How to Beat Pinsir in Pokémon Go

Lits of Pinsir Counterpicks in Pokémon Go
Last updated & Improved: 20.09.2016.
Quick Move:
Wing Attack
Special Move:
Fire Blast
Quick Move:
Wing Attack
Special Move:
Hurricane
Quick Move:
Rock Throw
Special Move:
Stone Edge
Quick Move:
Ember
Special Move:
Fire Blast
Quick Move:
Fire Fang
Special Move:
Fire Blast
Quick Move:
Ember
Special Move:
Fire Blast
Quick Move:
Ember
Special Move:
Fire Blast
Quick Move:
Ember
Special Move:
Fire Blast
Quick Move:
Ember
Special Move:
Fire Blast
Quick Move:
Mud Slap
Special Move:
Stone Edge
Quick Move:
Bite
Special Move:
Fire Blast
Quick Move:
Mud Slap
Special Move:
Stone Edge
Quick Move:
Steel Wing
Special Move:
Hurricane
Quick Move:
Feint Attack
Special Move:
Fire Blast
Quick Move:
Wing Attack
Special Move:
Flamethrower
Quick Move:
Rock Smash
Special Move:
Stone Edge
Quick Move:
Ember
Special Move:
Heat Wave
Quick Move:
Ember
Special Move:
Heat Wave
Quick Move:
Ember
Special Move:
Heat Wave
Quick Move:
Poison Jab
Special Move:
Stone Edge
Quick Move:
Frost Breath
Special Move:
Blizzard



Pinsir is the only viable Bug Type Gym Defender in Pokémon Go.

Pinsir is Bug Type Pokémon with average HP but kinda weak Attacks.
Pinsir has no attacks that can potentially inflict serious damage to it's counters - therefore making counters list for Pinsir was very easy.

List of Pinsir counters is filled up with Pokémon that have Fire, Flying and Rock Type Attacks as they are all super effective against Pinsir.

Here are Counterpicks for Other Popular Gym defenders in Pokémon Go


Aerodactyl - Alakazam - Arcanine - Beedrill - Blastoise - Butterfree - Chansey - Charizard - Cloyster - Dewgong - Dragonite - Electabuzz - Electrode - Exeggutor - Fearow - Flareon - Gengar - Golduck - Gyarados - Hypno - Jolteon - Jynx - Kabutops - Kangaskhan - Kingler - Lapras - Lickitung - Machamp - Magmar - Magneton - Marowak - Nidoking - Nidoqueen - Ninetales - Omastar - Parasect - Persian - Pidgeot - Pinsir - Poliwrath - Porygon - Rapidash - Raticate - Rhydon - Sandslash - Scyther - Seaking - Slowbro - Snorlax - Starmie - Vaporeon - Venomoth - Venusaur - Vileplume - Wigglytuff

How Did We Select Pokémon Counterpicks?


There are 18 damage-type groups in Pokémon Go (like Water, Grass, Ice, Fire, Rock, etc...)
Every Pokémon has 1 or 2 Types.
Every Pokémon has 2 Attacks - Quick Move and Special Move.
Based on Pokémon Type and Attack Types it has - every Pokémon in Pokémon Go has it's strengths and weaknesses.

We developed ranking algorithms that create Pokémon counterpick lists based on:
1. Type(s) of Attacking Pokémon
2. Attack Types of Attacking Pokémon
3. Attacking Pokémon DPS (Damage per Second)
4. Type(s) of Defending Pokémon
5. Potential Attack Types of Defending Pokémon
6. Defending Pokémon DPS
* We have excluded legendary Pokémon (Mewtwo, Mew, Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos) from results because they are not available to all Pokémon Go players.

We spent over 2 month developing this tool (July and August 2016.)
The first algorithm we developed back in August was ok for the first version of tool but it wasn't what we really wanted...
Because of that algorithms were re-developed from scratch around September 1st 2016. and we are updating/improving counterpick lists on daily basis since then.