LinksOcarina
The true master
If there ever was a pokemon that could sum up the tier system as a metaphor , it would be Pinsir. The Generation 1 Pokemon has come through five games completely unscathed; no evolutionary line, no dual-type, high attack prowess and dangerous in the right hands.
And yet, it is never used because of one reason, (primarily at least) Heracross.
Let's go through the tale of the tape
HP: 65
Atk: 125
Def: 100
SpA: 55
SpD: 70
Spe: 85
Abilites: Mold Breaker (not affected by abilities that hinder attack)
Hyper Cutter: (attack can't be lowered)
Moxie: (attack raised by 1 when an opponent is knocked out.)
Right away, it is clear Pinsir is made to be a full on attacker of sorts. It's base 125 attack and base 100 defense are impressive for a bug pokemon, which is sadly only let down by a weak HP and Special Defense slot. It's speed is at best mediocre, clocking in at 295 with beneficial natures and EV training.
But again, the reason for Pinsir's banishment to the NU tier can be summed up to Heracross. The two beetles have similar move-sets and roles on the team, but what Heracross has is slightly more bulk in special defense, a dual bug/fighting type offering more STAB options, and access to Megahorn, a powerful STAB bug move that Pinsir lacks.
In all honestly, it's criminal.
But, Pinsir still has a lot of uses. It makes for a good mop-up sweeper late game, or a very effective sweeper early-game to soften up opponents for the big guns. Let's take a look at some movesets, shall we?
The Flamboyant Guillotine
Pinsir@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EV: 252 Atk, 4 Def, 253 Spe
-Earthquake
-X-Scissor
-Stone Edge
-Close Combat/Knock Off
The standard Choice Scarf set from Smogon, as the first sweeper it can go in and knock out items from opponents like Life Orb or Leftovers, and retreat for a bulkier counter to come in. X-Scissor is Pinsirs only worthwhile STAB (and the only bug-type move he can actually learn besides bug bite) and Earthquake and Stone Edge are good coverage moves. Close Combat gives Pinsir more attack options, but should be used if Pinsir is on mop-up duty.
Rocks of Ages
Pinsir@Life Orb
Ability: Mold Breaker
EV: 252 Atk, 4 Def, 252 Spe
-X-Scissor
-Stealth Rock
-Stone Edge
-Close Combat/Earthquake
Believe it or not, Pinsir is great as a setup pokemon as well for stealth rock. One of the few advantages it has over his bug brethren is this ability, and with enough push in speed and it's high attack power, Pinsir can be dangerous threat that can really wreck teams in a pinch. Attacking options, sadly, are pretty much the same.
Double Edged-Swords
Pinsir@ Life Orb
Ability: Mold Breaker
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
-Swords Dance
-X-Scissor
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
Once again, it is just adding swords dance to pretty much hammer through walls and stallers. The other three moves don't change at all. Also a standard set from Smogon.
Pinsir, like Heracross, has a meager movepool, and is thus very predictable in what it can and can't do. Some other moves can be used, like facade, me first, flail, faint attack and superpower, but they are almost always situational moments and therefore, inferior options from the core of X-scissor, earthquake, close combat and stone edge. Because of the high defenses, you can run a more defensive Pinsir, but it would waste it's attacking potential greatly. That said, it is something to consider.
But in the end, if I were to put up sets for Heracross it would be nearly identical, and almost always superior sadly. Pinsir is a damn good pokemon and can be very reliable in setting up or finishing sweeps against opponents. It will never reach the limelight that other pokemon are capable of achieving in a niche or something like that, but if you really think about, it doesn't need to since it is damn good at what it does, and is always a capable pokemon in the right hands.
And yet, it is never used because of one reason, (primarily at least) Heracross.
Let's go through the tale of the tape
HP: 65
Atk: 125
Def: 100
SpA: 55
SpD: 70
Spe: 85
Abilites: Mold Breaker (not affected by abilities that hinder attack)
Hyper Cutter: (attack can't be lowered)
Moxie: (attack raised by 1 when an opponent is knocked out.)
Right away, it is clear Pinsir is made to be a full on attacker of sorts. It's base 125 attack and base 100 defense are impressive for a bug pokemon, which is sadly only let down by a weak HP and Special Defense slot. It's speed is at best mediocre, clocking in at 295 with beneficial natures and EV training.
But again, the reason for Pinsir's banishment to the NU tier can be summed up to Heracross. The two beetles have similar move-sets and roles on the team, but what Heracross has is slightly more bulk in special defense, a dual bug/fighting type offering more STAB options, and access to Megahorn, a powerful STAB bug move that Pinsir lacks.
In all honestly, it's criminal.
But, Pinsir still has a lot of uses. It makes for a good mop-up sweeper late game, or a very effective sweeper early-game to soften up opponents for the big guns. Let's take a look at some movesets, shall we?
The Flamboyant Guillotine
Pinsir@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EV: 252 Atk, 4 Def, 253 Spe
-Earthquake
-X-Scissor
-Stone Edge
-Close Combat/Knock Off
The standard Choice Scarf set from Smogon, as the first sweeper it can go in and knock out items from opponents like Life Orb or Leftovers, and retreat for a bulkier counter to come in. X-Scissor is Pinsirs only worthwhile STAB (and the only bug-type move he can actually learn besides bug bite) and Earthquake and Stone Edge are good coverage moves. Close Combat gives Pinsir more attack options, but should be used if Pinsir is on mop-up duty.
Rocks of Ages
Pinsir@Life Orb
Ability: Mold Breaker
EV: 252 Atk, 4 Def, 252 Spe
-X-Scissor
-Stealth Rock
-Stone Edge
-Close Combat/Earthquake
Believe it or not, Pinsir is great as a setup pokemon as well for stealth rock. One of the few advantages it has over his bug brethren is this ability, and with enough push in speed and it's high attack power, Pinsir can be dangerous threat that can really wreck teams in a pinch. Attacking options, sadly, are pretty much the same.
Double Edged-Swords
Pinsir@ Life Orb
Ability: Mold Breaker
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpA)
-Swords Dance
-X-Scissor
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
Once again, it is just adding swords dance to pretty much hammer through walls and stallers. The other three moves don't change at all. Also a standard set from Smogon.
Pinsir, like Heracross, has a meager movepool, and is thus very predictable in what it can and can't do. Some other moves can be used, like facade, me first, flail, faint attack and superpower, but they are almost always situational moments and therefore, inferior options from the core of X-scissor, earthquake, close combat and stone edge. Because of the high defenses, you can run a more defensive Pinsir, but it would waste it's attacking potential greatly. That said, it is something to consider.
But in the end, if I were to put up sets for Heracross it would be nearly identical, and almost always superior sadly. Pinsir is a damn good pokemon and can be very reliable in setting up or finishing sweeps against opponents. It will never reach the limelight that other pokemon are capable of achieving in a niche or something like that, but if you really think about, it doesn't need to since it is damn good at what it does, and is always a capable pokemon in the right hands.