Introduced in generation two, with the Pokemon Gold and Silver games, Pineco is a monotype bug Pokemon. It is the first stage evolution of its two stage evolution line and evolves into Forretress once it reaches the level threshold. Pineco is classified by the Pokedex as the “Bagworm Pokemon” which may be a nod to its general design. This guide will showcase Pineco’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Pineco.
About Pineco
As a generation two Pokemon, Pineco first appeared in the Gold and Silver season of the anime in the episode Going Apricorn!. In this episode, Brock encounters and catches a Pineco with a Fast Ball. The Pokedex mentions that a common sight to see is Pineco hanging from a branch, dropping to the ground, and exploding.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Original Series: Going Apricorn! |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Gold and Silver |
| Region | Johto |
| Evolution | Base evolution of Forretress, not known to evolve from any other Pokemon |
| 1st Evo level | 31 |
| 2nd Evo level | N/A |
| Pokedex Entry | Pineco hangs from a tree branch and patiently waits for prey to come along. If the Pokémon is disturbed while eating by someone shaking its tree, it drops down to the ground and explodes with no warning. |
Pineco Base Stats
| HP | 50 |
| ATTACK | 65 |
| DEFENCE | 90 |
| SP. ATTACK | 35 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 35 |
| SPEED | 15 |
| TOTAL | 290 |
Appearance
Pineco is a small teal colored Pokemon that resembles a pine cone. Most of its body is the same blue-green color, and its body is ruffled to give it an armored appearance. It has two red eyes with black pupils hiding under its pointed brows and there is a single pointed spike on top of Pineco’s head. While it resembles a pine cone, it is likely a bug that is mimicking common foliage while hunting for food itself. Pineco is a small Pokemon at 2 feet, or 0.6 meters, tall.
Behavior
Pineco was featured throughout the anime by Brock’s side as Brock caught it in episode 143 of the Original Series. It even evolved into a Forretress during episode 259 and in the wild, Pineco can commonly be seen swinging from tree branches. It patiently waits for prey to come along so it can drop on top of them but otherwise it does not move much on its own. The Pokedex mentions that if it is startled and shaken from its branch it can explode as it hits the ground.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As a base evolution Pokemon there are not many strengths regarding Pineco. Its strongest stat is its physical defense which is surprisingly adequate. However, its low health pool and its slow speed prevent it from being a reliable threat. For the most part, Pineco is a defensive Pokemon that will deal damage through hazards or status effects rather than damage dealing moves. As a monotype bug Pokemon, Pineco takes 2x damage from flying, rock, and fire type moves. It is immune to no types, but is resistant to fighting, ground and grass type moves.
Best Moveset
In competitive play, Pineco is typically only seen in the LC (Little Cup) bracket of competitive play. Since Pineco only has to face other base evolution Pokemon, it can function as a defensive Pokemon that sets up hazards. With the Sturdy ability you can almost guarantee that Pineco will get its hazards set up in place. Consider running Stealth Rock, Spikes, Rapid Spin, and Explosion/Payback. Most of Pineco’s damage will come in the form of hazards. Stacking Stealth Rock and Spikes can deal significant damage if it is set up early enough in the battle. Rapid Spin can ensure that you do not fall victim to the same strategy. Finally, Explosion/Payback are interchangeable as options for Pineco to deal damage on its way out.
| Stealth Rock | Spikes |
| Rapid Spin | Explosion/Payback |
How to Catch Pineco in Pokemon Go?
If you would like to obtain a Pineco in Pokemon Go, there are a few different ways of doing so. You can find Pineco spawning in the wild as a fairly common encounter since it is a base evolution Pokemon. As a bug type Pokemon, you can also find it, at a boosted rate, near parks, farmlands, forests, gardens, golf courses, and other grassy areas. Pineco can also be hatched from 5, 7, and 10 km eggs. Furthermore, you can also find Pineco as a tier one raid boss at Pokemon Gyms while Forretress has been found as a tier four raid boss in the past. You will need 50 candies in order to evolve Pineco into Forretress.
Trivia
- Pineco, Burmy, and Wormadam are all classified by the Pokedex as the “Bagworm Pokemon”.
- The inspiration for Pineco’s design is likely based on bagworms. Bugs that can superficially resemble pine cones.
- The name Pineco is simply a shortening of the words pine cone.
FAQ
What color is Pineco?
Its non-shiny sprite is mostly blue-green. While its color is truly closer to blue than green, its different representations from video games, anime, Pokemon cards, and others have made it a little inconsistent throughout its iterations. For the most part, Pineco is a teal colored Pokemon.
How does Pineco evolve?
Pineco will evolve into Forretress once it reaches level 31. There are no special conditions to fulfill with this evolution and your Pineco will evolve naturally as long as you use it in battle. Once it reaches the level threshold, the evolution animation will begin to play.
Why is Pineco bug type?
It is likely because Pineco is a bug that is mimicking a pine cone. Many insects in real life have almost perfect camouflage and could have easily inspired the design behind Pineco. While it may appear to be a living pine cone, it is more likely a bug that is trying to disguise itself to avoid predators and hunt for itself.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Bagworm Pokemon”. While Pineco has not made an impressive impact on competitive play, it is remarkable as generation two introduced it through a new method of encountering Pokemon. Many players may remember headbutting trees to encounter Pineco. Reserve a slot on your team for Pineco if you want a Pokemon capable of dealing damage in alternative ways.
