PINECO

Your friendly guide to PINECO in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness. Learn how to find, catch, and use this Pokémon effectively. Get tips and strategies for your journey through Orre.

PINECO Guide

Hey there! So you're looking to add PINECO to your team in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness? Great choice! While PINECO isn't exactly a powerhouse, it can be a surprisingly useful addition, especially early on. Let's get you set up.

Where to Find PINECO

You'll find PINECO in a couple of spots, but the most reliable place is the Agate Village area. Keep your eyes peeled as you explore the outskirts and surrounding routes. It's not super common, so you might need a bit of patience.

Catching PINECO

When you encounter a PINECO, remember it's a Grass/Bug type. That means it's going to be weak against Fire, Flying, and Ice-type attacks. However, you don't want to knock it out too quickly, right?

• Lower its HP: Use weaker attacks or status moves like Thunder Wave or Sleep Powder if you have them.
• Status Conditions: Paralyzing or putting it to sleep can make catching much easier.
• Poké Balls: Stock up on regular Poké Balls. If you're having trouble, Great Balls will increase your chances.

Be careful not to accidentally knock it out! Its HP isn't very high, so a critical hit or an overzealous attack can end the encounter quickly.

PINECO's Strengths and Weaknesses

PINECO's main appeal is its unique typing and its ability to evolve into FORRETRESS. As PINECO itself:

• Strengths: It has decent Defense and Special Defense, making it a bit bulky. Its signature move, Spikes, can be incredibly useful for wearing down opponents as they switch in.
• Weaknesses: Its Speed is quite low, and its Attack and Special Attack aren't the best. It's also very vulnerable to Fire, Flying, and Ice attacks.

Using PINECO on Your Team

Don't expect PINECO to be your main attacker. Instead, think of it as a strategic support Pokémon. Its role is often to:

• Set up Spikes: This is its bread and butter. Get Spikes on the field early in a battle to chip away at the opponent's HP whenever they switch Pokémon.
• Absorb hits: With its decent defenses, it can sometimes take a hit that would otherwise KO a more fragile Pokémon.
• Evolve: The real goal is to evolve it into FORRETRESS, which is a much more formidable Pokémon with better stats and access to more moves.

Evolution

PINECO evolves into FORRETRESS starting at Level 31. Once it evolves, it becomes a much more viable part of your team, gaining STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) on powerful Bug and Steel-type moves, and retaining access to Spikes.

So, while PINECO might seem a bit unassuming at first, give it a chance! With the right strategy, it can be a valuable asset on your journey through Orre. Good luck!