Bug-type Pokemon are typically regarded as weak, fragile, and small like most bugs are in real life. Bug-type Pokemon enforced this reputation for years with Weedle, Caterpie, and other early route Pokemon. However, their reputation is somewhat misleading, as there are some fantastic Bug-types that many people won't be prepared for when heading into battle.
The best Bug-types hit hard, have access to great coverage moves, and often come packaged with great typings and abilities that ensure their quick victory. While Bug-types are weak to Stealth Rock and Fire-type moves, their ability to take down both Psychic and Dark-types with super effective attacks is rare. Here are some of the best Bug-type Pokemon to add to your team.
Updated September 19, 2023 by Doruk Kaptan: With each passing year and the new generation of Pokemon, the stigma around the Bug-type Pokemon is weakening. With newer, unique Pokemon with the typing being introduced and proving how strong it can actually be.
While the typing in itself is still not as good as many others, especially when combined with a complimentary secondary typing, it can absolutely put in work. Terastallization also helps Bug types a lot in this generation. Pokemon Home's integration brought a lot of old favorites into Scarlet & Violet, and here are the best of the best.
20 Lokix
Lokix has some pretty great base stats to go along with its unusual Bug and Dark dual typing. With a fantastic 102 Attack and solid 92 Speed, Lokix can strike harder and faster than many other two-stage Pokemon. It even has access to powerful level-up STAB (same type attack bonus) moves in the forms of Throat Chop, Sucker Punch, and First Impression.
In addition to those great options, Lokix maintains a decent set of coverage moves via Bounce and Axe Kick that can catch Fighting or Rock-types off-guard. If you're just interested in aesthetics, then Lokix still has you covered; it boasts an appropriate shiny color swap that turns most of its body green while maintaining striking white and orange accents.
19 Scolipede
Scolipede, introduced in Generation Five, is a deadly attacker with a decent type combination. This Bug and Poison-type has an impressive Speed stat of 112 that allows it to sweep slower Pokemon very quickly. It also has an Attack stat worth mentioning, which was increased in Generation Six, making its usage even greater.
With both its great Speed and 100 base Attack, it can hit hard, especially given its access to Swords Dance. It also has access to Poison Jab, Earthquake, and the Speed Boost Hidden Ability, all of which are staples of the competitive scene. It is a bit fragile with only 60 base HP, so make sure to go on the offensive before your opponent targets you with an attack and avoid priority moves coming your way.
18 Galvantula
Galvantula is a powerful and versatile choice that makes good use of its Electric and Bug dual typing. The unique dual typing removes Electric's only weakness (Ground) as well as Bug's weakness to Flying-types. On top of its typing, Galvantula's stats are solid, highlighted by 108 Speed and 97 Special Attack.
Galvantula's superb Speed will have it zipping past almost everything it goes up against, frequently dictating the battle with its opening attacks. Its high Special Attack stat ensures moves like Bug Buzz, Thunderbolt, and Electroweb will hit hard. Access to speed control via Sticky Web is enough to make Galvantual viable. With its Compound Eyes Ability, moves like Thunder become much more accurate, making them pretty deadly, too.
17 Frosmoth
Frosmoth is one of the most interesting additions to the cast of Bug-type Pokemon, primarily due to its Hidden Ability, Ice Scales. This ability halves any oncoming damage from Special Attacks, making it especially tanky against Special Attackers. This ability works in tandem with its 90 Special Defense stat that gives this snow-themed moth more staying power than you might expect.
To complement its high Special Defenses, Its Special Attack is very high at a base 125, allowing it to exploit enemy weaknesses with Ice Beam, Bug Buzz, or Hurricane, an excellent coverage option. Frosmoth is more than the sum of its parts as an Ice/Bug-type, especially thanks to Quiver Dance, as after a single boost, it can sweep through teams.
16 Rabsca
As one of only two Pokemon introduced in Scarlet and Violet with access to Revival Blessing, Rabsca immediately saw competitive play. Revival Blessing is certainly one of the best new moves of the generation, allowing you to bring back a fainted ally with 50 percent of their HP.
Rabsca is more than just a one-trick Bug-type, though, as it can tank a hit or two with its base 100 Special Defense and 85 Defense that pair nicely with a decent 75 HP stat.
On top of its unexpected survivability, Rabsca is more than capable of going on the offensive with a superb 115 Special Attack stat that puts it among the highest tier of Bug-type attackers. It can utilize Bug Buzz or Psychic for a powerful STAB bonus, as it makes great use of its unique dual typing.
15 Yanmega
Despite its name, Yanmega does not actually have a Mega Evolution, which would have probably given it a legitimate argument for the best Bug-type ever. Regardless, this dragonfly-inspired Bug/Flying-type is a great addition to many teams. Yanmega's 116 Special Attack and 95 Speed make this one of the stronger and faster Bug-types around.
Despite a quadruple weakness to Rock-types (and Stealth Rock), Yanmega shines due to its top-tier stats and diverse movepool. Yanmega, like Scolipede, also benefits heavily from the Speed Boost Ability, making it lethally quick. If you want to catch your foes off-guard, it also has access to Tinted Lens, which makes "not very effective" moves do regular damage to the opponent.
14 Accelgor
Accelgor is a quintessential speed demon, as its already monstrous base 145 Speed can actually be doubled by its ability, Unburden. It's going to be difficult to find opponents faster than Accelgor regardless, but on the off chance that the opponent is faster, using a consumable held item (likely Focus Sash or Heavy-Duty Boots) will activate Unburden, leaving little doubt as to who the faster Pokemon will be.
Its Special Attack is decent but not the greatest, so you'll have to choose your moves carefully. Sludge Bomb, Energy Ball, Water Shuriken, and Giga Drain are its most potent moves, and giving Accelgor an item such as Choice Specs might give it the boost in strength that it needs to finish off your opponent.
13 Ninjask
This might come as a surprise to some, but Ninjask is one of the single fastest non-legendary Pokemon in the entire franchise. A base Speed stat of 160 is unfathomable in comparison to normal stat distribution, ensuring Ninjask will basically always move first. It also has the Speed Boost ability, which raises its Speed every turn, though perhaps Infiltrator would be the more prudent ability choice.
If you do decide to roll with Speed Boost, then Ninjask can use Baton Pass to function as a support Pokemon, passing off its great Speed boosts and potential Swords Dances to another party member that can hit much harder.
12 Pinsir
Pinsir is one of the original beastly bugs, as this Kantonian classic is sure to give you some nostalgia. Pinsir even has access to many Fighting-type moves, which makes it a fantastic attacker with excellent coverage options. As a mono Bug-type, it won't suffer from Fighting's weaknesses, making it a sneaky choice for teams that could use an attacker with Fighting-type coverage.
Pinsir's solid 85 Speed and incredible 125 Attack stats make it an excellent sweeper, especially after a Swords Dance. Pinsir also received a Mega Evolution, which launched its viability into the stratosphere. Mega Pinsir is lightning-quick and has an out-of-this-world 155 Attack stat, meaning it'll hit hard and KO anything in its path before a foe can even see it coming.
11 Heracross
It's honestly hard to choose between Heracross and Pinsir, as both Pokemon bring similar qualities to the table. The two are often considered a pair with similar moves, uses, and designs. They even famously battle in the anime, adding to their storied shared history. However, Heracross has a slight offensive edge that puts it on better footing than Pinsir.
Heracross gets the bonus of STAB with Fighting-type moves. This is a great boon but does make it double-weak to Flying-types, something Pinsir is only semi-weak to in comparison. However, Heracross has access to Megahorn, which is considered one of the best Bug-type moves. Its Mega Evolution is also slightly better than Mega Pinsir, with an unmatched 185 Attack stat that sets it apart. Even without its Mega form, Heracross can now Terastallize to mitigate its huge Flying-type weakness.
10 Genesect
As the only Mythical (or legendary) Bug-type Pokemon, Genesect lives up to its unique distinction as a hard-hitting attacker with the ability to change its move types with certain items. Genesect's Attack and Special Attack both stand at an impressive 120, with its Defense and Special Defense stats holding firm at 95 each.
Genesect's signature move, Techno Blast, changes types based on which "Drive" item it is holding, which has wide-reaching uses and benefits. As a Bug and Steel-type, Genesect also only has one weakness, Fire, albeit a devastating quadruple weakness that used to limit its best match-ups before Terastallization was a thing. Genesect also earns points for its great design, as it is based on an ancient Pokemon that lived 300 million years ago – many believe this to be Kabutops.
9 Golisopod
This terrifying, ancient-looking Pokemon doesn't just look scary; it also has the devastating power to back it up. Its 530 Base Stat Total (BST) is headlined by 125 Attack, 140 Defense, and 90 Special Defense, which make it an unexpectedly tanky attacker.
However, since its Speed sits at a meager 40, you'll have to find the right situations to get it on the battlefield safely. With attacks like First Impression, Waterfall, Sucker Punch, and Close Combat, Golisopod can KO a lot of Pokemon in a single hit. With its ability, Emergency Exit, it'll retreat automatically from battle when its HP reaches less than half.
8 Volcarona
Few Pokemon evolve at a higher level than Larvesta, which will finally become a Volcarona once it reaches Level 59. The grind is worth it, though, as Volcarona is an impressively strong Pokemon with much to offer, including 135 Special Attack, 105 Special Defense, and 100 Speed.
Fire and Bug as a combination is very weak to Rock, but Volcarona will usually outspeed Rock-types and can Terastallize into a type that resits it, such as Ground-type. It can learn Fiery Dance and Quiver Dance, both of which are great moves that raise Volcarona's stats as Fiery Dance does damage and has a 50 percent chance to raise Special Attack. Many foes will struggle to defend themselves against this moth's immense power.
7 Scizor
To understand how great of a Pokemon Scizor is, consider the fact that its pre-evolution, Scyther, was already considered one of the best Pokemon before Scizor's introduction. Scizor's 130 Attack, 100 Defense, and 80 Special Defense are already impressive, but Scizor also has a Mega Evolution, increasing those numbers to 150, 140, and 100, respectively.
U-Turn, Roost, Bullet Punch, and Knock Off are fantastic moves that are only boosted by Scizor's incredibly impressive stats, not to mention its Technician ability that will raise the power of weaker moves. Scizor is one of the scariest things for many Pokemon to go up against and is, without a doubt, one of the best Bug-type Pokemon around.
6 Slither Wing
This powerful Paradox Pokemon pushes the envelope for Bug types and is an outstanding choice in competitive play. While Volcarona's "future" form of Iron Moth abandons its Bug-type origins, Slither Wing carries the typing with pride.
Slither Wing boasts an amazing Physical Attack, sitting at 135. It is also a Bug/Fighting-type, giving a STAB bonus to moves like Close Combat and Superpower. While a quadruple Flying-type weakness is scary, you can Terastalize into an Electric-type to resist and gain extra power when firing off Wild Charges. Slither Wing may seem unassuming due to a lack of Quiver Dance but it is amazing in a whole different way.
5 Shedinja
Shedinja is definitely one of the most interesting designs in the history of the franchise. This little Bug/Ghost-type only has a singular HP that will never increase. This means that it gets knocked out if you as much sneeze at it. However, the ability Wonder Guard makes it very strong.
Shedinja can only be damaged by Super Effective attacks and environmental/status damage. Due to this ability alone, Shedinja has seen play in the highest tiers, including Ubers, where teams consist of mostly Legendary Pokemon. Shedinja is weird but sure, but it can be unbeatable under the right circumstances.
4 Pheromosa
Pheromosa is an Ultra Beast, a subset of unique Pokemon introduced in Generation Seven. While many Ultra Beasts are strong in some way, few can rival Pheromosa. This Bug/Fighting-type is the definition of a glass cannon, with 137 in Attack and Special Attack and 151 in Speed.
Those stats alone make Pheromosa an amazing sweeper, but its ability Beast Boost and its type coverage elevate it even further. With Close Combat, Ice Beam, Poison Jab, Triple Axel, and much more, Pheromosa can take full advantage of its sky-high stats. A Pokemon that's way more dangerous than it looks, for sure.
3 Buzzwole
If Pheromosa is the glass cannon of the Ultra Beasts, Buzzwole is the physical tank among them. With an Attack and Defense stat of 139 and a respectable HP of 107, Buzzwole is hard to take down via physical attacks. It's also a Bug/Fighting-type like Pheromosa, meaning it has nice resistances, barring the huge Flying-type weakness.
Buzzwole is not too nuanced to use; it's supposed to take physical hits and dish them out tenfold. Moves like Close Combat, Dual Wingbeat, Earthquake, and Roost make that much easier. Just make sure to stay out of special attacks and Flying-types, and Buzzwole should stay around for a while.
2 Kleavor
It appears that the Scyther evolution line doesn't fail to be strong in any era. This Hisui-exclusive evolution of Scyther introduced in Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a Bug/Rock-type and is quite powerful. Klleavor has an Attack stat of 135 and some unique moves to take full advantage of it.
Sure, you have the usual suspects: Close Combat, Dual Wingbeat, and so on. However, Kleavor gets the exclusive move Stone Axe, which sets up Stealth Rock on top of doing damage. Kleavor also has the hidden ability Sharpness, which boosts its slicing moves even further, turning it into an amazing wall breaker.
1 Beedrill
Yes, you read that right. Seeing Beedrill on a list with Legendary Pokemon, Ultra Beasts, and unique forms may not feel right, but there was a time when Beedrill was actually amazing. Mega Beedrill, to be more precise. This Route One bug turned out to be a devastating sweeper before it all got taken away from it.
Mega Beedrill has an Attack of 150 and a Speed of 145. The rest of its stats are abysmal, which is totally fine when you're that fast and strong. This thing could absolutely shred whole teams due to its amazing stat distribution and Adaptability. The move set used to be U-Turn, Drill Run, Poison Jab, and Knock Off, which was more than enough to cover almost all types. Beedrill is truly a testament to how Mega Evolution can absolutely elevate a subpar Pokemon.