hard! It can't move if it's cold out, so it lives in warm places.
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee	Grips its prey in its pincers and squeezes hard! It can't move if it's cold out, so it lives in warm places.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	These Pokémon judge one another based on pincers. Thicker, more impressive pincers make for more popularity with the opposite gender.
Pokémon Shield	This Pokémon clamps its pincers down on its prey and then either splits the prey in half or flings it away.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond	It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn apart. What it can't tear, it tosses far away.
Pokémon Shining Pearl	It grips prey with its pincers until the prey is torn apart. What it can't tear, it tosses far away.

Game locations

Title	Location(s)
Pokémon Blue	Safari Zone Rocket Game Corner
Pokémon Yellow	Safari Zone Rocket Game Corner
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold	National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)
Pokémon Silver	National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)
Pokémon Crystal	National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ruby	Safari Zone
Pokémon Sapphire	Safari Zone
Pokémon Emerald	Safari Zone
Pokémon LeafGreen	Safari Zone Rocket Game Corner
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Pearl	Route 229
Pokémon Platinum	Routes Route 229 (Swarm)
Pokémon HeartGold	National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)
Pokémon SoulSilver	National Park (Bug-Catching Contest)
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	Route 12
Pokémon White	Route 12
Pokémon Black 2	Lostlorn Forest (Hidden Grotto)
Pokémon White 2	Route 12] and Lostlorn Forest Lostlorn Forest (Hidden Grotto)
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	Route 12, Friend Safari (Bug)
Pokémon Y	Friend Safari (Bug)
Pokémon Omega Ruby	Safari Zone (Zone 4)
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire	Safari Zone (Zone 4)
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	Lush Jungle, Poni Grove
Pokémon Moon	Lush Jungle, Poni Grove
Pokémon Ultra Sun	Lush Jungle, Poni Grove, Exeggutor Island, Poké Pelago Exeggutor Island (Three)
Pokémon Ultra Moon	Lush Jungle, Poni Grove, Exeggutor Island, Poké Pelago Exeggutor Island (Three)
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu	Routes 14 and 15
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee	Routes 14 and 15
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	Training Lowlands Challenge Road, Training Lowlands (Wanderer) Fields of Honor (Max Raid Battle)
Pokémon Shining Pearl	Route 229 Grand Underground - Grassland Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern, Sunlit Cavern, Big Bluff Cavern

Form Change

Pinsir	Mega Evolve with Pinsirite	Pinsir Mega Form

Base Stats

Normal

Base Stats
HP	65
Attack	125
Defense	100
Sp. Attack	55
Sp. Defense	70
Speed	85
Total	500

Mega Pinsir

Base Stats
HP	65
Attack	155
Defense	120
Sp. Attack	65
Sp. Defense	90
Speed	105
Total	600

Gallery

Sprites

Sprites
Red Green	Red Blue	Yellow
Gold File:PKMNG127-S.png	Silver File:PKMNS127.png File:PKMNS127-S.png	Crystal File:PKMNC127.gif File:PKMNC127-S.gif
Ruby Sapphire File:PKMNRS127-S.png	Emerald File:PKMNE127.gif File:PKMNE127-S.gif	Fire Leaf File:PKMNFRLG127.png File:PKMNFRLG127-S.png
Diamond Pearl File:PKMNDP127-S.png	Platinum File:PKMNP127.png File:PKMNP127-S.png	Heart Soul File:PKMNHGSS127.png File:PKMNHGSS127-S.png
Black White File:PKMNBW127-S.png	Black 2 White 2 File:PKMNBW2127.png File:PKMNBW2127-S.png	X Y File:PKMNXY127-S.png
Pikachu Eevee File:PKMNLGPE127-S.png	Sword Shield File:PKMNSS127-S.png	Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl File:PKMNBDSP127.png File:PKMNBDSP127-S.png

Reception

Pinsir has been well received since its debut. Nintendo Life's Alex Olney in a retrospective of Pokémon from Red and Blue praised Pinsir heavily, feeling that the large mandible-like pincers on its head and how its design emphasized it as its main feature made Pinsir look "kinda believable, real". He elaborated by stating to him the pincers looked intimidating and made to fight, but at the same time awkward in what he called a tradeoff, adding "there's something natural about that and so appealing". However, despite the glowing praise, he felt it was still behind fellow But-type Pokémon Scyther, an opinion shared by fellow reviewer Jon Cartwright. The staff of IGN, in their "Pokémon of the Day" series of articles, focused instead on its mouth, stating that not only did it have "the coolest mouth in the Pokémon world," but also "some of the gnarliest, ugliest, coolest teeth ever drawn", something they did not expect from a franchise known for its "cute-&-cuddly little creatures". They additionally felt Pinsir's design was more fitting for the Pokémon franchise, and its emphasis on creature-based combat.

Trivia

• Mega Pinsir is tied with Mega Heracross, Mega Scizor, and Genesect for the highest base stat total of all Bug-type Pokémon.
• In Pokémon X and Y, Mega Pinsir has the same shape as when it is not Mega Evolved.
• Pinsir's attraction to the colour green may be a reference to how it is exclusive to Pokémon Green and its remake Pokémon LeafGreen. This is similar with the anime’s depiction of Scyther in Showdown at Dark City where Scyther becomes enraged at the sight of the colour red.