bugPokédex #127

Master League PvP guide

Pinsir (Shadow) Pokémon GO – PvP, Best Moves, IVs & Counters

Pinsir (Shadow) is a Bug-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO. Its strongest current PvP league is Master League, where it currently ranks #220. Its recommended PvP moveset is Fury Cutter with Close Combat and X-Scissor.

Master League

#220

Viable pick

Type

Bug

Best Fast Move

Fury Cutter

Charged Moves

Close CombatX-Scissor

Max CP

3,345

Updated for the current Pokémon GO season · September 2026

ABOUT PINSIR (SHADOW)

Is Pinsir (Shadow) Good PvP?
Weaknesses
Rankings
Moves
Alternative Moves
Move counts
Matchups
Counters
Best Teammates
IVs
Stats
Similar Pokémon
FAQ

Is Pinsir (Shadow) Good in Pokémon GO PvP?

Pinsir (Shadow) is currently a viable PvP option in Master League where it is ranked #220.

Pinsir (Shadow) is also a situational PvP option in Ultra League where it is ranked #496.

Pinsir (Shadow) PvP Rankings

League	Rank	PvP Score	Recommended Moves
Great League	#632	71.6	Fury Cutter, Close Combat, X-Scissor
Ultra League	#496	72.4	Fury Cutter, Close Combat, X-Scissor
Master LeagueBest	#220	60.4	Fury Cutter, Close Combat, X-Scissor

Best Moveset for Pinsir (Shadow) in Pokémon GO PvP

Fury Cutter

bug

Fast Move · STAB

DMG3Energy+4Turns1DPT3.00EPT4.00

Strong vs: Dark, Grass, Psychic

Neutral vs: Bug, Dragon, Electric, Ground, Ice, Normal, Rock, Water

Weak vs: Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Poison, Steel

Close Combat

fighting

Charged Move

DMG100Energy cost45

Strong vs: Dark, Ice, Normal, Rock, Steel

Neutral vs: Dragon, Electric, Fighting, Fire, Grass, Ground, Water

Weak vs: Bug, Fairy, Flying, Ghost, Poison, Psychic

X-Scissor

bug

Charged Move · STAB

DMG65Energy cost40

Strong vs: Dark, Grass, Psychic

Neutral vs: Bug, Dragon, Electric, Ground, Ice, Normal, Rock, Water

Weak vs: Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Poison, Steel

The recommended PvP moveset for Pinsir (Shadow) is Fury Cutter with Close Combat and X-Scissor.

Alternative movesets

All Fast and Charged Moves currently available to Pinsir (Shadow) in the imported game data.

Fast Moves

Bug Bite

bug

Fast Move · STAB

DMG4Energy+3Turns1DPT4.00EPT3.00

Strong vs: Dark, Grass, Psychic

Neutral vs: Bug, Dragon, Electric, Ground, Ice, Normal, Rock, Water

Weak vs: Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Poison, Steel

Fury CutterRecommended

bug

Fast Move · STAB

DMG3Energy+4Turns1DPT3.00EPT4.00

Strong vs: Dark, Grass, Psychic

Neutral vs: Bug, Dragon, Electric, Ground, Ice, Normal, Rock, Water

Weak vs: Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Poison, Steel

Rock Smash

fighting

Fast Move

DMG9Energy+7Turns3DPT3.00EPT2.33

Strong vs: Dark, Ice, Normal, Rock, Steel

Neutral vs: Dragon, Electric, Fighting, Fire, Grass, Ground, Water

Weak vs: Bug, Fairy, Flying, Ghost, Poison, Psychic

Charged Moves

Close CombatRecommended

fighting

Charged Move

DMG100Energy cost45

Strong vs: Dark, Ice, Normal, Rock, Steel

Neutral vs: Dragon, Electric, Fighting, Fire, Grass, Ground, Water

Weak vs: Bug, Fairy, Flying, Ghost, Poison, Psychic

Submission

fighting

Charged Move

DMG60Energy cost50

Strong vs: Dark, Ice, Normal, Rock, Steel

Neutral vs: Dragon, Electric, Fighting, Fire, Grass, Ground, Water

Weak vs: Bug, Fairy, Flying, Ghost, Poison, Psychic

Superpower

fighting

Charged Move

DMG85Energy cost40

Strong vs: Dark, Ice, Normal, Rock, Steel

Neutral vs: Dragon, Electric, Fighting, Fire, Grass, Ground, Water

Weak vs: Bug, Fairy, Flying, Ghost, Poison, Psychic

Vise Grip

normal

Charged Move

DMG70Energy cost40

Neutral vs: Bug, Dark, Dragon, Electric, Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Grass, Ground, Ice, Normal, Poison, Psychic, Water

Weak vs: Ghost, Rock, Steel

X-ScissorRecommended

bug

Charged Move · STAB

DMG65Energy cost40

Strong vs: Dark, Grass, Psychic

Neutral vs: Bug, Dragon, Electric, Ground, Ice, Normal, Rock, Water

Weak vs: Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Poison, Steel

Pinsir (Shadow) PvP Move Counts

Fury Cutter → Close Combat

12 Fast Moves from empty energy

Repeating count

12111111

Fury Cutter → X-Scissor

10 Fast Moves from empty energy

Repeating count

10101010

Pinsir (Shadow) Battle Guide

Matchup values below come from the Master League matchup data in PoGoCoach. A value above 500 means Pinsir (Shadow) wins the matchup; below 500 means it loses.

Strong Matchups

Difficult Matchups

Pinsir (Shadow) Weaknesses & Resistances

Defensive type multipliers below combine Pinsir (Shadow)'s Bug typing using the current Pokémon GO battle type chart.

Weak to

fire1.6×
flying1.6×
rock1.6×

Resistant to

fighting0.625×
grass0.625×
ground0.625×

Best Counters to Pinsir (Shadow) in Pokémon GO PvP

Recommended attacks are measured against Pinsir (Shadow) in Master League. Charged Move percentages show estimated unshielded damage to Pinsir (Shadow)'s league HP.

Palkia (Origin)160

Master League

Recommended attacks

Dragon Breathdragon
Fast Move
Neutral
Aqua Tailwater
Charged Move
Neutral
53% HP
Spacial Renddragon
Charged Move
Neutral
91% HP

Xerneas271

Master League

Recommended attacks

Geomancyfairy
Fast Move
Neutral
Close Combatfighting
Charged Move
Resisted
44% HP
Moonblastfairy
Charged Move
Neutral
77% HP

Kyogre388

Master League

Recommended attacks

Waterfallwater
Fast Move
Neutral
Avalancheice
Charged Move
Neutral
68% HP
Origin Pulsewater
Charged Move
Neutral
119% HP

Zacian (Crowned Sword)395

Master League

Recommended attacks

Metal Clawsteel
Fast Move
Neutral
Close Combatfighting
Charged Move
Resisted
58% HP
Behemoth Bladesteel
Charged Move
Neutral
111% HP

Dialga (Origin)491

Master League

Recommended attacks

Dragon Breathdragon
Fast Move
Neutral
Roar of Timedragon
Charged Move
Neutral
137% HP
Iron Headsteel
Charged Move
Neutral
78% HP

Ratings are shown from Pinsir (Shadow)'s perspective: the lower the value, the harder the matchup is for Pinsir (Shadow).

Best Teammates for Pinsir (Shadow) in Pokémon GO PvP

Good teammates for Pinsir (Shadow) should help cover some of its most difficult matchups while adding useful coverage against the current Master League meta.

Metagross#4

Covers 4 of Pinsir (Shadow)'s 5 hardest current matchups.

Covers

Dialga (Origin)#9

Covers 3 of Pinsir (Shadow)'s 5 hardest current matchups.

Covers

Metagross (Shadow)#27

Covers 4 of Pinsir (Shadow)'s 5 hardest current matchups.

Covers

Necrozma (Dusk Mane)#22

Covers 3 of Pinsir (Shadow)'s 5 hardest current matchups.

Covers

Ursaluna#11

Covers 3 of Pinsir (Shadow)'s 5 hardest current matchups.

Covers

Teammates are calculated from the current Master League rankings and matchup data, and update automatically with each PvP data import.

Create a Team around Pinsir (Shadow)

Best PvP IVs for Pinsir (Shadow)

League	Rank	IVs	CP	Level	Stat Product
Great League	#1	0/13/14	1,499	19	1,620,731
	#2	0/14/13	1,498	19	1,613,226
	#3	0/12/14	1,495	19	1,612,419
	#4	0/12/15	1,499	19	1,612,419
	#5	1/15/11	1,500	19	1,612,307
Ultra League	#1	0/14/15	2,498	33	3,487,630
	#2	2/15/14	2,499	32.5	3,480,472
	#3	0/12/14	2,498	33.5	3,479,427
	#4	0/15/14	2,498	33	3,479,067
	#5	0/13/13	2,498	33.5	3,471,066
Master League	#1	15/15/15	3,345	50	5,243,747
	#2	14/15/15	3,332	50	5,223,021
	#3	15/14/15	3,336	50	5,217,129
	#4	15/15/14	3,335	50	5,208,554
	#5	13/15/15	3,318	50	5,202,295

Check your Pinsir (Shadow) PvP IVs

Pinsir (Shadow) Stats in Pokémon GO

Pinsir (Shadow)'s real battle stats in each league, at the CP cap and that league's best IV combination.

Great League

Pinsir (Shadow) 0/13/14 (Best IV)

Level: 19
CP: 1,499
Attack: 138.6
Defense: 113.5
HP: 103

Ultra League

Pinsir (Shadow) 0/14/15 (Best IV)

Level: 33
CP: 2,498
Attack: 178.4
Defense: 147
HP: 133

Master League

Pinsir (Shadow) 15/15/15 (Best IV)

Level: 50
CP: 3,345
Attack: 212.6
Defense: 165.5
HP: 149

Pinsir (Shadow) Evolution

Pinsir (Shadow) has no normal evolution in Pokémon GO.

Shadow Pokémon cannot Mega Evolve in Pokémon GO. You have to purify Pinsir (Shadow) first, and the purified Pokémon can then Mega Evolve into Pinsir (Mega). Purifying removes the Shadow attack bonus, so the Mega form never keeps Shadow stats.