[OVERVIEW]
- Pinsir's potent Attack stat, astounding coverage, access to Swords Dance, and strong offensive abilities making it adept in pressuring teams and is difficult to wall effectively.
- Pinsir can enable itself multiple opportunities to set up against or outright threaten opposing Pokemon due to a large number of switches it forces.
- Multiple viable sets that can excel in multiple matchups; Mold Breaker makes Pinsir great at breaking down bulkier and slower teams and is one of the most effective wallbreakers against stall. Moxie, on the other hand, gives Pinsir explosive late-game potential against offensive teams thanks to its strong options in enhancing its Speed through either Z-Me First or Choice Scarf.
- Solid physical bulk that often comes into play, making it difficult to revenge kill with faster physical attackers or strong priority users like Pawniard or Shiftry without it already being severely weakened.
- As powerful as Pinsir's advantages are, its Stealth Rock weakness and inability to set up on Pokemon like Golem, Combusken, or Gabite limits its ability to make better use of its Fighting- and Ground-resistances.
- Frequently checked by Flying- and Fire-types, as they are often faster and their presence forces Pinsir to predict with its coverage moves to prevent switch in opportunities.
- Low Special bulk makes it similarly susceptible to faster Special Attackers as Pokemon like Floatzel and Special-based Silvally-formes with Flamethrower often threaten to KO it from near full.
- Despite Pinsir great matchup versatility, each set's effectiveness still ultimately depend on having the right matchup to get the most amount of mileage out of them.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: X-Scissor
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Buginium Z
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- X-Scissor in conjunction with Buginium Z is notable for breaking through Gourgeist-XL and Pyukumuku after a Swords Dance boost, which is important for optimizing Pinsir's matchup against stall's two most prominent physically defensive Pokemon.
- Earthquake hits Fire-, Steel-, Rock-, and Poison-types like Combusken, Carbink, Muk, and Probopass much harder than its STAB.
- Stone Edge is Pinsir's main tool for hitting Flying-types such as Rotom-Fan, Oricorio-Baile, and Swanna.
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- Buginium Z's purpose is twofold; it is a one-time nuke that helps Pinsir break through the aforementioned Gourgeist-XL and Pyukumuku as well as other bulky Pokemon such as Gabite and Physically Defensive Golem at +2. It also allows Pinsir to reliably check Celebrate Leafeon, as it tanks Knock Off even better and can easily KO Leafeon through its +1 Defense with the nuke.
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- This set is a wallbreaker, so it's best used to soften up defensive teams so that teammates can sweep past the remainder Pokemon.
- Pinsir can find setup opportunities against Grass- and Psychic- types threatened by it, passive Pokemon lacking options to cripple it (esp burns), and physical attackers locked into a weak coverage move.
- If bulky Ghost-types are present, avoid setting up unless they are removed or are able to be put in the range of +2 attacks.
- Avoid switching into Stealth Rock whenever possible, as it's important to keep Pinsir healthy enough to maintain setup opportunities.
- Given Pinsir's tendency to force switches into resists, it's important to assess when to predict, as it's advantageous to catch faster fire- and Flying-type checks with the appropriate coverage move to avoid losing momentum.
- Similarly, if you expect the opponent to send out non-Bug resistant bulky offensive checks like Silvally-Dragon on a predicted Swords Dance, it may be best to fire off a Savage Spinoff for the extra burst damage to bring them down after some prior chip damage.
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- Strong Stealth Rock support helps optimize Pinsir's damage output against physically defensive Pokemon and punish Flying- and Fire-type checks that switch in. Golem and Bronzor are high-profile partners; Golem checks Rotom-Fan, Zebstrika, and Electivire while blocking their Volt Switches. Sturdy also punishes interactions with Fire- and Flying-type Pokemon that attempt to break through it as its STABs often KO in retaliation. Golem also draws in Grass-type Pokemon like Tangela and Leafeon for Pinsir to pressure. While Bronzor adds another Fire weakness, it can still defensively check various Flying-types and faster special attackers, offers a Rock resist for checking Golem, and draws in certain Knock Off users like Komala and Leafeon that Pinsir can pivot into and threaten.
- Hazard control to mitigate Pinsir's SR weakness is also advised. Silvally-Water is great due to not only solidly checking Floatzel, but also offensively checking Golem and is a pivot that baits in Abomasnow when lacking Flamethrower for Pinsir to threaten. Bulky Komala can spin blanket check special-based revenge killers while either passing Wishes or pivoting with U-turn. Pinsir can take advantage of non-Rock Slide variants of Silvally-Fighting in return. Altaria can check various Fire-types decently well and function as a status absorb to take advantage of Pokemon like Gourgeist-XL if Pinsir is not in a position to break past it.
- Other Flying-type checks apart from the aforementioned Stealth Rock users include Electivire and Rotom-S, both of which can also equip a Choice Scarf to check offensive threats while offering pivoting options.
- Fire-type checks apart from Altaria and Silvally-Water can include Rapidash, Floatzel, and Mareanie.
- Pokemon that can punish bulky Ghost-types are appreciated, as a few of them like Dusclops and Frillish can take +2 hits from this set, retaliate with burns, and recover off damage. The aforementioned Komala, Pawniard, and Shiftry are good partners as they have Knock Off to remove their Eviolite, drastically reducing their survivability.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: X-Scissor
move 2: Earthquake / Close Combat
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Earthquake targets many typical X-Scissor resists, hitting Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-types for optimal damage.
- Close Combat's coverage is less optimal than Earthquake's, but it lets Pinsir consistently threaten Komala while retaining coverage on Pokemon like Golem and Probopass. It also deals the most damage to Silvally-Fighting.
- Stone Edge when equipped with Choice Scarf lets Pinsir threaten Flying-types.
- Knock Off hits bulky Ghost-types like Dusclops, Misdreavus, and Frillish harder than any of its attacks, while also heavily threatening Bronzor. It is also a really solid option for pressuring switch-ins that are reliant on their item for bulk, like Golem, Gabite, and Avalugg.
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- Adamant nature offers the most out of this set in terms of power, but Jolly is situationally useful for revenge killing Jolly Crustle effectively out of its -1 Defense after a Shell Smash. It also outspeeds certain niche but usable Choice Scarf users like Shiftry and Monferno.
- Moxie is the ability of choice, as when equipped with Choice Scarf, it optimizes Pinsir's ability to clean up late-game.
Usage Tips
========
- This set is a solid late-game cleaner but a situational revenge killer that mostly relies on super effective coverage to threaten attackers.
- When sent out early-game, Pinsir should often take advantage of forced switches to cripple checks with Knock Off, as removing Leftovers and Eviolite from checks is pivotal to keep them worn down.
- Choice Scarf Pinsir is effective at capitalizing on its relative unpredictability at Team Preview, so it can easily catch certain Ghost-type switch-ins off guard with Knock Off and punish naturally faster Fire- and Flying-types for staying in.
- In general, all of Pinsir's non-STAB attacks rely on solid prediction to work, and catching the intended targets is key to opening up sweeping opportunities later.
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- It's important for this set to be paired with dedicated hazard removers that punish Pokemon that can switch into this set. This makes Pokemon like Swanna, Servine, Silvally-Water effective Defog users, as they punish bulky Pokemon like Golem, Gabite, Gourgeist-XL, Silvally-Fighting, and Granbull to varying degrees. Torkoal is a more niche but effective choice who can compress the role of Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin in a single slot while threatening Gourgeist-XL.
- Wallbreakers that threaten stall archetypes are effective as those types of teams are often roadblocks towards achieving kills and facilitating a sweep with Moxie. Komala, Raichu, and Floatzel are great examples of this.
- Checks to Fire- and Flying-types are still solid, as they will frequently take advantage of locked moves to get free turns. Good examples of this include Altaria, Rotom-Fan, Mareanie, Electivire, and Golem.
- Backup Speed control with Pokemon that are more effective at revenge killing is a good idea, as Pinsir is often mediocre in that role. Other Choice Scarf users can include Silvally, Electivire, and Rapidash: Silvally can remove fast threats with its powerful Double-Edge and Explosion and can use its filler slot to lure Gourgeist-XL and Gabite with Ice Beam or Toxic, and appreciates Pinsir luring other Ghost-types with Knock Off. Electivire can check Flying-types and pivot around with Volt Switch. Rapidash outspeeds all of the relevant faster Choice Scarf users that outpace Pinsir.
name: Z-Me First
move 1: Me First
move 2: X-Scissor
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Normalium Z
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Me First copies a slower foe's move at 1.5x power. when used with Normalium Z, it turns the copied attack into a Z-Move while also doubling Pinsir's Speed. This turns Pinsir into a formidable late-game cleaner, as it outspeeds every relevant Choice Scarf user in the tier at +2 Speed.
- Earthquake and Stone Edge are Pinsir's best coverage options for sweeping, as they punish the majority of relevant resists to Pinsir's STAB such as Altaria, Probopass, Fire-types, and Poison-types.
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- Normalium Z allows Pinsir to double its Speed with Z-Me First.
- Adamant nature is preferred to get the most power out of the set, as Jolly doesn't let Pinsir outspeed anything noteworthy at +2.
- Moxie boosting Pinsir's Attack upon KOing a foe is important to the nature of this set, as it relies on snowballing to sweep.
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- This set is meant to be used as a late-game sweeper, aiming to snowball and clean up teams once physically bulky checks like Gourgeist, Gabite, and Avalugg have been severely weakened or removed
- Set up opportunities are most optimal when used to revenge kill slower physical attackers like Komala and offensive Granbull with its Z-Me First. Otherwise, it can use its good physical bulk and typing to set up on forced switches from Grass- and Psychic-types threatened by it, or locked coverage moves that Pinsir can tank with ease while also beating the attacker 1v1.
- Try to prioritize keeping Stealth Rock out of the field before sending Pinsir out, as it appreciates preserving as much health as possible to keep it out of range of priority attacks.
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- Wallbreakers that excel at weakening bulkier teams to open up sweeping opportunities include Pokemon like Choice Band Komala, Choice Band Golem, Mixed Electivire, Raichu, and Regigigas.
- Entry hazard control partners are appreciated to keep Pinsir healthy and it can synergize well with Pokemon like Silvally-Water, Altaria, and Shiftry. Silvally-Water can offensively threaten various defensive Pokemon like Golem, Gabite, and Gourgeist-XL with its coverage, Altaria is a good Fire-type check and a solid counter to Gourgeist, and Shiftry threatens Bronzor and Golem offensively.
- Hazard support to weaken checks is optimal, with Golem and Bronzor making solid partners for Stealth Rock support. Toxic Spikes is also one of the most potent ways of weakening Pinsir's checks to this set, with Mareanie having the best synergy due to its ability to force them up against Silvally-Fighting and setting up on a lot of defensive Pokemon that Pinsir struggles to break through.
- Kadabra counterplay is recommended, as it's a revenge killer that stops this set cold with its Sash Counter. Kecleon can beat it 1v1 thanks to Shadow Sneak making it immune to Counter, as well as it having great natural special bulk to switch in. Dark-types with Pursuit like Silvally-Dark and Pawniard are good at forcing damage with Pursuit also.
Other Options
=============
- Lum Berry allows Pinsir to shrug off any status condition once, which makes for easier setup against defensive teams. Pinsir generally prefers Buginium Z for the sheer power, however, and its ability to already force switches makes the prospect of status less of an issue.
- Groundium Z can enable Pinsir to OHKO even physically defensive variants of Golem and Carbink through its Sturdy at +2 thanks to Mold Breaker. It also stands a good chance of breaking through certain bulky Ghost-types like Frillish at +2 but is generally a niche option otherwise since Pinsir values the sheer power to break through Gourgeist-XL.
- Fightinium Z is another Z move option that maintains breaking through Golem but differentiates itself for its ability to better break past Avalugg through its Sturdy. This is generally not advised due to Pinsir being forced to forgo its superior coverage option in Earthquake on Swords Dance sets.
- A Focus Sash lead-based set is an option due to its access to Stealth Rock, where it can fend off certain hazard deterrents with its Rock-type coverage. This faces still competition with lead options like Golem and Shuckle however, as they have abilities that allow them to expand their item choice and provide better utility on average.
- Choice Band's greater immediate power can take advantage of its powered up coverage options to punish bulkier switch-ins like Rotom-Fan even harder, but is much more prediction-reliant and is overall much less effective than Swords Dance variants at breaking bulkier threats and teams.
- Life Orb can be run on Swords Dance sets as it boosts its coverage options and allows it to increase its attacking power without setting up. The recoil damage it inflicts on itself is counterintuitive, however, especially given its weakness to Stealth Rock.
- Moxie on Swords Dance is an option where it can take advantage of its access to Quick Attack to sweep against weakened faster teams. This, however, comes with the cost of a coverage slot and Mold Breaker that would fare better against bulkier teams.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Rotom-Fan, Swanna, Oricorio-Baile/Pom-Pom, and Chatot all resist Pinsir's STAB move and are immune to Earthquake, are often faster, and can naturally threaten Pinsir with their super effective STAB or in Chatot's case, its powerful Boomburst that targets Pinsir's low special bulk. Scarf variants of Rotom-Fan and Chatot are commonplace sets and can outspeed Pinsir's Choice Scarf set. They all must be careful about switching into Stone Edge, as even Rotom-Fan, the bulkiest switch-in, is OHKOed without bulk investment after Stealth Rock damage.
**Fire-types**: While Fire-types cannot switch in reliably due to the risk of being hit by an Earthquake or Stone Edge, Rapidash, Simisear, and Silvally-Fire all naturally outspeed Pinsir and OHKO it with their STAB moves. Rapidash and Simisear can viably equip Choice Scarf which would outspeed and impede a Pinsir sweep if it is Choice Scarf. Combusken can safely go for a Protect to naturally outspeed Pinsir at +1, does not fear Buginium Z bypassing it, and easily threaten it afterwards.
**Revenge Killers**: Pinsir's middling speed and low Special Defense leaves it vulnerable to being threatened by Pokemon like Zebstrika, Specially-based Floatzel, and various Specially-based Silvally-Formes with Flamethrower. It's worth noting that many examples of faster checks aren't as applicable against the Z-Me First variant, as they are all outsped at +2 even if they equip a Choice Scarf. Kadabra is a particularly notable example, as it's the only revenge killer that threatens all sets including Z-Me First due to its Focus Sash Counter.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: If Pinsir is running Choice Scarf or Z-Me First sets, it is often unable to deal significant damage to Pokemon like Pyukumuku, Altaria, Granbull, Avalugg, and Gabite. Avalugg, Gabite, and Granbull can notably use Roar to negate its Speed boosts from Z-Me First. The Swords Dance set can usually break through these threats with little trouble, however.
**Bulky Ghost-types**: Gourgeist-XL is one of the better defensive checks to Pinsir's sweeping sets, but fails to reliably take on the Swords Dance set after Stealth Rock damage. Dusclops, Frillish, Misdreavus are often accessible as checks given that they are only hit neutrally by Pinsir's coverage attacks, only fearing Knock Off on the Choice Scarf set.
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