[OVERVIEW]
**Bug**:
Mega Pinsir is easily one of the most dangerous setup sweepers in the Monotype metagame thanks to its amazing Attack, good Speed, and access to Swords Dance. It has a great ability in Aerilate, which makes all of its Normal-type moves become Flying-type while giving them a boost, making Return a powerful STAB move and granting Mega Pinsir an excellent priority STAB move in Quick Attack. Furthermore, Mega Pinsir has access to good coverage moves such as Close Combat and Earthquake to hit Steel-types like Heatran, Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Bisharp, as well as Rock-type Pokemon like Tyranitar and Cradily. Its decent bulk lets it set up Swords Dance against most non-super effective attacks. However, Mega Pinsir's severe weakness to Stealth Rock heavily reduces its sweeping chances. It is also reliant on team support to break through its checks and counters. Mega Pinsir also has no form of recovery, which reduces its longevity even more. Furthermore, any type of status effect heavily compromises Mega Pinsir's sweeping capabilities.
[SET]
name: Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Return
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Quick Attack
item: Pinsirite
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance increases Mega Pinsir's Attack tremendously and makes Mega Pinsir a great sweeper and late-game cleaner. Return is Mega Pinsir's main STAB attack, as it is boosted by Aerilate. Close Combat lets Mega Pinsir hit Pokemon such as Heatran, Tyranitar, and other Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon. Quick Attack is used to make Mega Pinsir a revenge killer. It also helps Mega Pinsir avoid getting revenge killed by faster Pokemon such as Keldeo. Earthquake can be used over Close Combat to hit Doublade and Fire-type Pokemon such as Heatran, Torkoal, and Volcanion, although using Earthquake means Skarmory will easily wall Mega Pinsir.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack EV investment lets Mega Pinsir hit as hard as possible. A Jolly nature with maximum Speed EVs is used to make it as fast as it can possibly be and to outspeed the crowded base 100 Speed tier. Moxie gives Mega Pinsir an Attack boost by KOing a low-HP foe through Quick Attack.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Pinsir is a great late-game sweeper and should generally be kept healthy until its checks and counters have been gotten rid of. Pinsir can be sent out against low-HP foes to get off the Mega Evolution safely or to get a Moxie boost. Quick Attack, in particular, lets Pinsir Mega Evolve safely against low-HP foes while KOing them. Mega Pinsir can set up with Swords Dance against non-super effective hits due to its decent bulk. Its ability to force switches can be used as a way to set up Swords Dance. Mega Pinsir can be used as an revenge killer thanks to its Aerilate-boosted Quick Attack. While it should generally wait until late-game to sweep, it can definitely still boost with Swords Dance early-game to gain wallbreaking power. This lets it weaken its checks for its later sweep. Pinsir's Mega Evolution can be delayed if there is Stealth Rock on the field or to take Rock-, Ice-, and Electric-type moves better. However, Mega Pinsir has far better Speed than non-Mega Pinsir, so it may be best in some cases to Mega Evolve early to get that Speed increase. Even though Pinsir can revenge kill a low-HP foe and gain a Moxie boost, it's not something that should be relied upon or sought after too hard. Letting a check switch into Pinsir may be a risk not worth the potential Attack boost. As it is 4x weak to Stealth Rock, it should not be sent out while Stealth Rock is still in the field. Mega Pinsir should not be kept in against checks such as Skarmory and physically defensive Zapdos, and it should avoid Pokemon that can use status moves, because even if it sets up on them, being hit by status can be sweep ending.
Team Options
========
As it is severely weak to Stealth Rock after Mega Evolution, some form of entry hazard control is definitely a must. Forretress works as a Rapid Spin user while also being able to set up its own Stealth Rock and even Spikes. Forretress can also use Volt Switch to pivot out for Mega Pinsir and Explosion to weaken Pokemon for Mega Pinsir. Armaldo can be used over Forretress, as Armaldo too can Rapid Spin and set up its own Stealth Rock while being able to beat Pokemon like Zapdos on Flying-type teams with its Rock-type STAB moves. Galvantula can set up Sticky Web for Mega Pinsir, which lowers the Speed of opposing grounded foes. This lets Pinsir use an Adamant nature and also outspeed Pokemon such as Keldeo, Cobalion, and Weavile after the Speed drop. If used with Jolly-natured Mega Pinsir, it can outspeed Choice Scarf base 100 Speed Pokemon, which is an important reason to still use Jolly over an Adamant nature, as being outsped by Choice Scarf Victini can be problematic. Galvantula also beats Skarmory, which would normally wall Mega Pinsir. Heracross is an excellent partner for Mega Pinsir, as both of them act as sweepers. This lets either Mega Pinsir or Heracross weaken their shared checks so that the other one can clean up late-game. Heracross also takes off pressure from Mega Pinsir against defensive Pokemon. Volcarona and Mega Pinsir work great together, as Volcarona can get rid of Skarmory for Mega Pinsir, while Mega Pinsir can get rid of Heatran for Volcarona. Scizor is another great partner for Mega Pinsir, as it can pivot with U-turn and find opportunities to bring in Mega Pinsir safely while also weakening the foe. Scizor also helps against Rock-types such as Terrakion, Mega Diancie, and Mega Aerodactyl, which would normally trouble Mega Pinsir.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Bug**:
An Adamant nature can be used with Sticky Web support from Galvantula, although this lets Mega Pinsir get outsped by airborne Pokemon such as Mega Charizard, which it would generally outspeed after Mega Evolution. It is also very reliant on Galvantula to set up Sticky Web. Hyper Cutter can be used over Moxie, although Intimidate isn't too common and it is more situational than Moxie.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bug**:
**Electric-types**: Fast Electric-types such as Thundurus, Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Choice Scarf Rotom-W all outspeed Mega Pinsir and KO it with their STAB moves while taking resisted damage from Quick Attack. Thundurus in particular can paralyze Mega Pinsir with Thunder Wave, while defensive Rotom-W can take all of Mega Pinsir's attacks and burn it with Will-O-Wisp in return. Physically defensive Zapdos can also take all of Mega Pinsir's attacks and KO back with a STAB Thunderbolt.
**Doublade**: Doublade completely walls Mega Pinsir if it isn't running Earthquake and can proceed to set up on it safely.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Physically defensive Pokemon such as Hippowdon and Skarmory can take a Swords Dance-boosted hit and phaze Mega Pinsir with Whirlwind. Skarmory can even KO Mega Pinsir if it is weakened through Brave Bird.
**Status**: Status effects such as burn, poison, and paralysis can heavily hinder Mega Pinsir's sweeping capabilities. A burn will halve Mega Pinsir's Attack, while poison will cripple it and paralysis will quarter its Speed.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pinsir's Speed stat isn't particularly amazing before Mega Evolution. This makes it vulnerable to faster Pokemon such as Kyurem-B, Landorus-T, and Excadrill, as they are not weak to a Quick Attack from Mega Pinsir. Pokemon such as Terrakion, Thundurus, and Tornadus-T can outspeed Mega Pinsir and OHKO it with their STAB moves.
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock pressures Mega Pinsir's chances to switch in, as it will heavily reduce its HP. This hinders its chances to sweep.
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