Pinsir Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Pinsir in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Pinsir
Pinsir is a 3-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO with bug typing. The best counter is Mega Blaziken (Mega) with Fire Spin and Blast Burn, dealing 36.526 DPS. Pinsir's shiny form is available from raid encounters.
Pinsir can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Pinsir is weak to Fire, Flying, Rock -type attacks. Avoid using Fighting, Grass, Ground-type moves as Pinsir resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Pinsir is Mega Blaziken (36.526 DPS), Blacephalon (36.111 DPS), and Mega Charizard Y (35.158 DPS).
Catching Pinsir: After defeating Pinsir, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1653 and 1733 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2056-2155 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Pinsir from raids will have exactly 1733 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Pinsir?
The best counter for Pinsir is Mega Blaziken with Fire Spin and Blast Burn, dealing 36.526 DPS. Other top options include Blacephalon (36.111 DPS) and Mega Charizard Y (35.158 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Pinsir?
Pinsir can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Pinsir weak to?
Pinsir is weak to Fire, Flying, Rock-type attacks. It resists Fighting, Grass, Ground-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Pinsir be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes! Pinsir's shiny form is available from raid encounters. The shiny rate for legendary raids is approximately 1 in 20 (5%). Use a Pinap Berry if you already have a shiny and want extra candy.
What CP is a 100% IV Pinsir from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Pinsir from raids will have 1733 CP at level 20, or 2155 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1653. If you see 1733 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Pinsir worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Pinsir is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Pinsir?
For the best moveset for Pinsir itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Pinsir stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Pinsir without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Pinsir can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Blacephalon (36.111 DPS) and Reshiram (30.857 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Pinsir in raids?
Pinsir is weather boosted during rainy weather. When boosted, Pinsir is harder to defeat (higher CP in the raid) but the catch encounter will be level 25 instead of 20, giving you a higher CP catch (2056-2155 CP) with potentially better IVs. Weather boost is a double-edged sword — harder raid, better reward.