Pinsir is a bipedal, insectoid Pokémon with a wide, dull brown body divided into segments by thin lines. On top of its head is a large pair of gray, spiky pincers on top of its head. In its mouth are many long, flat teeth arranged horizontally and it has triangular eyes. Its legs are short and thick, while its arms are long and thin. It has three claws on each hand and foot; two of its toes face forward and one backward.
Pinsir can use its pincers to crush, toss, bludgeon, or tear opponents, lift things twice its weight, and shatter logs. Captured prey is kept in place by the piercing thorns and sheer strength of Pinsir's horns and will not be released until they are torn in half. In addition to hunting prey, the anime has shown that it enjoys tree sap. Pinsir lives deep in the temperate forests and jungles, where it burrows underground or hides in the treetops on nights cold enough to render it immobile. In Alola, it has a rivalry with Vikavolt and gets along with Heracross.
As Mega Pinsir, it gains a large pair of clear, yellow wings with an area of orange venation near the base. Additionally, a set of brown wing coverings appear. Slicing through each wing cover is a pair of orange blades. Its arms become longer and it has a T-shaped spike on each forearm. The pincers on its head are now longer with larger spikes, and its eyes are now yellow. When it Mega Evolves, Pinsir is left in a constant state of excitement. Mega Pinsir can travel up to approximately 30 mph (50 km/h) and uses its two large horns to pierce its enemies before shredding them. Mega Pinsir can lift opponents up to 10 times heavier than itself with its horns and still fly around easily.
Major appearances
Pinsir debuted in Challenge of the Samurai, where Samurai used it to battle Ash. It easily defeated Pidgeotto, but lost to his Metapod.
Multiple Pinsir appeared in A Sappy Ending, where they were being driven into a forest that was Heracross's territory because Team Rocket was stealing the sap from the trees that were in their own territory.
A Pinsir appeared in Rhapsody in Drew, under the ownership of Anthony. Anthony used it and his Swalot against May's Combusken and Bulbasaur in the Battle Round of the Hoenn Grand Festival.
A Pinsir appeared in The Ole' Berate and Switch, under the ownership of Howie. It was used in a battle against Ash and Corphish during a bogus competition created by Team Rocket agents Cassidy and Butch.
Multiple Pinsir appeared in Defending the Homeland!. They are one of Florges's minions who were ordered to attack Goodra's homeland and its friends. They reappeared in Beyond the Rainbow! and Master Class is in Session!. Two of them reappeared in Till We Compete Again!.
A Pinsir that can Mega Evolve appeared in Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, under the control of Levi and Cherie's Mega Wave. Pinsir was briefly lent to James to use in an attempt to capture Magearna. It was later freed from their control when Alva's Mega Wave Crystal was destroyed, and it escaped.
A Pinsir appeared in I Choose You!. Ash attempted to catch Pinsir by battling it with his Caterpie. However, during the battle, Caterpie evolved into Metapod, allowing Pinsir to get away.
A Pinsir appeared in Sparking Confusion!, under the ownership of one of the rock hunters. It was sent out to battle the Ultra Guardians, only to be defeated by Kiawe's Marowak.
Minor appearances
A Pinsir appeared in A Chansey Operation, where it was one of the injured Pokémon brought to the clinic.
A Pinsir appeared in Princess vs. Princess, where it was competing in the Queen of the Princess Festival.
A Pinsir appeared in the beginning of Mewtwo Strikes Back, under the ownership of Raymond. Alongside his Venomoth and Golem, it fought Ash's Pikachu, only for all of them to be defeated with Thunderbolt. Pinsir reappeared in Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, a remake of Mewtwo Strikes Back, where it played the same role.
A Pinsir appeared in Pikachu's Vacation as one of the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Theme Park.
A Pinsir made a brief cameo appearance in Tracey Gets Bugged as one of the Bug-type Pokémon on Murcott Island.
A Pinsir appeared in The Power of One.
A Pinsir appeared in Pokémon Double Trouble, where it was seen in a Gym on Kumquat Island. However, this scene was removed from the dub due to the appearance of Jynx.
A Pinsir appeared in Beauty and the Breeder, under the ownership of a Pokémon Breeder participating in a Pokémon breeding competition.
A wild Pinsir appeared in Houndoom's Special Delivery, where it attacked Misty's Togepi, only to be warded off by a Houndoom.
A Pinsir appeared in Celebi: The Voice of the Forest.
A Pinsir appeared in Bulbasaur's flashback in Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!.
Multiple Pinsir appeared in In the Knicker of Time!.
A Pinsir appeared in Celebi and Joy!, under the ownership of a demolition crew. The demolition crew was eventually changed into a construction crew due to Ritchie changing the past.
A Pinsir made a cameo in Numero Uno Articuno, under the ownership of Noland. It was among the Pokémon residing at the Battle Factory.
A Pinsir appeared in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, under the ownership of The Phantom. It was used alongside a Parasect to attack Jack Walker.
A Pinsir made a brief cameo in Giratina and the Sky Warrior.
A Coordinator's Pinsir appeared in Dawn of a Royal Day!, where it participated in the Battle Stage of the Arrowroot Town Pokémon Contest.
A Pinsir appeared in the ending credits of Eevee & Friends alongside a Heracross.
A Pinsir that can Mega Evolve into Mega Pinsir appeared in the opening of Mega Evolution Special I.
A Pinsir appeared in a flashback in A Slippery Encounter!.
A Trainer's Pinsir that can Mega Evolve briefly appeared in Mega Evolution Special IV as one of the ten Mega Evolved Pokémon that Alain and his Charizard had to defeat.
A Trainer's Pinsir appeared in Racing to a Big Event!, where it participated in the Pokémon Pancake Race.
Five Pinsir appeared in A Masked Warning!. They were confronting Gladion's Silvally at Ten Carat Hill, only for Ash to be teleported on top of them by Nebby. They became angry at Ash, but Silvally soon stopped them from retaliating.
A Pinsir appeared in Showdown on Poni Island!, where it was photographed by Lillie during her time on Poni Island.
A Trainer's Pinsir appeared in Battle Royal 151, where it competed in the Battle Royal preliminary round of the Manalo Conference but ended up losing.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP004
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Pinsir
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Ash's Pokédex
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Pinsir. This fearsome Pokémon uses its powerful claws to put the squeeze on its opponents.
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In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
A Pinsir attacked a group of wild Pikachu in You Gotta Have Friends. Ash's Pikachu was able to defeat the Stag Beetle Pokémon.
In the Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master! manga
Ryū owns a Pinsir.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Pinsir debuted in Wartortle Wars, where Red fought a wild one using Pika using items he bought from Green. As the items were fakes, Pika lost the battle.
A Pinsir appeared as a silhouette when Green talks about Mew in The Jynx Jinx.
A Pinsir appeared in Can You Diglett? as a silhouette when Agatha and Lorelei explains to Red about how Pokémon and people cannot coexist with each other.
In Pinsir Me, I Must Be Dreaming, a Pinsir was used by Emerald in the Battle Factory in his challenge against Noland.
The Battle Factory rented a Pinsir, which was stolen by Guile Hideout in Skirting Around Surskit I.
The Battle Tower rented a Pinsir, which was stolen by Guile Hideout in The Final Battle VII.
A Pinsir appeared in Out-Odding Oddish, under the ownership of a Pokéathlon participant.
In Scizor Defends, X caught a Pinsir that he nicknamed Rute, who first appeared in Pinsir Glares. He was later given a Pinsirite, allowing him to Mega Evolve into Mega Pinsir.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Giovanni and his brother have a Pinsir who debuted in Seize the Dream of One Million Yen!!.