Mega Pinsir Pokémon Champions Guide
A TierPhysical sweeper
Mega Pinsir is one of the cleanest offensive Megas in the format. Aerilate turns Normal-type moves into Flying-type with a 1.2x boost, which means Return becomes a 102 BP Flying-type STAB nuke from a 155 Attack stat.
Base Stats
hp65
atk155
def120
spa65
spd90
spe105
BST600Recommended Build
Nature
Adamant
Item
Pinsirite
Ability
Aerilate
SP: ATK 32 / SPE 32 / HP 2
ReturnEarthquakeClose CombatProtect
Adamant maxes Mega Pinsir's already-strong 155 Attack. Return is the Aerilate nuke that defines this Pokémon's role. Earthquake hits Steel-types that resist Flying, and Close Combat covers Rock and Ice. Protect baits Fake Out for safe Mega Evolution.
Generate builds for Mega Pinsir →
Why it works
Return at 102 BP with 1.2x Aerilate boost and STAB from a 155 Attack stat is the highest single-target physical damage in the A tier. Mega Pinsir's 105 Speed under Tailwind hits 262, which outpaces every common threat in the format.
Common mistakes
- Mega Evolving turn one against a Stone Edge user. Mega Pinsir's 4x Rock weakness means Tyranitar and Aerodactyl threaten OHKOs.
- Forgetting Earthquake hits your Pinsir's partner. Pair with Levitate, Flying-type, or Telepathy users only.
- Using Quick Attack instead of Return. Quick Attack with Aerilate is decent priority, but the BP loss versus Return is rarely worth it.
Tips
- Pair Mega Pinsir with Whimsicott Tailwind. 262 Speed is the sweep window.
- Lead with base Pinsir to keep Hyper Cutter active against Intimidate, then Mega Evolve once the matchup is favorable.
- Close Combat is the answer to Tyranitar and Mega Steelix mirrors. Run it over Rock Slide if your team already has spread damage.
Ready to build your team?