How to beat Pinsir
Pinsir has 2 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 120 HP as a Grass Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 120
- Weakness
- Fire
- Resistance
- None
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 458
- Fastest KO
- 0 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Pinsir is weak to Fire, so those attacks do double damage. 91 Standard cards can Knock it Out in one hit that way — the fastest needs just 1 Energy.
- Don't over-invest. It only gives up 1 Prize card, so avoid spending a big two-Prize attacker on it if a cheaper Pokémon can do the job.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Superpowered Horns for 100 (3 Energy). 788 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- Watch the Retreat Cost. It costs 2 Energy to retreat. If it gets stuck in the Active Spot, that's your chance.
One-hit Knock Outs using Weakness
These Fire attacks do at least 120 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Pinsir | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceruledge Phantasmal Flames | Fire | Infernal Slash R | 220 | 440 | 140 | 1 |
| Centiskorch Surging Sparks | Fire | Billowing Heat Wave R | 130 | 260 | 130 | 1 |
| Camerupt Ascended Heroes | Fire | Roasting Burn R | 110 | 220 | 140 | 1 |
| Mega Camerupt ex Mega Evolution | Fire | Roasting Heat R | 80+ | 160 | 340 | 3 |
| Simisear Surging Sparks | Fire | Double Smash R | 70× | 140 | 90 | 1 |
| Ninetales 30th Celebration | Fire | Flame Tail R | 60 | 120 | 110 | 1 |
| Blaziken ex Journey Together | Fire | Smolder-sault RC | 200 | 400 | 320 | 2 |
| Centiskorch Temporal Forces | Fire | Charring Breath RR | 180 | 360 | 140 | 1 |
| Chandelure White Flare | Fire | Burn It All Up RR | 180 | 360 | 150 | 1 |
| Flareon ex Prismatic Evolutions | Fire | Burning Charge RC | 130 | 260 | 270 | 2 |
| Rapidash Temporal Forces | Fire | Inferno Onrush RC | 120 | 240 | 110 | 1 |
| Team Rocket's Houndoom Destined Rivals | Fire | Scorching Fire RC | 120 | 240 | 130 | 1 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 120+ damage.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Pinsir | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alolan Dugtrio Surging Sparks | Metal | Trio-Cheehoo Free | 120 | 120 | 110 | 1 |
| Palafin ex Prismatic Evolutions | Water | Giga Impact W | 250 | 250 | 340 | 2 |
| Tinkaton Mega Evolution | Metal | Windup Swing M | 240- | 240 | 160 | 1 |
| Decidueye Shrouded Fable | Grass | Power Shot G | 170 | 170 | 150 | 1 |
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 170 | 310 | 2 |
| Medicham Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Seventh Kick F | 150 | 150 | 120 | 1 |
| Diggersby Perfect Order | Colorless | Earthquake C | 140 | 140 | 150 | 1 |
| Annihilape Surging Sparks | Fighting | Tantrum F | 130 | 130 | 140 | 1 |
| Lurantis Destined Rivals | Grass | Petal Blade Dance G | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
| Malamar Pitch Black | Darkness | Brain Crush D | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 100 from Superpowered Horns and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.
| Pokémon | Type | Stage | HP | Weakness | Retreat | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wailord Journey Together | Water | Stage 1 | 240 | Lightning ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Shrouded Fable | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Steelix Mega Evolution | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Journey Together | Metal | Stage 1 | 190 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Aggron Twilight Masquerade | Metal | Stage 2 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Stage 2 | 180 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Archaludon Phantasmal Flames | Metal | Stage 1 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 2 | 1 |
| Archaludon Prismatic Evolutions | Metal | Stage 1 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 2 | 1 |
Every Standard Pinsir card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinsir 3/131 | Prismatic Evolutions H | 120 | Basic | Slash GC 60 | 2 | Fire ×2 |
| Pinsir 3/167 | Twilight Masquerade H | 110 | Basic | Slow Crunch GC — Superpowered Horns GCC 100 | 2 | Fire ×2 |
Damage is the number printed on the card. Attacks marked + or × can do more, and Abilities, Tools and Stadiums can change the maths — always read the card. Energy letters: G Grass, R Fire, W Water, L Lightning, P Psychic, F Fighting, D Darkness, M Metal, N Dragon, C Colorless (any Energy).
Related: all Pinsir cards in Standard · how to knock out a 120 HP Pokémon · Fire vs Grass · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Pinsir weak to?
Pinsir is weak to Fire, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Pinsir have?
Up to 120 HP in Standard (120 on the Prismatic Evolutions version, 110 on the Twilight Masquerade version).
How many Prize cards does Pinsir give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Pinsir?
458 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Alolan Dugtrio's Trio-Cheehoo (0 Energy, 120 damage); Ceruledge's Infernal Slash (1 Energy, 440 damage); Centiskorch's Billowing Heat Wave (1 Energy, 260 damage).
What is Pinsir's strongest attack?
Superpowered Horns, which prints 100 damage for 3 Energy.
Pully Play is an independent fan guide. It isn't run by The Pokémon Company. Format facts are checked against official announcements; always confirm card legality with the official rules before a tournament.