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In Working My Way Back to Mew!, Goh encountered Pinsir while he was preparing to catch himself a Butterfree. Pinsir startled Ash and Pikachu and began to attack. Scared, Goh started throwing things at Pinsir, eventually throwing a Poké Ball at it, causing it to be captured by Goh. It was later seen with Goh's other Bug-type Pokémon when Professor Cerise offered it a place in the Cerise Laboratory.
In Panic in the Park!, Pinsir tries to calm down some of Goh's other Pokémon while they started to argue. When Golurk loses control, Pinsir joins the other Pokémon to help Goh's three Cascoonevolve safely.
In Trade, Borrow, and Steal!, Goh met a girl named Kricketina Kylie, who wanted to trade Pinsir for one of her Pokémon, something that Goh was reluctant to do. Goh offered to help Kricketina find a Pinsir of her own which they agreed to do. When Goh later caught another Pinsir, he traded it for Kricketina's Heracross as his Pinsir had fallen in love with it.
Personality and characteristics
Pinsir and Goh
Pinsir is a timid Pokémon who doesn't like to fight, as seen in Serving Up the Flute Cup! when Goh was considering which of his team to use in the Battle Frontier Flute Cup, Pinsir avoided being chosen. This was seen again in Trade, Borrow, and Steal! when Goh was left to battle Team Rocket, Pinsir hid behind a tree, not wishing to battle. It has often been seen with Goh's smaller Bug-type Pokémon, such as Caterpie. When it is startled or uncomfortable it will often cower behind Goh or an object like a tree. Goh is generally accommodating to Pinsir's personality, and while he sometimes asks if Pinsir is up for a battle, he never pressures it into battling against its will.
Pinsir doesn't seem to like conflict as it was trying to prevent Goh's Grimer for getting aggressive over the food shortage in Panic in the Park! as it was trying to help other Pokémon being blamed to be stealing from Grimer. It loves picking flowers and can be playful with others of the lab.
In Trade, Borrow, and Steal!, Pinsir developed a crush on Heracross, which motivated Goh to trade his second Pinsir for Heracross so that they may be together.
On November 6, 2020, as part of Pokémon GO's Animation Week 2020 event, which was based on Pokémon Journeys: The Series, several Pokémon based on those that Ash and Goh encountered in the anime appeared more frequently in the wild, in raids, from 7 km Eggs, and during surprise encounters, with Pinsir appearing only in level 3 raids. The event ran from November 6, 2020, at 8:00 a.m., to November 12, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. local time.