Hello students! My name is Professor Noctowl, and today, I wish to draw attention to Mega Pinsir. The Bug type is a difficult type to be good in, but Mega Pinsir makes it work, being one of the best in the type, only beaten by Mega Heracross. Grab your notebooks, class is in session. For those who wish to do their research independently, our raw data can be found here. And for those who wish for a simple visual guide, go ahead and take a look at the below visual guide by CaptGoldfish.

NOTE: Some visual guides will be outdated for the duration of GO FEST. They will remain mostly accurate, but lack modern counters, such as the Mega Mewtwo duo, or Eternatus. Not only that, please note that some raids will not be covered in an article for GO FEST, due to the sheer volume. Our team has decided that the best call is to only cover raids who are within the top 10 counters in their type. If you’re looking for a counter that does not have an article, feel free to use pokebattler.com

Course Schedule

This counter is one of many GO FEST raids. There are too many to put a coherent schedule here, but rest assured, pretty much every legendary, mega, and shadow under the sun will be going at some point. Look to your local GO FEST event or the Pokebattler.com raid schedule to see exactly what raids will be going.

Keen eyed observers may note that double weakness to Rock, without any way to counter it in the charge moves. I give 3 guesses to what the best counters are against Mega Pinsir.

Effectiveness	Types
Double Resist (0.4x)	Fighting Grass
Resist (0.6x)	Bug
Neutral	Normal Poison Ghost Steel Water Psychic Dragon Dark Fairy
Super Effective (1.6x)	Flying Fire Electric Ice
Double Super Effective (2.6x)	Rock

Mega Pinsir’s moveset includes the following charge moves:

• Vise Grip
• X-Scissor
• Close Combat
• Superpower
• Return

The Dean’s List consists of the top 5 counters to Mega Pinsir. As always, the Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and the Third Ranked will have their best moveset alternatives in a table with their rankings and a table detailing their defensive prowess against the charge moves listed above.

Mega Diancie A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

1

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Rock Throw	Rock Slide	100%
Rock Throw	Power Gem	97%
Tackle	Rock Slide	72%
Rock Throw	Moonblast	71%
Tackle	Power Gem	69%
Tackle	Moonblast	32%

Mega Rayquaza A

Best Moveset: Air Slash / Dragon Ascent

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★★★★★

1

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Air Slash	Dragon Ascent	100%
Dragon Tail	Dragon Ascent	92%
Air Slash	Ancient Power	84%
Dragon Tail	Ancient Power	78%
Air Slash	Hurricane	74%
Air Slash	Aerial Ace	71%

Mega Aerodactyl A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★★☆☆☆

1

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Rock Throw	Rock Slide	100%
Rock Throw	Ancient Power	88%
Rock Throw	Return	74%
Steel Wing	Rock Slide	70%
Dragon Breath	Rock Slide	69%
Bite	Rock Slide	69%

Defensive Grades for Top 3

Boss Move
Close Combat	—	🛡	—
Superpower	—	🛡	—
X-Scissor	🛡	🛡	🛡
Vise Grip	🛡	—	🛡

Shadow Rhyperior A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Rock Wrecker

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

1

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Mega Tyranitar A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Stone Edge

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

1

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Also Noteworthy: A: Glimmora

We here at Pokebattler Pokémon Research Institute can’t expect you to have the best counters every time. So, here are some of our other best options, most of which will be easier to find than the members of the Dean’s List.

Shadow Tyrantrum A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Meteor Beam

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

1

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Shadow Rampardos A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

1

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Shadow Gigalith A

Best Moveset: Smack Down / Meteor Beam

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Shadow Landorus A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Rock Slide

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★★★★★

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Shadow Aerodactyl A

Best Moveset: Rock Throw / Rock Slide

DPS★★★☆☆

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Of course, besides our 10 best counters, there are plenty of Pokémon that also work against Mega Pinsir. Here are a few star choices, worthy of praise.

A	TerrakionTyrantrumRhyperiorGigalithBlacephalonRampardosShadow SalamenceShadow RegigigasMega Charizard YShadow ArcheopsMega BlazikenMega SalamenceShadow KleavorShadow DarmanitanRayquazaShadow CrustleWhite KyuremShadow GolemShadow Alola Golem

Sometimes, the weather can be your most powerful ally. In certain weather conditions, certain Pokémon on our list excel. The most transformative cases are noted below.

Sunny/Clear

Blacephalon (0.9)Mega Charizard Y (0.9)

Partly Cloudy

Shadow Tyrantrum (0.8)Glimmora (0.8)Shadow Rampardos (0.8)

Overall, Mega Pinsir is a very simple raid. Throwing a rock at this bug is much more efficient than one might expect, being easy to take down this monster.; Of course, if you wish to do more research on your box’s best Pokémon for the job, Pokebattler.com itself can be a great help! Remember, the best counter is the one you have powered up and ready to go. I grant extra credit to those who use their best friend bonus and the weather to their advantage. Class dismissed!